Commissioners approve nearly $1.5 million incentive for Pfizer

Dec. 13--One of the more popular political topics of discussion for the Lee County Board of Commissioners came up for discussion Monday night.

The board voted 5-1 to give up to $1,412,715 in tax incentive grants to Pfizer, who is planning an investment of at least $100 million over the next five years. The project was initially approved by the commissioners in February under the name of "Project Panda," and Gov. Roy Cooper visited the Sanford plant in October when it was announced.

The project takes the shape of a gene therapy research lab. The process is intended to improve the lives of patients with genetic diseases such as sickle cell anemia and cystic fibrosis by administering DNA to reach damage cells, enter them and either disrupt or express a new protein.

Lone Republican Commissioner Dr. Andre Knecht was the lone vote in opposition, while Tim Sloan, a Pfizer employee, excused himself from the discussion.

According to the incentive contract, which the commissioners approved Monday, Pfizer pledged to create 50 new jobs at an average annual salary of at least $90,000 in the first five years. New Vice Chair Larry "Doc" Oldham said that a $100 million return on an incentive worth just under $1.5 million was "a pretty good investment."

After the vote, Dr. Knecht read a part of a statement from Cooper when the governor signed House Bill 13, which granted a temporary reprieve from class size restrictions in kindergarten through third grades, in April.

"Instead of continuing to offer tax giveaways to millionaires and giant corporations," Cooper said, "I urge legislators to work with me to invest in our schools and make North Carolina a top-10 educated state."

Knecht added, "I just want to let you know that he's even thinking the same thing," Knecht said. This is a corporation that has $23 billion in the bank, billion, and a project that's already started."

Board Chair Amy Dalrymple asked when the statement was made, but Knecht was not able to provide that, so the conversation moved on to the next item.

Also on Monday, the commissioners approved spending $20,000 for the services of law firm Poyner Spruill in writing ordinances for oil and gas mining and development. Lee County is splitting the total cost of $40,000 with Chatham County.

The move comes in response to the commissioners extending Lee's oil and gas mining and development moratorium for 24 months. One of the stipulations of that extension was the formation of land use plan and ordinances.

"This should get us through the requirements that we have to do within the moratorium," said County Manager John Crumpton. "The moratorium cannot go on forever. It has to end. We want to get these things done so it can end."

Reach Staff Writer Zachary Horner at 919-718-1217 and on Twitter at @Zachary_Horner.

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