Minutes - 1-27-14 Emerg. Called Meeting

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BK - 00026 PG LEE COUNTY Committed Today for a Better Tomorrow EMERGENCY CALLED MEETING OF THE LEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 106 HILLCREST DRIVE SANFORD, NORTH CAROLINA 27330 JANUARY 27, 2014 The emergency called meeting of the Board of Commissioners for the County of Lee, State of North Carolina, convened at 6 p.m. in the Commissioners' Room, Lee County Government Center, 106 Hillcrest Drive, Sanford, North Carolina, on said date. Commissioners present were Amy M. Dalrymple, Dr. Ricky D. Frazier, Dr. Andre Knecht, Charles T. Parks, Robert T. Reives, Kirk D. Smith, and James K. Womack. Chairman Parks called the meeting to order. Commissioner Frazier delivered the invocation. The pledge of allegiance was recited. The Board considered the Lee County Economic Development Guidelines /Policy that was adopted in July 2013. As noted in the Agenda package, Lee County, the City of Sanford, the Town of Broadway, the Lee County Economic Development Corporation, and the Sanford Chamber of Commerce agreed to establish a taskforce that would work together to create a new public /private partnership for economic development in Lee County. Part of the taskforce work is to begin a fundraising campaign to raise private funds to support the new combined organization. During the analysis phase of the campaign conducted by Convergent Nonprofit Solutions, the consultant ran into difficulties in getting commitments from private stakeholders that would support the new organization due to the County's incentive guidelines. Convergent, Economic Development Corporation (EDC), and the Chamber recommended that before the fundraising campaign could begin the County's incentive guidelines needed to be more competitive with surrounding counties. A revised Guidelines /Policy has been drafted as a result of discussions within the local government committee of the taskforce. The revised Guidelines /Policy is supported by the Chamber of Commerce and the EDC. Commissioner Reives began discussion of the proposed Guidelines /Policy, addressing questions he had in reference to several of the items proposed. Brad Simpson, President of the Chamber and Donnie Oldham, Chairman of the Lee County Economic Development Corporation answered questions from the Board. County Manager John Crumpton stated the fundraising is in a holding pattern at this time until this issue is addressed and finalized by the Board of Commissioners. He further stated an endorsement from the Board will get the private fundraising going. Commissioner Reives moved to endorse the "draft" as proposed by the sub - committee of the Sanford -Lee County Partnership for Prosperity, a copy of which is attached to these Minutes and by this reference made a part hereof. Upon a vote, the results were as follows: