MEDC Board Minutes January 2012
Monticello Economic Development Commission
Board of Directors Meeting
January 4, 2012
The Board of Directors of the Monticello Economic Development Commission met at noon Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at the Monticello County Club. The following directors were in attendance: Bennie Ryburn III, Bettye Gragg, Bobby Harper, Bill Wisener, Beverly Hudson, Chris Lampkin, Wayne Fawcett, George Harris, Tom Wingard, and Jack Lassiter. Directors absent included: Tommy Maxwell, Michael Layfield, and Dave Dickson. Proxies were provided by directors absent. Guests in attendance were: Brian Hargis, Zach McClendon, David Ray, Ranelle Eubanks, Scott Kuttenkuler, Tandee White, Russell Corker, 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, III called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone. Ryburn gave an update on the lottery reporting $36 million in lottery sales and $195,000 in Drew County for the month of November.
Ryburn presented the minutes and financial statement from the previous meeting for approval. A motion was made by George Harris with a second by Jack Lassiter to accept the minutes and financial reports as presented. An update was given by Bennie Ryburn on Monticello sales tax. Proxies were provided by the board members who were absent.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT:
Recruiting New Industry:
- Select Site Certification – Nita McDaniel received the U.S. Wildlife services endangered species letter needed and forwarded the final document to Chris Marshall for the Select Site certification of the Industrial Park.
Business & Industries:
- This week will mark the ending of the land exchange between CenterPoint Energy and MEDC. CenterPoint has begun to haul gravel into their site and expect to begin construction this year. The site is still a little wet, and a groundbreaking will be held as soon as the conditions will allow it.
- Whit Barton now has documents prepared for the pending request for annexation of the MEDC Industrial Park. Only a portion of the industrial park was annexed years ago. With this annexation all of the lots in the Industrial Park will be within the city limits.
- Nita McDaniel discussed broadband and the availability of fiber optics in Monticello and her intention to research options for this.
- Rail & Other Transportation Needs: Mayor Maxwell and Ms. McDaniel continue to work with Rob Tkach and Tommy Aaron of Arkansas Midland Railroad to rework our public rail access plan for the Industrial Park. We made a recent visit to Dumas to view an abandoned rail spur in view of purchasing the rails. This did not work out due to the weight of the rail. Other options will be looked at.
- Successful presentations were made to the Drew County Quorum Court and to the City Council to open two additional routes for truck traffic to Price Lumber.
- Plans are to continue on the rail expansion during January. We hope to meet with Rob Ktach with Midland Railroad and one of their contractors this month to walk the rail again to update the cost estimate.
Grants and Marketing:
Nita McDaniel referenced her report contained in the booklet.
Workforce Training Center:
Income received for CNA regional testing at the WTC was referenced in the financials. The two office spaces are still available for rent at the center. Nancy Jones of Dept. of Workforce Services called regarding Atwood’s taking applications and using rooms at the WTC to do their interviewing. DWS also has available applications for Atwood’s. Atwood’s will be hiring 30 to 36 positions and expects to open sometime in March 2012.
Revolving Loan Fund balance is $14,828.04.
Ridgeway Report:
21 residents are now on site. By February there will be an additional two residents, bringing the total to 23 residents. Bennie Ryburn interjected that the last two months the Ridgeway had generated a profit. Mr. Ryburn said the Ridgeway needs to have 100% occupancy to pay its way. The loans do not have to be paid on for the first three years, which gives a little time to get the occupancy up. We are still working with John Toney to close everything out and taking care of the $73,000 in change orders, which should happen some time this week and close the books out.
A motion was made by Bill Wisener, with a second by Jack Lassiter, to let the profits from the Ridgeway Monticello go into the MEDC internal war chest in the EDFM account for the MEDC Board to use toward economic development projects. Motion carried. Mr. Ryburn noted that MEDC’s war chest is separate from the city’s war chest. Reports from Tower Management are received monthly and forwarded to the board of directors.
Airport:
Ads from various industries have been received for the airport’s flight/ad display in the airport lobby, with electronic ads from the schools expected to be received soon.
MEDC/Chamber Banquet:
A total of 185 tickets were sold with a good attendance at the banquet. Invoices and receipts are being closed out and any proceeds being split 50/50 with the Drew County Chamber of Commerce.
Bid Proposal to the City of Monticello:
Proposal was submitted during council meeting on December 1st. This month City Council will meet on budgeting for the sales tax.
