BY KARISSA MILLER

Iredell County commissioners on Tuesday approved a plan for a new agriculture center and farmers market at the Iredell County Fairgrounds in Troutman.

Vice Chairman Bert Connolly planted the seed during the pre-agenda briefing for including a permanent open air farmers market structure when he told the board that he wanted the fairgrounds improvements to reflect Iredell’s agricultural roots.

“We have to protect agriculture,” Connolly said. “We have a lot of people who depend on that.”

The board was expected to vote on the Fairgrounds Master Plan Phase I recommendations, but instead set their own priorities for what they wanted to see happen at the fairgrounds.

At the 6 p.m. meeting, Connolly made a motion to have County Manager Beth Mull proceed with spending up to $16 million and outlined the priorities, which included an agricultural center, fixing the present buildings at the site, repairing the parking lot and developing an outside farmers market.

Funding for the project comes from $10 million that the N.C. General Assembly awarded the county and $6 million in the county’s fund balance that was designated for the fairgrounds.

“The biggest thing is agriculture is very important to the county. If back-door gardeners want to come and sell goods, then they can. It gives our community a way to … buy locally,” Connolly said in an interview.

OTHER BUSINESS

In other matters, the board approved:

• A request from Iredell County Rescue Squad for approval to borrow $72,000 from the Fire and Rescue Small Loan Program with a payment period of 24 months to pay for emergency septic repairs at their facility.

• A request from Animal Services for approval of Budget Amendment to accept a grant from Petco Love in the amount of $30,000 to help support lifesaving programs.

• A request from Mooresville Graded School District to amend the Selma Burke Middle School capital project ordinance by transferring funds within the project.

• A request from the Finance Department to approve and amend the American Rescue Plan Act Grant Ordinance to purchase iPads as part of the telemedicine project.

• A request from Finance Department to transfer unused Juvenile Crime Prevention Council Administration funds to Children’s Hope Alliance to purchase therapeutic supplies.