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property is currently in Hillsborough's Extraterritorial Jurisdiction and is anticipated to be <br /> annexed in the future. <br /> Frank Clifton said that this is kind of an economic development issue. <br /> Commissioner Gering said that this was discussed a year ago, and the Town sent a <br /> request in December for voluntary annexation. He said that this was the first they had heard <br /> that the County was reluctant to take this step. <br /> Frank Clifton said that it is appropriate for someone to approach the owner of the <br /> business and let them know what is happening and that the tax bill will be $18,000. <br /> Eric Peterson said that it would be more than $18,000 when the property is annexed. <br /> Commissioner Gering said that he did not realize that the tax would be this much on <br /> this particular property. <br /> Commissioner Yuhasz said that he has a problem with hitting this lessor with an <br /> $18,000+ additional cost. This was not the reason for annexing. If the lease is up within two <br /> years, then it could be negotiated with the new lease. <br /> Frank Clifton said that someone could talk to the person and talk about what might <br /> happen. <br /> Mayor Stevens said that the assumption was that at such point when the property <br /> would be under a business then the tax would be billed. He suggested that staff explore <br /> alternatives, such as a phase-in. <br /> Commissioner Gordon said that the County Commissioners have not discussed this <br /> and she asked for an explanation of all of the implications of this voluntary annexation. <br /> Commissioner Nelson said that the steps for involuntary annexation are complicated <br /> and expensive. <br /> 11. Heritage Center <br /> Commissioner Gering said that they wanted to add an agenda item for the Heritage <br /> Center and Mayor Stevens said to go ahead. <br /> Commissioner Gering said that the Hillsborough Tourism Board thinks that the Heritage <br /> Center is important and they have always looked forward to a Heritage Center. He said that if <br /> the Heritage Center joined the Orange County Museum then that would be a win-win situation. <br /> He said the Orange County Museum rents space for$1 a year from the Town. He said that, <br /> knowing that the County wants to divest of some of its buildings, then there is an opportunity <br /> for some type of partnership. He asked the County Commissioners to talk with the Town <br /> before committing to selling the Purchasing building. <br /> Commissioner Nelson asked if the groups interested in having a Heritage Center had <br /> talked about getting the funding for operational or capital costs and Commissioner Gering said <br /> no, they had not. Commissioner Nelson noted that the county had not committed funding to <br /> the center in the CIP. <br /> Frank Clifton said that the Board of Commissioners has had discussions about the <br /> smaller court building and it might be advantageous for the Town to consider looking at the <br /> value of owning the parking lots around these buildings. He said that once the parking lot is <br /> sold, then there are other issues. Right now it is open public parking. He said that the County <br /> Commissioners have put several restrictions on the sale of these buildings. <br /> Commissioner Yuhasz said that he would like to work with the Town on a proposal for <br /> these buildings and a Heritage Center. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said that there was supposed to be a preliminary report from the <br /> Heritage Center Work Group in the spring. There have been some conversations about <br /> alternative ways of funding it that would not involve the County carrying the load. <br />