SALISBURY — Karen Alexander, a local architect and the Salisbury Planning Board chairwoman, will take the oath of office at 4 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall to become the newest member of City Council.
Councilwoman Maggie Blackwell will take the oath to become mayor pro tem.
The leadership changes come after Mayor Pro Tem Susan Kluttz resigned her council position Jan. 2 to become secretary of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources in Raleigh.
Mayor Paul Woodson took private nominations to fill the vacancy, and the council voted unanimously Jan. 3 to appoint Alexander.
Also on Tuesday’s agenda:
• Closing the 100 block of East Fisher Street from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 22 for the Salisbury Pride celebration.
• Receive highlights and goals presentations from the Hurley Park Advisory Board, Salisbury Tourism and Cultural Development Commission, Transportation Advisory Board and Tree Board.
• Consider awarding a $25,000 economic incentive grant for a company called the Driveshaft Shop. Council will hold a public hearing.
The business, which has been in Salisbury for more than 30 years, must relocate from the corner of South Main Street and A Avenue because the railroad is closing the Klumac Road crossing. Traffic will be rerouted along an extension of A Avenue, blocking access to the company’s loading dock.
Driveshaft Shop makes and repairs precision parts for a variety of racing vehicles, as well as other products, and has equipment found only in two other locations in the U.S.
The business would like to move to the Southmark II building at 4530 Southmark Drive, said Robert Van Geons, executive director for RowanWorks Economic Development Commission, which is requesting the incentive grant for Driveshaft.
The company would add five employees to the current staff of 20 with the relocation, Van Geons said.
Salisbury offers the Industrial Revitalization Grant Program to encourage the reuse of vacant buildings. Driveshaft plans a $213,500 renovation to the Southmark II building, Van Geons said.
• Consider awarding a $1.1 million contract to Buckeye Construction Company for the Second Creek Waste Water Treatment Plant elimination project.
The city received a $600,000 grant in June 2012 from the Clean Water Management Trust Fund to help pay for the project, which will eliminate a discharge into the polluted Second Creek, as well as reduce yearly operation and maintenance costs and avoid costly nutrient removal requirements when the state updates the city’s permit.
Buckeye Construction submitted the low bid, $320,000 less than the engineer’s estimate.
Rowan-Salisbury Schools will contribute $200,000 to the project because the Second Creek plant treats waste water from West Rowan Middle School.
Magna Composites originally planned to contribute to the project as well but pulled out due to “several conditions (that) have changed” at the company, city staff said.
The city’s share of the project is $697,000.
• Hear from staff about street lighting.
• Consider an appointment to the Salisbury Planning Board to replace Alexander.
• Hear from City Manager Doug Paris, including the second quarter financial update.

• Salisbury Parks and Recreation will host a neighborhood meeting/open house at the City Park Recreation Center at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 24 at 315 Lake Drive. The public is invited to attend.
• The N.C. Main Street Conference will be held in downtown Salisbury, Jan. 30 through Feb. 1. For more information or to register, go to www.ncmainstreetcenter.com.
• Salisbury Parks and Recreation will host the 17th Annual Father and Daughter Dance from 6 to 9 p.m. Feb. 9 at the Civic Center, 315 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. Tickets are available by calling 704-638-5275.
• Salisbury City Council will hold its 28th Annual Future Directions and Goal Setting Retreat Feb. 14 and 15.
• The city needs people to serve on boards and commissions. Seats are available on the Planning Board, Committee to Study Nuisance Animals and Committee to Review the Historic District Guidelines.
Information and applications are available online at www.salisburync.gov under the boards and commissions tab. Applications are also available at the City Clerk’s Office, at 217 S. Main St., or by calling 704-638-5224.
Contact reporter Emily Ford at 704-797-4264.