Loading...
09-24-2024 Meeting Minutes BOCSeptember 24, 2024 1 PERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS September 24, 2024 MEMBERS PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT Gordon Powell Katherine M. Cathey, County Manager C. Derrick Sims Michele Solomon, Clerk to the Board Kyle W. Puryear T.C. Morphis, Jr., County Attorney Charlie Palmer Jason Thomas The Board of Commissioners for the County of Person, North Carolina, met in special session on Tuesday September 24, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Boardroom 215 in the Person County Office Building located at 304 S. Morgan Street, Roxboro, NC. Chairman Powell called the meeting to order. PUBLIC HEARING: CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL TO CLOSE A PORTION OF STATE ROAD 1333, COUNTRY CLUB ROAD A motion was made by Vice-Chairman Sims and carried 5-0 to open the duly advertised public hearing for Consideration of Approval to Close a Portion of State Road 1333, Country Club Road. Economic Development Director Brandy Lynch presented the following: September 24, 2024 2 NCDOT classifies SR-1333 Country Club Road as a Secondary Road. The proposed road closure would be for 3,800 feet. The Person County Mega Park Presentation is available on the Person County EDC website. The background is the conceptual drawing. This presentation provides key points on the Person County Mega Park. September 24, 2024 3 The acreage of the Person County Mega Park is approximately 1,350 acres, with only 948 acres buildable due to multiple streams and wetlands on the site. September 24, 2024 4 Letters received from the Person County Tax Administrator and the Person County Transportation Director. September 24, 2024 5 To ensure the potential road closure would have minimal effects on the school buses, both Person County Schools and Bethel Hill Charter School were contacted. Both had the opportunity to review their bus routes and provided letters. Letter received from Labella referencing Corps of Engineers Section 404 Permit and NCDOT Permit September 24, 2024 6 In 2022, an average of 1,000 vehicles per day travelled this section of Country Club Road, which is 250 vehicles less per day than the average Secondary Road in Person County. With relatively few homes and businesses in the area, traffic volume is due to vehicles crossing through the area into other parts of the County. If the proposed section of Country Club Road is abandoned, those vehicles would need to detour around the area to continue across the County. Here are a few other data points from the 2022 NCDOT traffic study. They are all near Person County Mega Park. The section of the road proposed for closure only has two landowners. With relatively few homes and businesses in the area, traffic volume is due to vehicles crossing through the area into other parts of the County. September 24, 2024 7 Examples of detours and mileage Examples of detours and mileage September 24, 2024 8 Examples of detours and mileage Examples of detours and mileage September 24, 2024 9 Examples of detours and mileage Examples of detours and mileage September 24, 2024 10 Examples of Recent Economic Development projects announced in North Carolina September 24, 2024 11 EMS Base 1 is located at 216 W. Barden Street in Roxboro, serving as the primary EMS response agency for northern Person County. The intersection of Country Club Road and Edwin Robertson Road is 6.8 miles from EMS Base 1. If the proposed section of Country Club Road is abandoned, the intersection can be reached by traveling Woodsdale Road and Edwin Robertson Road for a total of 9.5 miles. Areas to the north and west of the intersection will require detours along Oak Grove Road or McGhee’s Mill Road, adding about 1 mile to the driving distance. These calculations are made on the assumption that the ambulance is leaving from the main EMS station on Barden Street. Dispatches may involve sending the closet available unit. Various factors such as, the starting location of the responding unit, traffic, and weather may influence response times. For life- threatening calls, first responders are dispatched alongside an ambulance and often arrive on the scene faster than an ambulance coming from the city. September 24, 2024 12 The Ceffo Fire Department has been designated as the primary responder for the portion of Country Club Road that is under consideration for abandonment. This road sections covers approximately 3,800 feet from 1650 to 2350 Country Club Road, where it intersects with Edwin Robertson Road. The area in question falls within Ceffo Response Zone 2, which has specific response plans for emergencies. If this segment of Country Club Road is abandoned, emergency vehicles coming from the north and east, Cluster Springs and Triple Springs, would have to detour approximately 3.5 miles to reach homes just south of the closure. Response plans can be adjusted to account for the detour and modify the order of response accordingly. Fire Districts from April 21, 2021 will not change. September 24, 2024 13 Example of a Road Closure Plan by Labella September 24, 2024 14 Lynch stated that the County began work on the Person County Mega Park almost a decade ago. She stated that the Mega Park is approximately 1,350 acres and has multiple 230kV lines