Gas needed to court industry
By Steve Herring
Published in News on February 5, 2018 5:50 AM
Wayne County commissioners will ask the state and Piedmont Natural Gas Co. to begin looking at the feasibility of helping to provide natural gas in the northern part of the county.
Commissioners are expected to do so in a resolution when they meet on Tuesday.
The lack of natural gas has been a hindrance to economic development.
Expanding access to natural gas supports local economic growth, creating jobs and improving the lives of Wayne County families, the resolution reads.
The meeting will get underway with an 8 a.m. agenda briefing, followed by the formal session at 9 a.m. Both will be held in the commissioners' meeting room on the fourth floor of the Wayne County Courthouse Annex.
The resolution supporting extending natural gas into the Pikeville and Fremont communities was one of the top goals from the board's planning retreat held last week.
During the retreat Commissioner Ray Mayo said securing natural gas for that area should be a priority if the county is going to grow.
Natural gas was not on the board's original list of potential priority items, but was added at Mayo's request.
Commissioners are set to vote on the goals during Tuesday's meeting.
Each commissioner had seven votes to cast on a list of possible goals/projects during the planing session.
Following is the list and the number of votes each received:
Six votes:
* Legislative issues: K-3 smaller classroom mandate and change in low-wealth formula.
* Hotel development on site of Maxwell Center, working jointly with the city of Goldsboro.
Five votes:
* Explore possible fueling of county vehicles at city of Goldsboro's public works facilities.
* Study feasibility of community paramedic program.
Four votes:
* Seek to have the county's legislative delegation introduce a bill to exempt county government from paying medical and/or safe keeper expenses of detainees for alleged crimes at state institutions.
* Employee health clinic with UNC Health Care.
Three votes:
* Decision on ground leases and county-owned hangars, or combination thereof continuing and working on ground leases.
* Discussion/study of a replacement library to serve North Wayne County.
* Coordinate quarterly meetings with other communications directors/public affairs/public relations of major institutions-Chamber, public and private schools, local media, Wayne Community College, University of Mount Olive.
* Direct human resources to increase employee training for managers/supervisors.
* Wayne County Development Alliance relocation.
Two votes:
* Options on Goldsboro Industrial Campus (Bryan Property).
* Discuss possible merger of animal enforcement efforts with the city of Goldsboro.
* Work out a solution to Busco Beach.
* Make a decision on whether to amend the policy on street repair assessments to proceed with Lane Tree Subdivision and/or other petitions.
* Develop a certification promotion policy.
* Finalize direction of the Advance Manufacturing Center with Wayne Community College.
* Implementation of finance software.
One vote:
* Explore possibilities of emergency shelters, with generators, with municipalities.
* Host a Veterans Benefits Action for a regional outreach to veterans on benefits claims, with VA regional staff attending to make expedited benefits decisions if possible. Staff of surrounding counties typically volunteer to assist, as we have done for them. This project is contingent on a suitable site.
* Development of Public Safety Training Center at Wayne Community College.
* Summer intern program with city of Goldsboro.
* Direct human resources to bring inclusive hiring policy to board of commissioners.
NOVOTES:
* Work with Wayne County Development Alliance to amend the covenants and restrictions in both Industrial Parks to allow metal buildings.
* Annual award program for contributions to the county.
Note -- Host a Veterans Benefits Action for a regional outreach to veterans on benefits claims, with VA regional staff attending to make expedited benefits decisions if possible. This project is contingent on a suitable site.