Gary Herman
At the March 11th meeting, the Alexander County Board of Commissioners approved a Historic Preservation Ordinance for Alexander County to help identify historic resources and to allow the county to apply for grant funding.
The action reactivates a five-member Historic Preservation Commission that was approved by commissioners in January 2008. The original commission’s goals included fundraising, applying for grants to restore historic structures, research, preservation, and exhibition of the county’s historical assets.Appointments to the Historic Preservation Commission will be made at the April 1st meeting of the Board of Commissioners. Once the commission has been active for one year, the county can apply to become a Certified Local Government (CLG). CLGs receive technical assistance and training from the State Historic Preservation Office (HPO), participate in the National Register nomination process, and are eligible to receive small matching grants for preservation activities. According to the North Carolina Historic Preservation Office, there are more than 100 historic preservation commissions that are active in the state.
For more information about Historic Preservation Commissions and Certified Local Governments, visit the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office website.
In other business:
• Commissioners approved a resolution calling for a public hearing on April 1st to consider a proposed financing agreement to borrow $2 million to reimburse the county’s fund balance for the Alexander County Services Center, located at 151 West Main Avenue in Taylorsville. The new office complex will house seven county departments.
• Paul Teague, Community & Economic Project Developer for the Western Piedmont Council of Governments, presented the 2019 Alexander County analysis of impediments to fair housing choice components in regards to CDBG-I grant requirements associated with the Stony Point Elementary School wastewater project. Teague said the study found that there were higher concentrations of substandard housing in the project area and that there is a need for affordable housing opportunities. Commissioners approved the report as presented. Teague said the project will now progress to the design phase, with hopes to put the project out to bid in the next two to three months.
• Commissioners presented a “Key to the County” to Teresa Smith and Cheryl Millsaps upon their retirement from the Alexander County Department of Social Services. Smith primarily worked in the foster care program, with 20 years of service to the county. Millsaps retired from DSS after 32 years of service.
• Commissioners heard a report from Melissa Patton of Carolina Land and Lakes Resource Conservation & Development. Patton said the non-profit organization serves seven counties, including Alexander County. She presented information about the various programs and initiatives that Carolina Land and Lakes is working on. The organization, in conjunction with the Felburn Foundation, donated the land which became Rocky Face Mountain Recreational Area. In addition, they secured an environmental protection grant to fix a stormwater runoff problem at the park. For more information about Carolina Land and Lakes, visit www.carolinalandandlakes.org.
• County Manager Rick French presented four budget amendments for approval, one of which included appropriating funds for fireworks for the Alexander County Independence Celebration on July 6th. Craftmaster Furniture has donated $2,500 for the fireworks display.
• Commissioners approved transferring a sewer line on County Home Road to the Town of Taylorsville in preparation of an upcoming NCDOT realignment of the intersection at NC Hwy. 16 South. The sewer line provides wastewater service to Taylor King Furniture.
• Fire Marshal Russell Greene introduced David Huffman, who is the new Alexander County Forest Ranger following the retirement of Dennis Wahlers. Huffman has been a volunteer firefighter for more than 10 years and said he looks forward to serving the citizens of Alexander County and working with the local fire departments.
The Alexander County Board of Commissioners typically meets on the first Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in room #103 at the CVCC Alexander Center for Education. The next meeting is on Monday, April 1. Meetings are recorded and can be viewed on the county’s Government Channel on Spectrum channel 192 or on the county’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/alexandercountync. Meeting agendas, minutes, videos, and more are available on the county’s website at www.alexandercountync.gov/commissioners.