By Jessie Burchette
Salisbury PostCommissioners will talk about holding an economic summit while awarding contracts to carry out major upgrades from the county courthouse to the county Web site.
Commissioners Tina Hall and Jon Barber are proposing a summit for Rowan County to hear and examine a wide range of economic development concepts and proposals.
Hall cited a similar summit in Stanly County held earlier this year.
Hall and Barber serve as liaisons to the Salisbury-Rowan Economic Development Commission.
The board will also look at several contracts for architectural, engineering or other services.
County Manager Bill Cowan is recommending the architectural firm of WBA (Ware Bonsall Architects Inc.) of Charlotte to design new courtrooms and related space in an unfinished section of the Rowan County Justice Center.
WBA, which is currently under contract to design the completion of a jail pod in the Justice Center, agreed to do the courthouse portion for a lump sum of $100,000.
The board will also consider a contract with One Source Building Technologies of Winston-Salem to upfit the J. Newton Cohen Sr. Meeting Room with audio and video equipment at a cost not to exceed $100,000.
The improvements will allow the meetings of the board of commissioners to be televised on cable channels and be Webcast.
In other matters, the board is scheduled to:
– Hear a presentation from the planning staff on a proposal to require water point sources for new subdivisions where an adequate water supply is not available.
The ordinance, believed to be the first of its kind in the state, has been in the development stage for 18 months.
Commissioners are expected to set a public hearing on the proposed ordinance for the July 16 meeting.
– Consider approval of a contract with KellyMarCom of Charlotte to redesign the county’s Web site and make other upgrades at a cost of $27,435.
– Consider approval of a joint agreement with the city of Salisbury and Soldiers AME Zion Church to develop a parking lot on church property. The parking lot will be used for courthouse parking during the week and for church-related business on the weekend.
The total cost is estimated at $110,000 for the development of 40 spaces in the property on the 200 block of W. Liberty St.
– Set a public hearing for July 16 for the secondary road construction and paving program to be announced by the N.C. Department of Transportation.
– Consider approval of a grant application for $665,000 in state and federal funds to extend a 12-inch water line to RDH Tire and Retread Co., which plans to expand.
– Consider approval to dedicate streets of Phase II of Castlebrooke Farms as private to allow for a gated community. The developer, Triune Development of Concord, plans a 57 single-family lots on 111 acres along the 3000-3900 block of Lentz Road.
– Consider awarding a contract for professional airport engineering and planning services for the Rowan County Airport. County Manager Bill Cowan is recommending Talbert & Bright Inc., which has done extensive work at the airport.
– Consider approval of a lease renewal for Alpha One Flight School at the airport. The board will consider the current agreement as well as several changes suggested by Commissioner Jim Sides.
– Consider approving a vehicle financing agreement, which will cover two ambulances and 18 vehicles for the sheriff’s department. RBC Centura submitted the low bid price of 3.78 percent. The the total cost is $619,000.
– Consider a contract with Primary Physician Care to administer the county’s self-insured health care program at a cost of $192,193 each year for three years.
– Consider a series of budget amendments to show increases in funds from sale of fuel at the Rowan County Airport, and increases in the occupancy tax collected on hotel rooms.
The Rowan County Board of Commissioners meets at 7 p.m. Monday in the J. Newton Cohen Sr. Meeting Room, County Administrative Offices, 130 W. Innes St.