Halifax commissioners reject Center for Energy Education's $75,000 purchase offer for county property

The Halifax County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Feb. 3 to reject an offer from the Center for Energy Education to purchase a county-owned parcel that the center currently leases.

The vote followed public comment from business and education partners and a staff legal memorandum outlining the county’s existing economic-development lease obligations. Commissioner Don Bryant moved to reject the offer; Vice Chair Sherry Davis seconded the motion and the board approved it without recorded opposition.

Why it matters: county staff and the county attorney told commissioners the parcel in question was originally part of an economic-development arrangement tied to a solar project and carries lease conditions and other limits that affect county ownership and future uses. Attorney Glenn Rollins told the board the lease requires the lessee to operate and maintain an energy-education center and that “the Center For Energy Education steps into the shoes of GenX” for those obligations. Rollins also explained the legal procedures commissioners must follow if they decide to sell county property, including declaring property as surplus and conducting an upset-bid process.

Public comment: supporters of the center urged the board to preserve the organization’s access to the site. Speakers at the public-comment portion included Reggie Bynum and others who said the center “filled a gap” in job training and youth programs; Jenny Lewis, president of the Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce, described partnerships that take students to the center; and Dr. LaVonne Clayton of Southwest High School said students used the center for hands-on, work-based learning. Center staff and partners supplied attendance and program figures in public comment: they cited hundreds of students served by camps, OSHA training for veterans and justice-involved residents, and community events.

Staff perspective and county planning context: county economic-development staff and the county manager told the commission the parcel is strategically located for future transportation and industrial planning — staff noted North Carolina Department of Transportation work on an express-design concept for U.S. 158 and long-range passenger-rail planning that could affect the area. Tourism and economic-development staff also briefed commissioners earlier in the meeting about recent awards and visitation at county attractions; that context helped shape discussion about long-term land use.

Board action and follow-up: Commissioner Bryant moved to reject the $75,000 offer and to declare that the county has no present interest in selling the property; Vice Chair Davis seconded. The motion passed unanimously. The board also directed county staff to continue working with the center on non-property assistance, and several commissioners urged staff to schedule a follow-up meeting between center leadership and county staff to explore grant opportunities and technical support.

The board’s formal rejection does not affect the center’s current lease on the property; staff said the center will continue operating under the existing lease terms through its remaining term.

What remains open: commissioners asked staff to arrange the suggested meeting between Center For Energy Education leaders and county management to discuss grants, program growth and non‑property support. The commission did not direct staff to begin any sale process or to change the lease at this meeting.