08/07/2018 MinutesPARIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
SPECIAL MEETING
Board Members Present:
Richard Manning, Chairman
Shay Bills, Vice -Chairman
Tim Hernandez, Secretary/Treasurer
Marion Hamill
A.J. Hashmi
Ex -Officio Members Present:
Legal Counsel:
Call to Order.
Paris City Council Chambers
107 East Kaufman St.
Paris, Texas 75460
Tuesdaw Au�ust 7 2018
4:00 O'CLOCK P.M.
MINUTES
Staff Present:
Michael Paris, Executive Director
Chris Stout, Economic Development Associate
Paula Brownfield, Administrative Assistant
Guest(s) Present:
Mary Madewell, The Paris News
Carol Hufnagel, Citizen
Anna Spencer, Citizen
City Council Liaison:
Paula Portugal
Mr. Manning called the special meeting of the Paris Economic Development Corporation to order at
4:00 p.m. on August 7, 2018.
Discuss andossibl a rove 2018-2019 Bud yet for the Paris EDC.
Mr. Manning asked Mr. Paris and Mr. Hernandez to explain the 2018-2019 budget worksheets. Mr.
Paris started by saying that the PEDC was showing next year's budget with the Item Description column
listed at the far right of the worksheet. It is being submitted to City Council with the item descriptions
because last year the City Council asked to show more detail. This keeps the PEDC transparent in its
budget showing the reason along with the line items behind the budget numbers.
Starting with the Personnel Section, we are looking into a 2% increase in Salaries and Wages in the
upcoming year for the three PEDC employees. Social Security has 2% added. Retirement for the
Executive Director stays the same at $10,800.00. The Insurance Benefits line shows an increase of 20%
for premiums. Workers' Comp expense will stay the same. Over all the personnel expenses will increase
4%.
The worksheet shows that many of the Administration expenses will be staying the same. Postage will
be increased. This past year the PEDC sent out Christmas cards to keep building on both local business
August 7, 2018
Page 2 of 4
relationships and site selector relationships. The Contract Services — Legal Fees is increasing to
$5,000.00. Last year the City Council wanted the amount to be zero, but this year we will suggest the
increase due to our need for a real estate attorney. Ms. Harris Who is both the City Attorney and our
attorney requested that we have a real estate attorney for our dealings with American Spiral Weld.. The
Auditing Services expense, which is a portion of the overall. City audit, increases a little every year.
Gene Anderson, City Finance Director, suggested that we increase the amount by at least 3% each year.
The Machinery, Tools and Equipment expense is lower this coming year since we will have purchased a
new copier.
Turning to the second page, Mr. Paris pointed to Marketing & Promotion. The first item is Secure Jobs
and Retention which is an emergency fund to visit C -level executives. The $5,000.00 is set aside every
year in case it is needed. Lamar County Days takes place every two years, so you do not see an amount
in last year's budget. In the 2016-2017 fiscal year, $7,000.00 was budgeted for the event. This year's
budget shows the amount increased to $ 10,000.00, which. would be used for the hamburger cook -off and
other activities to showcase Lamar County. Marketing the Airport is in the budget and had not been used
from last year. We suggest that the money be used to promote the Airport during the annual Fly -In. The
IndustrA Attracti
year. We would like to see the $75,000.00 in the travel portion of Marketing and Promotion increased to
$115,000.00. This increase would allow us to create marketing materials and videos to promote Paris to
industries through the travel that is done and through mail campaigns. Mr. Paris asked. if there were any
questions about Marketing and Promotion. Dr. Hashmi pointed to a 53% increase in the travel part of
Marketing and Promotion as too much of an increase. He suggested that if more money was needed later
for marketing that the Board could increase it at that time. Mr. Manning stated he agreed as long as it
could be increased later if needed. Mr. Hernandez said that amending the budget later would be more
appropriate since there are no line iterns that show how the extra $40,000.00 would be spent. The Board
discussed that $90,000.00 would be an appropriate amount.
