02-22-2022 Meeting Minutes EDCEDC Minutes for February 22, 2022
Minutes of the PCEDC Meeting
Person County Economic Development Boardroom
303 S. Morgan St., Roxboro, NC 27573
February 22, 2022
Voting Board Members Present:
Mr. Phillip Allen-Chairman Mr. Danny Talbert
The Honorable Gordon Powell Mr. Kenneth Perry
Mr. Dale Reynolds-Vice Chairman Mr. Ernie Wood
Voting Board Members Absent:
The Honorable Merilyn Newell-Secretary
Mr. Donald Long
Ex Officios Present:
Mr. Brooks Lockhart, City Manager Ms. Heidi York, County Manager
Dr. Claudia Berryhill, Agricultural Representative
Dr. Pamela Senegal, PCC Representative
Ex Officios Absent:
Dr. Rodney Peterson, PCS Superintendent
ED Staff Present: Others Present:
Ms. Sherry Wilborn, ED Director Mr. George Willoughby
Mr. Michael Thibault, Assistant ED Director The Honorable PJ Gentry
Ms. Brandy Lynch, ED Senior Mr. Bo Freeman
Administrative Support
(Minutes)
EDC Welcome and Invocation:
1. At 4:00 p.m., Chairman Allen called the meeting to order.
2. Mr. Dale Reynolds gave the invocation.
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EDC Minutes for February 22, 2022
Approval of the January Regular Meeting Minutes:
3. Mr. Allen requested a motion to approve the January Regular Meeting Minutes.
A motion was made seconded and unanimously passed for approval of the January 25, 2022
Regular Meeting Minutes
Motion: Ernie Wood Second: Dale Reynolds
Director’s Report:
Sherry Wilborn’s presentation will be included in the minutes.
4. Wilborn noted EDC and PCBIC are sponsoring the Industrial Relations Committee meetings in
February and March. At this time, there is not a lot of industry participation. January 2022 was
the first meeting back since Covid. In light of this, the programming has been shifted to what
would be more appropriate for the attendees, and PCC will be on hand in March to present
information on programs PCC offers for small businesses.
Wilborn traveled to Atlanta with RTRP for a site selection event. Representation from multiple
countries were on hand to meet with those travelling with the group.
Wilborn attended the EDPNC NC-100 event. EDPNC travels to different regions to meet with all
100 counties of North Carolina. Business developers got to hear from someone in every county
that participated from our region.
Vision 2022 is the regional economic development summit hosted by Kerr-Tar. This year’s event
will be in Person County at the Kirby with local representation.
Wilborn looks for direction from the board on moving forward with the business survey.
Thibault suggested the questionnaire be short and to inquire of issues businesses are struggling
with. Thibault recommended emailing him with comments and suggestions. Reynolds noted the
Roxboro Area Chamber of Commerce would be a good way to market the survey.
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EDC Minutes for February 22, 2022
Member and Ex Officio Comments:
5. Dr. Berryhill announces that the Piedmont Farm tour would be back, which will include four
Person County farms. Dr. Berryhill provided information on the newly formed North Carolina
Spiritous Liquor Advisory Council. She also reviewed an article in the North Carolina Triangle
Business Journal on how the labor shortages for farmers in North Carolina ripples across the
economy.
The Honorable Gordon Powell reminded the board about the recent approval of funding for the
runway extension project, noting half of that funding would be coming to the county on
February 26th.
Dr. Senegal notes the Piedmont Community College Center for Educational and Agricultural
Development will break ground on the incubator over the next thirty days. Piedmont
Community College is partnering with Fayetteville Tech Community College to prepare students
for cyber security jobs. The Piedmont Community College Board of Trustees met and decided to
shift gears on the plans for the Advanced Technology Center, downsizing the project to be
similar in size to the S building that is currently on the Piedmont Community College campus.
Piedmont Community College has also filled the Career and Technical position that was left
vacant when Jody Blackwell retired.
Brooks Lockhart announced that the City Clerk retired and another Clerk will be appointed
March 8th. The new grading was completed on the uptown park area. He also noted a natural
cemetery will be located in Orange County just over the Person County line.
Heidi York informed the board that the Person County Commissioners held their annual retreat
today. Where they were informed of the CIP request from Economic Development for the
Western Interceptor project. The American Rescue Plan funding that will be coming to Person
County was reviewed with the Commissioners today along with Ms. Wilborn’s request to use
some of that funding for a speculative building.
Chairman’s Report:
6. Chairman Allen offered no report.
Next Meeting:
7. The next meeting, was announced as March 22, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. in the Person County EDC
Board Room 303 S. Morgan St. Roxboro, NC.
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EDC MeetingFebruary 22, 2022
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Director’s Report
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DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Updates Since January EDC Meeting
The Solar Ordinance was updated and approved with the following changes:
The Planning Board recommended:
Table 2.1 –Change “S” in the chart to “S/CD” to better reflect that it includes both a special use permit and conditional
district rezoning.
Section 2.3 –Change the title to “Height and Size Limitation” and include a “b” that reads:
B. The maximum size of a level 3 solar energy system shall not exceed three hundred (300) acres as measured
around the immediate perimeter of the panels and shall not be located within one (1) linear mile of an existing
level 3 solar energy system.
Section 3.1-E.2.c –include what PFAS means in parenthesis (Polyfluoroalkyl substances).
The Board of Commissioners incorporated the Planning Board’s recommended modifications and adopted the Solar
Ordinance with the additional modifications:
Table 2.1 was amended to prohibit level 2 and level 3 solar energy systems in the RC (Rural Conservation) and R
(Residential) zoning district.
Table 2.2 was amended to require a 200’ setback for all level 2 and level 3 solar energy systems from the property lines
and/or right-of-way lines.This setback will include area for a 150’ buffer and 50’ of open area for emergency access.
Section 2.3(b) was amended to state that the maximum size of a level 3 solar energy system shall be 100 acres.
Section 2.4(b) was amended to require a 150’ vegetative buffer around the perimeter of the solar energy system.
Section 2.6(d) was amended to require an engineer to review the decommissioning bond amount every 3 years.
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DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Updates Since January EDC Meeting
•The Commissioners unanimously authorized moving forward with the
engagement with Economic Leadership (Ted Abernathy).
•IRC February 8 and March 8
•Atlanta
•EDPNC NC-100
•Vision 2022 – March
•Project Activity
•36 projects
•>$3.7B investment
•>14k jobs
•8 inquiries, 10 PCMP, 10 no inv, 4 NP, 4 other
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DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Updates Since January EDC Meeting
Discussion of Moving Forward with Business Survey with EDC and Asst. Director
Who: How Broad?
How: What approach(es)?
What: What questions?
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THANK YOU!!
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