Work Session (all present)

Work Session (all present)

2.  Special Election, Bd. of Education vacancy.  The BOE (District 4) seat vacated by Deb McManus is in contention.  The current 4-member Board of Education is deadlocked on an appointment, and has requested an election.  The county submits a Resolution to the General Assembly requesting this election.  Sally Kost said since the BOE election is county-wide it could be combined this November with a bond referendum for construction of a new Agricultural Building. The three Chatham towns are holding municipal elections this November, so everything could be accommodated in one election.  The Board of Elections is figuring the cost of holding the countywide election. Chair Walter Petty says the BOC has not “officially” decided to more forward with the bond issue.  Question on whether the cost of this election should be split between County and Bd. of Education.  Motion to adopt a revised resolution requesting the Special Election, passed.   

3.  Need a northeast High School?   Probably not, per Superintendent Robert Logan.  This school, slated to be built 2015-16 on county-owned land off Jack Bennett Rd., many not be needed based on projected enrollment patterns, which he expects could be accommodated (with student reassignment) until 2020.  Delay has a financing cost, but an operational school has on-going costs.  Logan argued that when the County acquired the Jack Bennett land, the growth was expected in the northeast area.  Now, the larger Chatham Park development southeast of Pittsboro would shift the optimal school location closer to Hwy 64 around Lake Jordan.  He said two smaller schools cost more than one larger school to operate.  If the Jack Bennett Rd. site is built, it would split Northwood High School student population (1,100) into two schools resulting in loss of some of the 14 current AP programs, and numerous student activities: 30 clubs and honor societies, 38 sports teams, and all arts--band, dance, visual, choral, theatre.  Logan mentioned Chatham Central HS low enrollment (now at 380) is of great concern because it could lose some state funding and the smaller student population reduces course offerings and student opportunities; there will be another attempt to redistrict students.  [Note: Jordan-Matthews HS in Siler City has 720 students]. Sally Kost was concerned about current lengthy school bus commutes from the northeast corner of the county to Northwood HS and wanted some express routes considered.  She said the Bd. of Education should have brought this up sooner in the Capital Improvement Planning (CIP) process and agree on a cost for the business model.  Walter Petty said if numbers don’t support building new high school, should delay construction, and try to rotate more students to Chatham Central.  Brian Bock said numbers do not justify keeping the Jack Bennett high school in the CIP, and said the Bd of Education should actively search for a new school site of at least 65 acres.  Discussion about safety of Jack Bennett road and problems with that site; perhaps it was not a wise purchase.  Staff said it is more favorable to delay the school, but they are collecting financial information about the cost of a construction delay.  Motion to accept the BOE recommendation to delay northeast high school for 2 years and make assumptions on a debt model of $55 million, passed 4 to 1 (Sally Kost, no).

4. County Sells Property along Rocky River.  The Central Carolina Business Park, on Hwy 64 next to Wal-Mart in Siler City, was purchased by the County in 2000 to provide a business park setting for commercial development in Siler City.  Currently UNC Chatham Hospital, a medical center, a dialysis center, the CCCC Siler City Campus and a juvenile detention facility are the only facilities in the 469-acre park.  A private buyer, 130 Chatham LLC, has contracted to purchase 188 acres in the lots that touch the Rocky River for a price of $6,000/acre, or $1.128 million.  This private buyer indicates that he wants to conserve the Rocky River corridor, will not grant public access, and will not develop the land per the covenant.  Three speakers spoke against this sale.  From an economic standpoint the County has invested  $21,062/per acre in the initial purchase and infrastructure development of this property and loses ALL potential tax benefits that could accrue from any development on those 188 acres; therefore this is NOT a benefit to taxpayers.  Additional points were that the property was not adequately marketed, had no web-presence for years, compounded by the recession, and should remain for sale as economy improves.  Asked for a delay in the sale. 

The Siler City NC STEP team had completed a concept plan for a nature trail and walkways along the “undevelopable” county-owned portion of the Rocky River, and was ready to present it to the BOC at the March 18 meeting.  This contract for sale to 130 Chatham LLC and the hastily-called Special Meeting made that request moot.  The NC STEP team planned to present the concept plan, and ask BOC for easements for the unbuildable portions of these lots (about half the actual acreage), leaving the buildable portions for development.  The idea for trail/pathways along the Rocky River has been in the business park plan since it was purchased; just no action ever taken. This county-owned land is the ONLY possible public access to the entire 37-mile length of the Rocky River, with the exception of White Pines nature preserve, owned by Triangle Land Conservancy, off 15/501 south of Pittsboro at the confluence with the Deep River.  It was also pointed out that this owner, 130 of Chatham LLC, had already purchased thousands of acres along the Rocky River.  Mike Cross said Siler City was expecting water and sewer customers, which will not happen if this land is not developed, and he said the County should retain the unbuildable strip along the river.  He said this is a handout to this buyer; the County does not need to sell.  Brian Bock said take the money, this sale protects the Rocky River, and still leaves 134 buildable acres in the park for future development.  The Chatham Co. Economic Development Corporation is handling the sale and spoke in favor, using terms like “albatross around the neck” in characterizing the business park.  Pam Stewart said the 2-year building covenant timeframe should be waived; Sally Kost says public access is lost, possibly forever, and citizens are shortchanged for this private party; Walter Petty said maybe we should “ask” potential owner if County can keep easement and provide access, but Joe from EDC said owner was clear he did not want public access.  They voted to accept the offer of $6,000/acre from 130 Chatham LLC after publishing a Public Notice in Chatham News and Record (it appeared in March 14 paper) for an upset bid...just in case someone else wants to buy this at more than $1.128 million.  Motion to accept offer:  3 to 2 (Kost, Cross voted against)