MINUTES

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

COUNTY OF HENDERSON OCTOBER 18, 1999

The Henderson County Board of Commissioners met for a special called meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the Board Room of the Land Development Building at 101 East Allen Street, Hendersonville, North Carolina.

Those present were: Chairman Grady Hawkins, Vice-Chair Bill Moyer, Commissioner Renee Kumor, Commissioner Don Ward, Commissioner Marilyn Gordon, County Manager David E. Nicholson, Assistant County Manager/Interim County Attorney Angela S. Beeker, and Clerk to the Board Elizabeth W. Corn.

Also present were: Bill Williford and Chip Gould from the Greater Hendersonville Chamber of Commerce.

CALL TO ORDER/WELCOME

Chairman Hawkins called the meeting to order and welcomed those in attendance. The purpose of this meeting was Economic Development Incentive Guidelines. Chairman Hawkins referred to NCGS 158-7.1 regarding economic development.

History -

The Board had held a workshop on August 24, 1999, with the Chamber of Commerce to discuss proposed guidelines for granting economic development incentives. The Board asked staff to bring back issues raised for further Board discussion. Individual Commissioners have commented regarding the guidelines since the August 24 meeting. Those comments as well as comments made at the August 24 meeting were summarized into a Side Issues List and presented to the Board. The Board had also received a computation of the average wages paid per employee in Henderson County, and the median average wage paid. A table of comparison counties and their threshold requirements, summarized from information provided to the Board previously by the Chamber of Commerce was also provided as well as draft guidelines which have not yet been changed.

Board direction to staff with regards to each issue listed on the Side Issues List was requested.

Chairman Hawkins recognized Bob Williford from the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Williford distributed a 2 page hand-out of side issues from the October 4, 1999 agenda regarding the annual incentive formula.

Review of Side Issues List

Angela Beeker stated that this list was generated as a result of the last joint meeting with the Chamber of Commerce. Angela reviewed the items on this list one by one with the Board, and staff was given direction regarding changing some of those listings. Angela will incorporate those changes and bring a clean copy of the list back for the Board=s review.

There was much discussion regarding median average wage which for Henderson County equaled $501.81 weekly.

There was discussion regarding whether to have a separate economic development fund or use funds from the general fund. The consensus of the Board was to have it in the general fund but set aside and accounted for as economic development funds.

There was discussion regarding funding water and sewer and land purchases.

Staff Direction

Staff was requested to track this new fund for a while.

There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:26 p.m.

Attest:

Elizabeth W. Corn, Clerk to the Board

Grady Hawkins, Chairman