Caswell County approves $50,000 economic development contract, commits $100,000 reserve and funds Pelham park access road

Caswell County commissioners approved a suite of economic development actions on July 21, hiring KMB Consulting for contract assistance, committing $100,000 from the general fund to an economic development capital reserve and authorizing construction of a gravel access road to the Pelham Industrial Park pump station.

The board approved a contract with Ken Bowman of KMB Consulting — work described in the packet as a mix of strategic planning, marketing and site-preparation support — and confirmed the county had budgeted $50,000 for the contracted assistance. Bowman told commissioners he would prioritize a marketing plan, website upgrades and developing infrastructure “on the shelf” so the county can respond to prospective employers. "They shop us on the Internet before they come here," Bowman said.

Commissioners also approved a separate action to formally commit approximately $100,000 from the general fund balance to a newly created economic development capital reserve. Manager Scott Whitaker told the board the funds originated from proceeds related to a prior land purchase and timber sale and that committing the funds would preserve them for future economic-development uses; when projects are ready the board would appropriate amounts from the committed balance for specific expenditures.

Finally, the board approved budget amendment number 2 to construct an access road to the park’s lift station and pump station. The project was presented as time-sensitive; the preferred path is a 60-foot corridor that preserves space for public utilities and avoids routing through a developer’s fenced parking area. Staff estimated the gravel-and-grading cost in the neighborhood of $25,000 to $26,000 and said proceeds from a recent timber sale (about $26,000) could offset the expense. The road described by staff runs roughly 889 feet and includes a 672-foot segment through a stockpile area; the plan calls for a crusher-run gravel base rather than asphalt and assumes the county will purchase pipe materials to limit contractor markups.

Procedural notes: the board suspended its rules so the budget amendment (which exceeded $10,000 and would otherwise have required placement on a later agenda) could be approved the same night. The contract approval motion was made by Commissioner Smith and seconded by Commissioner Ingram; the board approved the contract (vote recorded as 5-2). The $100,000 committal motion was moved by Commissioner Smith and seconded by Commissioner Rose; the motion carried. A motion to approve the access-road budget amendment was made and the board voted to approve after suspending rule 27 to allow immediate action.

Bowman, who described prior experience as an economic development director and county manager in other North Carolina communities, told the board he would provide status updates but does not plan a large travel or conference schedule for this engagement. Commissioners raised questions about hours and conflict of interest; Bowman said he had reviewed the arrangement with his other counties and a Commonwealth’s attorney and asserted there was no conflict and that proprietary information would remain specific to Caswell County.

Action summary: contract for economic development assistance approved ($50,000 budgeted); $100,000 of general fund balance committed to an economic development capital reserve; budget amendment approved to construct a gravel access road to the Pelham Industrial Park pump station (estimated $25,000–$26,000). Staff will bring final contract documents and the road project details into the county accounting and project tracking systems.