AG 1998 12 07 - Laserfiche WebLink

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DRAFT County under the Smart Start Program and the Welfare to Work Program with the understanding that no County match is required. Authorization for Rsal Prooertv Transfer/Exchange by the Cabarrus County Board of Education UPON MOTION of Commissioner Barnhart, seconded by Commissioner Carpenter and unanimously carried, the Board authorized the Real Property Transfer/Exchange by the Cabarrus County Board of Education involving the Towell property (new Harrisburg Elementary site) and the Peter and Stephanie Delaney property. NEW BUSINESS Ratification of the around Lease Aareement for the Construction of the New LIFE Center Facility Ad4acent to th9 Senior Center Commissioner Barnhart stated for the record that he was supportive of the L.I.F.E. Center but could not support a lease that went beyond 20 years. UPON MOTION of Commissioner Carpenter, seconded by Commissioner Niblock with Commissioners Carpenter and Niblock and Chairman Casper voting for and Commissioner Barnhart voting against, the Board approved as to form only the Ground Lease Agreement between Cabarrus County and L.I.F.E. Center, Inc. for a period of 50 years for the construction of a new L.I.F.E. Center facility on County property. The lease will be signed upon submission and approval of the final building plans for the facility. The Ground Lease Agreement is on file in the Office of the County Manager and hereby included by reference as a part of the minutes. Consideration of a Re(n/est for an Industrial Incentive Grant for Fieldcrest Mr. Clifton reported the project by Fieldcrest Cannon to upgrade plants in Kannapolis had been expanded to include a $20 million expansion and replacement of equipment in a plant located in the City of Concord. He distributed revised copies of the proposed Incentive Agreement among Cabarrus County, the City of Concord, the City of Kannapolis and Fieldcrest Cannon. Mr. Maurice Ewing, President of the Cabarrus Economic Development Corporation, introduced Mr. Jeff Cordes, President of Pillowtex Corporation, of which Fieldcrest Cannon is a division. Mr. Cordes presented the request for approval of up to $100 million of Pillowtex capital spending ($80 million for Plants 1 and 4 in Kannapolis and $20 million for Plant 6 in Concord) to be included as part of the County's Industrial Development Incentive Pr~ram. He reviewed the history of Fieldcrest Cannon, its products and upcoming marketing campaign. Mr. Cordes also addressed the following issues during his presentation: the company's commitment to being an industry leader in textiles; the desire to make Cabarrus County a focal point for the future of the company; the company's dedication to its employees; the need to modernize and expand capacity of the bed and bath divisions of Cabarrus County's plants; the company's obligation to its shareholders; the existence of competition in other areas for the company's investment dollars; and the positive effect of the company's capital program on the County tax revenue. Mr. Clifton discussed the procedure for calculating the grants, stating the actual grant would be applied to total investment less the value of existing equipment. The grant would be for a five-year period and will be adjusted annually for depreciation of the equipment. He presented as an Attachment to the Agreement a memorandum from Mr. Bill Kouri, County Tax Audit Manager, outlining the method of calculation. For the grant to go into effect, it must also be approved by the cities of Concord and Kannapolis. At 7:15 P.M, Chairman Casper opened the public hearing concerning the proposed incentive grant for Fieldcrest Cannon, Inc. and asked if anyone wished to speak either for or against the proposed grant. The Notice of the Public Hearing was published in THE INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE on November 4, 1998 and in THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER (Cabarrus Neighbors) on November 5, 1998. Ms. Marilyn Barnhardt of 5800 Wabash Lane, Concord, strongly objected to incentive grants for businesses, stating incentives border on "blackmail