Steve Mensing, Editor
♦ Chris Cohen took time off from work today and campaign stops around the county to interview with the Rowan Free Press. Chris is well known in the city and county’s business community and is the owner of Cohen Roofing and Metal Company. A native of Rowan County, he graduated from West Rowan High in 1975 and later attended both Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and North Carolina State University in Raleigh before returning to Rowan to run his family’s business.
Back in 2010 he ran as a Republican for Rowan County Commissioner, but this time out due to his late entry he running as an unaffiliated candidate. “My heart’s always been a Republican,” he said.
Chris’s family history includes his famous uncle J. Newton Cohen, Sr. a former Chairman of the Rowan County Board of Commissioners and for whom the room and building where the county commissioners meet is named.
Steve Mensing: In the first part of our interview Chris focused on economic development. Today we’re going to focus on the the West End Plaza, tax rates, infrastructure upgrades, the ongoing conflict between Salisbury and the county, public education, Veteran’s Services and senior services, and upgrading RCCC. Let’s start off with the West End Plaza.
Chris Cohen: Saving taxpayer funds is a priority to me and I think the Salisbury mall purchase can achieve just that! The county has always been in the business of providing facilities and building structures for county services. West End Plaza will provide much needed room to grow for years. I have more construction experience than all of the other candidates combined; they lack a vision in the area of facility needs. With that being said, I would have preferred to see some plans and insight into the overall scope of the project prior to the purchase but we need to move forward and make this facility an important part of Rowan/Salisbury community. West Side Salisbury was an important part of Salisbury’s 20/20 Plan. West End Plaza needs to remain as an important facility to support growth and the economy in this part of Salisbury. I would like to make it clear; I would not support moving county offices pertaining to judicial services from their current downtown locations.
Steve Mensing: The West End Plaza has a many positives going for it and it helps stabilize its neighborhood. Tell us about your ideas for our Rowan County tax rates?
Chris Cohen: Land values and tax rates are too high in Rowan County. Salisbury citizens and business owners have the highest tax rate of any city its size (25,000-30,000population) in North Carolina. In the last two decades the county has taken over several city departments (i.e. 911 services, animal control, school system, etc.,) so an increase is understandable on the county level. The current board of commissioners has overspent our reserve fund balance putting our bond rating in jeopardy. Rowan is relying too heavily on residential tax base to fund the needs of the county. To improve taxing patterns in Rowan County we must:
• Recruit industrial, business and retail development to increase tax base.
• Make Rowan more attractive to business interest.
• Keep local funds local “Invest in our potential”.
• Enhance interstate corridor.
• Eliminate waste in all levels of government.
Steve Mensing: One of your favorite issues is infrastructure upgrades. Could you tell us about your plans in this area?
Chris Cohen: As a young man working with my father and uncle in Salisbury they had a vision that Charlotte and Greensboro would grow together at exit 76 on I-85. Their vision didn’t come to fruition in their lifetime. Charlotte expanded toward Mooresville up I-77 and Greensboro grew in the Raleigh direction. But, growth is coming up I-85 and for this reason the county needs to invest in I-85 infrastructure (i.e. service roads connecting interchanges, water and sewer upgrades, and by all means a new southern interchange is a necessity). China Grove, Landis and Kannapolis could be the NEXT Huntersville/Cornelius/Davidson. For years we have talked of expanding our local county airport. Not all businesses need an airport, but the lucrative ones do. It’s time to push this endeavor forward. We need to continue investment at the RCCC North Campus and make this area a focal point on the I- 85 corridor. An educational plaza with small events center like Cabarrus County could attract events. We could partner with the Fair Association to develop a youth softball/baseball facility much like Cherry Point in Rock Hill to improve tourism and fill local restaurants and hotels. Rowan County must invest more and update our infrastructure to attract new business opportunities. If we won’t invest as a community why should a business venture. The county must optimize our central location and interstate corridor.
Steve Mensing: Chris how might you deal with the current conflict between Rowan County and Salisbury? Conflicts between counties and their larger cities are pretty common across the United States. In Madison, Wisconsin, where I live, they’re currently battling with Dane County. How might you deal with the natural conflicts between county and city?
Chris Cohen: Growing up in Salisbury/Rowan I am aware of the ongoing tension between county and city government and these situations probably occur in all counties. However, while attending a County Commission meeting relating to the mall purchase in July, I realized this Rowan/Salisbury conflict was much more serious when I witnessed the City Manager, Doug Paris, high-fiving La Resistance/Red Beret members in the hallway after they spoke in opposition to commissioner plans.
Of course, Doug Paris has since been forced to resign due to his inexperience and questionable practices, but his actions show just how desperate the city is, and to what level they would stoop to take control of county government. This disturbed me so much that I spoke to Mayor Paul Woodson, and a good friend and former councilman Bill Burgin about the city managers behavior. Mr. Paris was terminated as city manager soon after at great expense to the city taxpayers. Rowan County is comprised of numerous municipalities and communities. If elected in November I will represent all the municipalities equally along with all the unincorporated areas of the county. It is time for Salisbury, to get on board with the other municipalities within the county and work together and not against. I think most taxpayers in Salisbury would agree; Salisbury plans in the last two decades have been counterproductive. It is time to work together in the interest of Rowan County!
Steve Mensing: Both Salisbury and county best work together. It benefits both. If the city struggles–the county struggles. They both impact each other in a major way. Let’s touch on public education.