as it located between two of Duke Energy’s power plants, affectionately known as Hyco and Mayo Plants. She stated that Duke Energy recognized the uniqueness of this site. She stated that the NC Department of Commerce Rural Ready Sites Program Grant paid for a water line to be brought to the site. She stated that the waterline is 12”, with a capacity of up to 5M gallons a day, if needed. She stated that other positives for the site are its location, as it is miles from Highway 501, it is close to multiple colleges, and an hour away from an international airport. She stated that the Person County Mega Park is one of only six in the state. She stated that it was boasted as a NC-Certified site until January 2024, when it lost its certification, as the County needed to hold a minimum 2- year option on the site. She stated the site does have some negatives. She stated that topography is one of those negatives. She stated that there is a 100-foot drop from the center of Country Club Road to the bottom of the site. She stated that of the approximate 1,350 acres, only 948 acres are usable due to the numerous wetlands on the site. She stated that rail is another issue. She stated that there is a rail near the site that can be accessed, but the rail line to the site would have to be owned and maintained by the tenant. She stated that the Norfolk and Southern Rail Line would also need upgrades that the tenant may have to pay for. She stated another negative, is that Person County is not home to an interstate. She stated that it was reported in 2021, that the County had invested over $2M, not including staff time on the Mega Park. She stated that this significant financial commitment, along with the additional $50K spent on site surveys and countless staff hours, underscores the County’s dedication to the success of the Person County Mega Park. She stated that the “donut hole” was also secured, further demonstrating the County’s substantial investment in the project. She stated that the US Army Corps Permit was secured by the County in September of 2020 and is good for ten years. She stated that getting the permit on the front end of a project would cut the usual time of twelve to eighteen months to secure a permit down to six. She stated that the County had to submit a site plan to the Corps, and the conceptual site plan presented earlier from 2017 includes the road closure and the structure to be in the middle of Country Club Road. She stated that one of the most important aspects of Economic Development is confidentiality. She stated that business is competitive, and knowledge of your competition’s plans makes an uneven playing field. She stated that there are times when a leak in the project has been the reason a community lost a project. She stated that there are Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA) usually involved. She stated that sometimes, an Economic Developer does not know the investment, footprint, employees, or company until an announcement is made. She stated that it is not that she does not want to tell the public what the prospects are, it is that she cannot tell or may not even know. She stated it would be a lot easier to share than having to filter questions that she cannot answer. She stated that she will not allow her actions to hurt this County. September 24, 2024 15 Lynch stated that if the road is closed, it will be challenging for a while. She stated that often change is necessary for progress. She stated that Person County has many needs, and one of the ways to meet these needs is through financial support. She stated that while economic development is not solely about attracting new businesses, it is essential to generate the tax revenue needed for growth. She stated that agriculture is vital to Person County, and we must ensure it thrives. She stated that responsible growth is possible without sacrificing our agricultural heritage. She stated that as the Economic Development Director of Person County, she always strives to make decisions that benefit Person County, a place that she and her family call home. Vice-Chairman Sims had questions in reference to the turnaround circle. He asked if the turnaround would be on the neighboring properties’ land before you get to the road closure or would it be on the property of the company that is possibly purchasing the land. Lynch stated that it would be on the property of the current land owners of the Mega Park, not the neighboring properties. Sims asked how much square footage would it be. Lynch stated that she does know exact square footage at this time, and anticipates it within the next few days, as she has reached out to contractors for estimates. Chairman Powell stated that he hopes people have taken advantage of what Lynch has done, and what has been posted on the website. He stated that Lynch made mention of the confidentiality issue, and with all clients, it is their business, and they do not want to talk about it, and do not want anybody else to know what they are doing. He stated that confidentiality is important, and it is hard for the Board members and staff not to tell people. He stated that it is not that we do not want to tell them, it is that we cannot due to confidentiality reasons. He stated that the County has gotten further down the