By Mark Wineka
Salisbury Post
RDH Tire and Retread, located off U.S. 70 in western Rowan County, is seeking the county and city’s help in running a $700,000 water line to its expanding operation.
Representatives from the company and Salisbury-Rowan Utilities are planning to attend a meeting with the Rowan County Board of Commissioners tonight to discuss the project. Salisbury City Council will receive an update Tuesday.
The company specializes in the retreading and repair of off-the-highway, construction-type tires. Its plant generates about 50 tires a day and uses 3 million pounds of rubber annually.
In the past year, the plant has added 26 to 32 new jobs. It has plans for a major expansion that will require more water than its single well can produce. The plant also doesn’t have a potable water supply.
RDH’s expansion could add 32 new jobs.
The company says it cannot stay at its present location without the water-line connection to Salisbury.
Rowan County will be asked to serve as the applicant for N.C. Rural Center ($281,000) and Community Development Block Grant ($384,000) awards. The $665,000 grant total would be supplemented by a local match of $35,000, to be paid by RDH Tire and Retread.
The plant is located about a mile from the city’s existing water line off U.S. 70.
Council meets at 4 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 217 S. Main St. In other agenda items, council will:
– Receive an update on the South Square Streetscape improvement project on South Lee and East Fisher streets.
– Receive a report on free transit service during code red and orange ozone days.
– Consider appropriating $500,000 toward the I-85 sewer extension project.
– Consider allocating $2,141,750 toward wastewater treatment plant improvements.
– Consider appropriating $1,708,250 for construction of water and sewer lines for the U.S. 29 area annexation.
– Consider a resolution against House Bill 1587, related to municipal fiber optics systems.
– Adopt a resolution to install “Fit Community” sign panels on the city’s welcome signs.
– Consider site plans or revisions for RoMedical Park at 810 Mitchell Ave.; the proposed Wallace Commons at Julian and Klumac roads; Arc of Rowan apartment buildings at 1010 S. Fulton St. and 210 E. 15th St.; an addition for Autumn Care at Bringle Ferry and Newsome roads; and a new medical facility for Piedmont Eye Physicians and Surgeons, 530 Corporate Circle.
– Hear a final report from the Branding and Wayfinding Committee, which has been working on a logo for Salisbury.
– Consider purchasing from the Salisbury Community Development Corp. half of a property near North Shaver and East Council streets for $25,750. The city also is being asked to transfer its interest in that parcel and two others to Rowan County.
The properties will become the site for a new Rowan County Emergency Medical Services station.
– Consider purchasing two Segways for the Police Department.
– Make a budget amendment reflecting $5,600 in donations received for gang awareness.
– Recognize Sonja Basinger, the new environmental manager for Salisbury-Rowan Utilities.
Council meetings are streamed live at www.salisburync.gov/council/webcast.html, and taped telecasts are shown later on Time Warner Cable’s ACCESS 16.Contact Mark Wineka at 704-797-4263 or mwineka@salisburypost.com.