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04-04-2022 Closed Session Meeting Minutes BOCApril 4, 2022, Closed Session #1 Page 1 of 2 Person County Board of Commissioners Minutes of a Closed Session DATE: March 21, 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 at 8:00pm 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 8:03pm. County Manager, Heidi York stated at the Board’s March 7, 2022 meeting, the Board authorized Commissioner Gentry to negotiate purchasing an access easement to the county owned property with Ronald Tilley to either A) offer Mr. Tilley $25,000, and up to $50,000 for an access easement, B) purchase Mr. Tilley’s property at the appraised value or, 3) sell the county owned parcel to Mr. Parker. The appraisal for the Tilley parcel of real estate located on Moore’s Mill Road, tax record 26307 of a 33.23-acre vacant agricultural tract was valued without the easement is $216,000. The value with the easement is $204,000 with a difference of $12,000. Commissioner Gentry reported that Mr. Tilley counter-offered the County $75,000 for the access easement as well as requested for the access road to be constructed to DOT standards and he wants input on the fencing. Commissioner Gentry recommended this counter-offer to gain access to the county property noting it would be kept as a rural conservation parcel and was a qualifying project for the stormwater funding. April 4, 2022, Closed Session #1 Page 2 of 2 Planning Director, Lori Oakley & John Hill, Director of Recreation, Arts and Parks illustrated on a GIS produced map a straight-line access on Mr. Tilley’s parcel was recommended (a different location from the original recommended parcel access). Both Mr. Hill and Ms. Oakley said the easement acquisition costs, architect fees, road construction to DOT standards were all eligible expenses to be paid by the Stormwater Interim Alternative Implementation Approach (IAIA) fees noting the County has to spend over $500K over five years. Mr. Hill noted the funds appropriated for this project could also be used as the county match for the Land Water Conservation Trust Fund grant that he recommended the county to apply for as well as any other grants. Mr. Hill reiterated the County would not have water access and would have to refer any water amenities to Lake Michie. He said a riparian buffer project was included, which will provide boundaries from the park for adjacent landowners. Ms. Oakley stated in addition to public engagement meetings, a quasi-judicial public hearing for a special use permit would be required. County Attorney, Ellis Hankins outlined the next steps, should the Board desire to move forward, would include a survey being completed to show the location of the access easement, a plat for recording, a title search completed to confirm the ownership of the property as well as authorization to the Board Chairman to execute a purchase contract. The Board had consensus to move forward with the offer to purchase the access easement from Mr. Tilley. A motion was made by Commissioner Gentry and carried 5-0 to return to open session at 8:27pm. April 4, 2022, Closed Session #2 Page 1 of 2 Person County Board of Commissioners Minutes of a Closed Session DATE: April 4, 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 at 8:30pm per General Statute 143-318.11(a)(4) for the purpose of economic development discussion of matters relating to the location or expansion of industries or other businesses in the county with the following individuals permitted to attend: County Attorney, Ellis Hankins, County Manager, Heidi York, Clerk to the Board, Brenda Reaves and Economic Development Director, Sherry Wilborn. Chairman Powell called the Closed Session #2 to order at 8:30pm. Economic Development Director, Sherry Wilborn stated the purpose of the Closed Session #2 was to provide an update to the Board on Project Eddie. She reminded the Board that Project Eddie was interested in the Mega Site and proposed $3B in capital investment and 906 jobs at an annual average wage of $73,321. Ms. Wilborn stated she met with the consultant for Project Eddie who requested the County enter into a 20-day contract with them thereby showing the Mega Site to no other parties while they were working with the state on an incentives package. After the 20-day period was up, and the Mega Site was the final site being considered, Project Eddie would then request another 20-day period as they finalize the documents. Ms. Wilborn requested the Board to authorize the Chairman to sign a contract, following the County Attorney’s review noting all would be sealed until the Attorney deemed it would not frustrate the purpose. She added the draft contract would be complete in a couple of days. Commissioner Gentry asked if there was a due diligence to which County Attorney, Ellis Hankins stated there was no check. April 4, 2022, Closed Session #2 Page 2 of 2 Mr. Hankins recommended if the Board had consensus to move forward on the request presented by Ms. Wilborn, that the Board, may by motion, in open session, authorize the Chairman to contract as discussed in Closed Session #2 to facilitate a potential economic development project, after review of the contract by the County Attorney. A motion was made by Vice Chairman Sims and carried 5-0 to return to open session at 8:34pm.