[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6670881,"mediaKeyId","2171635-316da93cfd924f634f4d45d7cfd4a338","parentId",2171635,"title","Lee County commissioners approve organizational elections, courthouse repair bid and several budget actions; zoning change OK'd","audioSeconds",469,"startMs",2633000,"endMs",3102000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2171635-316da93cfd924f634f4d45d7cfd4a338&start=2633&end=3102","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2171635-316da93cfd924f634f4d45d7cfd4a338/thumbnail_2633000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6670881/Lee-County/North-Carolina/Lee-County-commissioners-approve-organizational-elections-courthouse-repair-bid-and-several-budget-actions-zoning-change-OKd","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6670881-1849d8751375c4a665c863a5ed7ae708/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172627&Signature=M4g3YlyjiANuiALunwLav5A3pWWiLAckDlXrdbgfOsFSFwjigC60~gQxhdZQdQqjPOk679lkSIgWUbdb8-wwcrGaBNgBwC-KOWq7nrt6K7OWDTh9dKdj5LyxkUP~IWxMc8HYMMlouMUVZY3wbrhhVNqgJ3EkfFdgqrZcrv4R7mPNr2MQvQh~9Af32ruaF64zABdoF7kGjsLw-a7nQ2-vJ9cCySLwxyKLDE0Kt91IE-ugwGB66NeMfegY2eyamyyXsgHeS3r4fI2BP8DCXvWYKcNZdOjyd6HaTk6nLxs9ZSA-974-YXC4YSSHa5J6TSDnQ2v1FMQ2tD4BCh17LocdMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lee County","date","2025-01-01T05:09:39.747Z","article","The Lee County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 2 completed its annual organizational business and approved several actions including leadership elections, a zoning change, a low‑bid acceptance for courthouse repairs and budget and grant ordinance adjustments.

Elections and organizational items
Commissioners elected Commissioner Smith as the board chair and Dr. Knecht as vice chair for the 2025 term. The clerk reported the chair vote was 4 for Commissioner Smith and 3 for Commissioner Sharp; the vice‑chair ballot returned seven votes for Dr. Knecht. The board also adopted a resolution setting the time, date and place for regular meetings (continuing a rotation between the McSwain Center and the Civic Center, with meetings at 6 p.m.) and approved official bonds required by North Carolina law for specified county officers, including the sheriff ($25,000) and the finance officer ($1,000,000).

Zoning map amendment
The board approved a planning‑board‑recommended rezoning for a 4.93‑acre portion of a 16.66‑acre parcel with frontage on White Hill Road, changing the parcel from Highway Commercial (HC) to Residential Agricultural (RA). County planner Amy McNeil told commissioners the map amendment aligns with the county's long‑range land use plan and recommended approval; the planning board had recommended approval by unanimous vote. Commissioners made two motions consistent with staff guidance and voted to approve the rezoning.

Historic courthouse repair bid
County staff presented the bid results for repairs to the Lee County Historic Courthouse, a project funded in part with an emergency supplemental historic preservation grant through the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and additional state funds. The county received six bids; the low bidder recommended by the architect was Harrod and Associates Constructors Inc., with a combined base plus alternates bid of $1,212,100. The board voted to accept the low bid and authorized staff to begin contract execution.

Budget and grant ordinance actions
The board approved budget amendment number 12022407, which reallocated approximately $1,750,000 of previously identified matching funds (initially set aside for a broadband match) so the funds could be obligated before the fiscal year end; staff explained the reallocation allows the county to use the funds for salaries in the sheriff's department if the state match is confirmed or to free the sum for other board priorities later. The board also approved Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (CSLFRF) grant project ordinance number 7 to enable transferring that grant balance to the general fund for the same purpose.

Other routine business
The board approved the consent agenda as amended (items 4D and 4E were pulled and placed under old business) and took a group photograph as part of the organizational meeting.

Why it matters: These routine organizational and fiscal steps set leadership and scheduling for the coming year, allocate grant and matching funds the county must obligate before fiscal year end, and advance a state‑funded historic preservation project by placing the courthouse contract under execution.

Votes at a glance
- Chair election: Commissioner Smith elected (4 votes Smith, 3 votes Sharp).
- Vice chair: Dr. Knecht elected (7 votes Knecht).
- Resolution fixing meeting times/places: approved (voice vote).
- Official bonds: approved (voice vote); statutory bond amounts described in packet.
- Zoning map amendment (HC to RA; 4.93 acres on White Hill Road): approved (voice votes; planning board recommended unanimous approval).
- Historic Courthouse repair contract acceptance (Harrod and Associates Constructors Inc.): approved; combined bid $1,212,100.
- Budget amendment #12022407: approved.
- CSLFRF grant project ordinance #7: approved.

