MEDC Board Minutes May 2012
Monticello Economic Development Commission
Board of Directors Meeting
May 2, 2012
The Board of Directors of the Monticello Economic Development Commission met at noon Wednesday, May 2, 2012 at the UAM Gibson Center Caucus Room. The following directors were in attendance: Bennie Ryburn III, Bettye Gragg, Chris Lampkin, Brian Hargis, George Harris, Michael Layfield and Jack Lassiter. Directors absent included: Bobby Harper, Dave Dickson, Tommy Maxwell, Beverly Hudson, Wayne Fawcett and Tom Wingard. Guests in attendance were: Mayor Allen Maxwell, Robert Moery (for Senator John Boozman), Scott Kuttenkuler, Tandee White, Nancy Miller, Joe Burgess, Mandy Moss, Melissa Cason, Ann Burnett, Lynn Fitzhugh, and Betty Wahlquist. Nita McDaniel, Linda Jones, and Brian Rodgers of the MEDC staff were also in attendance.
Bennie Ryburn called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone. A special welcome was extended to Robert Moery with Senator John Boozman. Mr. Ryburn made mention that the sales tax revenue was up by $7,300 compared to a year ago. $153,777 versus $146,496 a year ago, and the county was up $111,000 including the ½-cent library tax. Lottery sales were $315,000. Mr. Ryburn presented the minutes and financial statement for approval. A motion to accept the minutes and financial reports as presented was made by George Harris, with a second by Jack Lassiter. Motion carried.
Director's Report:
Recruiting New Businesses and Industries: The Square Cup is now open. Our USDA loan has been disbursed, and Steve Davis has submitted an application for an additional loan to the Small Business Administration.
Existing Business & Industries:CenterPoint Energy - Still working on the drainage issue in the north corner of Lot #6 near CenterPoint construction area. David Carter with the Arkansas Heavy Equipment Operator Training Academy has it on their list for off-site training to start during May. They plan to do some grading to help with improving the construction area.
- Rail & Other Transportation Needs:
- Robert Graham of W. William Graham Jr., Inc. has completed reworking the cost estimate. His survey crew has completed their field work and survey from Hood Packaging to the rail spur route into the Industrial Park. We are waiting on the written report and legal description that is needed to get an easement from Hood Packaging.
- The Third Party Track Usage Agreement has been reviewed by the attorneys. Midland is working on revisions to that agreement and sending back to us. In the end it should benefit everyone, Midland, the industries and MEDC once completed.
- Small Businesses:
- We have been working with Wells Trucking, a local business, since November on financing for the purchase of equipment to expand their operations. The loan with Accion closed out on April 24th, which will help Wells get another truck on the road.
- Met with two individuals interested opening small businesses this month. I met with operations manager at (TCP) Temperature Controlled Products, which is housed at Drew Foam. They employ about 10 people. He mentioned one item that we may can step in and help him with.
- I visited the Sawmill on Winchester Road and visited with Tommy there. Will continue to stay in contact with them.
Grants Pending:
- Delta Regional Authority - The RFI is now open with a deadline to submit to SEAEDD by May 24th . I am working on updating our letters of support. We are waiting on the participation agreement from Price Lumber Company to submit. From information I've received we should be funded this year.
- AEDC Community Development Block Grant - I have sent updated Rail Spur information to Rachel Kluender. We will ask for partial funding for the Rail Spur.
- Early Warning System Grant $364,564: Bill Horn and I have worked on this application for a while, which goes as far back as when Truman Hamilton was here. We did find out there are 3 applications bundled together with the State of Arkansas through FEMA. All three have to be completed and awarded at the same time
Marketing:
- http://www.arkansassiteselection.com/ Views on our websites have been listed differently from what they have been in the past. Each site has been listed with the number of hits on each.
- Analytics reports on the MEDC, City of Monticello and Monticello Police Department websites have been emailed to board members. We continue to update these sites as needed.
Workforce Training Center:
- The Income generated from ProMetrics for the C.N.A regional testing during the month of March is $175 - up from $155 last month
- On April 17th MEDC and the Small Business Administration hosted a Housing and Business Development Conference at the WFTC. Also present at the meeting was USDA to share information about their housing program.
- There is a prospective tenant for the WFTC and I am hoping to hear back from him soon. It is a program that targets minority senior citizens to help with job training.
City Timber Management:
- Mark Sikole posted bids, with no responses, for thinning out the 100 acres at the Lake Monticello property, so it will find out if it has to rebid or what needs to be done since there were no responses.
Revolving Loan Fund:
Balance in Re-Loan Fund: $14,482.75. Out of the $98,000 USDA grant proceeds, $73,000 is available for lending.
| The Square Cup | Current |
| Ready Top Metals | Current |
| The Marketplace | Delinquent |
| Harrison Fiberglass Repair | Current |
| Tommy Deshazer Garage | Current |
| Justin Vanlandingham | Current |
| James Quick Print | Current |
| Wells Trucking | Renegotiating |
| Berry Saw Shop | Current |
| F & F Boats | Delinquent |
| Coffee Bean | Delinquent |
| Meme's Nursery (McCracken) | Payments have resumed at reduced amount. |
Ridgeway Development:
There are 27 units rented, with only 5 vacant units.
Other:
- April 19th the Mayor and I met with Brian with the Arkansas State Highway Department to look at the parking downtown. A lot of available parking is around the Square and down Gaines Street, but is not marked. Brian is now putting together a plan to mark parking in those areas.
- We participated in the Keep America Beautiful in April. Brian Rogers will comment on that during this property report.
