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October 171 2005 - Regular Meeting Page 357 in the project and objected to plans to spend $500,000.00 on a study to save the Tribune Building. Mr. Williamson also commented on issues regarding the County Attorney, the reimbursement of a $130,000.00 settlement, efforts to hire another attorney, the Economic Development Corporation and incentives by the City and County. Chairman Carpenter reported a cost of $30,000.00 for a structural analysis of the Tribune Building. Alex Porter, Jr., of South Union Street stated the size of the Jail proj ect is much larger than anyone expected. He asked the Board to find a lOa-year campus for the 50-year housing units and not locate them in the middle of a residential housing block. He presented a copy of the Concord Downtown Development Plan and showed an overlay of the proposed proj ect on Corban Avenue and Union Street. Mr. Porter stated support for the Annex, the Sheriff's Department, and the magistrate's office and asked the Board to proceed with that portion of the project. However, he said the housing units should be placed at another location. Paul Penney of Hunters Trace Drive in Concord asked the Board to provide a resolution of support for the Odell incorporation. He expressed disappointment with the Board's approval of several new subdivisions in the Odell area. He stated the subdivisions will add 700 additional homes and further overload Odell Elementary which is currently at 130 percent of capacity. Mr. Penney asked the Board to reconsider its actions and to protect the children's education. John Clark of Lloyd Place in Concord and Chairman of the Democratic Party stated concern about money that is being wasted by delaying the Jail project. He commented on the several locations that had been considered for the temporary Jail and stated the facility would be up and running now if it had been started on time. Mr. Clark cautioned about the risk of the State taking over or shutting down the existing Jail along with the expense of sending prisoners out of town. He encouraged Board Members to proceed with the Jail project. David Beard of Jim Johnson Road in Concord thanked the Board for its support of the Odell incorporation. However, he stated he was saddened by the Board's approval of three developments of 700 homes on September 29. He said the infrastructure is not there to support the additional development and questioned how the County will enforce infrastructure improvements to be made by developers. He cited concerns regarding the following: cutting of 100 -year-old oak trees in the Cabarrus Crossing development; required road improvements to be made on NC Highway 73 and Jim Johnson Road; construction of new schools; and the dangerous traffic conditions in the Odell Community. Joyce Simone of Olde Cedar Court urged the Board to unanimously approve the proposed resolution regarding the Odell incorporation. She objected to the September 29th approval of three subdivisions totaling 700 new houses in the Odell area. She expressed concern about the current infrastructure in that area, the overcrowded schools and impact on property values. She asked the Board to revisit its decision to allow those subdivisions to be built. Marlyn Burns of Hunters Trace Drive spoke in support of the incorporation of Odell. She read a quote by Thomas Jefferson concerning the right of self government and discussed the reasons that the Odell citizens want incorporation and self -governance. Ms. Burns formally petitioned for a vote for a positive proclamation for the people of Odell and for the incorporation of town of Odell. Betsy Brown of Louise Drive SE in Concord reported she had been asked to sign a petition to prevent a Jail from being built in downtown Concord. Stating she had done on-line research of North Carolina Correction statistics, Ms. Brown said the County would make $19 million a year by housing inmates from other areas with a reimbursement rate of $85/day per inmate. with an additional 600 beds, she stated the County would make $37 million. She questioned the need for 600 beds and asked if the County was in the Jail business. Heath Ritchie of union Street South in Concord expressed appreciation for allowing the study of the old Tribune Building. He stated there had been a lot of confusion regarding the Jail project and suggested that all information about the proj ect be published in the newspapers. Finally, he said the Annex is needed and should be started immediately I but the two housing units should be discussed further.