HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93009_1816VOTING: Ayes - 5; Nays - 0
MS. MELANIE O'CONNELL UNDERWOOD, MOORESVILLE-SOUTH IREDELL
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, & MR. J. M. SMITH IN REFERENCE TO BARLEY PARK:
Underwood said a new, small industrial park was being planned for the Mazeppa Road corridor. The
appropriate zoning has been acquired. Currently, two clients have expressed an intent to locate in the
park. They are: Carolina Brew & Beverage (part developer) and Kelly Equipment Company. Together,
the total investment is $2.7 million. Utilities need to be extended. Mrs. Underwood said she was
requesting water sewer participation in a manner similar to the Sherrill Industrial Park.
Mr. Smith said Carolina Brew & Beverage's initial investment was $2.2 million. Hopefully, the
park will be built by the fall of 1998. The company has about 40 acres of light industrial parcels that
will generate approximately nine or ten more industrial sites. The site location is about 4,000 ft. from
the South Iredell pump station. Obtaining sewer service is estimated to cost $250,000. The cost of an
eight -inch water line would be $85,000. Mr. Smith said he realized the investment was slightly under
the usual $3 million tax incentive threshold. However, there are several other industrial prospects for
the park. A contract has been signed with one specific industry that will develop four acres this summer.
Smith said this investment would then go above $3 million. The beverage company will employ 15 full-
time employees with an average wage of $12 per hr. Mr. Smith said his company was a beverage
producer and bottling plant. Certain types of beers will be made at the company and will be sold at
Ericcson Stadium, Charlotte, N.C. A partner of the business is Mark Richardson, owner of the Carolina
Panthers. The company will also bottle juice drinks and root beer.
Commissioner Johnson asked Smith if he understood that any future applicants from Barley
Park would have to be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Smith said he understood that everything had
to be approved by the board of commissioners. He said he didn't understand all of the protocol but he
knew everything was case-by-case. Underwood said this project request was somewhat different from
Cardinal's request. The county manager said the request being proposed was an agreement similar to
the Sherrill Industrial Park, i.e., the developer would be reimbursed up to $100,000 as the tax base
increased in the park. Mashburn said he knew the Barley Park investment did not meet the criteria for
incentive participation. He mentioned that the next developer at the park would push the investment
over $3 million, and the Board could decide to participate at this point in time.
Commissioner Boone asked how this project was similar to the Sherrill Industrial Park.
Mashburn said there was similarity. The County agreed on a 50/50 basis up to $1,000,000. The City
of Statesville had to put money "up -front" to build the water sewer lines. The County's participation
was to start as industry located in the park.
Johnson and Boone reiterated that the industrial development incentives program had a $3
million capital investment requirement. Boone said he felt the County should wait until this
investment amount was found. (Both of them said the minimum was eroded if the County did not stay
with the criteria.)
Smith said he was not asking for any reimbursement until the threshold was met. He said,
however, that ten industries would soon be in the park and the investment would then far exceed the
County's minimum.
Attorney Pope asked if the industries locating in Barley Park would be coming back to the Board
for incentives. Smith said he could not speak for them. He mentioned that one did not meet the
minimum. Another one is a warehousing situation and it will not have enough investment money.
Bob Palmes, a "part" developer at the site as well as a builder, mentioned that in reference to
the other prospects he didn't feel any of them would meet the criteria. "The lots are too small."
Consensus of the commissioners for Mr. Smith to return to the Board when the $3 million
"collective" investment was found.
MRS. KATY PATTERSON - RE: FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS: Patterson said she
represented a parent group called P.L.E.A.S.E. (Parents Leading Effective Action in Support of
Education). The group's mission is to seek support and understanding for education in Iredell County,
Mrs. Patterson discussed (1) insufficient funding for the expense budget currently under consideration
by the Iredell-Statesville School System and (2) the timing for the three new schools planned for the
south end of the County and the source of funding f'or the new high school.
Patterson said her four, school age children would not suffer due to the lack of funding, because