The Winston County Journal

The Winston County Board of Supervisors spent a large portion of its second meeting in October discussing the economic development activities in Winston County.

Gerald Mills, Winston County Economic Development Director, attended the meeting to answer any questions about the interlocal agreement with the city to purchase the old TRW building with the county and city each gaining a cap loan to purchase part of the building with Polo Industries to pay back the loans.

Board members questioned why the city was named as the lead agency in the filings. Mills explained that the city had an engineer on staff and with the city as the lead agency it would save paying engineering fees on the project which could cost as much as $25,000.

Supervisor Luke Parkes questioned if there would be any extra expense to the county. Board Attorney Hugh Hathorn noted there would not be that Polo would be paying back the loans.

Mills explained that the city and county would split the $1.3 million CAP loan with the MDA providing a $250,000 Community Block Grant for renovations to the building.

Discussions devolved into how the Winston County Economic Development Partnership worked with the city and county.

Board President Tom Blalock noted that many times the county was left out of the loop.

"We have no intent and never had any intent of leaving the county out of any project," said Mills.

Parkes questioned how the county was represented on the Partnership board.

"You appoint two voting members," said Mills adding that the present supervisors reappointed the two who are presently serving.

Tax assessor Brenda Miles questioned how the Partnership budgeted its funds and if that budgeted was submitted to the supervisors like her office was required to do.

Mills noted that he had given the supervisors a copy of the Partnership's budget along with their goals at the last meeting.

Supervisor Jerry Estes noted that the board did not want to go back to the days when the city and county did not cooperate.

"We can't afford to get crossed up with the city. We need to do what is best for everyone," said Estes.

Hathorn noted that the document specifically read the county and city actively working together.

Parks moved to approve the agreement with all voting to do so.

In other business, the board:

€ Approved an increase in the pay for poll workers according to the recent approval of the state to do so.

€ Heard from Claudell Weaver of the Dean Park Commission on the needed improvements and plans for Dean Park. (See next week's edition for details.)

€ Recognized Kelli Wall for her state rated superior job on inventory control.

€ Approved holds on car tag list for nonpayment of garbage bills.

€ Recognized Judge Fuller and Judge Beck for completition of their certification.