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168 <br /> <br /> The Board of Commissioners for the County of Cabarrus met in adjourned <br />session at the Concord/Cabarrus County Chamber of Commerce Office in <br />Concord, North Carolina, on Thursday, February 7, 1985, at 8:00 P.M. to <br />hear a report from Chamber officials. <br /> Present - Chairman: James W. Lentz <br /> Commissioners: William G. Hamby, Jr. <br /> Archie Y. Barnhardt <br /> Marcelle M. Upright <br /> Absent - Commissioner Kenneth F. Payne <br /> Mr. Don Graham, Chairman of the Concord/Cabarrus County Chamber of <br />Commerce, welcomed the Board of Commissioners to the meeting and stated <br />the purpose of the meeting was to present the Chamber's priorities for <br />cabarrus County. He outlined the Chamber's commitment to promote economic <br />development by continuing to support present industry, actively seeking <br />new industry, and participating with city-county-state governments in <br />programs to enhance the quality of life in Cabarrus County. <br /> Mr. William E. McCrary, Chairman of the Cabarrus Advisory Council <br />for Rowan Technical College, stated the Chamber's first priority is the <br />establishment of a sister campus of Rowan Technical College in Cabarrus <br />County to meet the postsecondary occupational education needs of this <br />county. He reported that Rowan Technical College had included as a part <br />of its five-year capital construction plan a request for a $2 million grant <br />from the North Carolina General Assembly, which will require matching funds <br />by the County, for the establishment of a Rowan/Cabarrus Technical Campus <br />in Cabarrus County. <br /> Mr. L. D. Coltrane, III, speaking on behalf of Rowan Technical College, <br />stressed the need for a technical school in Cabarrus County and stated in <br />his opinion the educational needs of the county could best be met through <br />the establishment of a Cabarrus campus of Rowan Technical College. <br /> Mr. Philip H. Smith, Sr., President and Industrial Development Manager <br />of the Chamber of Commerce, emphasized the need for an intent from the <br />Board of Commissioners to provide the $2 million as local matching funds <br />in order to receive approval of the request to the General Assembly. <br /> Mr. Ron Bostian of Rowan Technical College reviewed plans for the <br />technical campus currently proposed for the Lyles Industrial Park near <br />1-85. He stated that eight educational programs are planned for the campus <br />and that from 400 to 500 students per day are expected during the first year <br />of operation. <br /> Mr. Philip H. Smith, Sro, reported that a general aviation airport <br />is the Chamber's second priority. He stated an airport is needed to <br />serve individuals and existing businesses owning aircraft as well as to <br />attract new industries to Cabarrus County. He estimated the cost of an <br />airport to be approximately $4 to $5 million with the County providing <br />five percent of the funds. In conclusion, he reported that an Aviation <br />Subcommittee of the Economic Development Council of the Chamber had been <br />established to study the need for an airport in Cabarrus County. <br /> Mr. Don Graham outlined the need for water and sewer lines to be <br />expanded to reach the entire county as soon as possible to open up other <br />areas of the county for full development. He also stated that planned <br />controlled growth for the Highway 49, 29, and 1-85 Corridor needs to be <br />started now and recommended a meeting with officials from the University <br />of North Carolina at Charlotte and Charlotte/Mecklenburg Chamber of Commerce <br />to discuss this area. <br /> Mr. Tom Shoe, Vice-President of the Chamber of Commerce, reported that <br /> the Chamber had urged the State Legislators to repeal the Intangibles Tax <br /> and to phase out the Inventory Tax. He stated that the elimination of <br /> these taxes will result in an increase in jobs in the future. <br /> Other needs as presented by members of the Chamber of Commerce <br /> included the importance of the City and County working together, the <br /> retention of a low County tax base, the maintenance of good roads, the <br /> development of a policy for furnishing water and sewer to new industries, <br /> and the future development of an arts complex at the Charlotte Motor <br /> Speedway. <br /> The Board of Commissioners received the presentation by the Chamber <br /> of Commerce as information and no action was taken. <br /> There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting <br /> adjourned at 9:30 P.M. <br /> <br />Clerk to the Board <br /> <br /> <br />