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17 <br /> Commissioner Richards asked what the tax benefit of annexation is to Mebane. She <br /> asked if Mebane gets the benefits of jobs and Orange County gets the benefits of taxes. She <br /> said she is trying to understand the benefits to Mebane. <br /> Craig Benedict said the benefit is property taxes to Orange County and Mebane would <br /> also get taxes. He said the potential jobs created are also a benefit to Mebane and Orange <br /> County. He said that when properties are annexed, there is less service cost to the county as <br /> Mebane would pick up some public services. <br /> Commissioner Richards asked if the advantage to the county is that the county does not <br /> have to fight the "no development here" people. <br /> Craig Benedict said there are a few ways to look at it. He said that when the county put <br /> together agreements with the City of Mebane, the city and county tried to align their <br /> development standards. He said that they want to be conscious of the impact of development <br /> on neighborhoods. He said it is unlikely that all of the areas on the map on slide #4 could be <br /> annexed by the City of Mebane. <br /> Commissioner Richards asked Craig Benedict to point out the Orange County line with <br /> Alamance County on slide #4. <br /> Craig Benedict pointed out the county line and discussed some of the major employers <br /> along the border with Alamance County. <br /> Commissioner McKee said that the tax benefit was mentioned but the sewer and water <br /> flow costs go back to Mebane to help pay for their systems. He said that the designation of <br /> economic development zones was discussed years ago and that during those discussions, <br /> Mebane has always been a willing partner in development conversations. He said that without <br /> Mebane's partnerships, none of the industries would be possible. <br /> Commissioner Hamilton said that the development can come with a cost to existing <br /> residents in the area, and some of the areas have been traditionally African American. She <br /> said that some residents cannot afford to get water and sewer, and that Mebane is not <br /> interested in annexing them since they cannot afford that. She said the water and sewer is <br /> primarily for economic development, but that it leaves some residents behind. She said that <br /> she remains concerned about how they are communicated with during this process. <br /> Chair Price asked how many residences are still on wells and septic tanks. She said <br /> she thought there were funds available to help residents hook on. <br /> Craig Benedict said the 2004 agreement had twenty-seven free connections in <br /> Buckhorn. He said that covered tap and connection fees. He said he has heard from new <br /> residents that are not part of that 2004 agreement but there are twenty-seven taps available <br /> that were in existence in 2004. He said if they are low to moderate income then they could work <br /> through other departments. He said there is also a community loan fund that is an option. <br /> Chair Price said that was the point of going to the community, to find out who wanted to <br /> hook on. <br /> Craig Benedict said there were two churches wanted to hook on — Mt. Moriah and <br /> Hunters Chapel. He said that a grant received in 2005 helped with some of the infrastructure <br /> costs. He said there were failing septic systems in the area, and they wanted some assistance. <br /> Chair Price said she wanted to follow-up on the topic of community economic <br /> development to see who might be interested in hooking on to water and sewer. <br /> Steve Brantley, Director of Economic Development, continued the presentation: <br />