By Holly Fesperman Lee

Salisbury Post

GRANITE QUARRY — Mary Ponds is ready to start her ninth straight year as the town's mayor.

Alderman voted unanimously to appoint Ponds to the mayor's seat Monday night.

"I'm humbled and appreciative," Ponds said. "I will serve to the best of my ability always with the citizens at the forefront."

Aldermen also voted to reappoint Bill Feather as mayor pro tem for the next year.

This will be Feather's third year in the position.

"Thank God I'm here," Feather said, referring to his recent close race with former Alderman Jim LaFevers.

The two were tied for several days after the November election until the provisional ballots could be counted.

"I appreciate the opportunity to serve the town as mayor pro tem and look forward to the next two years being able to provide a service to the town and the people in the community," Feather said.

Also during Monday's meeting, the board:

* Voted to reappoint Becky Shives as town clerk and Woodson, Sayers, Lawther, Short, Parrott, Walker, and Abramson as the town's law firm.

* Announced that the town will move an $860 donation from Fred's Department Store to the fire department's capital expenditure budget to allow the department to purchase pagers.

* Gave town manager Dan Peters permission to work with town attorney Chip Short to draw up a contract with Granite Realty that would allow the town to put brush and leaves on property off Hill Street.

Peters explained that the town will pay Granite Realty $175 a month to use the property. The arrangement will give the town a facility to store brush from town collections while reducing the possibility of mulch fires. Granite Realty will also take care of grinding the brush for the monthly fee, releasing the town of that responsibility.

* Said the town will submit a written response to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission supporting the commission's proposed draft environmental impact statement that would require Alcoa to implement a sedimentation and flood protection plan that will offset the adverse effects of the Yadkin Project on Salisbury's infrastructure.

* Heard that Dunn's Mountain Baptist Church will hold a live nativity scene Dec. 14 and 15 from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

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Contact Holly Lee at 704-797-7683 or hlee@salisburypost.com.