Chris Cohen: Quite frankly I have been extremely disappointed in the decision making of our School Board and the performance of the new School Administration. The school board and the Rowan / Salisbury administration needs to realize their funding is provided by the Rowan County board of commissioners not the City of Salisbury. What a fiasco the proposed Downtown Central School Office has become. The Board and Administration has fumbled this issue over the past 4 years, not to mention the years since consolidation. This is what happens when a county-funded operation is influenced by city government and city power brokers. Our school officials continue to change course on the CSO size, location and this latest proposal for the Central School Office on North Main Street, which will not be a truly consolidated office. Yes, without much fanfare they have renovated an old and dilapidated building on North Long Street for their I.T. (Information Technologies) and special need departments. The new proposal, similar in size to the previously considered Winn Dixie Complex on Jake Alexander that a previous school board voted down, would have saved millions in tax dollars. The fact that our School leaders threatened a lawsuit against taxpayers is disturbing as well. They should have presented a proposal for a school bond to be included on the November ballot. The lawsuit was never about Students and facility needs, it was encouraged by city leaders and Richard Miller to force a downtown Central School Office. The county voters have always supported school bonds. Bonds are the most economically feasible way to achieve facility needs. I have nothing against a downtown “CSO” facility but the school system is not required to provide economic stability to the City of Salisbury or any other municipality within the county. The Rowan / Salisbury School System are required to educate our children and they should come first.
In my opinion, a new Woodleaf Elementary School and the renovations at Knox should come before a new “CSO”, especially since tens of thousands of dollars have been spent on a new I.T. department located on Long Street. It is the dilapidated school facilities that discourage business interested prospective homeowners from coming to our county not the CSO facility or its location. Our school leaders have failed to communicate with the community leaders in both Cleveland and Woodleaf in regards to a new consolidated Western Elementary. These communities do not desire the combined concept; which was previously discussed and tabled years ago for lack of support. As well, a new Salisbury High was discussed and it was concluded that schools in communities were essential and Salisbury High therefore expanded at its existing location. Consolidation makes since financially but not on an educational level. The county has invested millions on a media center, elevator, roofs and energy upgrades at Cleveland Elementary and any upgrades needed in the future will suffice well at this location for the foreseeable future. Woodleaf on the other hand needs a complete new school with new water and sewer infrastructure. This project should come first before any CSO or new Knox Middle School project. The rumored site for this proposed consolidated elementary school has a Salisbury address, young students on the fringe of the county will spend hours on a bus daily; that is unacceptable. Growth will come back to this county eventually and this location rumored on Hwy 70 will be an excellent fill in school site thirty years from now. However, we should maintain our small community schools in Cleveland, Woodleaf, Faith, Enochville etc.
Funds provided by our county should be utilized to the greatest extent possible with Rowan businesses (i.e. architects, engineers, general and subcontractors). This is a concept Dr. Moody, Anthony Vann and the school board need to comprehend “Tax revenues raised in Rowan needs to stay in Rowan”. It’s nothing new; RSSS and RCCC have continually spent our tax dollars outside Rowan supporting other local economies. Over the last two bond projects, RSSS has contracted with firms outside Rowan County for over 75% of the bond amount. During the Brownell years RCCC invested in Rowan Business. The new RCCC leadership has been shifting abroad more recently. No wonder construction companies are failing in Rowan County. The cost of a CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK, which Anthony Vann, Dr Moody and our school board have endorsed, is a total waste of tax dollars. There is no need to utilize this approach on such a small project as the CSO. This concept has never been utilized in Rowan County. RSSS already has a construction manager on staff in Mr. Bill Hill; who after his construction management firm completed the last bond project here 5 years ago he was hired by RSSS. With that said, we pay an architect and general contractor to perform the project in a professional manner, and would expect Anthony Vann to do the same. I might add that Mr. Vann was influential in hiring Barnhill Construction and SLF&A architects two firms he has a history with in Guilford County, again sending valuable Rowan tax dollars abroad to firms that likely will seek little input with local Rowan County contractors. To say the least I’m not impressed with our school board or Dr. Moody’s administrative team on facility management. Hopefully she is a better educator, but I’m not buying all in at this time! To improve education in Rowan we must:
- Put students first.
- Find ways to enhance teacher pay and retain assistants.
- Devise comprehensive plan to improve facility throughout the system.
- Build new facilities and upgrades through bond referendums only.
- Sell off all old schools, structures and land not being utilized and allocate that to teacher salary.
- Upgrade facilities to compete with surrounding counties.
- Elect new school board members; do not vote for incumbents.
Steve Mensing: Chris, elsewhere you mentioned your thoughts on a special services sector. Could you tell us something about that?
Chris Cohen: Veterans Services is finally getting some much-needed attention. The mall purchase and subsequent upgrades are a positive for the county; I would propose a West Side Senior Center at the West End Plaza and continue to keep the Plaza open for senior walkers. Progress has been accomplished in countywide EMS service in recent years. This trend needs to continue. Continued support for Volunteer Fire Departments and Rowan Rescue Squad are essential to encourage county wide business investments. Current commissioners have performed well in this sector. Any cuts in these special services would be counter-productive to growth.
Steve Mensing: Appreciate your time Chris.
Chris Cohen: Anytime Steve.
Part I:
