BY KARISSA MILLER

Iredell County commissioners on Tuesday chose to maintain their current leadership by re-electing Bert Connolly as chair and Melissa Neader as the vice chair Tuesday night.

Commissioner Brad Stroud, who joined the meeting remotely due to illness, nominated Connolly to be chair, and Commissioner Scottie Brown nominated Neader for vice chair. Both motions passed 4-1 with Commissioner Gene Houpe casting both dissenting votes.

“I get along fine with this lady (Neader) and gentleman (Connolly),” Houpe said later in the meeting. “I want to clarify to the public why I did not vote for them.

“As the top vote-getter last year,” he continued, “I felt it was important to follow that precedent because I think it respects the will of the voters.”

In the past, the board observed an unspoken tradition of electing the board member who received the most votes as chair, Houpe said. Sometimes the to vote-getter opted not to accept the leadership position.

Houpe reiterated that he was the top vote-getter but was not given the choice to be chair.

Connolly, in an interview, said he was proud serve as chair and was thankful for the confidence other commissioners placed in his abilities to lead.

“It’s an honor, but I’m one voice out of five. It’s very important that the five of us look at everything — and that the five of us have a voice,” Connolly said.

In the upcoming year, “the board will continue to be vocal about the excessive residential growth that’s coming from the two towns and the city because it’s putting a burden” on the county.

OTHER BUSINESS

Also during the meeting, the board held a series of three public hearings and approved all three rezoning matters that were presented by Planning Director Matthew Todd:

♦ The first public hearing was a request to rezone approximately 1.98 acres along Island Ford Road from Neighborhood Business to Highway Business. The applicants, James and Tamara Fox of Fox Automotive Group, own and operate a used car dealership. They need more space and are considering this site.

♦ The second public hearing was a request to rezone approximately 2.02 acres along Quiet Cove Road off of River Highway from Residential Agricultural (RA) to Residential Office (RO). The owner has plans to sell the properties. The rezoning would allow for the existing residence to be converted to office space.

♦ The third public hearing was a request to rezone approximately 5.4 acres along Martin Lane, located off Mocksville Highway, from Residential Agricultural to Highway Business. The applicant, Billy Martin Jr., owns and operates Billy Martin Tire dealership, which is located at the corner of Martin Lane and Mocksville Highway. The business needs more space and is considering this site in order to relocate and/or expand the existing tire and auto repair shop.