Next steps: Staff will proceed with contract execution for the courthouse repairs and bring the revolving loan renewal back to the board for a Dec. 16 vote; budget staff will obligate identified funds before year end as required.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lee County Board of Commissioners Meeting - December 2, 2024","oneSentenceSummary","At its Dec. 2 organizational meeting the Lee County Board of Commissioners elected leadership, adopted its regular‑meeting schedule, approved official bonds, accepted a low bid for the historic courthouse repair project, approved a zoning map amendment and passed a budget amendment and a CSLFRF project ordinance.","taxTitle","Lee County, North Carolina","taxId",55520,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6670886,"Bridal/BRIC Capital asks Lee County to renew $200,000 revolving loan; public hearing set decision for Dec. 16",1617,1155000,2772000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2171635-316da93cfd924f634f4d45d7cfd4a338&start=1155&end=2772","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2171635-316da93cfd924f634f4d45d7cfd4a338/thumbnail_1155000.jpg","/articles/6670886/Lee-County/North-Carolina/BridalBRIC-Capital-asks-Lee-County-to-renew-200000-revolving-loan-public-hearing-set-decision-for-Dec-16","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6670886-8e00810276b7abd2427d8eef4a8313bc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172627&Signature=VporylYh-9-q99uhDV-dj9JCLYYI9wyBowGMSgZAT8O4DM0yiMiq4tm~O0U0Cg3G1hwsEmyA9tsi2MoN~mg-pyUnFUuT3N7eap9tmwzVsgWyLz~1mJ9wolnTEWNiLxtuv7mksPleo3tsT~LUTtx~XivUY3YZH8lsqRAiTDneSj9M9o-aliEUo3y4AFSsdUzroRiGe-L~FzsfpoBR4HWVIkfLH2og70YBkchMIxw6uDi5j6qmZXwptTTCMmKpxzTUOjBbeXfBcfqegBCA4s49M0J90gZvoPu1ANUWopvCY3ukO0~IfHZeKL6Q8o0Ri46g9m5GJTav8mtPJratiMxtOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bridal Capital Community Development Corporation asked the Lee County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 2 to approve a three‑year extension of a $200,000 revolving loan the county made in 2021, and to change the loan interest rate from 3% to 6%. The board held a public hearing but did not take final action; the item is scheduled for the board's Dec. 16 meeting.

At the hearing, the applicant's representative identified himself as Kerry Beshaw and described the organization's housing work, including building 10 single‑family homes from the fund, purchasing two rental units and renovating two other homes. “With the county's funding, this is what we are able to do, and I greatly appreciate the opportunity to create housing opportunities,” Beshaw told commissioners. He said the organization has been making interest‑only payments and is asking only for a renewal of the existing line of credit, not additional principal.

The request in the agenda packet describes the county's revolving loan fund as originating from an earlier Golden Leaf economic development project and notes a 2019 policy amendment allowing loans for low‑income and affordable housing. The county staff said the hearing was informational and that no vote was scheduled on Dec. 2.

Public testimony at the hearing was uniformly supportive. Lisa Johnson, who said she lives in the Jackson Heights neighborhood and is employed by Family Promise of Lee County, described moving from subsidized rental housing into homeownership through the organization's program and urged commissioners to renew the fund for Bridal/BRIC Capital. “When you decide on your funding, please take my journey in consideration going from low income to affordable homeownership,” Johnson said.

Sharon Reed, who identified herself as a HUD‑certified housing counselor working with Bridal/BRIC Capital, said the group provides bimonthly homebuyer education and one‑on‑one counseling, including services in Spanish, and that the program served more than 240 families last fiscal year, with over 100 actively pursuing homeownership. “Renewing our funding source would potentially allow many more families to purchase their first home,” Reed said.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about program eligibility and repayment. Commissioner Lubbock asked whether applicants would be limited to Lee County residents; Beshaw said the organization does not impose strict residency rules but that “the vast majority” of buyers to date were Lee County residents. Commissioner Vorbick and Commissioner Reeves asked about repayment status; county staff and the applicant said interest payments have been made and the principal remains outstanding while the applicant requested renewal.

Beshaw outlined two development projects he said would use leverage from the county loan: a Washington Avenue subdivision on about 17 acres near Horton Park and a Jackson Heights neighborhood revitalization. He said infrastructure funding secured so far includes roughly $950,000 from the State of North Carolina, $850,000 from the City of Sanford, $850,000 the county intends to contribute to the Washington Avenue infrastructure, and $450,000 from the Golden Leaf Foundation. He also said the Jackson Heights work has attracted roughly $5 million in state funds for neighborhood infrastructure and that the combined projects could yield roughly 75 single‑family homes plus a 16‑unit apartment building.

The public hearing was closed at the conclusion of testimony. No board vote was taken on Dec. 2; the board clerk said the item will return for formal consideration at the board's Dec. 16 meeting.

Why it matters: The revolving loan renewal would extend county funding that the applicant says has already produced homeownership and rental housing in Lee County and would be used to leverage state, city and philanthropic dollars for larger infrastructure and subdivision projects. Commissioners emphasized their interest in prioritizing local residents for affordable homeownership, but county staff and the applicant noted that some state and federal funding programs can limit the ability to restrict applicants by county.

Next steps: The board will consider a formal motion and possible vote on Dec. 16. The public hearing record and the applicant's letter are in the board packet.","Bridal (variously referenced as BRIC) Capital Community Development Corporation asked the Lee County Board of Commissioners to renew a three‑year extension on a $200,000 revolving loan at a higher interest rate. The board held a public hearing, heard supportive public testimony and scheduled a decision for its Dec. 16 meeting.","actionData","errors"]

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Lee County commissioners approve organizational elections, courthouse repair bid and several budget actions; zoning change OK'd

Bridal/BRIC Capital asks Lee County to renew $200,000 revolving loan; public hearing set decision for Dec. 16