c080612 I Project LibertyClosed Session (Project Liberty) August 6, 2012
At 7:45 p.m., the Board convened closed session to discuss matters relating to the location or
expansion of business in the area, pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11(a)(4). Commissioners Holmes,
Frye, Kemp, Lanier and Haywood were present. Also present were County Manager Richard
Wells; Will Massie, Assistant County Manager/Finance Officer; Ben Morgan, County Attorney;
Aimee Scotton, Associate County Attorney; Cheryl Ivey, Clerk to the Board; and Bonnie Renfro,
Randolph County EDC President.
Bonnie Renfro updated the Board on the proposed "mega site" in Liberty, which would
potentially attract a significant manufacturing company such as an auto or aviation business. She
provided the following information:
Utilities
Water: 16" line will be extended to site—line capacity 1.5 MGD
(opportunity for Randolph County to sell some of its share of
Randleman Lake water to Greensboro for this purpose.)
Sewer: Sewer line will be extended to site—line capacity 1.5 MGD
Power: Duke Energy
Gas: Piedmont Natural Gas Company
Telecommunications: Randolph Telephone Company—Bell South
Zoning: Will be rezoned to industrial
Air Quality: Attainment
Environmental: Phase One & Geotech completed; Wetlands delineation underway
Site Acreage: 2,032 acres (all in Randolph County) 40% of parcels are under
sales contract
Transportation
Rail: Norfolk Southern Railroad at site
Access: US 421 -4 -lane divided Interstate quality highway; multi County
and City marketing of the Highway 421 corridor for economic
development is essential. Site is 10 miles from I-40/85 via US 421
Airports: Piedmont Triad International: 28 miles
RDU: 69 miles
CLT: 106.22 miles
Ports: Norfolk 235 miles
Wilmington 212.74 miles
Labor Force: 62 km/100 mile radius is 1,908,943
**Right to Work State
Ms. Renfro said that $5 million has been appropriated for this project from the State of
North Carolina under the purview of Department of Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco. She
urged the Board to start thinking about revenue sharing options and inter -local agreements with
other participating local governments. Ms. Renfro mentioned that the City of Burlington and
Alamance County have expressed interest in any revenue sharing opportunities. She also
mentioned that there was a group of property owners who appear to have organized in opposition
to the project.
At 8:23 p.m., on motion of Frye, seconded by Lanier, the Board voted unanimously to end
closed session.
J. Harold Holmes, Chairman Darrell L. Frye
Phil Kemp
Arnold Lanier
Stan Haywood
Cheryl A. Ivey, Clerk to the Board