County OKs Centre 75 land sale

Jeremy Nash news-herald.net

Loudon County Commission during a special called meeting Thursday approved a resolution to sell land in Centre 75 Industrial Park to a company currently known as Project Z.

Commissioners David Meers and Leo Bradshaw motioned and seconded, respectively, with the vote passing 7-1 in favor of selling 89.16 acres.

Commissioner Van Shaver was the lone opposing vote, and Commissioners Bill Satterfield and Steve Harrelson were absent.

“We would like to do a ribbon cutting if this sale goes through,” Jack Qualls, Loudon County Economic Development Agency executive director, said. “I can tell you this company is on the international trading market. It is a very well-known company. … I’d say everybody in this room has one of those products, or one similar to it in your house, that you probably put your head on it at night.”

Qualls has been working on the project for a year and said it took time to get all parties “to the table.” The company based in Asia has asked to remain confidential for now, he said.

“The cultural difference between us and this company, they don’t trust the government, and they see me as a government official,” Qualls said. “So it took a long time to gain their trust, it took a long time to bring the state back to the table, we brought an interpreter to the table. I’ve done some due diligence here, folks. It’s a good project. It’s a good project for our community.”

Little information has been provided about the company, but Qualls in a previous interview said it would manufacture foam-type products in a 600,000-square-foot facility. The company could have a ramp-up over four years and bring in 260 jobs.

Loudon City Council at the July 16 meeting approved the negotiation of a five-year, 50 percent property tax abatement payment in lieu of taxes agreement. Total investment from the manufacturer would be $71.5 million. Commission on Thursday did not vote on the PILOT.

The combined total for the city and county taxes will be $353,253 under the agreement, Qualls said.

Shaver opposed in part because of the lack of information provided about the company. He emphasized the county should not entirely rely on information without fully knowing what the repercussions could be.

“I go back to I guess it’s been three or four years ago the last time we had one of these pig in a pokes come in, (former EDA director) Pat Phillips was presenting to us, and it was a Z, a Q, a P, a T, I don’t even remember what it was, but it never did happen I don’t think,” Shaver said. “Dr. Bud Guider stood up there at the annex and he said, ‘Guys, you cannot do this anymore. You cannot set here and invite and bring companies in here not knowing what they’re doing to us’.”

Meers and Commissioners Henry Cullen and Kelly Littleton-Brewster wanted to know how the company would impact the environment.

“Any projects that are developed these days have to follow the mandates of the (Environmental Protection Agency),” Qualls said. “I mean that is your authority authorized to govern. … They’re no different than any other company starting a business. I mean they will have to apply for all the correct permits. If they have to have air quality permits they’ll have to apply for those.

“They’re not discharging anything into the sewer. It’s basically restrooms associated with the facility,” he added.

The company looks like an environmentally friendly “good investment,” Littleton-Brewster said, noting she learned it could use 90 percent of its product and then work to reuse the remainder.

Loudon County Mayor Rollen “Buddy” Bradshaw called the company “solid,” noting he knew just a little more than commission.

“It is a solid company,” Buddy said. “They are everything that I’ve seen are (an) environmentally friendly company.”

Commission briefly discussed terminating an agriculture lease at Centre 75, but ultimately removed it from the agenda so it could go back before the EDA board.