AG 2001 05 21 - Laserfiche WebLink

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87 The Board of Commissioners for the County of cabarrus met in recessed session in the Multipurpose Room at the Cabarrue County Governmental Center in Concord, North Carolina, on Thursday, May 3, 2001, at 6:30 p.m. Present - Chai=man= Arne L. Fennel Vice Chairman: Robert W. Carruth Co~issioners: Robert M. Freeman Coy C. Prlvette Richard D. Suggs Also present were Mr. Frank W. Clifton, Jr., County Manager; Mr. John D. Day, Deputy County Manager for Operations; Mr. Don C. Cummings, Buman Resources Director; Ms. Cathie K. Straub, Budget Officer; and Mrs. Frankie F. Bonds, Clerk to the Board. Chairman ~ennel was absent for the beginning of the meeting. Vice Chairman Carruth called the meeting to order at 6=3S p.m. Work Session Schedule Mr. Clifton proposed that the Board cancel the budget work sessions scheduled on May 1S, 24 and 29. The Board by consensus agreed to cancel those meetings. Final action will be taken after the arrival of Chairman Fennel. Groundbreaking - Exposition Center Mr. Clifton suggested the Board hold the groundbreaking ceremony for the Exposition Center on Monday, June 25. There was general agreement with the proposed date. Eeono~/c Development Co~oration .- Mr. Clifton gave a brief overview of the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and its funding by Cabarrus County. He said he was recommending an appropriation for FY 2002 of $388,835.00, which is the same amount as the FY 2001 appropriation. Mr. Clifton pointed out the EDC generally spends $40,000.00 less each year than is budgeted and that money is returned to the County's Generel Fund. Mr. Keith Wayne, Chairman of the EDC Board, outlined EDC's mission to target and recruit new businesses and to support existing businesses in Cabarrus county. He introduced the following ~C Board members who were present for the meeting: Larry Hinsdale, Tom Default, Bill Casle, Bob Misenheimer, Mike Nash, Ron Wilson, Jim Filch and A1 Thi~pen. Chairman Fennel arrived at 6:48 p.m. and presided over the remainder of the meeting. Mr. Wayne discussed EDC'e FY 2002 budget request of $645,249.00 (an increase of $254,414.00 over the FY 2001 budget) and the economic strategic planning study recently completed by Lockwood Greene Consulting for the EDC. He stated the additional allocation would be used to fund a $17,914.00 increase in BDO operating costs and to fund the following recomendations from the Lockwood Greene Study: Internal Marketing and Listing Business $ 44,000.00 Feasibility Study/Private Sector Involvement 30,000.00 Target Industry and External Marketing 162,500.00 Mr. Wayne described the County's funding of EDC as an investment and commented on the return on that investment over the last six years, including taxes, expansion of Johs, marketing, etc. Re indicated the County and the cities have a direct line benefit from economic development while the pri~ate sector does not. Also, .Mr. Wayne discussed Jobs of the future and stressed the importance of attracting technology industries to Cabarrns County. Mr. Larry Hinsdale, CEO at Northeast Medical center and Chairman-elect of the EDC Board, discussed the relationship between the Lockwood Greene study and the Envision Csbarrns strategic planning process to be facilitated by Henry Luke. He stated the Lockwood ~reene study provides information that will assist with the Envision Cabarrus strate~ic plan-~ing process. Mr. Clifton commented on the direct benefit of economic development to local corporations. He stated th~ County currently provides total funding for EDC and outlined the need for the private sector to participate in that funding. There was lengthy discussion regarding the operation of the EDC, including the role of the Cha~er of Commerce in economic development activities, the structure of the EDC Board, the payment of incentive grants for new and expanding businesses, funding sources for EDC and the need to establish a public/private partnership to provide funding for BDO. Mr. Maurice Ewing, President of the EDC, briefly discussed ~rketing activities by the EDC.