BC 2003 10 20 - Laserfiche WebLink

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October 20, 2003 Page 258 Ms. Marilyn Barnhardt, resident of 5800 Wabash Lane, Concord, spoke in support of a lottery in North Carolina. Mr. Steve Cochran, resident of 6500 Barrier Store Road, Mt. Pleasant, commented on the following items: (1) Recommended the sale of the Arena and Events Center to a private enterprise; (2) Availability of a ~working" telephone for jail inmates; (3) If elected as County Commissioner, intent to donate his pay to the Cooperative Christian Ministry; and (4) Alleged conflict of interest by Mr. Hartsell as Attorney for the Town of Mt. Pleasant, Attorney for Cabarrus County and member of the North Carolina Senate. Ms. Shirley Porter, resident of 850 Pebble Avenue, Concord, spoke in support of a proposed convention center to be located on Speedway Boulevard near the Rocky River Golf Club and Lowes Motor Speedway. Mr. Ric Starnes commented on the following items: (1) Opposition to proposed convention center to be built by John Q. Hammons on property owned by the City of Concord; (2) Concern that THE INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE is not publishing both sides of the story regarding the convention center; and (3) Agreement by the Tourism Authority to provide $20,000.00 for an event that was being organized by the father of the Authority's Chairman but later canceled for this year. There was no one else present to address the Board, and Chairman Freeman closed that portion of the meeting. (E) OLD BUSINESS (E-l) Justice Center Pro~ect Monthly Progress Report Mr. Day gave a brief update on the Jail/Justice Center project. He stated the contract with Ware Bonsall Architects, along with the scope of work for the project, was included in the Consent Agenda. Sheriff Brad Riley reported that the average daily jail population thus far for the month of October was 207 with a peak population of 218. He stated the department has utilized the contract with Gaston County and ten inmates were being housed in the Gaston County Detention Center. (E-2) Hotel and Conference Center Incentive Gr&nt Program At the meeting on September 15, the Board tabled the proposed Hotel and Conference Center Incentive Grant Program until the October 20tn meeting. The Board asked Commissioners Carruth and Privette to meet with Doug Stafford to discuss the proposed program. Commissioner Privette reported that he and Commissioner Carruth have not yet been able to meet with Doug Stafford due to scheduling conflicts. He asked that consideration of the Hotel and Conference Center Incentive Grant Program be delayed to the meeting in November. Chairman Freeman requested' the following changes to the proposed Incentive Grant Program: (1) Page 2 - Second paragraph - Change review requirement from every two years to "annually"; (2) Page 4 - third paragraph - Delete ~and the Tourism Authority"; and (3) Page 4 - Fourth paragraph - Delete "and other contracting agencies." He also pointed out the requirement on Page 5 for a public hearing prior to the approval of an agreement between the County and a developer. Commissioner Carruth made a motion to approve the Hotel and Conference Center Incentive Grant Program with the changes listed by Chairman Freeman and with the reduction of the requirement for a Level I grant from a minimum of 150 rooms to 100 rooms. Commissioner Carpenter seconded the motion. Commissioner Privette made a substitute motion to delay consideration of the Hotel and Conference Center Incentive Grant Program until the November meeting to allow time for discussion with Doug Stafford and for the County Attorney to review the wording of the requested amendments. Vice Chairman Suggs seconded the motion, which failed with Commissioner Privette and Vice Chairman Suggs voting for and Chairman Freeman and Commissioners Carpenter and Carruth voting against. UPON MOTION of Commissioner Carruth, seconded by Commissioner Carpenter with Commissioners Carruth and Carpenter and Chairman Freeman voting for and Vice Chairman Suggs and Commissioner Privette voting against, the Board adopted the Hotel and Conference Center Grant Program with the changes listed by Chairman Freeman (see above) and with the reduction of the requirement for a Level I grant from a minimum of 150 rooms to 100 rooms. The Program as adopted by the Board was as follows: