PRESENT: L.
D. EGNOR, PRESIDENT
EARL
“JR” BLANKENSHIP, COMMISSIONER
ROBERT
L. BAILEY, COMMISSIONER
WILLIAM
T. WATSON, COUNTY ATTORNEY
GLENN
WHITE, COUNTY MANAGER
JUANITA
FERGUSON, ASSISTANT COUNTY
MANAGER
FOR PERSONNEL AND PURCHASING
SHARON
ROSS, ASSISTANT COUNTY MANAGER
FOR
BILLABLES AND PAYABLES
L. D. Egnor, President, called the special meeting of the Cabell County Commission to order at 10:00 a.m.
Karen S. Cole, County Clerk, appeared before the Commission to present the list of 2002 Primary Election Officials and alternates. Also, Mrs. Cole informed the Commission they also could provide names of individuals for alternates.
Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner, moved for the approval of the 2002 Primary Election Officials and alternates. Earl “JR” Blankenship, Commissioner, seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.
COAL
SEVERANCE FUND LEVY ESTIMATE (BUDGET)
L. D. Egnor, President, stated that without objection this item would be moved to the end of the agenda, due to the number of citizens present. Earl “JR” Blankenship, Commissioner, objected to changing the agenda.
President Egnor went on to say a call had come in from an individual who could provide additional information concerning the development issue and a short recess would be necessary.
Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner, moved to approve a recess to allow the President to take the incoming telephone call. L. D. Egnor, President, seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.
L. D. Egnor, President, recessed the special meeting at 10:05 a.m.
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L. D. Egnor, President, reconvened the special meeting at 10:20 a.m.
L. D. Egnor, President, requested William T. Watson, County Attorney, to explain the information provided by Bill Turner, Executive Director of the West Virginia Housing & Development Fund. Mr. Watson stated that Mr. Turner had told him that the benefit of the tax break went to the lending bank and not directly to the developer. William T. Watson, County Attorney, explained that the request for a letter of approval was part of the grant application process that Woda Development had to submit to the state in order to gain approval to build rental units on Rt. 2 and Rt. 60. Mr. Watson went on the say that without the Commission’s approval their grant application would not be in compliance with the guidelines.
L. D. Egnor, President, polled the audience as to whether they wanted to speak now or continue through the agenda. President Egnor noted the audience wished to be heard first.
L. D. Egnor, President, stated that Mr. Turner had stated that since the inception of this program, more than 1,000 units had been constructed throughout the state. President Egnor went on to say that none of the proposed projects had failed to go forward due to the disapproval of a county commission. President Egnor explained that Woda Development had submitted two proposal requests, one 50 unit three story multi-family residential, elderly occupancy, to be located on Route 60 East and a 50 unit eight building, multi-family residential rental units, family occupancy, to be located on Ohio River Road.
Earl “JR” Blankenship, Commissioner, stated that Woda was an out of state business and supporting them would send money out of the area. Commissioner Blankenship went on to say that the Commission should bring money into the area not send it out of state. And he would not support such a project.
Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner, agreed with Commissioner Blankenship regarding out of state projects. And He also would not support out of state programs.
CITIZENS TO SPEAK:
Kenny Kirby, citizen, stated he understood the proposed housing would be low-income property rentals and that Mr. Egnor had called the units high-end rentals.
L. D. Egnor, President, stated that Mr. Turner had used the term “high-end” as a means of explaining the quality of construction that would be available due to the lower financing rate.
Harold Fannin, citizen, stated that he did not receive interest breaks when he applied for a $500,000.00 to build 10 units. Mr. Fannin asked if he would apply for a local loan, would the Commission sign a letter of support to help him get a lower interest rate.
L. D. Egnor, President, stated that Mr. Fannin could go through the same process as Woda and apply for the same rate at the bank. President Egnor went on to say that if Mr. Fannin complied with the grant requirements he would be happy to sign a letter of support.
Mr. Fannin stated that to sign a letter of support for the development was giving an advantage to the out of state developer. Mr. Fannin questioned whether the Commission truly understood that signing the letter of support was giving access of a lower interest rate to the developer and that would not help local renters.
L. D. Egnor, President, asked Commissioner Bailey and Commissioner Blankenship if they intended to support the request. Commissioner Bailey stated he would not support the request. Commissioner Blankenship stated he also would not support the request.
President Egnor stated the Commission would send the first letters in the state that denied support of this type of project.
J. Roger Smith, Attorney, explained that the problems for area renters are the skewed numbers showing a need for more rental units. Mr. Smith went on to say that all area renters had problems keeping a 75% occupancy. Mr. Smith stated that feasibility studies do not always show accurate figures. Mr. Smith expressed concern that programs such as this hurt the area by taking money out of the community.
Dwight Watson, citizen, stated these types of projects continue to come up and he saw no need for an increase of 100 units in this area.
Based on the assumption that a previous motion had been made, Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner, moved to rescind the motion allowing the President to sign a letter of support for Woda Development, LLC, during the meeting of March 21, 2002. Earl “JR” Blankenship, Commissioner, seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.
Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner, moved to approve sending a letter of opposition to Woda Development for both their projects and to send a copy of the letter to the West Virginia Housing and Development Fund. Earl “JR” Blankenship, Commissioner, seconded the motion and the vote was as follows:
L. D. Egnor, President nay
Earl “JR” Blankenship, Commissioner aye
Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner aye
PAGE FOUR
L. D. Egnor, President, stated that he preferred to abstain from voting because he did not want to be the first county to deny approval.
L. D. Egnor, President, recessed at 11:05 a.m.
L. D. Egnor, President, reconvened the special meeting at 11:20 a.m. and stated he was changing his vote on the last motion from nay to abstain. President Egnor stated he had a personal interest in the vote due to the absence of taxes being paid by the developer which would surely increase his property taxes.
L. D. Egnor, President, requested Glenn White, County Manager, explain the proposed budget for the General County and the Levy estimate for fiscal year 2002/2003. Mr. White proceeded to list proposed budget cuts. (List of budget cuts attached)
After a lengthy discussion between the Commission and the public officials which were present, Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner, moved to approve the budget for the General Fund 2002/2003 and the Levy. L. D. Egnor, President, seconded the motion and the vote was as follows:
L. D. Egnor, President aye
Earl “JR” Blankenship, Commissioner nay
Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner aye
L. D. Egnor, President, recessed the special meeting at 12:45 p.m., until April 16, 2002, at 10:00 a.m.
____________________________________________
PRESIDENT,
CABELL COUNTY COMMISSION
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