Catawba County commissioners met this week in Newton. The board denied a rezoning request on Startown Road and approved consent agenda items. Commissioners approved minutes from the board’s regular meeting and closed session on April 20 along with the special meeting held May 11. During presentations, Commissioner Setzer presented a proclamation declaring May 17-23, 2026, as Emergency Medical Services Week.

Commissioners also held a public hearing on a request to rezone a 1.32-acre property at 2733 Startown Road. The property, owned by Horace Eugene Mauser, Jr., was proposed to change from R-20 Residential to Light Industrial. The board did not approve the rezoning request. As part of the consent agenda, commissioners approved a pyrotechnics permit for PyroStar Entertainment LLC for a fireworks display scheduled May 30, 2026, in Claremont.

The board also approved tax releases totaling $30,131.07, refunds totaling $7,699.20, and motor vehicle bill adjustments and refunds totaling $5,151.40 requested during April. In the manager’s report, commissioners approved a $5,000 contingency fund transfer to Catawba-Wateree for the FY2026 cost share program.

The agenda for the meeting can be found at https://bit.ly/3utv5SE.