10-03-2022 Closed Session #2 Meeting Minutes BOCOctober 3, 2022, Closed Session #2 Page 1 of 2
Person County Board of Commissioners
Minutes of a Closed Session
DATE: October 3, 2022
MEMBERS OF BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:
Chairman Powell,
Vice Chairman Sims,
Commissioner Puryear,
Commissioner Gentry, and
Commissioner Palmer
OTHERS PRESENT:
Interim County Manager, Ralph Clark
Clerk to the Board, Brenda Reaves, and
TC Morphis, Jr., County Attorney
CLOSED SESSION #2
A motion was made by Commissioner Gentry and carried 5-0 to enter into Closed Session
at 9:04pm per General Statute 143-318.11(a)(4) for the purpose of discussion of matters relating to
the location or expansion of industries or other businesses in the county (economic development)
with the following individuals permitted to attend: TC Morphis, Jr., Interim County Manager,
Ralph Clark, and Clerk to the Board, Brenda Reaves.
Interim County Manager, Ralph Clark stated the purpose of the Closed Session was to
discuss Project Lamb. He noted in a recent closed session discussion, Economic Development
Interim Director, Brandy Lynch presented a grid for the 15-year proposed financial incentives that
was not accurate for the last four years and he said he has asked her to correct that for the Board.
In addition, Mr. Clark said Chairman Powell and the Economic Development Commission
Chairman, Phillip Allen will be meeting with the Wagstaff family representatives to discuss the
price per acre for land acquisition. Mr. Clark said Mr. Rick Aiken with Mohawk (Project Lamb)
was planning to attend this meeting with the Wagstaffs also to let them know how serious they are
about coming to this site.
Mr. Clark noted Project Lamb representatives have the following requests:
the price of the land may be a deal breaker if not reduced per acre,
wanted a 15-year financial incentives package,
utility consistent power (substation on site), and
railway access within 5-year period
Chairman Powell said the rail spur was already approved.
October 3, 2022, Closed Session #2 Page 2 of 2
Clerk to the Board, Brenda Reaves said the County Attorney, Ellis Hankins requested the
Board to have consensus to authorize the Chairman to sign a Confidentially Agreement on behalf
of the County. Mr. TC Morphis, Jr., Managing Partner with The Brough Law Firm sitting in on
behalf of Mr. Hankins said Mr. Hankins drafted a Non-Disclosure Agreement for the County and
the property owners to keep all information associated with Project Lamb confidential until
authorized by the county to make it public.
Mr. Morphis said the agreement included a liquated damages provision if they do not keep
confidentiality and the county would be entitled to purchase the property at $13,000 per acre.
It was the consensus of the Board to authorize the Chairman to execute the Non-Disclosure
Agreement on behalf of the County.
A motion was made by Commissioner Gentry and carried 5-0 to return to open session at
9:16pm.