1997-10-22-Minutes 301
MINUTES OF THE PARIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIOH
October 22, 1997
The Paris Economic Development Corporation met in their regular meeting on
Wednesday, October 22, 1997, at 4:00 P.M., in the City Hall North Annex, Fire
Training Room, Paris, Texas. President Curtis Fendley called the meeting to
order with the following boardmembers present: Dick Amis and Michael Rhodes.
Also present at this meeting were ex-officio boardmembers, Ike Jewett, Bobby
Walters, Executive Director Gary Vest, City Manager Michael E. Malone, and City
Attorney T. K. Haynes.
President Fendley stated that the 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 and there were none. President Fendley stated since
there were no corrections or additions to these minutes they stood approved as
presented.
President Fendley asked Mr. Gene Anderson, Director of Finance, to give the
financial report. Mr. Anderson gave the September report. Mr. Fendley called for
questions and there were none. Boardmember Dick Amis made a motion,
seconded by Boardmember Mike Rhodes that the report be approved as
presented. The motion carried unanimously.
President Fendley stated that there would not be a President's Report given at
this time.
President Fendley asked Mr. Vest to make his report. Mr. Vest discussed the
responses received since the last meeting, and he said that they had gotten a
signed contract with Exide Starter and Alternator Division which will be a
warehouse operation. He said in connection with the BITCO project that the
people they are working with were in town this past weekend and spent quite a
bit of time looking at the plant and the equipment. Mr. Vest said that the
Industrial Appreciation Award was presented to Kimberly Clark at the Annual
Chamber of Commerce Banquet. Mr. Vest said that he wanted to discuss a Labor
Market Survey and Analysis proposal from an economic development services
company in Irving. He said that this company had proposed to do a labor survey,
labor force analysis and wage and benefits survey. He said that this company
would do this by region, since we draw on the labor force from the region. He
said the study would include Bonham, Commerce, Greenville, Paris and Sulphur
Springs, and if we could all go in together, then the cost could be divided among
the participants when the survey is completed. He said this study would be
something they we could use in marketing our community. He said that this
-- would be an actual onsite survey and analysis. He said that this will be a well
documented study to show the structure, capabilities and needs of area work
force, to pinpoint areas of potential work force development that will increase the
opportunities to entice new industries, to highlight industries best suited for the
available labor force in our area, to inform the local leaders of work force issues
and to develop a useful marketing tool for each of us to use in attracting industry.
He said that Commerce and Sulphur Springs have already approved their
participation in this agreement and Bonham is currently meeting on this item. He
said that this will help us to determine the characteristics of the labor force, we
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will have the total breakdown by employment category,, we can determine the
work force drawing area, we can determine the percent of work forces under
employed by industry by specific categories, analyze education levels of work
force, determine the ethnic breakdown of our work force, and they will
recommend target industries based on the work force information in this
analysis. He said that Sherman and Denison has just completed a study like this
done by this same company. Mr. Vest said the total financial commitment for
this study would be $25,000.00 with three entities participating which would be
divided by the number of participating entities. He said if there were five entities
participating the total financial cost would be $34,000.00 with our part being
$6,800.00. President Fendley stated that he felt this would be an excellent
marketing tool, and he asked for comments, stating that this was not an action
item on this agenda. After discussion, it was the consensus of the board that this
would be an excellent study to participate in, and Mr. Vest advised the board that
action needed to be taken prior to the next board meeting. The City Attorney
Haynes advised this could be accomplished through a pass around resolution.
President Fendley asked if there was any other business and there being none he
declared the board meeting adjourned.
President Curtis Fendley
ATTEST:
Assistant City Clerk, Barbara Denny