- A list of Arkansas’ largest forest products companies was included in the booklets which listed Monticello’s Hood Packaging and Maxwell’s Hardwood Flooring.
- More thank you cards were received from the high school students for sponsoring the Arkansas High School Rodeo in Monticello.
- Nita McDaniel noted that 2011 has been a very busy year with many accomplishments. Several items were completed, such as: Rail Master Plan for industrial park, Ridgeway completion/dedication, Centerpoint land exchange, and Select Site Application. McDaniel also noted that hiring a full-time property inspector has advanced community clean up and commended Brian Rodgers for his work.
- McDaniel outlined goals for 2012 including: Phase I of the rail spur extension, prospects for the Spec Building and the Industrial Park, investigation of fiber optic services for the community, researching trade shows and a business incubator.
- City Property Inspector, Brian Rogers, presented an updated report on property complaints and with a list of those in compliance. Booklets include a copy of the report. Mr. Rodgers thanked Beverly Hudson of the City Council for the council being instrumental in helping to clean up the city.
OLD BUSINESS:
RLF Program:
Bennie Ryburn appealed to the local banks to remember individual prospects for the revolving loan program who did not qualify for financing of regular bank loans.
Airport:
Bennie Ryburn reported that they were almost 100% complete on the hangar for EFS GeoTechnologies at the Monticello Airport. Zach McClendon, one of the airport commissioner’s, is partly responsible for many things being done at the airport. The general budget fund has been approved by the City Council, and they will take up sales tax in January. The airport has a request for $75,000 for match on an 80/20 grant in that budget. It is for a larger hangar for a local industry. Grants for the airport are capitol improvements that are needed.
The sales tax report in the booklet reflected the city was up $5,000, the county was up $384 versus $290 a year ago.
Bennie Ryburn asked direction from the the board on the CenterPoint Energy property located on Chester Street. Ryburn suggested the property be sold as soon as possible and put into the MEDC war chest to invest in economic development purposes. Discussion followed. There was a concensus from the group to list the Chester Street property at appraised value. A motion was made by Bill Wisener with a second by Jack Lassiter to list the property at appraised value after CenterPoint has moved and left the lot clean. Motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS:
Nita McDaniel presented to the board a request to contribute $2500 to sponsor Leadership Arkansas, a state wide program with the Arkansas State Chamber, who will be holding their Session 3 in Monticello at UAM. A motion was made by Wayne Fawcett with a second by George Harris for MEDC to contribute $2,500 for sponsorship of the Leadership Arkansas event. A dinner at the Monticello Country Club is to be held January 19th.
UAM Report: Jack Lassiter gave an updated UAM report.
- Dr. Lassiter spoke briefly on the Adult Education Program and drastic changes affecting this five or six county area. Lassiter could not project the direction it would take, but did not feel it would be good for our area.
- January 10 at 5:30pm at the Green Room will hold a meeting regarding the campus post office being closed.
- February 13th the Legislature goes into annual session. No recommendations were made for additional high education funding.
- UAM has not had to make any cuts in budget despite level funding for the past 3 years.
- Community Center will be meeting again this month and first on the Agenda is to find out how to fund this facility.
- Dr. Lassiter reported a good fall term for students, with 740 students getting Lottery scholarships. He also noted that incoming students seem to be more prepared for college and commended our public schools for this.
- Responding to a question concerning addition of residence halls, Lassiter shared that UAM is working on it. The state of Arkansas will not allow the use of state funds to build residence halls, so they must be totally self-supporting. He noted that UAM is the only 4 year institution in Arkansas which does not have a mandatory housing rule requiring students to live on campus.
Drew Memorial Hospital Report:
Bennie Ryburn gave a brief hospital update in the absence of Micheal Layfield. A copy of the report was provided in the booklet.
Public School Report:
Bobby Harper expressed his appreciation in having their teachers recognized at the MEDC/Chamber of Commerce Banquet. Mr. Harper and Mr. Fawcett commented on the recent holiday Tournament. Wayne Fawcett thanked Bennie Ryburn for his recent contribution of $2,500 to each school with a match by Toyota. Both schools are to provide mini scholarships.
Drew H.E.A.L.T.H. Report:
A report was provided in the booklet with an update given by Betty Wahlquist.
Southeast Arkansas Cornerstone Coalition:
A cornerstone report was not given due to the absence of Zack Tucker .
With no other business to conduct, the meeting was adjourned.
