1999 S EDC - Barber and Ross Utility Extension Fund Agreement

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NORTH CAROLINA UTILITY EXTENSION FUND AGREEMENT ORANGE COUNTY THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into as of the day of 19 f-?by and between the County of Orange, North Carolina, a political subdivision of the Stat6 of North Carolina having its principal office at 208 S. Cameron Street, Hillsborough, North Carolina, hereinafter sometimes referred to as "Orange County,"and Barber Ross Company, Irwt, a yil�Ol4 k corporation having its principal office in 1-nn v, i� i�t' hereinafter sometimes referred to as"Barber&Ross;" WHEREAS, Barber& Ross intends to purchase the former Redman Mobile Home manufacturing site located in the Buckhorn Economic Development District at 200 Redman Crossing Road and renovate the facility to manufacture its millwork products; and WHEREAS, Barber & Ross proposes to connect the sanitary waste stream from the plant to the existing sanitary sewer line located approximately 2,000 feet east of the plant on Route 70;and WHEREAS,the Orange County Water and Sewer Policy,approved April 3, 1989 and amended September 3, 1991, establishes"... a basis for Orange County's financial participation in the provision of water and/or sewer services and facilities"to provide for economic development opportunities;and WHEREAS, by action taken at its June 30, 1999 meeting,the Orange County Board of Commissioners agreed to: 1)allow the extension of sewer service from the County's Efland sewer collection system by means of a new wastewater pumping station and force main,which Barber& Ross will construct to the applicable standards and approvals of the NC Division of Water Quality and Orange County;and 2)accept ownership of the portion of the wastewater force main system which will be installed in NCDOT rights-of-way;and WHEREAS, on September 7, 1999, Orange County conducted a public hearing pursuant to North Carolina General Statute§ 158-7.1,following publication of notice of that public hearing at least ten(10)days before the hearing was held,for the purpose of receiving public comment on this agreement;and WHEREAS, at that public hearing information was provided by or on behalf of Barber &Ross that Barber& Ross has committed to do the following: 1) Upon completion of construction of the pumping station and force main, Barber&Ross will provide to the County an accounting of the total actual project cost, including documentation substantiating each expenditure. 2) Barber& Ross will complete its environmental assessment and site remediation for the property, including securing a brownfields agreement. 3) Barber& Ross will invest between$1 and$1.5 million in renovations to the existing plant at 200 Redman Crossing Road, and install approximately$500,000 in equipment. 4) Barber& Ross will assure that the starting wages for all positions created in Orange County will be at least $8 per hour and that, within two to three years,the project will create two hundred jobs. 5) Barber& Ross will increase its starting wage rate from time to time to remain in compliance with the living wage standard in effect in Orange County. 6) Barber& Ross, as in its other plants, will provide health insurance for its employees and pay at least fifty- one percent of the costs of said insurance. 7) Barber& Ross agrees to tap in to a gravity sewer system serving the Buckhorn Road Economic Development District when it becomes available,and pay any applicable fees. WHEREAS, by resolution adopted on 1911 the Orange County Board of Commissioners made the determinations that: 1) the Barber&Ross investment at the 200 Redman Crossing Road facility is expected to increase the Orange County tax base by an amount exceeding$500,000. 2) Barber& Ross commits to a starting wage for all positions created in Orange County equal to at least$8.00 per hour and to increase the starting wage rate from time to time to remain in compliance with the living wage policy of Orange County.