C100598Closed Session - October 5, 1998
At 4:10 p.m. the Board went into closed session to discuss matters relating to the location or
expansion of business in the area served by the Board, pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11(a)(4).
Commissioners Frye, Kemp, Holmes, Davis and Mason were present. Also present were Frank
Willis, County Manager; Alice Dawson, Clerk to the Board; Alan Pugh, County Attorney; Aimee
Scotton, Staff Attorney; David Townsend, III, Public Works Director; Walter Sprouse and Bonnie
Renfro, Randolph County Economic Development Corporation.
Mr. Sprouse gave an update on the Hayworth (Cleair) project. They have found a 60 -acre
site in Archdale that has water, sewer, and rail and is appropriately zoned.
Mr. Sprouse said the EDC is forming a committee to study sites for an industrial park in
Randolph County, and he suggested that Commissioner Kemp serve on that committee.
Ms. Renfro reported that Ramtex is looking at a site in Randleman and that Stanley County is
our main competition. Ultracraft is now considering expansion out toward the road, rather than to
the north as reported last month, because of site preparation costs. Ferree Trailer of Climax is
looking at a $1.5 million project in Liberty, which would create jobs for 15-18 new employees.
Mr. Sprouse introduced P.D. Prabhu of Toleram and Ron Epperson of Shell Oil Company.
Mr. Prabhu and Mr. Epperson discussed negotiations between their companies for Toleram to begin
using a new chemical product produced by Shell called PTT. PTT is used in carpet fibers,
sportswear, suits, etc. Toleram must make substantial modifications to its plant in order to use this
new technology. Renovations and expansion will cost several million dollars. Mr. Prabhu said that
byproducts from this chemical process will be captured and destroyed in an incinerator, and the water
will be pretreated before leaving the facility. He said there will be no exposure to employees or the
environment and that they hope to have this process in operation by July, 1999.
Closed session ended at 4:40 p.m. and the Board returned to regular session.
Darrell L. Frye, Chairman Phil Kemp
J. Harold Holmes
Robert O. Mason
Robert B. Davis
Alice D. Dawson, Clerk to the Board