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Commissioner Gordon suggested folding this item in with the item about debt issuance <br /> —6d. <br /> The Board agreed to pull this item for later discussion to be incorporated in item 6-d. <br /> Contracts with Tobacco Trust Fund and Golden Leaf Foundation for the <br /> Piedmont Value—Added Shared-Use Food &Agricultural Processing Center <br /> The Board considered approving 1) a $479,000 contract with the Tobacco Trust Fund <br /> Commission and 2) a $250,000 contract with the Golden Leaf Foundation for the Piedmont <br /> Regional Value-Added-Shared-Use Food and Agricultural Processing Center and authorizing <br /> the Chair to sign subject to County Attorney review. <br /> Commissioner Gordon said that this project is worthy but the extent of the financial <br /> commitment from the County's partners is unknown. If the county commits to the project and <br /> then does not get grants, the County will have to pay out about $300,000. <br /> Noah Rannells said that the staff would work with the grant funding agencies to rework <br /> the budgets and they could forego a piece of equipment. <br /> Commissioner Gordon asked Geof Gledhill what happens if the building is committed and <br /> grant money is accepted, but it does not work out. Geof Gledhill said that if the grant money <br /> goes into the building and the County loses the grant, then the County Commissioners will not <br /> have the money to do the project. <br /> Commissioner Gordon said that she is concerned about this because of the dire <br /> financial situation and the encumbrance of the county's capital assets, and also the unknown <br /> financial commitment of the partners. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said that there was a discussion of the fees today. He thinks <br /> that the other jurisdictions have been receptive to helping the County pay back any grant <br /> monies if it did not work out. <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon to approve the project with the <br /> understanding that funds would not be expended until the financial grants are worked out. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs asked about the money from the State to hire someone to plan <br /> for the facility. Noah Rannells said that there is some risk with delaying any action of <br /> accepting grant funds. He said that the County Commissioners could approve $25,000 to <br /> begin design of the building. Any delay on that would have an effect on moving forward. <br /> Commissioner Gordon agreed to amend her motion to approve but not go beyond the <br /> $25,000 expenditure. <br /> The motion failed for lack of a second. <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Hemminger, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs <br /> to approve the contracts accepting grant funds for the Tobacco Trust Fund Commission and <br /> the Golden Leaf Foundation subject to County Attorney review and authorize the Chair to sign <br /> the contract documents. <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> r. Exercise of Option to Purchase Gateway Building Unit 200 and Unit 300 <br /> The Board considered exercising the Option to Purchase Units 200 and 300 in the <br /> Gateway Center as provided in a lease which commenced on February 19, 2008, directing <br /> staff and the County Attorney to develop the necessary documents; and authorizing the <br /> County Attorney, the Financial Services Director, and the Chair to execute the documents. <br /> Commissioner Gordon said that there was an option to lease this as opposed to buying <br /> it. Geof Gledhill said that the lease ends on the 25th and there is no option to renew. <br />