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January 31, 2004 Page 358 activities; (3) Expansion opportunities for local Education of work force. companies; and (4) Commissioner Carruth reviewed the history of Cabarrus Economic Development Corporation and its plans to bring 31 stakeholders together to develop recommendations as to how the economic development program can be improved. He expressed concern that a group of business people has proposed to go through a similar process with the Chamber of Commerce to develop recommendations concerning the future of economic development in Cabarrus County. There was lengthy discussion regardin9 the current economic development program and the need to develop a strategy as how to make the economic development program more effective. The discussion centered on whether the current EDC organization or a group of local business people should take the lead in the process to develop recommendations concerning future economic development efforts. Mr. Day reported that the business group plans to employ James Johnson of the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to assist in bringing together area business people, government leaders and others to discuss and develop a community-wide, comprehensive approach to economic development. UPON MOTION of Vice Chairman Suggs, seconded by Commissioner Carruth and unanimously carried, the Board voted to support the private sector moving forward with its plans for James Johnson to lead discussions as to how the economic development program can become more effective in Cabarrus County with the Cabarrus Economic Development Corporation to participate in that process. Further, the Board agreed it would decide the direction of the Economic Development program after the completion of the review process. The Board recessed for lunch at 12:00 p.m. and reconvened at 12:36 p.m. Education Mr. McCoy led the Board in the discussion of the need for new school facilities. Issues addressed during the discussion included the following: (1) Financing of school construction, including the use of Certificates of Participation, fund balance and/or bond issue; (2) Land banking of property for future school sites; (3) Needs of Rowan-Cabarrus Community College (RCCC), including development of a business center at the old school administrative complex, equipment for the center, construction of a new parking lot at the South Campus and future construction of a third South Campus building. There was discussion regarding the financing of new school construction and the need to have a back-up plan if a proposed bond referendum should fail. Mr. Day suggested that the Board proceed with borrowing money for the RCCC remodeling project at the old School Administrative building and discussed the possibility of applying for a grant to assist with those costs. The Board addressed a number of issues during discussion of the school facility needs, including the following: (1) Possibility of putting money aside annually for the long-term funding of school construction; (2) Future co-use of school facilities; (3) Questions about the use of public school facilities by students in private and/or home schools; (4) Use of nearby college campuses such as Davidson, University of North Carolina (UNC) at Charlotte and Pfeiffer University; and (5) Future role of Barber Scotia College. During the discussion, Mr. Day reported that the development of a test track facility in Cabarrus County has been proposed as a part of the motorsports program at UNC-Charlotte. UPON MOTION of Commissioner Carpenter, seconded by Vice Chairman Suggs and unanimously carried, the Board agreed to borrow funds to pay for renovations and equipment for a new business center at the old school administration building for Rowan-Cabarrus Community College (RCCC), for a new parking lot at RCCC's South Campus and for the design fees for the third South Campus building. Department of Social Services The Board briefly discussed issues associated with the Department of Social Services (DSS). Highlights of the discussion included the following: (1) A majority of the services at DSS are mandated; (2) Local DSS is very innovative; (3) Space and lease issues; and (4) Possibility of decentralizing services in the future.