Airport Flight/Ad Display:
- Work continues toward gathering ads for the Airport Display. Ads received to date are Drew Memorial (5); SeaArk Boats; and Maxwell Hardwood Flooring. I plan to take a thumbdrive around to each business and get an ad from each one of them
City Property:
Brian Rogers reported 15 property complaints last month on Ordinance 756, and is up to 36 this month. Five of those are now in compliance. 18 complaints made on Ordinance 630 as of last meeting. 2 are now in compliance and 3 more added. Ordinance 756 relates to weed-lot and, trash, etc. and Ord. 630 is for nuisance properties.
Brian Rogers thanked the banks, businesses, media for advertising, and everyone else involved for making the Great American Cleanup in Monticello and Drew County a success. There was a larger turnout this year and everyone appreciated all of the door prizes donated. About 8,600 pounds of garbage were picked up.
Nita McDaniel commented on the recent cleanup of the MEDC Industrial Park and mentioned that the interior of the park is not mowed due to it being harvested for hay twice per year.
OLD BUSINESS:
Airport:
Bennie Ryburn reported that he attended City Council meeting and got two resolutions passed, contracts, and asked for some additional funds. With the $25,000 approved, we can get $125,000 more grant funds and can generate between $4 -$5,000 annual income by making the hangar two bays. State Aeronautics funds are down. The state has a 6% tax on aviation fuel and aircraft sales. Bennie Ryburn will be attending the State Aeronautics board meeting and will have about 5 minutes to state what we wants to do and put them on notice that we want to apply for a grant. FAA has cut their grant from 95/5 to a 90/10 and the state has been picking up our 5%, so it will take more funds from the state to pick up the 5%. At FAA we have about $344,000 banked up to use for building the taxiway and parking apron for the hangar expansion. The federal money comes in an entitlement to the state to state airports large enough to garner these funds, with Monticello being one of them. We get the $150,000 a year, and can bank it up, to do a larger project in 2 or 3 years.
Ryburn reported that Glen Dabney has moved into his building and should be getting a parking lot paved within the next 30 days. Rent income should start in about 30 days, which should be about $28,000 annual income for the airport. With Dabney's project we are up to about $5M in grant money. If the State's money stays stable, or regains some stability, the grant for the next hangar should be about a half-million dollars total. It should generate about $15,000 per year in income to the airport.
Michael Layfield commended Bennie Ryburn for his commitment to the airport and thanked him for his assistance in obtaining a $30,000 grant for Drew Memorial Hospital.
UAM Report:
UAM Chancellor Jack Lassiter gave an updated UAM report. UAM will be having 6 summer sessions to accommodate the students. Enrollment is down at this time, due to the price of gasoline and other things. UAM has gone to a 4-day class week to allow students who work part-time. UAM Staff is also working a 4 1/2-day week for third year in a row to save energy during the summer.
740 students are on the lottery scholarships this year. Fall enrollment -preregistration is up by 200. Dr. Lassiter stated that UAM has been level in state funding receiving only $49,000 additional funds from the state, making the university 52% funded by the state.
The Forestry Building is in the process of being gutted and asbestos being removed, with plans to start over in that building with a new look. The University in negotiations with property owner of the Taylor house on Bayou Bartholomew which is part of the old Hollywood Plantation. Built in 1846, it is the only two-story log-cabin dog-trot still standing in the state of Arkansas. All funding for this project will come through grants from the CRC which comes from estate taxes. If UAM is successful, the structure will be restored and used as a tourism project.
Hospital Report:
Michael Layfield gave the hospital update. He reported that Drew Memorial Hospital shows a profit for the year. Several new facilities additions to the hospital have been completed and additional services such as chemotherapy and sleep center have been added. Mr. Layfield mentioned additional staff being added to the hospital, the goal is to have two surgeons. A new family practitioner, an interim director of nursing, and a new Assistant Director of Nursing have also been added to the staff. Arkansas Saves is a program focused on stroke prevention. Drew Memorial is one of 30 hospitals participating. They are testing now and will soon have available, telemedicine for the ER. The hospital is participating with UAM in Heritage Month. Students will have art on exhibit. Mr. Layfield said the hospital is currently at a level 4 in trauma care with the Arkansas Network, but has applied to go to a level 3, with level 1 being the best. It is required to have two general surgeons for the hospital to be at level 3. A detailed copy of the financial report is to be provided online with the board meeting minutes. Public School Report: Bettye Gragg reported that the schools will be ending their school year soon. Recent activities included orientation at the middle school. Dr. Gragg spoke briefly regarding the 21st Century Grant that was reinstated and the school improvements. Mike Johnson has been appointed for the position of Drew Central's Interim Superintendant.
Summary of Statistical Data Fiscal Year 2012Drew H.E.A.L.T.H. Report:
A prescriptions report was provided in the booklet with an update given by Betty Wahlquist. Ms. Wahlquist mentioned that the prescription program is being discontinued due to funding and program changes.
Southeast Arkansas Cornerstone Coalition: Scott Kuttenkuler announced that on May 17th at 5-7pm a Candidates Forum was being held at the Drew Central School Auditorium.
Southeast Arkansas Cornerstone Coalition:
No Cornerstone report was given in the absence of Zack Tucker.
Nita McDaniel referred to B& F Engineering letter and map regarding I-69 and surveying on Highway 278 West for Interstate 69. A comparison of Spec Buildings throughout Arkansas provided by Steve Jones' (AEDC) was also included in the booklet.
Arkansas Lottery Sales April 2012
You may view the Arkansas Lottery sales for Drew County and all counties in the state by going to the links below.
Arkansas Lottery Sale by County April 2012 or
Arkansas Lottery Sale by County April 2012 (PDF)
With no other business to conduct, the meeting was adjourned.