road with this project than with any other project over the past eight years. He expressed thanks to Lynch for her research and time spent on this project and presentation. Commissioner Puryear asked Lynch how many projects has she worked with that wanted to purchase the entire site. Lynch stated that since she became Director, no one except this current project has been interested in purchasing the entire 1,350- acre site. She stated that the economic development world has significantly changed. Puryear asked if potential prospects have ever mentioned an alternate route through the site on the unused portion of the Mega Park. She stated that she has never had a project inquire about or mention that because of the low traffic numbers on that road. She stated that it has been mentioned to every project that she has worked with, that if they will leave that portion intact, or a certain portion of it intact, it would allow for emergency vehicles to be able to get around it better. She stated that is something that the Emergency Management Director has always ingrained in her to tell a project. She clarified that this would not be an alternate route for through traffic. She stated that the cost factor would be significant to build another road. She stated that it also has two Duke Energy easements going through the property, and the County would have to work with the project and Duke Energy. She stated as it stands right now, NC DOT has abandoned maintenance of the road, and the County is responsible for maintaining that portion of the road. September 24, 2024 16 Commissioner Palmer asked Lynch for clarification, if we could go around that part of the development site, that you are looking at 100 -foot variance of drop off. Lynch stated that was correct. Palmer stated that plus the wetlands would be a tremendous amount of money and effort. Vice-Chairman Sims stated that he has been asked by citizens, that if the road closes, could it possibly stay open until the project breaks ground. He stated that we know that eventually the road is going to close. He stated that keeping it open as long as we could would be nice for the people who live in that area. Lynch stated that the closure date will be at the discretion of the commissioners, if they choose to close the road. County Attorney T.C. Morphis, Jr. stated that the Board is being asked to vote tonight on whether or not to close the road, and if so, what is the effective date of closure. He stated that the closure date could be a future date. A motion was made by Commissioner Palmer and carried 5-0 to allow a time limit of three minutes for each individual during public comment period. The following individuals appeared before the Board to speak in favor of Consideration of Approval to Close a Portion of State Road 1333, Country Club Road. Brandon Fox of 3650 Semora Road, Roxboro stated that he is in agreement with closing Country Club Road, just as he is in agreement for the Moriah Energy Center. He stated that he does not think anyone in this room hates the thought of bettering Person County with industry jobs and better tax base, it is the approach that matters. He stated that it is unfortunate that his family's 170-year-old farm will be directly surrounded on three sides by an industrial complex, but he understands that you have to put the development somewhere. He stated that he is not one to infringe on others’ property rights. He stated that he speaks for many people in this room when he has doubts that the mega site development will come to fruition. He stated that there are too many obstacles in its path that were mentioned by Lynch, and the road is only one small piece. He stated that it is not for lack of trying on the County’s part, that they all have done well, it has just been passed over time and time again for more favorable sites. He stated that a minimum workforce of a million, 100-foot drop in topography, wetlands, distance to rail lines, no interstate, and less than 1000 contiguous acres, are all reasons that our citizens have their doubts. He stated that this makes closing a road that so many people utilize seem unnecessary. He stated that citizens are concerned that the road will be closed so that the mega site property will look more appealing to buyers, but otherwise have no real effect as it is far from the only barrier to a successful closure of a deal. He stated that what he is asking for is a very small concession in the grand scheme of a project like this. He stated that that he is asking that if the road must be closed, that it be legally closed on paper and present it to potential buyers as such, but still allowing through traffic until a buyer closes on the property and is ready to break ground. He stated that this prevents an undue hardship to all of the citizens here tonight, but it also allows time for a prospect search if the current prospect backs out with no negative impacts to anyone. September 24, 2024 17 Fox stated that Commissioner Powell mentioned at the last commissioners meeting, that if this most current project did not go through, that we can always reopen the road. He stated that it seems to him that it would be much easier to have a signed approval on paper for an approved road closure but not to physically block the road until it is