4A • SUNDAY, MAY 16, 2010
SALISBURY POST
AREA
Engaged couples can apply Commissioners to discuss for marriage licenses online role in business recruitment BY KARISSA MINN BY KARISSA MINN kminn@salisburypost.com
Just in time for Rowan County’s busy spring wedding season, engaged couples now have a faster way to apply for marriage licenses — by filling out a form online. “Before, they had to come in personally and one of the staff members would have to type it on a typewriter,” said County Register of Deeds John Brindle. “Now, we can have the customer type their marriage license from home and come in and finish the process in our office.” Since November, kiosks have been available in the Register of Deeds office where people can come fill out marriage licenses on their own and print them. Brindle said the new service would further decrease the time people need to spend in the office to receive a marriage license. Applicants can be in and out in just a few minutes.
Any engaged couples planning to get married in North Carolina — not just those who live in this county — can fill out their marriage licenses online and come to the Rowan County office to retrieve them. “Hopefully, we can generate some more funds for the county by bringing in people from outside,” Brindle said. He said his office switched to a new software system in November, and has resulted in many changes that make the office more efficient. The software system was paid for out of automation funds, he said, which placed no cost on county citizens. Those who want to fill out a marriage license online can visit www.co.rowan.nc.us, click on “Departments” and select “Register of Deeds” from the menu. On that page, there is a link that says, “New Online Marriage Application.” Applicants can click on that, follow the instructions to fill out the information, and come by the
office to finish the process. A marriage license can be purchased at the Register of Deeds Office from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. The license fee is $60 and is accepted in cash only. The Register of Deeds office requires state-issued identification for both applicants — for example, a driver’s license or a certified birth certificate — to purchase a marriage license. A Social Security card also is required for both applicants, but a W-2 form, check stub or tax return may be presented if the card is not available. If divorced, the applicants must know the month and year of the divorce decree. If the divorce was finalized during the same month and year of the purchase of the new marriage license, they must present a copy of the divorce decree. At least one of the applicants must appear in the office with the required documents to purchase the license.
kminn@salisburypost.com
County commissioners will discuss their role in business recruitment Monday, in response to a request from a prospective business for a letter of endorsement. The Rowan County Board of Commissioners will meet at 4 p.m. Monday on the second floor of the Cohen Administration Building, 130 W. Innes St. The discussion was requested by Tina Hall after a prospective new business requested a letter of support from commissioners. The letter, to be individually signed by commissioners, would have stated that the signatories encourage business development in Rowan County and believe that the particular business would add significant value to the community. In a March 29 e-mail to commissioners and the county manager, County Attorney
Jay Dees wrote that he didn’t understand why such a letter was needed. “We have an incentive policy that is a written statement of (the Board of Commissioners’) support for economic development and job creation,” Dees wrote. “The manager could certainly generate a letter that references the policy and simply state that it remains in effect...” In county agenda documents, Hall asks the board to consider if it should “re-affirm its long-standing support of the Economic Development Commission in representing new business recruitment in Rowan County.” Also at Monday’s meeting, the board will consider approval of several budget amendments. The first will budget estimated revenues from ABC board distributions for the rest of the fiscal year. It allocates $65,000 to the county and another $65,000 to its municipalities. Other amendments would
account for $10,100 in grant funding for East Rowan Express and $24,000 in Congestion and Mitigation Air Quality grant funds. The last amendment would budget $7,000 in state funding for the county social services program LINKS/Independent Living, which assists foster children who are aging out of the system. In addition, commissioners plan to: • Discuss dates for work sessions and a public hearing for the proposed 2010-11 budget, which will be released Monday • Consider donating surplus property to nonprofit groups • Discuss Juvenile Crime Prevention Council funding recommendations for fiscal year 2010-11
Homeowners can receive advice to avoid foreclosure BY SHAVONNE POTTS spotts@salisburypost.com
The Salisbury Community Development Corp wants people to know there is an alternative to home foreclosure. The nonprofit organization, which provides firsttime homebuyers and homeowners facing foreclosure with financial counseling and other help, is hosting a Foreclosure Expo this week. Financial counselors say homeowners who are concerned about their mortgage payments shouldn’t walk away because free help is available. The informational workshop is from 5:30 to 8 p.m., Thursday at the F&M Trolley Barn, 125 E. Liberty St., Salisbury. The expo is free to the public. Those who plan to attend should call 704-216-2717 to reserve a seat. Food will be provided. Attendees will learn about alternatives to repayment plan, special forbearance, loan modification, pre-foreclosure sales and partial claims. Participants don’t have to bring any of their personal loan or mortgage information, but are asked to just bring paper for notes and be ready to ask questions. “We’ve been doing foreclosure prevention since 2003 when Pillowtex closed,” said executive director Chanaka Yatawara. In 2003, Pillowtex announced its closing in Kannapolis. A Landis church gave out grant money that was used to help with mortgage payments and that was the beginning of the Salisbury Community Development Corporation. Yatawara said they’ve always had a concern that they aren’t reaching as many people as they could and this expo is a way to do that. “It’s needed here. You see the need is there. Our goal is to make sure everyone who needs it, gets it,” he said. “We are so surprised because we get calls from people who’ve just heard about it,” said Lou Adkins, a Community Development coordinator. Adkins and housing/financial counselor Robbie Stevens average about 70 calls each month. The idea came about during a committee meeting. “It’s an effort to get in
front of many people,” said F&M President Steve Fisher. Fisher encourages people who are struggling financially with their mortgage to contact their lender above all else. If a homeowner isn’t able to talk to their bank, he encourages them to speak with Salisbury Development Corp. “As early as you can, talk to your banker. Your options narrow the longer you go,” Fisher said. This event is a community-based effort, he said. There are a number of presenting and general sponsors that offered financing for this event. Who should attend this event? Fisher said lenders, attorneys, homeowners and any nonprofit entity who may provide a referral or resource to a homeowner, “those who help the homeowner.” Organizers say there is no reason for people not to take advantage of this free event. Adkins spoke to a couple who were charged $1,500 for “help” from a company to solve their foreclosure issues. “If they are expected to pay an upfront fee, it’s illegal in North Carolina,” Adkins said. Some people even seek help after they’ve been in foreclosure. “It’s never too late. There are other options. There are other programs,” Stevens said. Adkins said people don’t have to get behind in their mortgage payments before they call for help. “We inform them of what may be available,” Stevens said. Those in attendance will also have the opportunity to speak with someone from the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency, Legal Aid North Carolina, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the North Carolina Housing Coalition and the state Commissioner of Banks. The above agencies are also general sponsors of the event along with Miller Davis, Fidelity Bank and the United Way of Rowan County. The presenting sponsors for the event are Salisbury Community Development Corporation, F&M Bank, Quick Copy Shop, Food Lion, Salisbury Post and the city of Salisbury.
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claimed the check was an advance to enable the recipient to pay the taxes of $2,989 on the winnings. Evans didn’t fall for the scheme. Instead, he asked the Post to advise the public the letters are in the mail. Representatives of the Salisbury Police Department and the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office said the letter is one of many scams currently going around. Despite repeated warnings, some people continue to be victimized, particularly seniors.
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Post Office warns of Internet scam An Internet scam promising a pot of money to “winners” if they cash a check is now apparently arriving the old fashioned way — the U.S. Postal Service. Hodge W. Evans, a Salisbury resident, recently got a letter from a sender using the name Micro Financial Inc., of Tustin, Calif. The letter contained an official-looking check for $3,859.42. The letter advised Evans the check was a part of his winnings, which totaled $129,000. The letter further
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