Loading...
1996-04-10-Minutes 223 MINUTES OF THE PARIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION REGULAR MEETING April 10, 1996 The Paris Economic Development Corporation met in a regular meeting on Wednesday, April lC,, 1996, at 4:00 P.M., in the City Hall North Annex, Fire Training Room, Paris, Texas. President Philip Cecil called the meeting to order with the following boardmembers present: Dick Amis, Curtis Fendley, and Barney Bray. Also present were ex-officio boardmembers, Judge Chuck Superville, Ike Jewett, Dr. Marshall Dougherty, City Manager Michael E. Malone, and City Attorney T. K. Haynes. President Cecil stated that tke next item on the agenda was approval of the minutes from the previous meeting of the Paris Economic Development Corporation. He asked if there were any corrections or additions to the minutes of the previous meeting. Ex-Offcio member Ike Jewett asked that his name be added to those in attendance at the February meeting. The minutes stood approved as corrected. President Cecil asked Mr. Gene Anderson, Director of Finance, to give the financial report. Mr. Anderson gave the February and March reports. Mr. Cecil called for questions and there were none. Boardmember Curtis Fendley made a motion, seconded by Boardmember Bray that the report be approved as presented. The motion carried unanimously. President Cecil stated that there would not be a President's Report given at this time. President Cecil asked Mr. Vest to make his report. Mr. Vest advised that due to advertising they had received forty-three contacts since the last meeting. Mr. Vest said at the last meeting they had discussed rail abandonment of the Texas Northeastern. He said that they had looked at putting this in the name of the Greater Paris Development Foundation and they went back to the Union Pacific to discuss the costs. He said the Union Pacific has decided to donate the right,of-way if we will accept it. He said there will be some maintenance responsibilities involved if we accept the donation. He said there has been a lot of interest expressed from Deport, Clarksville and Blossom concerning the railbank project and trail. Mr. Vest said there are a lot of details to be negotiated at this point. He said all of this should take place soon because the Union Pacific has the desire to dispose of the property by April 30th. President Cecil asked if the land is donated to the Greater Paris Development Foundation what would take place? Mr. Vest said if they agree to this then the Greater Paris Development Foundation has the financial responsibility including liability coverage. He said through the cities there would be the responsibility of weed and vegetation control. He said all we are talking about is railbanking, and we would not be obligated to build the trail. Judge Superville said that on the Rails To Trails Project from Paris to Farmersville the right-of-way was donated to Chaparral Rails To Trails, Inc., which is a 501(c) (3) non profit corporation. He said the Texas Department of Transportation approached the Chaparral non profit corporation and the railroad donated it to the non profit corporation. Judge Superville stated that the non profit corporation is going to donate it to the County, and the County will then pledge it as their contribution to the grant. He said the Department of Transportation will develop the trail. 224 Mr. Vest said on the eastbound rail project we need to be concerned with accepting the financial responsibility that will be deeded over to the Greater Paris Development Foundation. He said the Greater Paris Development Foundation is willing to be the' 501(c) (3) recipient, however, they want P.E.D.C. to carry the liability insurance and to maintain the right-of-way through the City by keeping it free of weeds and vegetation. He said he has talked with the people at Detroit concerning them taking everything from the Lamar County line -- all the way into Clarksville which would split the railroad. He said by doing this the right-of-way would be preserved to the East industrial sites and Cox Field Airport for future use. President Cecil stated that in order for the board to make a reasonable decision they would need to know our ultimate liability. Mr. Vest advised the Board that he may need to call a special meeting later in the month related to this issue. President Cecil asked City Engineer Earl Smith to give his report. City Engineer Smith said that he had a video showing how the BITCO site is progressing. Mr. Smith said that everything is going real well at this time and their estimated completion date is June 1, 1996. City Attorney T.K. Haynes reported that the first step of annexation was begun on this property and the tract adjacent to it. He said final annexation will be accomplished by September 4, 1996, if it progresses as planned. President Cecil asked if there was any other business and there being none he declared the board meeting adjourned. PRESlDENT PHILIP CECIL ATTEST: ASSISTANT CITY CLERK, BARBARA DENNY