necessary to do so, preventing any going back and forth on whether the road is closed or open. He stated that he is asking that it be a part of the contract, that in the site plan, that access is constructed between Edwin Robertson Road and Country Club Road and that local traffic is allowed to use it. He stated that every industrial complex that he can think of would want access to both roads for ease of shipping and employees coming to and from work. He stated that he is asking for the Board to ask the prospect not to put security stops on both ends, but instead ask them to model it such as Durham Regional Hospital, which allows for ten-mile per hour traffic around the entire complex. He stated that with that, you must make a left or right turn off of the main road to get to secured areas. He stated that this will not affect the security of their site at all, it just allows low speed through traffic for local citizens. He stated these two ideas that he has presented fix almost all of the problems that have been presented with the mega site. He stated that the citizens in the area are doubtful, but hopeful, for a brighter future in Person County. He stated that the citizens challenge the County to find a buyer that is willing to be a good neighbor, and one that is willing to make small steps to accommodate their neighbors. He stated that he would hope that as Commissioners, that they are reaching out to potential clients that are friendly to our County, our environment, and to their neighborhood and community, and not just our yearly tax income. He stated, to be frank, if they aren't good stewards of our land and way of life, Person County does not want them. He stated that making a couple of small concessions, such as the ones he has asked for, will go a long way in earning the trust and votes of your citizens. He stated that the consensus and closing arguments of the last commissioners meeting was that you can't make everybody happy. He stated that while that may be true, they can do their part to soften the blow and advocate for the citizens, which goes a long way in garnering their support. Teekie Majors, Fire Chief of Ceffo Volunteer Fire Department, located at 1291 Concord Road, Roxboro stated that he is in a neutral position. He stated that he is speaking tonight as the Fire Chief of Ceffo Volunteer Fire Department, and is representing his department and those that the department serves in the community. He stated that in providing mutual aid to Triple Springs and north part of Roxboro’s extended fire district, the closing of Country Club Road is going to delay response times to emergencies in that area. He stated that currently Ceffo’s fastest route, in case of emergency in that area, is McGhees Mill Road to Country Club Road to Edwin Robertson Road. He stated that is leaving Ceffo’s main station located at 1291 Concord Road. He stated that he has seen how closing this road is going to cause their response times to increase from a minute and a half to a little bit over two minutes. He stated that those times come from two alternative routes. He stated that would be McGhees Mill Road to Oak Grove Road to Edwin Robertson or McGhees Mill Road to Edwin Robertson Road. He stated that with both these alternative routes, you will be adding some distance, which increases response times. September 24, 2024 18 Majors stated that this doesn't sound like much but in the world of emergency services this is a lot. He stated that closing this road also affects other departments assisting with mutual aid. He stated that closing the road will only make it even more difficult to meet the standard so any resident or those that are traveling on Edwin Robertson Road would be extremely affected by the land response from emergency services. He stated that for emergency services, anyone living north of Edwin Robertson Road would also be heavily impacted by the effect of closing the road. He stated that he is asking the Board to consider an alternative for roads in that area. He stated that delaying care to those in need is a cause for concern. He stated that as a community stakeholder that provides emergency services, Ceffo would like to be involved in a needs assessment for community growth and location of industry within their district. He stated that with concerns of providing adequate emergency services, Ceffo may have to consider in the future building a third station and adding staff in that area for them to provide a fair service to those that are working in the mega site or in the area of the mega site and those that reside on Edwin Robertson Road and in the Woodsdale area, and the northern area of Roxboro. The following individuals appeared before the Board to speak in opposition to Consideration of Approval to Close a Portion of State Road 1333, Country Club Road. Todd Fox of 1870 Edwin Robertson Road, Roxboro stated that he lives at the intersection of Country Club Road and Edwin Robertson Road. He stated that his property is basically the bullseye. He stated that he probably is the one that is going to be the farthest away from anything. He stated that removing the road for the site is not necessary, as the property is so large, it would be suitable for many large industrial sites. He stated that the figures that he has are based off