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EDC considers sale of QC Apparel location
By Justin Goble
Land controlled by the county’s Economic Development Commission may soon be on the selling block.
Officials from the EDC voted to either place the former Tuckaseigee Mills property (now home of QC Apparel) for sale and/or to ask the Jackson Development Corp. to resurvey the land outside of the plant.
JDC is a non-profit corporation and the property-owning offshoot of the EDC.
New EDC member Chris Matheson, who proposed the action, said selling the warehouse may revitalize some of the industry in the county.
“A new individual could come in, pay off the debt (on the land) and hire new people,” Matheson said. “Maybe QC could move to another building that Jackson Development owns.”
Matheson said the money from a sale could go to paying off the first deed of trust on the land, which the EDC is three years behind in repaying.
“We won’t lose anything if we don’t sell it,” Matheson said. “We’re not selling it now.”
EDC members agreed, but also decided to look into the possibility of selling off land around the plant. EDC member Tom McClure said there had been a great deal of interest in that land from developers.
EDC members established a line of credit for QC Apparel last year through the JDC. McClure said that had helped improve QC’s cash flow, but the deeds of trust were still far from being repaid.
The EDC also came one step closer to an audit.
Treasurer Jay Coward said EDC members last week took part in a conference call with officials from the Local Government Commission.
As a public body, the EDC is obligated to comply with LGC guidelines.
“We had a phone conference with Sharon Edmisten with the Local Government Commission,” Coward said. “She said there are a number of things we need to do immediately. If we’re going to comply with the LGC’s rules and regulations, we have to pass some resolutions.”
Compliance wouldn’t be difficult, Coward said, adding that once certain rules are in place the EDC should receive a successful audit.
Actions suggested to the EDC to come into compliance with the LGC were to appoint a financial officer, along with appropriating a bond for him as insurance.
Resolutions to name Coward finance officer and allocate money for the required bond passed with a 5-0 vote (EDC Co-chairman and Sylva Mayor Brenda Oliver was absent from the meeting).
Coward said he is still waiting for more information from the LGC before the EDC moves ahead with an audit.
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