AG 1999 09 20 - Laserfiche WebLink

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285 DRAFT employees; {2) Low impact on area highways and roads; (3) Low impact on the environment; and (4) Company history of community involvement. At 7:25 P.M., Chairman Barnhart opened the public hearing concerning the Owens Corning industrial development incentive grant request and asked if anyone wished to address the Board regarding this issue. The Notice of the Public Hearing was published in THE INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE on August 17, 1999 and in THE CHARLOTT~ OBSEB~EH (Cabarrus Neighbors) on August 19, 1999. Ms. Brenda Cline, 3887 Meadowridge Drive, Concord, directed a question to Commissioner Prive~te as to how the Board could grant incentives to any company to move into Cabarrus County when there is no room in the schools for children currently living .here. She also questioned the alleged existence of a $30 million fund that could be used for new schools. Chairman Barnhart explained the purpose of the incentive grants and efforts to balance the residential and commercial development in the county. Commissioner Privette expressed his opposition to incentive grants and commented on the unfairness of the grants. In regards to the alleged $30 million fund, Mr. Clifton briefly reviewed the County's Fund Balance and its purpose. There was no one else to address the Board, and Chairman Barnhart closed the public hearing. There was lengthy discussion by the Board regarding the Owens Corning incentive grant request as well as the pros and cons of incentive grants. The discussion centered on the following: general dislike of incentives by Board members, the need to balance residential and commercial development in the county, the merits of the proposed Owens Corning project, the need for diversification of industry in the county, the lack of need for incentive grants to attract new businesses to Cabarrus County and questions regarding funding the Economic Development Corporation as a "Santa Claus" program. UPON MOTION of Commissioner Fennel, seconded by Commissioner Casper with Commissioners Fennel, Casper and Carpenter and Chairman Barnhart voting for and Commissioner Privette voting against, the Board approved the Industrial Incentive Grant Agreement among Cabarrus County, the City of Concord and Owens Corning pursuant to the Cabarrus County Industrial Development Grant Program adopted by the Board on June 1, 1999. The Agreement is on file in the Office of the County Manager and hereby included by reference as a part of the minutes. Presentation and Discussion of School Construction Needs - ~barrus ~ountv School Board and ~inistr~ion Discussion of and Recom~endation to Form ~ Public ~onstru~on Oveu~$aht Co~t~tes - Vice Chairman Fennel Dr. Harold Winkler, Cabarrus County Schools Superintendent, introduced Ms. Jane Spainhour who had requested to address the Board. Ms. Jane Spainhour, teacher at Concord Middle School, expressed appreciation on behalf of the citizens, educators and students for the new Concord Middle School. Dr. Winkler presented the School Board's request for two new 800-student middle schools and an 800-student elementary school or two middle schools for 800 students with core capacity to expand to 1,20~ students. He stated the Schools need 1,600 additional seats during the next seven to eight years. Further, Dr. W~nkler presented the School Board's offer to invite the Commissioners to participate in the process to select an architect and school design as well as to establish a Community Oversight Committee. The process included letters to architects within a 100-mile radius who have designed schools, visits to selected schools of architects who express an interest, and establishment of a list of architects to be interviewed. October 7~ was the targeted date for conducting interviews and selecting an architect. Mr. Clifton advised that the County has reserve funds that could be used to employ an architect and acquire property for the new schools. He suggested that the County may wish to consider the issuance of certificates of participation early next summer to fund school construction costs.