Aug. 11--ASHEBORO -- The Randolph County Board of Commissioners voted to propose to accept an offer by Murphy Oil Co. for purchase of the Emergency Medical Services base at Randleman.

County Staff Attorney Aimee Scotton said Murphy had offered $450,000 for the site as part of a plan to build a gas station and convenience store. Scotton said the board could propose to accept, after which Murphy would be required to put up 5 percent of the offer. Then the county would advertise the offer in a newspaper and wait 10 days for an upset bid.

The process would continue until there were no more upset bids, she said. Then the board could either accept or reject the final offer.

Commissioner Phil Kemp said the county needs to consider where to relocate the site and determine the market value of the land. County Manager Richard Wells assured the board that it was "in the driver's seat."

He said there is a good possibility that property owned by the N.C. Department of Transportation on the U.S. 220 ramp at the intersection with Academy Street could be used as a relocation site.

He said the Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation is negotiating with DOT to use a portion of the land as a park and ride lot. PART is also looking into having the EMS base across the cul-de-sac from the park and ride lot.

Wells also told the commissioners that another company, Sheetz, is interested in the EMS base as a site for a store. "We could wait to see who offers the most money," said Commissioner Arnold Lanier.

In other business, the board:

n Agreed to allow the City of Trinity a sanitary sewer easement across county property on the west side of Trinity High School Drive.

n Voted to accept a red flag rules policy to help prevent, detect and mitigate identity theft in the Emergency Medical Services, Health and Tax departments.

n Accepted a bid by IIS/NCAAC of $756,093 for a computer aided mass appraisal software system for the Tax Department.

n Approved the design of a granite monument to be placed in front of the old Randolph County Courthouse. The 5-foot tall memorial will recognize the building's historic value and significance.

n Approved rezoning requests by Greentech Renewable Solutions and Larry Wilson. The Greentech request allows construction of a solar field facility on 8.25 acres at U.S. 220 Business across from Leather Road, south of Seagrove. Energy generated by the 5,568 solar panels will be enough to power about 150 homes. Randolph Electric Membership Corporation will buy the energy.

The Wilson request is for 1.8 acres at 6436 U.S. 64 W., to expand an existing automotive sales and repair lot.

This story appeared in the Aug. 5, 2009, edition of The Randolph Guide.

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