of Person County's own GIS figures. He stated an example of the largest industrial facility in Person County right now is Louisiana Pacific, which is on 238 acres of land. He stated that the largest land use in Person County is Raleigh Regional Airport which is 394 acres of land. He stated to give you an example of how big this mega site is, if you added up Louisiana Pacific, Person County Industrial Center on 501, Polywood, GKN, Eaton Corporation, Raleigh Regional Airport, Person Senior High School, Roxboro Community School, North and South Elementary School, Northern and Southern Middle School, Piedmont Community College, and the Sports Plex, you are only using 1,232 acres, and you still have 118 acres leftover. He stated that you can put all of those facilities on the mega site. He stated that the Goodyear tire plant in Danville, Virginia is 710 acres and they are the largest tire manufacturing facility in North America, and they employ 2,100 people and are on 710 acres. He stated that he realizes that all the land is not suitable to build on because of streams and low-lying lands, but clearly there is no shortage of land to build on the mega site. He stated that per the Person County Economic Development, there are 948 estimated buildable acres on that site. He stated that if a new industrial facility is to be built where the road is, a road around the new facility would be the least disruptive. He stated that he measured from his home at 1870 Edwin Robertson Road, to a central location, the Courthouse, and it is 6.1 miles. September 24, 2024 19 Fox stated that if he has to go Woodsdale Road it would add another 3.1 miles to his commute each way. He stated that if he were to go Oak Grove Road it would add 4.3 miles to his commute each way. He stated that eliminating the 7/10 of a mile road that the Board is considering closing will be a big inconvenience for all who travel that road. He stated that he does not know what size facility the County hopes to land for this site, but it seems to him that there is more than enough land for any industrial site. He stated that eliminating the road does not make any sense to him or Person County residents. He stated that if a site is to be built, with more roads coming in and out of that building, you would be reducing congestion and accidents. He stated that the simplest solution would be to have a plan in place before the facility is built and to reroute any section of that road. He stated that he knows the decision has probably been made by the Commissioner before this meeting took place today. He stated that he knows that the citizens of Person County have put their faith in this Board to make the right decision. He stated that he realizes that the County Commissioners have a responsibility to the people living in Person County and for the advancement of this County. He stated that he is not against the mega site because this County needs jobs. He stated that this new mega site has a lot of unknowns attached to it, and we as citizens of Person County pray that this decision that the Board makes is based on extensive research, and will vote for the best interest for all of Person County and its citizens. He expressed thanks to the Board for the job that they do and for listening to all the concerns of the citizens. Kent Watson of 345 Charlie Jay Road, Roxboro stated that I am sure everyone has heard that this is in the best interest of the people. He stated that nobody has been out to talk to him and people in his neighborhood about what is going on. He stated that he travels to Virginia several times a week. He stated that he usually takes Country Club Road to Edwin Robertson Road to Shiloh Church Road to Boston Road. He stated that earlier today, he traveled to Virginia, and measured off his alternate route if the road were to be closed. He stated that the alternate route was 13.6 miles, and 11.5 minutes, and that he could have already been in South Boston, Virginia at that time had he taken the shortcut he always takes. He stated that with the road closure, it is going to put him having to go out of his way. Margie Pittman of 1967 Edwin Robertson Road, Roxboro stated that she is against the road closure because of the time it will take for an ambulance and the Sheriff's Department to respond to her location if she needed them. She stated that she had a stroke back in January 2023, and was taken straight to Durham Regional, and was told if she had been fifteen minutes later, she would not have made it. She stated that if emergency personnel had to go around the long way to get to her then, she probably wouldn't be here tonight. She stated that she is not against progress or anything like that, just against the road closure due to emergency services. September 24, 2024 20 Sonja Vaughan of 151 Kinsman Trace Road, Roxboro thanked the Board for the opportunity to share her concerns, and the concerns of some of our community members. She stated that the purpose of a public hearing, per her understanding and Google, is to gather public input on a proposed action or policy before a decision is made. She stated that public hearings are a formal process that allow the public to share their thoughts on a matter of public concern. She stated that she thought this was very key: when done