12/14/1994 MINUTES - Laserfiche WebLink

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67 Chairman Cecil stated that he had asked City Engineer Earl Smith to attend this meeting to provide information on the Soup Street Project. City Engineer Smith stated the project is complete at this time with a total cost of $160,152.33. He said at the last regular City Council meeting the Final Change Order was presented to them which was for a deduct in the contract price of $3,123.85. Mr. Smith said the project cost ended up slightly under bid. Mr. Smith said he felt they now have a virtually maintenance free pavement for at least twenty years, and he believes the people at Campbell Soup are satisfied. Chairman Cecil called for questions regarding this project. City Attorney Haynes advised that the City's contribution of $20,000.00 was authorized to be transferred into the Paris Economic Development Corporation Fund by resolution that passed the Final Change Order. Chairman Cecil thanked Mr. Smith for his report. Chairman Cecil asked Mr. Vest to make his report. Mr. Vest stated he had asked City Manager Malone to show the video tape he had just received from the Northe~ast Texas Economic Developers Roundtable. Mr. Vest stated that this video promotes the northeast Texas area as the "Right Corner of Texas" which is right for people and right for business in every way. Mr. Malone advised there were twenty-three counties in Northeast Texas, and that Judge Loughmiller was on the Board. Mr. Vest said they supported the efforts of the Economic Developers Roundtable, and they have the opportunity to host the Northeast Texas Economic Developers Roundtable meeting January 18, at the Love Civic Center. Mr. Vest stated he would be getting more information out to the boardmembers regarding this meeting. Mr. Vest said in connection with the retention and expansion program they visited two industries which were well received. Mr. Vest advised they had several other visits planned and will continue to make the visits once a month. Mr. Vest advised they had made a trip to the Economic Development Department at Texas Utilities and visited with their key staff people. He advised that one of the items discussed was the possibility of a model building project. He said the model building seemed to be a major issue with the T.U. staff, and they were limited to the prospects they bring to Paris due to the unavailability of any industrial space in Paris. Chairman Cecil questioned the boardmembers as to the impressions they received from this meeting. Boardmember Fendley stated he agreed with what Mr. Vest said and stated the T.U. staff had indicated that ten or twelve prospects had passed Paris by because they required a 60,000 square foot shell building available for viewing. Mr. Fendley said he felt this is something the Board should look at, and let Mr. Vest and some members of the community gather information to see if it is feasible. Mr. Vaughan said they asked the T. U. staff if we had a finite number of dollars where would you allocate those funds, would you put the money into marketing;, and their suggestion was to put the money into the model building. Mr. Vaughan stated that they may not land an industry from that particular model building, but their theory is that it will attract others, and then you can put those others perhaps into a new building. Chairman Cecil asked if they had anything to say regarding the number of prospects that could have been directed to Paris that were not because of the lack having a model building to show them. It was the consensus of the boardmembers there were several prospects. Mr. Amis said he felt Paris would be unique to have the model building to bring prospects in to show.