Commissioners Notebook: February 2024
Published on February 16, 2024
New purpose is coming to the former Stonewall Jackson Training School property as plans move forward with a forestry sale.
During commissioners’ February 5 Work Session, the board received an update on the sale from Assistant County Manager Kelly Sifford.
Sifford told Commissioners that GFR Forestry Consultants were sending out bids for the timber and are waiting to hear back from potential buyers. Sifford plans to provide an update on the timber pricing in the coming weeks.
In June 2023, the state of North Carolina transferred two properties to Cabarrus County as part of the disposition of the larger Jackson Training School property.
Commissioners previously approved an agreement with GFR to administer the forestry sale for the County.
The land parcels total 268 acres and are part of a State-adopted forestry plan. The sale will be a combination of a complete harvest and selective thinning.
The harvest is needed for a Public Safety Training Center (PSTC) proposed for development. The facility is a multi-jurisdictional training facility that will assist local emergency medical services, fire departments and law enforcement in meeting federal, state and local training requirements.
County staff and the City of Concord are currently reworking the facility’s master plan, according to Sifford. Once revised master plan options are available, officials will receive estimates for the first phase of the project.
Redevelopment efforts are also underway at the original Stonewall Jackson Training school site that contains the historic buildings. Plans are for the state to transfer a portion of the property to Cabarrus County. That transfer would include historic and environmental restrictions. The County would then market the property for restoration and redevelopment.
Also, during the February Work Session, commissioners:
- Heard a presentation from Cabarrus Arts Council Executive Director Liz Fitzgerald on the results of an Arts and Economics Prosperity Study. The national study provided by Americans for the Arts looks at the economic impact of the nonprofit arts and culture industry. The Cabarrus Arts Council was one of 373 arts and culture organizations nationwide that participated through reporting their budgets and collecting audience surveys at a variety of events, workshops and festivals. In 2022, $7.6 million was generated in Cabarrus from local arts and culture organizations. Fitzgerald told commissioners. Those organizations supported 111 jobs, provided $3.2 million in personal income to residents and generated nearly $1 million in tax revenue for local, state and federal governments, according to the study. The Arts Council is a designated Cabarrus County partner. The organization operates the Davis Theatre and The Galleries, and conducts one of North Carolina’s largest art-in-education programs for county schools. To see upcoming events and education programs, visit cabarrusartscouncil.org.
- Heard from Tax Administrator David Thrift on the advertisement of 2023 delinquent taxes. North Carolina law requires counties to report the amount of unpaid taxes annually. According to Thrift, the current amount of unpaid taxes for 2023 is over $8.4 million. Thrift requested the board approve an advertisement date of March 24. If approved, the unpaid liens will be posted in local newspaper on that date. Commissioners are scheduled to vote on the advertisement date at the regular meeting.
To watch the full February 5 Work Session, visit youtube.com/cabarruscounty.
The Regular Meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. on Monday (February 19) at the Cabarrus County Government Center in downtown Concord.
Residents can watch commissioner meetings on the Cabarrus County livestream at cabarruscounty.us, on YouTube (@CabarrusCounty) and on CabCo TV (Spectrum Cable Channel 22).
Stay updated on these and all County programs and projects by visiting cabarruscounty.us and following Cabarrus County at facebook.com/cabarruscounty and on Twitter and Instagram @CabarrusCounty.