well, that public hearings help build a feeling of community. She stated that when not done well, unrest exists. She stated that there are many concerns regarding the proposal to close a portion of Country Club Road. She stated that in speaking with other members of the community, the consensus is that it feels like the Board has already made their decision. She stated that comments have been made from statements made in the local newspaper, to statements made at the most recent Board meetings, that it feels like to the citizens, was this meeting even necessary or is it just to appease them, to give them a chance to say what is on their minds. She stated that closing of the road affects more than just people, it affects individuals and businesses. She stated that there are more businesses that use that road other than to access places like Mayo and Hyco. She stated that there are a number of trucking, logging, hauling, and transportation companies that use this road daily, and they are going to locations other than Mayo or Hyco. She stated that her heart goes out to the Fox family, as they clearly are the ones who will be the most affected by this. She stated that several weeks ago she polled some of the Commissioners. She stated that one of her first questions was, will another access road be built. She stated that the answers she received were all over the place. She stated here are a few comments that she wrote down from either her phone conversations or messages with various members of the Board. Yes, possibly even before the road closes, plans are in the works for a new cut through route to Edwin Roberson, plans are already drawn up from previous projects, they will petition the DOT to pursue a cut through road, more than likely the new road will be complete before the closure, the plant would have to be in operation for the closure to happen, County would either have to buy the land to build another road or the DOT would have to acquire the property to build a new road. She stated that when she spoke with the EDC Director in an e-mail, she was told that there would be no access road. She stated she would have expected six mirroring answers to that question of is there going to be a road closure or an access road. She stated instead, this is what she got. She stated that it sounds to her that we are about ten years too late having this meeting. She stated that if it was proposed and submitted ten years ago, why didn't we to do this then, and if the County submission included this road closure that just makes no sense to her. She stated that from hearing the topography issues, and the wetlands issues, maybe that land just isn't suitable. She stated, have we even taken that into consideration. She stated that it is her hope that the Boards’ opinions are not made before they leave this room tonight and hear the others, and what they have to say. Chris Godley of 3359 Edwin Robertson Road, Roxboro stated that he is the stepson of Jimmie Bowes, and that Mr. Bowes asked him to speak on his behalf tonight as he would have trouble getting up here and talking. He stated that as a lot of people know, he and his family have lived off Edwin Robertson Road since dirt was invented. September 24, 2024 21 Godley stated that a lot of the conversation tonight has been specifically about the mega park, but this meeting is specifically geared towards the closure of the road. He stated that 1,000 vehicles a day may not seem like much, but to the people on that end of the County who use it every single day it's an important thoroughfare and to propose to close that road solely, so that the property owners, the Wagstaff family, have a better chance of selling that property is a slap in the face to all of those who will be affected. He stated that the two elements that make the mega site a proper mega site are the quantity of land and its location on a power line. He stated that the rest of the property is wetlands and hills and everything else. He stated that the only flat spot is on the road, and should tell you exactly what you need to know about its viability as a project. He stated that he has worked in construction his entire life. He stated that project is doomed from the very beginning. He stated that every developer who sees it, and sees the quantity of viable land off the top will look at it, and look at the expenditure that they have to make and go, I'm not sure I really wanted to get into this. He stated, sure eventually a developer may come along, but how long is this road going to be closed while they decide whether they want to purchase the property. He stated it could be years, it could be never, but as with most government projects or most government decisions, once you give something away it's ten times harder to get it back. He stated in reference to the statement that was made earlier, we may be able to approach reopening the road later on if all of this falls through, sure but if that's the case why close it. Ryan Shytle of Roxboro stated that he is a preacher at McGhees Mill Baptist Church. He stated he preached in the jail here in Roxboro, until they had a drug problem. He stated that he drives a church bus and he has got a lot of elderly people to ride the bus with him. He stated that there is an emergency yearly. He stated that