1/27/2001 - Special
January 27, 2001
Roanoke County Administration Center
5204 Bernard Drive
Roanoke, Virginia 24018
January 27, 2001
The Board of Supervisors of Roanoke County, Virginia, met this day at the
Moody Center, Hollins University, this being the fourth Saturday of the month of January
2001 and a special meeting for the purpose of an Economic Development Forum.
IN RE:CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Minnix called the meeting to order at 8:45 a. m. The roll call was
taken.
MEMBERS PRESENT:(left at 1:00 p.m.)
Chairman H. Odell “Fuzzy” Minnix , Vice-
Chairman Joseph B. "Butch" Church, Supervisors Bob L.
(left at 4:00
Johnson, Joseph McNamara, Harry C. Nickens
p.m.)
MEMBERS ABSENT:
None
STAFF PRESENT:
Elmer C. Hodge, County Administrator; Paul M. Mahoney,
County Attorney; Mary H. Allen, Clerk to the Board; John M.
Chambliss, Assistant County Administrator; Dan R. O’Donnell,
Assistant County Administrator; Kathie B. Scearce, Community
Relations Director; Arnold Covey, Community Development
Director; Jill Barr, Assistant Economic Development Director;
Melinda Cox, Economic Development Specialist; Joe Zielinski,
Economic Development Specialist; Diane Hyatt, Chief Financial
Officer; Brent Robertson, Budget Director
January 27, 2001
OTHERS PRESENT:
Dennis Cronk, Commercial Realtor; Will Davis, Economic
Development Executive, AEP; Mark Emick, Virginia Western
Community College; Dennis Fisher, Carilion Biomedical
Institute; Bonz Hart, New Century Technology Council; Mark
Kilduff, VA Economic Development Partnership; Steve
Leonard, Aliah, Inc. Facilitator; Beth Neu, Roanoke City
Director of Economic Development; John Phillips, Virginia Tech
Economic Development Officer, Virginia Tech; Brandon Price,
Vice President, Virginia Biotechnology Association; Kim Simon,
Aliah, Inc. Facilitator; Phil Sparks, Economic Development
Partnership; Al Thomason, Roanoke County Planning
Commission; Linda Weber, Roanoke County Superintendent
of Schools; Joe Yates, City of Salem Economic Development
Director
IN RE:WELCOME
County Administrator Elmer Hodge thanked all the participants for attending
and asked that everyone introduce themselves. He announced that there would be a brief
Closed Meeting during lunch to discuss two issues.
IN RE:DISCUSSION
Supervisor McNamara described how the Aliah process worked, and
explained that prior to the forum, the participants had been divided into the groups
representing players that impact the future of economic development.
The participants divided into five groups which were (1) Partners, (2)
Competitors, (3) Roanoke Region, (4) New Enterprises, and (5) Existing Enterprises. Each
of the groups discussed the impacts of various factors (drivers) to their specific group and
chose five drivers that most impacted their group. The leaders of each group then shared
the results with the entire group of participants.
January 27, 2001
IN RE:LUNCHEON RECESS
At 12:25 p.m., Chairman Minnix declared a luncheon recess.
IN RE:CLOSED MEETING
At 12:26 p.m., Supervisor Minnix moved to go into Closed Meeting pursuant
to the Code of Virginia 2.1-344A (3) to discuss an economic development prospect for
which there has been no previous announcement; and 2.1-344A (7) legal briefings by
counsel concerning the SCC proceedings and Virginia Gas Pipeline. The motion was
carried by the following recorded vote:
AYES:Supervisors Johnson, McNamara, Church, Nickens, Minnix
NAYS:None
IN RE:OPEN MEETING
At 12:50 p.m. the Board returned to Open Meeting.
IN RE:ACTION CONCERNING VIRGINIA GAS PIPELINE
Supervisor Nickens moved to authorize the County Administrator and County
Attorney to retain a consultant engineer to prepare a cost comparison study to construct
the gas pipeline in a new easement versus an existing easement (co-location) at a cost not
to exceed $10,000. The motion was carried by the following recorded vote:
AYES:Supervisors Johnson, McNamara, Church, Nickens, Minnix
January 27, 2001
NAYS:None
IN RE:CERTIFICATION RESOLUTION
R-012701-1
At 1:30 p.m., Supervisor Johnson advised that the Closed Meeting was
held from 12:25 p.m. until 12:50 p.m. and moved to adopt the Certification Resolution. The
motion carried by the following recorded vote:
AYES:Supervisors Johnson, Minnix, Church, Nickens, McNamara
NAYS:None
RESOLUTION 012701-1CERTIFYING THE CLOSED MEETING WAS HELD
IN CONFORMITY WITH THE CODE OF VIRGINIA
WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors of Roanoke County, Virginia has
convened a closed meeting on this date pursuant to an affirmative recorded vote and in
accordance with the provisions of The Virginia Freedom of Information Act; and
WHEREAS, Section 2.1-344.1 of the Code of Virginia requires a certification
by the Board of Supervisors of Roanoke County, Virginia, that such closed meeting was
conducted in conformity with Virginia law.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Supervisors of
Roanoke County, Virginia, hereby certifies that, to the best of each members knowledge:
1. Only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting
requirements by Virginia law were discussed in the closed meeting which this certification
resolution applies, and
2. Only such public business matters as were identified in the motion
convening the closed meeting were heard, discussed or considered by the Board of
Supervisors of Roanoke County, Virginia.
On motion of Supervisor Johnson to adopt the Certification Resolution, and
carried by the following recorded vote:
AYES:Supervisors Johnson, McNamara, Church, Nickens, Minnix
NAYS:None
IN RE:RECONVENEMENT
January 27, 2001
The participants reconvened at approximately 1:30 p.m. After identifying and
prioritizing the drivers of all the players, the participants determined the effect of each driver
on the future of the County. The participants brainstormed two actions that each player
might take to ensure the success of each driver. They then predicted whether the player
would be successful at implementing the actions.
Bonz Hart, representing the New Century Technology Council offered several
suggestion for recruiting high-tech companies which included taking the prospect to another
technology company, to a technology university and students, to a technology attorney, to
a technology networking group, and showing the prospect the night life in the Roanoke
Valley.
There was general discussion among the participants on what Roanoke
County should make available to economic development prospects, especially high
technology prospects, including venture capital, angel capital, flexible space with short term
lease agreements, an outstanding web site, and a trained employee pool.
Vice Chairman Church thanked everyone for attending and participating in
the forum and presented gifts to the individuals from outside agencies and businesses.
RE:ADJOURNMENT
At 5:00 p.m., Vice Chairman Church adjourned the forum.
Submitted by:Approved by:
January 27, 2001
_________________________________________________
Mary H. Allen, CMCJoseph B. “Butch” Church
Clerk to the BoardVice Chairman
January 27, 2001
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