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02-07-2022 Closed Session Meeting Minutes BOCFebruary 7, 2022, Closed Session #1 Page 1 of 2 Person County Board of Commissioners Minutes of a Closed Session DATE: February 7, 2022 MEMBERS OF BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chairman Powell, Vice Chairman Sims, Commissioner Puryear, Commissioner Gentry, and Commissioner Palmer OTHERS PRESENT: County Manager, Heidi York, Clerk to the Board, Brenda Reaves, County Attorney, Ellis Hankins Assistant County Manager, Katherine Cathey, Planning Director, Lori Oakley, and Director of Arts, Parks & Recreation, John Hill CLOSED SESSION #1 A motion was made by Vice Chairman Sims and carried 5-0 to enter into Closed Session #1 at 8:53pm per General Statute 143-318.11(a)(5) to establish, or to instruct the public body's staff or negotiating agents concerning the position to be taken by or on behalf of the public body in negotiating the price and other material terms of a contract or proposed contract for the acquisition of real property by purchase, option, exchange, or lease with the following individuals permitted to attend: County Attorney, Ellis Hankins, County Manager, Heidi York, Clerk to the Board, Brenda Reaves, Assistant County Manager, Katherine Cathey, Planning Director, Lori Oakley, and John Hill, Director of Arts, Parks and Recreation. Chairman Powell called the Closed Session #1 to order at 8:56pm. Planning Director, Lori Oakley & John Hill, Director of Recreation, Arts and Parks updated the Board on the Stormwater Team’s efforts for the Stormwater Interim Alternative implementation Approach (IAIA) projects that would fulfill the county’s stormwater regulation obligation under the IAIA program. Ms. Oakley stated that the County has $24,000 in the budget to spend on the qualifying projects by June 30, 2022. Mr. Hill stated they obtained two appraisals of agricultural/residential tracts both with and without an access easement; one for 325 Onie Burton Road owned by Willis Parker and the other for a parcel on Moore’s Mill Road owned by Ronald Tilley. The appraisal for 325 Onie Burton Road property is an agricultural tract of 87.42 acres that is vacant. The value without the easement is $327,800 and with the easement $325,700 for a difference of $2,100. The appraisal for a parcel of real estate located on Moore’s Mill Road, tax record 26307 of a 33.23-acre vacant agricultural tract. The value without the easement is $216,000. The value with the easement is $204,000 with a difference of $12,000. February 7, 2022, Closed Session #1 Page 2 of 2 Mr. Hill noted the proposed access easement either via the property owned by Parker (542.3 ft. in length for an easement) or Tilley (1,380 ft. in length for an easement) would be to access county owned property known as the County Farm consisting of 281.56 to be used for outdoor recreational amenities, green space and trails. Mr. Hill stated the county would not have water access, which should ease the concerns of the community. Water amenities would have to be referred to Lake Michie. Mr. Hill opined that parks pay a premium to get onto property and offering a low amount would offend the property owner; he advocated to make an offer appealing and suggested $20,000 to $40,000 to gain access to the property was in his opinion a good deal for both parties. When commissioners asked if both property owners decline offers from the county, what recourse was left to which County Attorney, Ellis Hankins stated the county could legally evoke eminent domain to acquire access of right-of-way for a public use, however, lawsuits are expensive for just compensation and would not garner relationships with the property owners. Commissioner Gentry stated Mr. Parker has had a good package from Martin Marietta since 1990; she said an offer of $10,000 or more, with her suggestion to offer naming rights of the park may just entice him to work with the county for the granted easement. It was the consensus of the Board to appoint Commissioner Gentry to negotiate purchasing the access to the county owned property capping the purchase at $25,000. A motion was made by Commissioner Gentry and carried 5-0 to return to open session at 9:19pm. February 7, 2022, Closed Session #2 Page 1 of 2 Person County Board of Commissioners Minutes of a Closed Session DATE: February 7, 2022 MEMBERS OF BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chairman Powell, Vice Chairman Sims, Commissioner Puryear, Commissioner Gentry, and Commissioner Palmer OTHERS PRESENT: County Manager, Heidi York, Clerk to the Board, Brenda Reaves, County Attorney, Ellis Hankins, and Economic Development Director, Sherry Wilborn CLOSED SESSION #2 A motion was made by Vice Chairman Sims and carried 5-0 to enter into Closed Session #2 at 9:21pm 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 area served by the public body, including agreement on a tentative list of economic development incentives that may be offered by the public body in negotiations with the following individuals permitted to attend: Economic Development Director, Sherry Wilborn, County Attorney, Ellis Hankins, County Manager, Heidi York and Clerk to the Board, Brenda Reaves. Chairman Powell called the Closed Session #2 to order at 9:22pm. Economic Development Director, Sherry Wilborn presented to the Board Project Lamb to discuss economic development incentives. Ms. Wilborn stated Project Lamb is a manufacturing operation that has proposed $300M in capital investment and 150 jobs with an average wage of $52,557, which is $8,500 above the county’s current annual average wage. Ms. Wilborn stated Project Lamb is considering locating a new facility on the Person County Mega Park using about 300 acres of the site that contains 1,350 acres of which 950 acres are buildable. Ms. Wilborn said as the county’s largest taxpayer, Duke Energy, transitions away from coal-fired production, a capital investment as Project Lamb would preemptively move towards replacement revenue. She added this manufacturer is in the building materials sector and Person County has existing labor force in this area to supply this industry with jobs. Ms. Wilborn proposed local commitment in the form of performance-based cash grant incentive of $8,044,344 over 10 years, plus a potential upfront investment of $6M to be used toward land acquisition costs or public infrastructure improvements as the site has not been cleared or graded and will need wastewater and gas. February 7, 2022, Closed Session #2 Page 2 of 2 Ms. Wilborn estimated state incentives to be based solely on jobs noting the prospect was scheduled to meet with Commerce on February 8, 2022 and would conduct its own board meeting later this month. She added the prospect desires to be in operation in 2024. Ms. Wilborn said Person County was the only site the prospect was looking at in NC however; other sites of interest are located in SC and GA. It was the consensus of the Board to direct Ms. Wilborn to proceed to offer Project Lamb the financial incentives, as presented. A motion was made by Vice Chairman Sims and carried 5-0 to return to open session at 9:37pm.