By Shamon a McClary

Kannapolis Citizen

City Council members christened their new digs Monday at the Kannapolis Train Station.

The scent of freshness still lingered in the air as the council members sat behind their new wooden dais affixed with name plates, 15-inch LCD monitors and microphones.

A matching wooden podium and two desks — one for media and one for Assistant City Manager Eddie Smith — sat to the side. And the Kannapolis logo, which hung high behind the dais, topped off the new chamber.

"These facilities are mighty nice," Mayor Bob Misenheimer said.

This is the fourth chamber the city has used. They started in what is now the school adminstration building, then moved to what is now the police department, and most recently to the Public Works Operation building on Bethpage Road.

Yet, the Kannapolis Train Station is not their last stop. Council has one more move to make. The permanent chamber and town hall will be built on the 350-acre North Carolina Research Campus site. All pieces of equipment can be moved to the new location.

The train station can seat about 120 people, which is a lot more than what the Public Works building could hold. Despite more seating, a minimal crowd turned out Monday.

Council began their meeting with a photo shoot behind the dais. Then it was work as usual. Presenters and council members were able to use some of the upfits, which included a drop screen and projector.

Members of the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce presented council with an incentive strategy model that would make incentives standardized across the county. The Chamber recently presented the same model to the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners. The board recommended each municipality review the model. Kannapolis City Council is the first to view it.

Council members did not take any action on the item.

In the model, the Chamber recommends the county and cities allow:

* A standard county-wide rebate of 85 percent of a company's tax bill.

* Investments over three years.

* A minimum capital investment of $1.5 million in land, improvements and machinery.

* If the investment is greater than $30 million, negotiations on a case-by case basis.

* Flexibility to add more years to investments for competitiveness.

* Rebates for businesses in manufacturing, distribution and corporate offices.

Clay Andrews, a recruiter with Cabarrus Regional Partnership, reflected on the words of former County Manager Frank Clifton and said incentives are important because about 12,000 residents leave the county to work elsewhere.

"Incentives are the heart of anything that can influence a public decision," he said.

Thus far, incentives have increased the county's tax base by more than $300 million and have created or saved about 5,000 jobs, according to Andrews.

By following the model, Andrews said the county would get 100 percent of tax payments on the books. It would also cut down on paperwork and other requirements and keep taxes low for citizens.

Council members questioned whether a standard model would hinder the city's competitiveness in respect to the county and other local cities.

"I would want that incentive representative of the taxpayers," Councilman Richard Anderson said.

Andrews assured them it would not make them less aggressive, partly because the city is already making good business decisions, such as decision with the Kannapolis Gateway Business Park and the North Carolina Research Campus.

"You're already on the right track. You're thinking outside the box," Andrews said.

Ryan McDaniel, director of economic development, said with current projects and including motorsports and biotechnology, about $2 million is expected to locate in Kannapolis.

McDaniel referred to Kannapolis as a "boom town."

Also during the meeting, Karen Whichard, the city's marketing director with Walker Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations, gave an overview of current and upcoming marketing projects to display the city. Some projects include an economic development portfolio, a quality of life magazine and a marketing DVD. Using the new sound system, Council viewed the DVD for the first time Monday.

Assistant City Manager Eddie Smith also gave a presentation on department performance measures he hopes to implement in the city.

Contact Shamona McClary at 704-933-3450 or smcclary@salisburypost.com.