A leaking roof at PCB and delineation of wetlands at the corporate park were concerns shared by Halifax County Economic Development Director Cathy Scott at today’s commissioners meeting.

The county owns the building PCB uses on Highway 903, Scott told the board. The roof is leaking and if it is not fixed could affect the work area where sensors are made. “The fact it is a flat roof is one problem,” she said.

The other problem is from the heating and air conditioning system, Scott told the board. It is the proper system for the building, she said, but it was installed incorrectly. “We need to determine what the issues were when the (system) was installed and come up with specifications on what the repairs will be.”

It could cost as much as $300,000 for the repairs, she said, and the roof’s warranty has expired.

“We are the landlords of that equipment,” County Manager Tony Brown said. “It’s probably going to be a hot issue for January.”

Commissioner Rives Manning asked what recourse there is against the installation of the heat and air system. County Attorney Bill McBlief said he would have to study that matter.

“We need to pay attention to what Judge Manning said,” Commissioner Vernon Bryant said.

Scott said it was important to get the problem taken care of. “PCB plans to move more equipment in. They are looking at bigger and better things in Halifax County.”

Meanwhile, Scott told commissioners the grounds for the corporate park contain 700 acres, 100 acres being wetlands.

The site for the Reser’s Fine Foods expansion was 20 acres and originally 8 acres were wetlands, she said.

With approval of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and a mitigation plan, the site was scaled down to 1 acre of wetlands, Scott said.

Having a study done on the Corporate Park site, located on Highway 561, could mean having more land to develop on the site, Scott explained.

The study, which commissioners approved by a 5-1 vote, with Manning dissenting, will cost $30,000.

Manning suggested using the land already available and then doing studies case by case when development opportunities arise.

Scott said, however, “If you piecemeal it, it could end up costing us more.”