c092205Closed Session — September 22, 2005
At 7:20 p.m. the Board adjourned to closed session to discuss the location or expansion of business
in the area served by the Board, pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11(a)(4). Commissioners Holmes, Frye,
Davis, Kemp and Lanier were present. Also present were Frank Willis, County Manager; County
Attorney Alan Pugh; Associate County Attorney Aimee Scotton; David Townsend, III and Patty
Brown from the County Public Works Department; Cheryl Ivey, Deputy Clerk to the Board; and
Bonnie Renfro from Randolph County Economic Development Corporation (EDC).
Bonnie Renfro said that Environmental Air Systems has decided to expand their operations at their
High Point location instead of at the Liberty Shell building.
Ms. Renfro updated the Board on another company, The Assurance Group, which is located in
Trinity. They want to open a new customer service/call center operation near their existing offices in
Trinity and were considering the Prospect Industrial Park contingent upon availability of sewer service
from Thomasville. The company initially estimated $3.5 million in new facilities (two 40,000 sq. ft.
facilities in 2 phases) and $1 million in electronics and equipment and 500 new jobs at $8412 per hour
for 90% of the jobs and $25,000-$35,000 for 10% of the jobs. Their required sewer access cost was
estimated at $410,0004600,000. The City of Thomasville agreed to provide sewer service to the
location but would not fund the infrastructure. Ms. Renfro initially suggested an incentive of a
$700,000 CDBG with a local match estimated at $175,000.
After further conversations with the company, Ms. Renfro learned that the Company does not feel
comfortable committing to grant -specified job requirements. She then suggested (to the company) a
Rural Center grant which would require a local match of $210,000 but the company would still have to
commit to a certain number of new jobs. She said that she felt that the company would not be
receptive to any grant that had new job conditions tied to it.
The Board directed Ms. Renfro to approach the company one more time regarding a CDBG with a
175 (minimum) new job requirement and the County's incentive of $87,500.
On motion of Frye, seconded by Davis, the Board voted unanimously to resume open session.
J. Harold Holmes, Chairman
Phil Kemp
Arnold Lanier
Darrell L. Frye, Vice Chairman
Robert B. Davis
Cheryl A. Ivey, Deputy Clerk to the Board