ELIZABETHTOWN — Two incentive packages that include more than $1.1 million in forgivable loans have quietly moved closer to reality.
Public hearings were held at Monday night’s Bladen County commissioners’ meeting. They were for consideration of forgiving $926,775.33 and $201,949.10 loans to Bladen’s Bloomin’ Agri-Industrial assisting the financing and construction of Incubator No. 5 and Incubator No. 6, respectively, in the 300-acre industrial park.
No individuals spoke on the matter, and the public hearings closed moments after opening. Per state law for virtual meetings, recently passed in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the public hearing comment period must remain open another 24 hours — through end of the day Tuesday, said County Manager Greg Martin — and the board will be able to take action in its June 1 meeting.
Incubator No. 5, at 518 Ben Greene Industrial Park Road, is to be the new home of Anthem Displays. The manufacturer of digital LED billboards, already with a spot in the park and moving to a larger facility, would get reduced cost on a four-year lease with multiple three-year options.
Incubator No. 6, at 474 Ben Greene Industrial Park Road, is to be the new home of Westwood Robotic Technologies. Westwood, which shares a building now with Aramark, is in the robotic conveyors industry. It is set to get a reduced cost on a three-year lease with multiple three-year options.
Aramark, a company that provides food service, facilities and uniform services to hospitals, universities, school districts, stadiums and other businesses around the world, has a distribution facility here. It will retain all of the space at 370 Ben Greene Industrial Park Road.
The board, with seven members in the Commissioners Room and two joining digitally, moved through a heavy lineup in its only meeting of the month. Nineteen items were in the consent agenda, including more than a quarter-million dollars in capital outlay projects for Bladen County Schools between Jan. 1 and April 28.
Commissioners approved an audit as presented by Bryon Scott of Thompson, Price, Scott, Adams & Co. of Wilmington. The county was given an unmodified opinion, which is the highest given.
Bladen Community College’s budget request was presented by President Dr. Amanda Lee. She and trustees Chairman Dennis Troy thanked the panel for all of their generosity through the years, showed diligence in reducing expenses in some areas of their petition, and made an overall request 5 percent higher than a year ago.
Cited for primary needs were safety, compliance for the Americans with Disabilities Act, and two new buildings that opened this spring.
Commissioners were updated on CARES Act funding of more than three-quarters of a million dollars that is reaching the county. Martin said the county receives the money, but it is intended also for use by the municipalities for COVID-19 expenses. The towns in the county will make requests to the county, which will fill them on a reimbursement basis.
In their role as the Bladen County Water District Board, the five Republicans and four Democrats unanimously passed three items related to Phase IV of the system’s expansion project.
Updates were given by department heads Greg Elkins and Dr. Terri Duncan on the census and coronavirus, respectively. Elkins leads the Planning Department; Duncan is director of the Health Department.
Nathan Dowless, director of Emergency Services, updated the panel on the storm water drainage study.
Because the meeting was virtual and Gov. Roy Cooper’s orders prevent gatherings of more than 10 people, the county employees honored for service time were not present. Martin called each name, department and years of commitment to the county.
The board will next meet June 1. At that meeting, Martin will present the county budget. A public hearing, the first of two required, will be scheduled for June 8. The county is required by law to have its fiscal year 2020-21 budget in place before the new year begins July 1.
Martin said the county is considering reopening its buildings, possibly with some restrictions, on June 1.
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