12-11-17 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Aye: Dalrymple, Dodson, Knecht, Oldham, Reives, Sharpe, Sloan Nay: None The Chair ruled the motion had carried unanimously. D. Consideration of a Proposal for Legal Services in Developing Oil, Gas, and Mining Ordinances County Attorney Whitney Parrish stated that Lee County voted to extend the moratorium on oil, gas and mining development in Lee County on November 13, 2017 for twenty-four months. Chatham County has also extended their moratorium on oil and gas development for twelve months. Once Chatham County completed their study with Dr. Yuill, Lee County engaged Dr. Yuill to complete a similar study in Lee County. Lee County's Land Use Plan is still being updated and will hopefully be taken to all Boards early next year. The moratorium causes the County to make changes/updates to our unified development ordinance so they are in compliance with state statutes. Chatham and Lee Counties are proposing to enter into a legal services agreement with Poyner Spruill LLP to help both counties assist in this task. This task requires expertise in the field of environmental law and the attorneys will work with staff to give recommendations where regulation is needed. A Technical Committee of staff will be formed who will work with the attorneys at Poyner Spruill. They will identify the areas of regulation and how those regulations can be accomplished and then these recommendations will be presented to both Boards of Commissioners. Poyner Spruill will draft the ordinances. Staff is seeking services for developing both an oil and gas ordinance and a mining ordinance. Commissioner Knecht requested a timeframe for the ordinance development. Commissioner Oldham moved to approve the proposals for developing oil and gas and mining ordinances, 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: Aye: Dalrymple, Dodson, Knecht, Oldham, Reives, Sharpe, Sloan Nay: None The Chair ruled the motion had carried unanimously. E. Consideration of an Economic Development Incentive Agreement with Wyeth Holdings, LLC, Doing Business as Pfizer County Manager Crumpton requested a motion to excuse Commissioner Sloan from taking part in the discussion and vote due to a potential conflict of interest based on his employment. Commissioner Reives moved to excuse Commissioner Sloan. Upon a vote, the results were as follows: Aye: Dalrymple, Dodson, Knecht, Oldham, Reives, Sharpe, Sloan Nay: None The Chair ruled the motion had carried and Commissioner Sloan excused himself from the board room. County Attorney Parrish stated that on February 20, 2017, the Board held a public hearing proposing to participate in an economic development project, Project Panda which consists of a life science research and product manufacturing process with a taxable investment of at lease one hundred million dollars and the hiring of fifty new jobs at an average salary of ninety thousand dollars over a five year period. The Investment from the County will be up to $1,412,715.00. No one spoke in favor or in opposition of the project at the public hearing. After the public hearing, the Board voted to approve the agreement. Commissioner Reives moved to Page 519