Commissioners to discuss business incentive grants
By Steve Herring
Published in News on January 21, 2013 1:46 PM
The public will have an opportunity Tuesday to voice its opinion on requests that Wayne County provide $109,125 in local money to match grants for two projects that would create 67 new jobs while making nearly $6 million in total investments in the county.
Balfour Beatty Rail has received a $60,000 One NC Grant and a $85,000 NC Rural Center Occupied Building Grant for its Goldsboro Traction Power Group. ACX Pacific Northwest has been awarded a $60,000 One NC Grant and a $340,000 NC Rural Center Building Reuse Grant.
ACX Pacific Northwest Inc., an animal feed company, plans to create 38 jobs and invest $4.7 million over the next three years as it renovates and leases the former 158,400-square-foot Carolina Tobacco Warehouse on Jeffreys Lane.
The grants require the local matches that will be the topics of two public hearings Tuesday at 9:15 a.m. in the commissioners' meeting room on the fourth floor of the Wayne County Courthouse Annex.
Balfour Beatty Rail on U.S. 117 Bypass North, which manufactures electrical components for the public transit industry, including light rail and streetcars, is planning a $1 million expansion that will add 29 new jobs.
Wayne County has been asked for a $32,125 match, as has Goldsboro. The county also has been asked for a $77,000 match for the ACX Pacific Northwest grants.
In other business Tuesday, commissioners will hold a second reading and likely vote on an amendment to the county zoning ordinance that would eliminate a ban on mobile homes that are 15 years or older.
The first vote was approved unanimously at the board's Jan. 8 meeting. A second vote is required because there was not a full board for the first vote. One seat had been left open following the death of J.D. Evans. Ed Cromartie of Mount Olive was appointed by commissioners to fill the seat.
The Wayne County Mobile Home Park Developers Association had asked that the age cap be removed and replaced with current federal Housing and Urban Development standards.
The reworded ordinance will now read that all manufactured or mobile homes being set up in the county "must bear a HUD data plate stating the home was constructed under regulations of HUD as of July 1, 1976."
That still means that no mobile homes manufactured prior to that date will be permitted. Also, a mobile home must have all of the parts it had when it was first built and inspected, said County Planner Connie Price. For example, if a certain year required that the mobile home have smoke alarms, it must still have them in order to be approved, he said.
Four subdivision plats are on the agenda for board consideration:
* Herrera Estates, Final, owner/developer Florencio Ponce Herrera et al, a three-lot subdivision on the east side of Camp Jubilee Road approximately 1,166 feet north of Ada Stroud Road in Indian Springs Township
* Frazier Lots, Final, owner/developer David Frazier, a three-lot subdivision on the east side of Coley Road approximately 650 feet north of Saulston Road in Stoney Creek Township
* Amelia Lee Tusing, Final, owner/developer Amelia Lee Tusing, one lot on the north side of Indian Springs Road approximately 968 feet east of Arrington Bridge Road in Indian Springs Township
* James Barnwell and Revision of Lot 9 Friendship Mobile Home Park Estates, owner/developer James and Mary Barnwell, two lots on the south side of Barnwell Road approximately 1,050 feet south of Potts Road.
The Planning Board has recommended approval of all four plats.
Also on the agenda:
* Paramount Theatre Director Sherry Archibald will update the board on the theatre's fifth anniversary celebration on Feb. 8.
* Wayne County Services on Aging Director Eryn McAuliffe will be recognized for receiving the 2012 Aging Leadership Award presented by the Eastern Carolina Council
* Public comments will start at 10 a.m.
* The board will consider changing its March meeting dates since some commissioners will be attending the National Association of Counties Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. The proposal is to change the dates from March 5 and 19 to March 12 and 26.
* Commissioners will consider support for a request to add Wingspread Drive, Tanager Court, Partridge Lane, Kestrel Court and Sandleing Way in Wingspread Subdivision to the state road maintenance system.
The consent agenda includes budget amendments and the contract with Pinewood Fire Department for fire protection services.