Photo by Jason Benavides

Jan. 4. By Dave Vieser. The First Cornelius Town Board meeting of 2023, held last night due to the New Years Day holiday on Monday, was a rather subdued event. There were no public hearings on the agenda.

However, commissioners approved a number of property transfers and donations, which are needed to begin construction on two major road improvements:

—A traffic signal, as well as much-needed turning lanes, at the Hickory Street/Main Street intersection, moved closer to reality when commissioners unanimously approved the donation and transfer of property at that site. This intersection has become one of the busiest in the downtown area but there are only stop signs for Hickory Street and no traffic control for Main Street.

—In a similar move, property was transferred and/or donated along a stretch of largely vacant land that runs between the north end of Northcross Drive and Westmoreland Drive. Eventually this extension of Northcross Drive will provide motorists with a new north/south route which will relieve some of the heavy volume of traffic on West Catawba Avenue.

In other action the commissioners:

—Discussed recommendations for the land use plan submitted by the town’s growth management committee. No action was taken, but changes will now be reviewed by the town Planning Board before they go back to the town board for a full public hearing.

—Recognized the new chief of police, David Baucom, as well as six members of the Cornelius Police Dept. who were promoted:

Tony Sharpe, Major
Steve Davis, Captain
Matt Figaro, Lieutenant
Joe McClellan, Sergeant
Jeremy Sapp, Sergeant
Dennis Glenn, Corporal