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<br />September 5, 2006 (Recessed Meeting) <br /> <br />Page 86 <br /> <br />concrete foundations and slabs involved in large structures built throughout <br />the Piedmont and Southeastern United States. He said these services were <br />later expanded to include earth moving and site development acti vi ties and <br />development of street and utility infrastructures. The Wayne Brothers start- <br />up phase, he said consisted of one small building that included office space <br />and tool storage and a repair garage. He said the company expanded in 1989, <br />1994 and 1996. Their last expansion, he said was limited because of zoning <br />nonconformi ty and watershed restrictions. He stated he is very proud of his <br />employees; Wayne Brothers has been listed among the largest 100 concrete <br />contractors in the United States by a concrete construction magazine and are <br />currently ranked 61 st; the company is the largest concrete subcontractor in <br />North Carolina and South Carolina; in July 2005, Southeast Construction <br />Magazine listed Wayne Brothers as the 55th largest subcontractor of all <br />specialty trades in the Southeast. He attributed this growth to the quality <br />of their workforce and said they provide continuous training and education to <br />their employees regardless of their point of entry into the company; have an <br />outstanding employee retention rate; employees may become a Certified <br />Journeyman by completing the North Carolina approved apprenticeship program; <br />the company offers a complete benefits package, including medical, <br />retirement, and bonuses; and the average weekly wage is $715.00 for hourly <br />employees and $1,300.00 for salaried employees. He said Wayne Brothers <br />expects their salaried staff to grow by 15 percent per year, with a majority <br />of those staff requiring office space in the facility and expects similar <br />growth to occur among field staff who works at job sites within a five state <br />region. He said the new operations center will contain a substantial <br />training facility. Currently, Wayne Brothers partners with the N. C. <br />Department of Labor and Rowan-Cabarrus Community College in delivering <br />classes and he said the company expects to share their new training space <br />wi th the college and other community partners upon its completion. He said <br />their current business outlook is quite good and is involved in numerous <br />local proj ects including NorthEast Medical Center and the new Lowe's Home <br />Improvement corporate headquarters. He said their trucks travel County roads <br />everyday to get to their current facility and job sites. He also said the <br />company faces a daily challenge to find a place for sixty employees to eat <br />lunch. Because there are no retail services in northwest Cabarrus County, he <br />said they often have to take clients or vendors to Davidson or Concord for <br />lunch. He said these retail services are needed to conduct business and to <br />grow their business. After the company conducted an extensive property <br />search to find the best suited location, he said they settled upon the <br />Wallace family property because the site is centrally located to their sphere <br />of operations and is close to the homes of those employed at the home office. <br />He said this factor is important to retaining valuable employees, most of <br />which live in Cabarrus County. He further reported there are numerous <br />employees living in the surrounding neighborhoods adj acent to the subj ect <br />property. He said the timing of their needs coincided with plans of the <br />Wallace family; his company is committed to the Wallace family and the <br />communi ty on developing the proj ect in a favorable and responsible manner. <br />He asked the Board for consideration of the request and said the company has <br />made a big effort to include the concerns of the community from the previous <br />rezoning request. In closing, he promised to be a good neighbor regardless of <br />the outcome of the hearing. <br /> <br />After his presentation, Mr. Wayne responded a variety of questions <br />including: the difference between Wayne Brother's operation and the Redi-Mix <br />Concrete operation; what percentage of the company's fleet are heavy <br />vehicles; whether toxic chemicals will be stored on the property; and the <br />servicing of company vehicles. <br /> <br />Ray Abromi tis of 6761 Fox Ridge Circle in Davidson reported he is a <br />resident of the Park Creek subdivision which is approximately three miles <br />from the subj ect property. He said he has watched the debate surrounding <br />this petition with great interest; he personally knows Mr. Wayne and one of <br />the Wallace family members; and he has attended a few meetings area to listen <br />to concerns about zoning issues and the incorporation of the Odell community. <br />Al though he had many locations to choose from, he said his family selected <br />the Park Creek development because of the quality of life that area provides <br />for his family. He said he understands the pride the long-term residents of <br />the Odell community have in their community and he has come to love the area <br />and appreciates the friendship of many of those in the expanded community. <br />He said he sees a tremendous wave of change occurring daily in his part of <br />the County and shares the concerns of his neighbors regarding traffic, safety <br />and school capacity. He said he agrees that not all change is good and if he <br />obj ected to those changes, he would be here with his neighbors to oppose <br />those changes. However, he said efforts to ignore or resist change places <br />the community at risk of being swallowed by uncontrolled growth. He said a <br />more reasonable option would appear to involve a plan of managed growth <br />