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ZEBULON - The Development Authority met on February 5, 2025 at 8 a.m. at the Pike County Chamber of Commerce. Present were: Joe Walter, Shane Williamson, Briar Johnson, Dee McLeRoy, David Nix, Bryan Oglesby, Stewart Oglesby, Kyle Fletcher, John Barker, and Kel Brannon.
Meeting called to order.
2. Approval of the Agenda
3. Invited Guest - None
4. Approval of the Minutes
5. Approval of the Financials
6. Old Business
Pike Business Park Update
Thomaston Milk Company, AAG, Metal Fabricators, and Martin and Company are coming into the Zebulon Business Park. The Development Authority is also working preparing pad ready sites.
7. New Business
Review/Discussion/Approval of 2024 Audit
Discussion that some things need to be owned by the county or the city rather than being on the Development Authority's books. The auditors are helping with this, and Fletcher will get with the City and the County about issues.
The Development Authority does not own the gas or water lines even though we paid to put them in. The City owns the lines. When making the lines, total assets will be about $800,000 than over the $1 million that they’ve been showing on. Discussion of how to show who owns what so asset sheets can be correct for the City with the Business Park. Street lights too.
Discussion of the audit and the transfer. We can approve the budget now with changes being made from this point forward in preparation for the 2025 audit. Motion to approve the 2024 audit. 2nd. Motion approved.
Additional Comments.
Fletcher. We’ve been getting a lot of calls from developers and realtors. What are your feelings on solar farms, data centers, etc? They are investment generators rather than job generators. Can we sit down and talk about what we want for Pike County in the future? How do things in other counties impact Pike? She can have State people come down and talk to the Board based on the data that they have.
Discussion. Businesses like that generate sales tax and don't impact the schools, etc. Power and water use come back to the county. Ad valorem too. Need to discuss what is good for Pike County with the city and the county too.
Additional discussion on data centers. There are several close to power stations in other counties.
What do we want in the new Business Park? There is a solar farm in the city limits that is tucked away on Jackson Street. Consensus that it is good to know what we want and don’t want.
Motion to adjourn. 8:18 a.m.
Next meeting is March 5.
Past Meetings that Pike County Times has attended
March 13, 2024 and April 3, 2024 IDA Meeting
August 21, 2023 New Development Authority Director Named
July 26, 2023 Special Called IDA Meeting
June 7, 2023 IDA Meeting and History and Background of the IDA
February 20, 2023 Joint Commission and IDA Special Called Meeting