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Regular City Council Meeting <br />April 14, 2003 <br />Page 3 <br /> <br />in Chicago, which is the largest plastic show in the world and it only happens <br />every three years. They will be going with the Texas Department of Economic <br />Development and will be working in the booth with the state agency. <br /> <br />Mr. Vest advised that the legislature had a very busy three months. March 14 <br />was the final date to file a bill. Eighteen bills that directly effect sales tax for <br />Economic Development had been filed. This number did not include House <br />Bill No. 29012, Mark Homer's bill, which Mr. Vest had helped him work on. <br />This bill restructures some of the 4A and 4B project definitions and also lists <br />things that you can and cannot do with the money. <br /> <br />PEDC had not met in the month of March because of the conflict with Lamar <br />County Day in Austin. Mr. Vest extended his appreciation to those council <br />members and staff who had been able to attend this event with other members <br />of the community. Mr. Vest announced that this Wednesday at their PEDC <br />meeting they have a large agenda and one of the things they will be talking <br />about is their Industrial District and they will also be addressing the agreement <br />with Paris Packaging. <br /> <br />Mr. Vest addressed Council about the financial situation faced by our industry <br />and our city. Mr. Vest said he was not up to speed as the need for such a <br />dramatic increase to the proposed water and wastewater rates, but said he knew <br />that the City of Paris cannot replace an industry like Campbell Soup. He said <br />without the key primary employers in our community, no one would be paying <br />a water bill. Mr. Vest stated that the city cannot continue increasing cost to the <br />city's primary employers. Mr. Vest said they should be able to sit down and <br />discuss this issue with big users like Campbell Soup, Sara Lee, and the power <br />plants and truly consider the possibility of lowering rates. He said if rates were <br />lowered, perhaps they could bring more production to Paris which would cause <br />more water usage. Mr. Vest asked the City Council to take more time and <br />study this situation and not to rubber stamp the consultant' s recommendation. <br /> <br /> <br />