By Mark Wineka

mark.wineka@salisburypost.com

GRANITE QUARRY — The Granite Quarry Board of Aldermen passed a resolution Monday night asking the N.C. Department of Transportation for $140,000 to help extend Chamandy Drive.

The request seeks $40,000 in public access funds and $100,000 in economic development funds from the DOT.

“This gives us a place in line, so to speak,” said Scott Shelton, vice president of  operations for the Rowan Economic Development Commission.

Along with the resolution, Mayor Bill Feather will send a letter to Pat Ivey, head of DOT Division 9, making the same request.

The town owns a 16.83-acre tract next to Granite Quarry Industrial Park. As of now, there is no public access to the town’s property, and it would require a 650-foot-long, 36-foot-wide extension of Chamandy Drive, which otherwise serves the industrial park.

WJD Cold Storage wants to put a cold storage distribution center on the town’s site, looking at a total investment of $9 million, an eventual facility of 81,000 square feet and the employment of 40 people.

Engineers from Timmons Group have put the cost of the road extension at $421,493, saying it would take three to four months for permitting and design and an additional three to four months to build.

In recent meetings, the town has been looking at grant money to pay for infrastructure needed to serve the property — the 650-foot road and a 12-inch water line of the same distance.

The total cost of the water line and road have been estimated at $507,000.

Aldermen previously set in motion a request for a $500,000 Economic Infrastructure Program grant from the N.C. Department of Commerce. If that grant were approved, the town would be responsible for 5 percent, or $25,000.

Shelton said if the DOT grants are OK’d, the grant request to the N.C. Department of Commerce could be reduced by the same amount. If that happens, the town’s 5 percent commitment on the Department of Commerce grant could go down to $18,000.

In other discussions Monday, Shelly Shockley reported on two successful events at Granite Lake Park — the June 23 Fish 4 Fun for children and the June 27 ARC of Rowan Fish 4 Fun for adults with disabilities.

The Fish 4 Fun for children attracted 43 kids. The N.C. Wildlife Commission helped by providing 25 fishing rods and poles. Shockley said most children brought their own.

Likewise, the adult Fish 4 Fun had 43 participants. Shockley said Garry Mattingly, owner of Slice of Heaven, donated 10 pizzas for the ARC of Rowan event.

Alderman Jim Costantino suggested it might be a good idea for the town to buy some fishing rods to lend out for future events.

In other business:

• Aldermen approved the sale of several items from the maintenance department — things such as a shop vacuum, two-way radios and Club Car battery charger — as surplus items. They will be listed on GovDeals.com.

• The board held a closed session to conduct the scheduled personnel reviews of Town Manager Phil Conrad and Town Clerk Tanya Word.

• Word reported that the town must fill four openings on the Planning Board and three on the Zoning Board of Adjustment.

• Aldermen heard from Feather that Granite Quarry sent flowers to the funeral of Granite Quarry native Hilton M. Lingle, who had helped the town on many occasions.

• The Planning Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. July 9; the Parks and Recreation Committee, 5:30 p.m. July 16; and the Revitalization Team, 3:30 p.m. July 17.

Contact Mark Wineka at 704-797-4263.