03/29/2011 MINUTESParis Economic Development Corporation
Meeting Minutes
March 29, 2011,
Board Members Staff Steve Gilbert
Present: Pike Burkhart, Sr. Present: Shannon Barrentine
Doug Wehrman
Chad Brown
Rick Poston
Ex- officio Members
Present: Pam Anglin
Gene Anderson
Legal
Counsel: Kent McIlyar
Guest(s)
Present: Connie Beard, The Paris News
Fred Green, R3bi Incubator Director
Grant & Kelli Mallicote
City Council
Liaison(s): Edwin Pickle
Pike Burkhart, called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m. Pike welcomed those present.
Minutes from February 8, 2011 were approved, as submitted, by a motion from Doug Wehrman;
seconded by Chad Brown. Motion Carried 4 -0.
Financial reports for February, 2011 were submitted. Doug Wehrman asked about the Revenue
Bond Interest Payment in the amount of $37,103.50. Gene Anderson explained that amount is the Bond
payment for Paris Packaging, interest paid twice a year and a principal payment one time a year. Paris
Packaging makes a monthly payment to PEDC to almost cover this expense. With no more discussion, the
financials were approved, as submitted, by a motion from Doug Wehrman; seconded by Rick Poston.
Motion Carried 4 -0.
Steve Gilbert referenced a couple of packet inserts referencing upcoming events: 2011 Tyler Area
Energy Policy Summit, April 8 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the University of Texas at Tyler; and Northeast
Texas Trail Supporters Workshop sponsored by the Department of Interior on April 12 at the Love Civic
Center from Ip.m. to 4 p.m. the speaker will be from the Katy Trail in Missouri. Steve then referred the
R3bi Incubator update to Fred Green. Fred Green, R3bi Incubator Director told those present that his goal
was to have the facility open by May I'`. The facility is located at 1445 Clarksville Street in the
Williamsburg Shopping Center across from Kroger. This facility offers more space than the previously
discussed TXU building. Some problems have arisen: electrical problem involving one of the HVAC units
and asbestos will need to be abated. This location provides more office space with opportunities to
generate revenue from day use fees, virtual incubator and services of a technical write that Campbells
Soup and NextEra Energy have expressed interest in using. Fred proposes a smaller revenue shortfall of
$8,000 vs. $25,000 that was originally projected. The Feasibility Study outlined the focus on Agri-
Business. An Ag Forum has been scheduled for May 4t' to identify future opportunities in this area.
Attendees and /or Panel members for the Forum are from the Governor's Office and USDA at the State
and Local levels. Rick Poston told Fred that he needed to make contact with Damon Wells of the National
Turkey Federation to see what contacts and areas of need could be identified.
PEDC Board Meeting Minutes
March 29, 2011
Director's Report:
• Steve stated that he had met with an investor from Red River County about the possibility
of a Soybean Extrusion facility in Lamar County. He provided him a copy of the updated
Feasibility Study. The next steps include meetings with stakeholders and potential
investors.
• Retail Site Information.. Steve thanked Shannon Barrentine for her work to produce the data
and maps of current retail sites available in Paris. He encouraged those present to view the
information on line and. to provide any changes that need to be made.
• Mid -Year Review Report. Issued this week and will be featured in eParisTexas.com news
break section.
• Job Descriptions and Evaluation Forms are complete. Need to proceed with writing a
Policy and Procedures for PEDC.
• TCIM. TCIM wins National Award for "Outstanding Corporate Citizensh.i.p ", Third
Consecutive Year.
• Conducted very productive Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) visits with: Flex -O-
Lite, Harrison, Walker & Harper, We Pack Logistics, Rogers -Wade and Paris Packaging.
• Continue to work on a formula for future incentives.
• Highway 24 /transportation update. The proposed bill presented by the Sulphur River
Regional Mobility Authority (SuRRMA) failed for lack of a sponsor. The bill proposed an
increase in the vehicle registration fee that would provide SuRRMA a revenue stream.
Delbert Horton, SuRRMA Chairman, has asked Bobby Littlefield with TxDOT to rerun
cost figures for the remaining ten miles of Hwy. 19/24 that is not yet four -lane. The
Environmental clearance has yet to be completed and waiting on new traffic data.
• Emerging; Projects: SOLID, Crystal, Extreme EZ, Atom Bender, TDK West, Axis and
Taste Bud.
• Recent/upcoming meeting/trips — City Council Candidate Forums: Tuesday, March 29th
and Thursday, March 31St, at That Guy's Coffee from 6 to 7 p.m., sponsored by
eParisTexas.com; CREST Expo in Dallas, March 31St; Lamar County Days in Austin, April
5 & 6; Several BRE visits set for April.
The Board convened into executive session at 5:07p.m. pursuant to Section 551.087, Section
551.072 and Section 551.074 of the Texas Government Code to discuss and deliberate on the following:
A. Section 551.087 — Economic Development Negotiations
B. Section 551.072 — Real Property
C. Section 551.074 — Personnel Matters
Executive session ended at 6:03 p.m. No action was taken as a result of executive session.
Chad Brown made a motion to adjourn at 6:03 p.m.; seconded by Rick Poston. Motion
Carried 4 -0.
Respectfully submitted,
Shannon Barrentine, Economic Development Specialist
PEDC
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