is his route to get there as fast as he can. He stated that he was looking on the website with the disclosure, non-disclosure, as far as jobs go. He stated that he deals with the community a lot and there is not a whole lot of working people that want to work anymore. He stated that means a lot of the people that is going to be coming to work here are going to be from out of town. He stated that if you travel 501 any amount of time, you know that a lot of our traffic is coming from out of town. He stated that, as far as creating jobs, that would be great, but who is going to do the work. He stated that he was looking on the website, and it was talking about life sciences and biopharmaceuticals possibilities, car manufacturing or parts manufacturing, different things like that. He stated that creates a lot of pollution and his concerns are, if any of you have been living in Person County in any amount of time, then you know our cancer rate is through the roof. He stated that he is not trying to harp on Hyco and Mayo, as we need power, but at the same time we have seen a lot of things go on in our community and we got some other areas of our community we need help in. He stated that he did not come here to preach. He stated that closing the road is detrimental to the community and that he is in opposition to the closing of the road. September 24, 2024 22 Geoff Watkins of 1264 Country Club Road, Roxboro stated that everybody's concerns are with the road being closed, it is going to be more travel time. He stated that he has had a problem with this from the beginning because it seems like we just keep throwing money away. He stated that he could be wrong in some of this, waterline $1.6M, approximately another $2M on something, $50K on site survey, $350K on the land in the middle, and is it safe to say $5M million we have spent on this so far something like that, maybe $4M, and to build a new road $4-$5M. He stated that he sees a lot of tax dollars getting wasted. He stated that he has a fire hydrant in front of his driveway with a trash bag over it. He stated there is no water there, he thinks a fiber line was ran. He stated that when he heard Labella, he was like okay, we are having an outside company consult for us. He stated that he just looked at their website and it says in bold, a holistic approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion. He stated that if they are consulting the County on how to build this thing, they are going to be consulting on which company comes in here. He stated that if this happens, we are going to get a bunch of rainbow pride stuff in this County from a company that comes in here, based off of diversity, equity, and inclusion. He stated that it might provide jobs, but is a white male going to get a job. He stated that we were all told, it's all in the best interest of the people of the County. He stated that this is nothing personal, he just does not trust government, especially the government that tells him it is in your best interest that we do something. He stated that nobody has talked to him, and that there are people trespassing on his property doing surveys. He stated that tax dollars are getting wasted and now they want to close his road. He stated that it has rubbed him the wrong way, and he is sure everybody else feels that way too. Christy McCay of 1830 Oak Grove Road, Roxboro stated that she moved here twenty-four years ago. She stated that the reason she moved out in that area is because it was Rural Conservation and now a large portion of it's going to be General Industrial. She stated that the General Industrial is sitting on top of a lot of environmental wetlands, which is something she is really concerned about. She stated that she is an Engineer by trade. She stated that in discussions about the road closure, that the increase in traffic to other area roads was not addressed. She asked if there were any funds or planning set aside for the increasing new traffic that's going to be coming in down all the different access areas coming up both roads, and what are we going to do about that if this is going to employ 2,000 people, how are they going to get there. Timmy Dunn of Roxboro stated that he worked for Goldman Sachs for thirty-five years. He stated that it was his job to flip the projects. He stated that if you got wetlands in it, they are going to run from it. He stated the biggest thing he wants to know is, who profits the most for this to happen. He stated not the people. He stated why do they have to do it so fast, and purchase all the land. He stated with it being wetlands, nobody is going to build on that land. He stated that Goldman Sachs would not be within two miles of wetlands. September 24, 2024 23 A motion was made by Vice-Chairman Sims and carried 5-0 to close the public hearing for Consideration of Approval to Close a Portion of State Road 1333, Country Club Road. CONSIDERATION TO GRANT OR DENY CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL TO CLOSE A PORTION OF STATE ROAD 1333, COUNTRY CLUB ROAD County Attorney T.C. Morphis, Jr. advised the Board that it is his recommendation that they have a discussion about public interest and whether egress and ingress has been denied to anyone. Vice-Chairman Sims stated that if we do not close the road, it