By Rebecca Rider

rebecca.rider@salisburypost.com

LANDIS — Landis is one of the final towns in Rowan County to agree to a Declaration of Interdependence.

Town aldermen enthusiastically backed the measure Monday night at their regular board meeting.

For the past few months, the county commissioners have been touring Rowan’s 10 municipalities to raise support for the document. Landis is the seventh municipality to hear from commissioners and support the idea.

Commissioners Chairman Greg Edds spoke Monday night about the agreement, starting his presentation by commenting on the size of the crowd.

“I walked in and asked the gentleman at the door, ‘Is there going to be a lynchin’ tonight — be a hangin?’ This is a good group. So I think last time I was around a group this big we had a hangin’ afterward,” he said.

Monday was the Landis board’s first meeting of 2017, and the boardroom was standing room only.

According to Edds, the declaration is one way for Rowan to turn itself around into a thriving community. To do so, the county have to help its municipalities, and the municipalities have to help the county.

“We just believe that together, we’re stronger if we’re in the same boat rowing in the same direction,” Edds said.

The entire county working together toward a common goal would be a “unique feat for Rowan County.”

Edds said the declaration will have community members and leaders focus on growth in nine key areas: economic development, workforce development, entrepreneurship, quality of life, education, community infrastructure, marketing and the local business climate.

The idea was enthusiastically received by the Landis Board of Aldermen.

“I’m just happy that our county commissioners realize that the county line does not stop at Klumac Road,” Mayor Pro Tem Dorland Abernathy said.

County Commissioner Jim Greene agreed, and added that the document was a way to try and reunify the county, making up for past grievances.

“You’re right,” Edds said. “We have had problems in the past of trying to serve all of our communities. This document says, ‘We want to serve you.’”

Mayor Mike Mahaley said the declaration “sounds great.”

“It’s about time someone thinks about the whole county,” he said.

The Landis board unanimously endorsed the declaration. Edds said the county commissioners will host a community forum in early March.

Contact reporter Rebecca Rider at 704-797-4264.