BOC Minutes October 18 2012 Joint with City and EDC
October 18, 2012
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PERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OCTOBER 18, 2012
MEMBERS PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT
Jimmy B. Clayton Heidi York, County Manager
Kyle W. Puryear - ABSENT
B. Ray Jeffers Brenda B. Reaves, Clerk to the Board
Samuel R. Kennington
Frances P. Blalock
The Board of Commissioners for the County of Person, North Carolina, met in recessed
session on Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 8:00 am in the S-100 room at Piedmont Community
College for the purpose of joint session with the Roxboro City Council and the Economic
Development Board/Person County Business Industrial Center.
Person County Attendees:
Chairman Clayton, Commissioners Jeffers, Blalock and Kennington
County Manager, Heidi York
Clerk to the Board, Brenda Reaves
Economic Development Director, Stuart Gilbert
City of Roxboro Attendees:
Mayor Merilyn Newell, Mayor Pro-Tem William Davis, Council Members:
Henry Daniel, Sandy Stigall, Mark Phillips, and Byrd Blackwell
City Manager, Stephen Steese
Economic Development Board Attendees:
Board of County Commissioners Chairman: Jimmy B. Clayton
County Manager: Heidi York
City of Roxboro’s Mayor: Merilyn Newell
City of Roxboro’s City Manager: Stephen Steese
President, Piedmont Community College: Dr. Walter Bartlett
Elected Chairman of the Board of Directors
for the Roxboro Development Group: Wayne Ross
Director, Piedmont Community College
Small Business Center: Randy Reynolds
Member At-Large: Kenneth Perry
Others Present:
Charles Hayes, President and CEO of Research Triangle Regional Partnership
Debbie Lilly, VP, Business Development of Research Triangle Regional Partnership
Michael Woodard, Senate candidate
Chairman Clayton called the meeting to order and led invocation. Vice Chairman Puryear
was absent. Commissioner Jeffers was absent until 8:10 am.
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Economic Development Board Chairman, Randy Reynolds introduced to the group the
President and CEO of Research Triangle Regional Partnership, Mr. Charles Hayes. Mr. Hayes
gave the group an overview of Research Triangle Regional Partnership (RTRP). RTRP is one of
the seven regions within North Carolina located at RDU International Airport and consists of the
following 13 counties: Person, Granville, Vance, Warren, Franklin, Orange, Wake, Johnston,
Chatham, Lee, Harnett, Moore and Durham, including the Research Triangle Park.
Mr. Hayes introduced Ms. Debbie Lilly, VP, Business Development of Research Triangle
Regional Partnership and told the group other staff of RTRP are Bo Carson, VP, Informational
Services, Lee Anne Nance, Sr. VP, Strategic Initiatives and Terry Naegelen, VP, Operations.
RTRP is a business-driven; public-private partnership began in 1990 and dedicated to
keeping the 13-county Research Triangle Region economically competitive through business,
government and educational collaboration. RTRP comprises economic development agencies
across the region, who work with the N.C. Department of Commerce and a wide range of partners
to market the 13-county region for new investment and direct strategic efforts to ensure the region
remains economically competitive. RTRP leads development of the regional economic-
development strategy, called The Shape of Things To Come. It is a five-year plan to promote
economic and job growth in the 13-county region focusing on Regional Collaboration, Product
Development and Business Growth.
RTRP’s 59-member board of directors is comprised of representatives from each of the
13 counties and the Research Triangle Park. The board meets the first Wednesday of each month,
advises and oversees RTRP initiatives. An Economic Development Advisory Committee of
county economic developers and partners meet monthly to plan and implement strategic
marketing efforts. Person County has three representatives on the board of directors: Stuart
Gilbert, Randy Reynolds and Phillip Allen. Each county economic development director is a
voting member with the two other voting members appointed by the county board of
commissioners.
RTRP offers a range of services to help companies grow and expand in the region and to
help economic development partners meet the needs of businesses and prospects. Ms. Lilly stated
RTRP can assist in the RFI, RFP processes, offer research, regional overview noting all
site/building requests flow to all counties within the region.
For Person County to present the best product, Mr. Hayes recommended to have the best
sites, labor force and buildings.
The group thanked Mr. Hayes and Ms. Lilly for their visit and presentation to the joint
session meeting.
The Economic Development Board adjourned and reconvened after a brief break as
Person County Business Industrial Center to meet jointly in closed session with the Board of
Commissioners and Roxboro City Council.
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CLOSED SESSION:
A motion was made by Commissioner Blalock, seconded by Commissioner Kennington,
and carried 4-0 to enter Closed Session jointly with Roxboro City Council and Person County
Business Industrial Center (PCBIC) pursuant to NC General Statute 143.318.11(a)(4) to discuss
matters relating to the location or expansion of industries or other businesses in the county at 9:21
am with the following individuals permitted to attend:
County Manager, Heidi York, Economic Development Director, Stuart Gilbert and Clerk
to the Board, Brenda Reaves
Roxboro City Council Closed Session attendees:
Mayor Merilyn Newell, Mayor Pro-Tem William Davis, Council Members:
Henry Daniel, Sandy Stigall, Mark Phillips, and Byrd Blackwell
City Manager, Stephen Steese
PCBIC Attendees:
Board of County Commissioners Chairman: Jimmy B. Clayton
County Manager: Heidi York
City of Roxboro’s Mayor: Merilyn Newell
City of Roxboro’s City Manager: Stephen Steese
President, Piedmont Community College: Dr. Walter Bartlett
Elected Chairman of the Board of Directors
for the Roxboro Development Group: Wayne Ross
Director, Piedmont Community College
Small Business Center: Randy Reynolds
Member At-Large: Kenneth Perry
The Board of Commissioners, Roxboro City Council and PCBIC participants agreed to
allow Mr. Hayes, Ms. Lilly and Mr. Woodard to be included in the Closed Session.
Closed Session was called to order at 9:22 am.
A motion was made by Commissioner Jeffers, seconded by Commissioner Blalock, and
carried 4-0 to return to open session at 10:28 am.
Person County Economic Development Director, Mr. Stuart Gilbert presented a
Resolution – Financial Incentive Grant for Project Light each to the Board of Commissioners and
to Roxboro City Council for consideration and adoption.
A motion was made by Commissioner Jeffers, seconded by Commissioner Blalock, and
carried 4-0 to adopt a Resolution for a Financial Incentive Grant for Project Light.
Roxboro City Council took affirmative action for adoption of its Resolution for a
Financial Incentive Grant for Project Light.
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RECESS:
A motion was made by Commissioner Blalock, seconded by Commissioner Jeffers, and
carried 4-0 to recess the meeting at 10:30 am until October 29, 2012 at 6:30 pm at Bethel Hill
Charter School for the purpose of a Community Conversations meeting.
________________________________ __________________________________
Brenda B. Reaves Jimmy B. Clayton
Clerk to the Board Chairman