is safe to say, that we will lose the project that is interested in this land. He stated that many have commented tonight and expressed concerns. He stated that he does not know what the company name is, or how many potential jobs it may bring. He stated that he has had some people reach out to him and state that they hope it is not a hazardous dump. He stated that he does not believe it is a hazardous dump. He stated that we need jobs in Person County. He stated that GKN will be closing at the end of the year. He stated that he has concerns about the safety and EMS response times, and to the ones that will be affected by this. He stated all the suggestions made tonight were good, but for this project he does not believe we are at a point where we can sit back and say let’s wait three months or more, that he does not think we have that timeline. He stated that he thinks the County is under the gun on this, as far as what decisions are needed. He stated to the question earlier of, who will make a profit on this, the answer would be whoever owns the land. He stated this does benefit the County, as it will bring in jobs and revenue. He stated that the younger people in this County need somewhere to go to work, without having to drive out of town. He stated that he does have concerns about closing the road immediately. He stated that this is a very tough decision. He had concerns related to the infrastructure of the County, roads, schools, and the increase in traffic in the area. Commissioner Palmer stated that the Army Corp of Engineers and EPA were all involved, and gave the County permission to create this project, and open this land up for development. He stated that they would not have given the County false hope and wishes if it were going to be a hazardous waste site developed on that property. He stated that he was born and raised here and travels that road often. He stated that this is a huge potential for this County, and this project is the only one that is interested in the whole site. He stated that it could have the potential for hundreds of jobs, and that is a no-brainer for the County not to move forward. September 24, 2024 24 Commissioner Puryear thanked all for being at the meeting. He stated that only four people in the room know what company is interested in the land. He stated that this is the first company in all his years as a sitting Commissioner that has been so secretive. He stated that this is a huge potential for the County, and a lot of good things are to come. He stated that if the road closure is approved, he would like to see the road remain open until the project buys the land. He would also like there to be a thoroughfare for emergency personnel. Commissioner Thomas stated that he felt that the County has wasted a lot of money on this site, but recently his viewpoint changed. He stated that something big is coming, and it is too much to risk to not close the road. He expressed thanks to all for coming and expressing their concerns. He stated that this is a tough decision. Chairman Powell stated that this is very complicated. He thanked all for speaking and expressing concerns. He stated that there have been a lot of people wanting to know the name of the company, and so forth. He stated that he respects the non-disclosure agreement (NDA). He stated that you have got to have jobs and industry for the County to grow. He stated that this is the only project, the County has gotten this far with. He stated that he is first a listener, and hears the concerns from each and every one of them. He stated that he knows that people live on that road and in that area that travel that road daily that would be inconvenienced by the closure. He stated that this whole process has been difficult, hard, worrisome, and produced sleepless nights. He stated that industrial development is something that Person County has wanted for some time. He stated that he does regret a lot of confusion and misunderstanding. He stated that he is disappointed in the most recent Courier-Times headline quoting Sims as saying “Deal Is Done”. Commissioner Puryear asked Morphis about examples of road closure dates. Morphis advised that the project is close to sealing the deal, and that the Board needed to provide a date certain in the future. County Manager Katherine Cathey advised that they could set the road closure for October 8, 2024. Morphis advised that date is acceptable, and he is comfortable with it, as it is only two weeks out. Cathey advised, to spread the word to the public about the road closure date, that road closure signs would be posted, social media and the county website would be updated, and that newspaper and radio would be notified. A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 4-1 to Approve the Order for Closure of a Portion of State Road 1333, Country Club Road, From the Intersection of Edwin Robertson Road, South for Approximately 3,800 feet to be closed on October 8, 2024. Commissioner Palmer voted in opposition. September 24, 2024 25 September 24, 2024 26 September 24, 2024 27 EXHIBIT A ADJOURNMENT: A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to adjourn the meeting at 8:08 p.m. _____________________________ ______________________________ Michele Solomon Gordon Powell Clerk to the Board Chairman