Commissioners Notebook: February 2025

Published on February 17, 2025

County staff, designers and various local public safety agencies are partnering to design the Cabarrus County Regional Public Safety Training Center. 

Representatives with RDG Planning and Design presented a strategic plan to commissioners at the February 3 Work session, detailing their efforts to determine training needs for county organizations.  

The facility is designed for Cabarrus County, Concord and Kannapolis public safety agencies, helping them meet required training hours more effectively and efficiently. The proposal includes shared funding among the County and municipalities.  

The first phase includes plans for an indoor shooting range, a “burn building” structure, a driving skills course, an engine drafting pit, an outdoor physical area, a five-story training tower and vehicle access to Highway 49. The complex is planned for about 107 acres on the former Stonewall Jackson Training School property off Highway 49. 

RDG worked with local public safety organizations to collect a variety of data points, including existing training needs and amenities.  

The Board of Commissioners will now consider funding sources and an organizational structure for the facility.   

During the February Work Session, commissioners also: 

• Heard Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Tessa Burchett on the surplus of K9 Jax due to medical reasons. Jax is a seven-and-a-half-year-old Belgian Malinois who served faithfully throughout his career. Recently, he was diagnosed with a degenerative spine condition that affects parts of his vertebrae. The K9’s former handler has agreed to take custody and care for the dog. 

• Heard from Tax Administrator David Thrift on the advertisement of 2024 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 2024 is over $12 million. Thrift requested the board approve an advertisement date of March 30. 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 read the full agenda, visit cabarruscounty.us/Government/Boards-and-Committees/Board-Meetings, click the February 3 Work Session tab and select Agenda under “Related Information.” 

To watch the full February Work Session, visit youtube.com/cabarruscounty. 

Note that the Regular Meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 18 at 6 p.m. 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.