Wallburg ponders new form of governance
May 10—WALLBURG — The growth of Wallburg since its incorporation 20 years ago has prompted town leaders to consider switching to a new form of local governance.
Wallburg has been run under a mayor-council structure since the northern Davidson County town became a municipality in 2004. But the Wallburg Town Council will hold a public hearing next week to take up switching to a council-manager form of government to accommodate population and business growth.
The change would allow the town manager to take on more responsibilities and tasks, though the council would continue to vote to set policies in place, part-time Town Manager Mark Swaim said.
"All the day-to-day management has been done by the council," Swaim told The High Point Enterprise. "With a manager, the manager does all the day-to-day management."
The change in the charter would not require a vote by town residents, Swaim said.
"We will have the public hearing to allow the public to ask questions," he said.
The council will hold the public hearing on changing the town's charter during its meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Wallburg Town Hall at 8020 North N.C. 109.
The proposed change of the governance of Wallburg reflects the scope of the town today, Swaim said.
The town had a population of 2,833 residents during the year of incorporation. The current U.S. census estimate is 3,218.
As part of the change, the town hall would expand from being open three days a week to five days a week, Swaim said. The hours of town hall would become 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday instead of the current hours of 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday.
pjohnson@hpenews.com — 336-888-3528 — @HPEpaul
