1999-05-12-Minutes 446
MINUTES OF THE PARIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
REGULAR MEETING
May 12, 1999
The Paris Economic Development Corporation met in a regular meeting on
Wednesday, May 12, t999, at 4:00 P.M., in the City Council Chambers, City Hall,
Paris, Texas. President Mike Rhodes called the meeting to order with the
following boardmembers present: Jay Guest, Barney Bray, and Dick Amis. Also,
present were ex-officio boardmembers Mayor Charles Neeley, Chamber President
George Struve, City Manager Michael E. Malone, and Executive Director Gary
Vest.
President Rhodes welcomed City Councilmembers Gene McWaters, Richard
Manning, and Michael Pfiester to the meeting of the Paris Economic Development
Corporation.
President Rhodes 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. Boardmember Dick Amis made a
motion, seconded by Boardmember Barney Bray, that the minutes be approved
as presented. The motion carried unanimously.
President Rhodes asked Gene Anderson, Director of Finance, to give the financial
report for the month of April. Mr. Anderson gave the financial report. After
discussion by the Board it was their consensus that before any more funds were
expended in connection with the BITCO litigation that the whole situation needed
to be assessed. It was the Board's position that Attorney Clark McCoy send a
letter update to the Board in connection with the BITCO litigation. Mr. Anderson
finished the financial report and said that he would be glad to answer any
questions. Boardmember Bray made a motion, seconded by Boardmember
Amis, that the financial report be approved as presented. The motion carried
unanimously.
President Rhodes asked Gary Vest to give the Director's Report. Mr. Vest
discussed responses received due to the advertising program, and stated that
next week the groundbreaking ceremony for Florida Power & Light is scheduled.
He passed out information sheets concerning the relationship that has developed
with Panda Energy, Florida Power & Light, and Lamar Power Partners. He
discussed the Enterprise Project designation for Tuner International Piping
Systems and he said that the State liked the application so much that they
awarded an additional bonus project. Mr. Vest discussed the progress on paving
the street in the Southwestern Industrial Park. President Rhodes asked for
questions concerning Mr. Vest's report and there were none.
President Rhodes stated the next item was development of the Annual Plan of
Work. He asked Mr. Vest to review the Plan of Work for the Board. Mr. Vest
discussed the Plan of Work for the past year covering items done to address
each of the goals in this Plan and he discussed some changes that will be
recommended for the Plan of Work for the upcoming year. Mr. Vest advised that
the Annual Plan of Work and Budget must be submitted to the City Manager in
July and the City Manager will present the Annual Plan of Work and Budget for
the Paris Economic Development Corporation with the regular City of Paris
Budget to the City Council. Mr. Vest stated that during the past year we retained
the Paris Packaging Plant, we moved Buster Paving into our spec building, and
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we helped We Pack Logistics add 100,000 sq. ft. by building them a street. Mr.
Vest said that there were several other industrial projects that occurred during
this past year in which we had minor participation. Mr. Vest said in the area of
recruitment of new primary employers that we attracted Turner International
-- Piping Systems which took the Babcock & Wilcox Plant, and we attracted Panda
Energy, Florida Power & Light which is Lamar Power Partners. Mr. Vest said that
working with start up business and new business development was primarily
accomplished through the Small Business Development Center. In connection
with infrastructure and workforce training, Mr. Vest stated that the paving of S.W.
7th Street project, the Chisum School adoption of the Freeport Exemption for
industry, the Skills Development Fund for Turner International Piping Systems,
the Smart Jobs Program for Turner International Piping Systems, and the
Terminal Building at Cox Field were completed this past year.
Mr. Vest asked that the boardmembers advise him of any revisions that needed to
be made to the Annual Plan of Work for the upcoming year as he discussed this
plan and that next month he would bring back the Revised Annual Plan of Work
for approval by the Board to be presented to the City Council at a later date.
After discussion, it was the consensus of the Board that Attorney Don
McLaughlin prepare a letter for the next meeting concerning the status of the
squatter's lawsuit in connection with the Northwest Industrial Park Area
President Rhodes stated that the next item on the agenda in connection with the
Budget would be deferred to the next meeting.
President Rhodes asked if there was any other business and there being none he
declared the board meeting adjourned.
President Michael Rhodes
ATTEST:
Assistant City Clerk, Barbara Denny