c120511 Project LibertyClosed Session (Project Liberty) December 5, 2011
At 9:00 p.m., the Board, convened closed session to discuss matters relating to the location or
expansion of business in the area, pursuant to NCGS 143-318.1l(a)(4). Commissioners Holmes,
Frye, Kemp, Lanier and Haywood were present. Also present were County Manager Richard
Wells; Will Massie, Finance Officer; Ben Morgan, County Attorney; Aimee Scotton, Associate
County Attorney; Cheryl Ivey, Clerk to the Board; Amanda Varner, Deputy Clerk to the Board
and Bonnie Renfro from Randolph County EDC.
Bonnie Renfro, EDC President, updated the Board on two aspects of the "mega site" project.
She said that it is not clear at this point whether the State of North Carolina will be willing to
aggressively go after the project, due to the enormous up front money that has historically been
required of other states with similar large projects. One thing she has determined is that the State
of North Carolina will not differentiate one potential in-state site from another; therefore, the
Piedmont Triad Partnership, who has taken the lead in this project, is looking to the private
sector for funding partners. She added that Duke Energy has stated its willingness to be a partner,
as well as Norfolk Southern Railroad.
Ms. Renfro also said that the Piedmont Triad Partnership had sent out letters to property
owners at the proposed Liberty site, inquiring as to whether they might be interested in selling
their property. She said that there have been no outright "noes," which is very positive. A second
inquiry letter will be mailed soon.
According to Ms. Renfro, the next step is to do some soil borings at the proposed site to
determine the site's feasibility for this project. She said that $15,000 is needed for this work. Ms.
Renfro said that the Randolph Development Corporation can provide $4,000, and the EDC can
provide $2,500. She asked the Board if they would consider contributing $10,000 for these soil
borings.
Following discussion, the consensus of the Board was that the County could contribute
$10,000 to assist in funding site evaluation and legal services taken on behalf of the project,
when needed.
At 9:25 p.m., on motion of Kemp, seconded by Haywood, the Board voted unanimously to
end closed session and resume regular session.
J. Harold Holmes, Chairman Darrell L. Frye
Phil Kemp
Arnold Lanier
Stan Haywood
Cheryl A. Ivey, Clerk to the Board