Minutes - March 5, 2012 RegularMeeting

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g(00 24 • City or county may acquire options for property, • City or county may construct buildings, • City or county may construct, extend, or own utility facilities, • City or county may provide for or extend water and sewer lines to industrial properties, and • City or county may engage in site preparation for industrial properties or facilities. After the presentation, a question and answer session was held by Board members. No action was taken. Commissioner Womack discussed with the Board the need to create a new Advisory Board to review and make Board of Commissioner (BOC) recommendations on all matters related to the emerging natural gas industry that will directly impact Lee County. Mr. Womack stated that at present, Lee County has several standing boards and committees who have limited oversight and interest in the extraction of shale gas from thousands of feet below Lee County. However, no one board has comprehensive oversight and expertise across the broad scope of the future shale gas industry in Lee County. The BOC should consider establishing a new standing body to review and report on all measures; impact fee assessments; tax policy; road and bridge upgrades; water quality monitoring; education and training for workforce development, etc. The concept is for this to be a BOC appointed Advisory Board of 12 or so select individuals veering the interests of all stakeholders. There would be 6 -10 volunteer subcommittees of this body each of which could have dozens of participants who provide grass roots reporting to the Subcommittee head for subsequent representation at the Advisory Board. Those boards and committees already in existence in Lee County — including Public Health, Environmental Affairs, and Agriculture Advisory Board — would naturally collaborate with the new Advisory Board and their standing authority would not be lessened. No action was taken. At this time the Board took a 5- minute recess. Upon returning from recess, with all members present, the regular meeting resumed. Assistant County Manager /Finance Director Lisa Minter gave the Manager's Report in the absence of County Manager John Crumpton who was attending a NACo Conference in Washington, D.C. Ms. Minter gave Board members copies of the final report of the performance audit for Lee County Government and Lee County Schools. It was stated that a representative from Evergreen Solutions will be at the March 1g meeting to present the final report. Board members were reminded of the March 8` Budget Kickoff Work Session in the Gordon Wicker Conference Room beginning at 8:30 a.m. A copy of the agenda for the work session was provided to all Commissioners. Commissioner Paschal asked for the Boards' prayers for a speedy recovery from recent surgery. Commissioner Oldham discussed a trash enforcement issue on Beulah Brown Road. County Attorney Dale Talbert stated he was working with code enforcement and law enforcement in reference to a civil law suit concerning this matter. Commissioner Parks presented his thoughts on prayer at the beginning of Commissioner meetings and the threat of a lawsuit against the Board if it continues. His recommendation to the Board was for a possible vote at the next meeting that the Board recognizes a silent prayer at the beginning of each meeting. By doing so, Mr. Parks stated this will not put the county at risk of a lawsuit.