Job Training is the next budget item. Mr. Paris stated that the expense item ACT WorkKeys tests for
Campbell's and Kimberly Clark has not been used as often as in the past. He would like to see the
budget amount dropped to $500.00. The High Demand Job Training and Recruiting Match Grant done
by the Work Force Commission will match their funds and ours to purchase training equipment for Paris
Junior College. We set aside the money in anticipation of the match grant.
PEDC Board Meeting Minutes
August 7, 2018
Page 3 of 4
We went to the budget items under Direct Business Incentives. Mr. Paris stated that we are hoping to
hear something soon from American Spiral Weld. The budget shows what we anticipate if American
Spiral Weld chooses Paris. The upfront incentive is for $1,500,000.00 immediately after construction
begins. Out of this $1.5 million, $500,000.00 would come directly from the PEDC and $1 million would
come from the local banks loan. The next line item shows American Spiral Weld Jobs at $1 million.
This incentive is for jobs added above a base of sixty (60) jobs with those employees being with the
company for at least six months. The money shown for American Spiral Weld is committed, but not
spent at this point. Mr. Hernandez asked if the incentive for jobs was on head count or FTEs and if the
timing was six months or one year. Dr. Hashmi clarified that the payment would not be on the first sixty
employees, but on sixty-one and above. Also, the $25,000.00 per each employee over sixty would only
be paid out once per employee. Dr. Hashmi asked about the interest rate we would be getting on the $1
million dollar loan. Mr. Paris answered that most likely it would be at 3.5% or below.
Going on to J Skinner, we are committed to $400,000.00 if they meet all their requirements. Mr. Paris
stated that it looks like everything is going in the right direction for J Skinner. Paris Lakes shows as
being marked through and the reason for this is that they never pursued reimbursement for their sewer.
The money set aside for Paris Lakes went back into our reserves. Both Bodyguard and Potters Industries
were paid out this year. Campbell's was paid $400,000.00 for the Plum Line. This does not show in the
budget because we have not done budget amendments for the end of the 2017-2018 fiscal year. The last
line item is Daisy Dairy with an incentive of $94,900.00. They did not meet the requirements for the
incentive and no payment was made to them. This coming year the budget shows $113,150.00 set aside
for Daisy's incentive.
Mr. Paris pointed out under Debt Service that the last payment on the bond will be made before the end
of September 2018. The ASWP Local Banks Loan shows a total loan of $1 million dollars, a term of 5 -
years, and a 3.5% interest rate. This would make the yearly payment approximately $218,301.00 per
year. Mr. Paris stated that he would like to see this loan paid off in five years. Dr. Hashmi said he was
opposed to paying off a 3.5% loan early. His reasoning is that the PEDC should keep the extra money in
our account so we would be ready for another prospect.
Mr. Paris went on to Capital Expenses saying that we have not placed anything in this category. We will
wait on American's decision before adding any dollar amounts.
Dr. Hashmi asked for the total amount of overhead to run the PEDC. After calculating, it was stated that
approximately $450,000.00, which is 30% of the overall total. Mr. Paris voiced that the changes the
Board discussed were in Marketing and Promotion, which were taking the line item from $115,000.00 to
$90,000.00. Mr. Hernandez stated that we should keep the COLA in place for now and look into an
incentive plan later. Dr. Hashmi stated that he would only oppose the COLA portion of the budget, the
rest of the budget he approves.
Dr. Hashmi made a motion to approve the budget without the COLA adjustment. No one seconded the
motion. The motion failed.
Mr. Manning asked for a motion to approve the budget with the COLA included and the adjustment of
Marketing to $90,000.00. Mr. Hamill made the motion. Ms. Bills seconded the motion. Vote was 4 -ayes
to 0 -nays.
PEDC Board Meeting Minutes
August 7, 2018
Page 4 of 4
A4journ
Dr. Hashmi made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Hernandez seconded the motion. Vote was 5 -ayes to 0 -nays.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:51 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Paula Brownfield
Administrative Assistant
Paris Economic Development Corporation