1999-11-29-Minutes494
MINUTES OF THE PARIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
SPECIAL MEETING
November 29, 1999
The Paris Economic Development Corporation met in a special meeting on
Wednesday, November 10, 1999, at 9:00 A.M., in the City Council Chambers, City Hall,
Paris, Texas. President Mike Rhodes called the meeting to order with the following
boardmembers present: Dick Amis, Melba Harris, Jay Guest, and Donald Wall. Also
present were ex-officio boardmembers Bobby Walters, Mayor Charles Neeley, City
Manager Michael E. Malone, City Attorney Larry Schenk, Executive Director Gary Vest,
and Attorney Clark McCoy.
President Rhodes stated that the first item on the agenda was a closed session in
accordance with Section 551.071 of the Open Meetings Act to seek the advice of the
attorney regarding litigation, and he called for a motion for the Board to go into
executive session. Boardmember Melba Harris made a motion, seconded by
Boardmember Dick Amis, that the Board go into executive session. The motion
carried unanimously.
The Paris Economic Development Corporation went into executive session at 9:01
A.M.
President Rhodes reconvened the Board into open session at 10:05 A.M.
President Rhodes stated that the next item was discussion, consideration of and
action on the extension of Hearne Street, including consideration of possible
resolution related thereto. He asked Mr. Vest to discuss this item. Mr. Vest said that,
in connection with Hearne Street the action that the Board took was to ask the City
Council to participate in the extension of Hearne Street, and at this point in time the
City has not taken any action. Mr. Vest stated that the industries in the area are very
anxious to have this extension completed. He said that at this time the Board is
looking at proceeding with or without City participation. '
Boardmember Amis said that the Board made a commitment to Rodgers-Wade (now
owned by Pratt & Lambert). He said that since the time the project received approval,
115,000 sq. ft. of building space has been added with a total employment average of
225 employees. He said that the truck traffic in this area has increased, and the truck
traffic route is not a good route. Mr Amis said that they are traveling Neathery Street
and making a very difficult turn on this route, and that there were some safety issues
involved. He said that this project will make Hearne Street a good route for truck
traffic. Mr. Amis said that Hearne Street is a city street in addition to an industrial
project, and perhaps the City should share in the expense. He said that the Board has
made a commitment, and the process should begin; if the Board wants to request that
the City share in the expense at a later date, then this could be done.
City Manager Malone stated that there were some funds identified and placed in the
Street Department's Budget that could be available to help fund the project. He said
that this was a decision that was deferred to the City Council at a later date. Mr.
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Malone said that he was sure that Mayor Neeley would agree that if the Board wanted
to approach the City to pay some share that we would be happy to present the Board's
request to the City Council. Mr. Malone said that Neathery Street is a residential street
with a number of children residing on the street and this has been a continuing safety
concern for the industries, the City of Paris, and the City Council. He said that the
route the trucks would be using would primarily be Texas Department of Highways
and Public Transportation coming down Church Street, but once on Hearne Street
-- only a portion of that would be a part of the State route, and this extension would be
entirely a City street. He said it would be 39 ft. width and would be approximately a
$260,000 project. He said that there are two property owners involved in obtaining the
right-of-way. Mr. Malone said this would bring Hearne Street from 1st Street S.W.
westward to 4th Street, so the trucks would travel down Church Street, make a left on
Hearne Street, go over to 4th Street, and they would be able to access all the industries
and warehouses.
City Manager Malone stated that there were two issues involved; 1) is the street being
primarily extended for an industrial purpose, and 2) is there some benefit to the people
of that area of the city in getting the truck traffic off a residential street. He said that
the Board might make an approach to the Council to see if they would participate in
this project and set an amount.
After discussion by the Board, Boardmember Dick Amis made a motion, seconded by
Boardmember Jay Guest, that the Paris Economic Development Corporation fund the
extension of Hearne Street. The motion carried unanimously.
City Attorney Schenk said that a resolution reflecting the action the Board just
approved would be prepared for signature.
President Michael Rhodes reconvened the Paris Economic Development Corporation
in open session at 4:35 P.M.
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
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PARIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
RESOLUTION NO. 99-009
WHEREAS, the Paris Economic Development Corporation did heretofore, on the 13th
day of September, 13, 1999, pass Resolution No. 99-007, addressing the extension of Hearn
Street from Ist Street S.W. to 44 Street S.W.; and,
WHEREAS, the Paris Economic Development Corporation desires to amend the aforesaid
prior resolution;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE PARIS ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, that Resolution No. 99-007, be, and the same is hereby,
amended so that such shall read as follows:
"WHEREAS, the Pace Group did, in its Business Retention Survey and
l~lexible Incentive Plan for the City of Paris, dated May 12, 1994, bring to the
attention of the Paris Economic Development Corporation the concern regarding
the inadequacy of access roads to Delta Logistics and Rodgers-Wade
Manufacturing to properly service the expanding business demands of these vital
industries; and,
WHEREAS, the current route used to access Delta Logistics, Rodgers-
Wade Manufacturing, and warehouses in the vicinity thereof is through residential
areas on streets which do not provide adequate turning space for large trucks, and
significant amounts of traffic by large vehicles through residential areas causes
deterioration to the streets; and,
WHEREAS, it is deemed appropriate that in the interest of retaining these
important businesses and enlarging the operation at the current locations, the Paris
Economic Development Corporation extend Hearn Street from Ist Street S.W. to
4th Street S.W. through the project entitled "PEDC Heam Street Extension, 1999, "
at a cost not to exceed $265,000.00, in order to provide an adequate route for large
vehicles traveling to Rodgers-Wade and the warehouses in the vicinity thereof and
to alleviate the road deterioration caused by large vehicles traveling through
residential areas; NOW~,THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE PARIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION, that the extension of Hearn Street from 1st Street S.W. to 4th
Street S.W. for the project entitled "PEDC Hearn Street Extension, 1999, H at a
cost not to exceed $265,000.00, be, and the same is hereby, approved; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the project entitled "PEDC Hearn
Street Extension, 1999," at a cost not to exceed $265,000.00, is hereby authorized
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to be funded from the Paris Economic Development Corporation Undesignated
Fund Balance; and,
-- BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the President, Michael R. Rhodes,
be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to, in accordance with Section 4.13
of the Bylaws of the Paris Economic Development Corporation, request that the
City perform the construction of "PEDC Hearn Street Extension, 1999," by
delivering a copy of this resolution to the City Manager of the City of Paris,
Michael E. Malone.'
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 29th day of November, 1999.
Michael R. Rhodes, President
ATTEST:
Melba Harris, Secretary-Treasurer
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Larry W. Schenk, City Attorney