The board ultimately directed Berry to develop models of what different levels of rebates might look like and present those at the board’s May meeting.

“Bottom line, they [Rural King] would like to put $3.1 million into this property, hire 60 full-time employees and over 20 part-time employees and average wages would be $11.30 per hour plus benefits,” Berry told the board.

Berry said Rural King plans to open three new stores this year, they’ve already selected two and this site is being considered as the third. If approved, it could open in the third quarter of 2020.

“I think eventually they’re coming. They want you to help them, and, if you help them, from what we heard, they’ll come sooner than later,” Berry told the board.

Supervisor Phillip McCall said he’s noticed the improvements and has shopped at the company’s Wytheville location.

“They have a lot of merchandise. They offer a lot, and I think they would be a great asset to this,” McCall said. “I can see us giving them a percentage but not 50%. I might have the appetite for 35% or 40% in sales revenue but not 50. We haven’t done that for anybody else.”

Supervisor Saul Hernandez said he hopes they will come but opposes offering tax rebates.