1994-08-25-PEDC55
MINUTES OF THE PARIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
August 25, 1994
The Paris Economic Development Corporation met in a regular
meeting on Thursday, August 25, 1994, at 4:00 P.M., in the City
Hall, City Council Chambers, Paris, Texas. Vice-President
Curtis Fendley called the meeting to order with the following
board members present: Dick Amis, Leon Williams and Barney
Bray. Also present were ex-officio board members, Jo Ann
Parkman, Ike Jewett (representing Gary Cunningham), Gary Vest,
Economic Development Director, Michael E. Malone, City Manager,
and T. K. Haynes, City Attorney, as counselor.
Mr. Fendley stated that the first 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
meetings and there was none. Board member Dick Amis made a
motion, seconded by Board member Barney Bray, to approve the
minutes as presented, and the motion was approved unanimously.
Vice President Fendley asked Mr. Malone about the Financial
Report, and he said Mr. Anderson would be available shortly to
go over the report. Mr. Fendley stated they would pass this
item and come back to it later in the meeting.
Mr. Fendley stated that last month the Board discussed
consideration of setting a permanent date and time for the
meetings for this year. He said the Board had always met on
the fourth Thursday of each month. He said the Mayor had
requested the Board look at changing the date and time due to a
conflict with the Ark-Tex Council of Governments meeting on the
same Thursday each month. Mr. Fendley noted that the reason
the meetings were set on the fourth Thursday was to coincide
with the time Regular Council meetings were held in case there
were items to come before the Council. Board member Bray
suggested the meeting be moved up to the fourth Wednesday of
the month if it was convenient for everyone. It was the
consensus of the Board to set the regular meeting for each
month to the fourth Wednesday of the month at 4:00 P.M.
Mr. Malone stated that in September most of the Board and
ex-officio members will attend the Texas Department of
Transportation Commission meeting on September 28th and 29th.
Vice-President Fendley stated that in September the Board
needed to move the meeting to Monday or Tuesday of that week.
After discussion among the board members, it was the consensus
of the Board to set the meeting for September to Tuesday,
September 27, 1994, at 4:00 P.M.
Vice President Fendley said he had nothing to report in
connection with the Chairman's Report at this time.
Mr. Fendley said the next item on the agenda was the request of
T & K Machine, Inc. and the Paris Industrial Foundation for the
purchase of 16.66 acres. He stated approximately five years
ago T & K Machine, Inc. purchased 16.66 of property from the
Paris Industrial Foundation at a price of $1,000.00 per acre
with the stipulation in the agreement that if purchaser of the
property did not expand his plant or build on that site within
five years the Industrial Foundation would purchase the
property back from Mr. Westbrooks at the price paid for the
property.
56
Mr. Fendley asked Mr. Haynes if he had some information
regarding this item. Mr. Haynes said the Paris Industrial
Foundation has asked this Board to carry out their obligations
which were contractually made with T & K Machine Company. Mr.
Haynes noted the request included some expense which was not a
part of the agreement.
Mr. Bray stated he felt this was not a large sum requested and
noted Mr. Westbrooks is a small, minority contractor in the
community trying to make plans for future growth. He said that
he felt the Board should help small companies as well as large
companies.
Mr. Haynes said the road that services T & K could also serve
this tract of land. Vice-President Fendley asked for other
comments. Board member Williams asked if the Paris Industrial
Foundation was an entity of the City of Paris. Mr. Fendley
said the Industrial Foundation is a private, non-profit
organization. Mr. Haynes stated the Industrial Foundation was
initially formed to accomplish what this Board is trying to do
now.
Mr. Vest commented that the expenses added by T & K Machine
were incidental bringing the total request to $18,381.00. Mr.
Vest said he felt this was a nominal amount when looking at the
industry, payroll, and what it meant to the community. Mr.
Vest said he felt this would build a lot of good public
relations with Mr. Westbrooks, to obtain this type assistance
from the Board. He also said he would like for the Board to
consider the road condition leading into this property and Mr.
Westbrooks plant. Mr. Vest stated that Mr. Westbrooks brings a
number of representatives of major corporations such as Boeing,
McDonald Douglas, etc., to his plant on this road. Mr. Vest
said he would like the Board at some point in time to consider
this road either in the City's Capital Improvements Budget or
enhancement of the roadway by the Board funding. Board member
Bray stated he felt this was something they could look at, but
at the present time they needed to deal with the property in
question. Mr. Haynes said he had driven on the road during the
past week, and he had noted a few potholes which needed to be
filled.
Ms. Parkman asked if in this proposal the Board would buy the
land and be responsible for it, or was the Board funding the
Industrial Foundation to buy the land back. Ms. Parkman wanted
to know if the Board was going to be in the land business or
was the Industrial Foundation going to handle the land, and the
Board furnishing the money. Mr. Haynes said the request was
that they asked the Board to repurchase the land for them, not
to fund the purchasing of it. Mr. Bray stated that he felt the
Board may need to have this matter clarified. Mr. Fendley
stated he felt the Board could vote to fund this request one
way or the other, but needed clarification. Mr. Fendley said
approximately 260 acres of other land is in the foundation.
Ms. Parkman read the request stating that both parties are
requesting the assistance of the Board to hold and market this
property for other potential industrial uses.
57
Mr. Vest said he felt the Board should decide what they want to
do as far as getting into the land business.' He said the
Industrial Foundation was originally formed for the purpose of
acquisition of industrial sites to be held for industrial
projects. Mr. Vest said the Paris Industrial Foundation at
this time basically does not have any funds, and that is why
they have come to the Board with this request. Mr. Vest said
with the creation of the Paris Economic Development Corporation
he felt it would be very difficult for the Industrial
Foundation to operate as it has in the past. He said he felt
the general consensus of the people in the community was that
they want the Board to hold the title to do whatever is
necessary to make the property presentable for marketing. Mr.
Amis said that as a spin off of this request, the Foundation
owns the adjoining property and they have been financially
unable to maintain it in a good showing condition. Mr. Amis
said that he felt eventually the Foundation would come to the
Board for the adjoining property.
Mr. Haynes said he understood that it is just a matter of time
before all of the Foundation's holdings would be transferred
into this Corporation. It was the consensus of the Board that
this was a transition they were involved in now and they were
working towards the same goal.
Board member Amis made a motion, seconded by Board member
Barney Bray, that the Board approve the purchase of the tract
of land at the amount that Mr. Westbrooks requested of
$18,381.00, and the motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Fendley asked Mr. Anderson if he was ready to give the
Financial Report at this time. Mr. Anderson explained that the
Board had been given a copy of the standard report consisting
of the balance sheet showing the cash balance as of today,
revenue summary, and the expenditures. Mr. Anderson asked for
questions. There was discussion regarding the Soup Street
Project. Chairman Fendley said if there was .no other
discussion, then the report was accepted as presented.
Vice President Fendley asked Mr. Vest to make his report. Mr.
Vest stated there were two things he would like to report on
concerning industrial activities. He said they had been
working with Clayton Mobile Homes out of Tennessee, but they
decided on a location in Bonham. He said he had also received
a request this week from one of the local industries for some
loan assistance. He said he was reviewing this now and
information would be sent out to all the members of the Board
for action at a later meeting.
Mr. Vest said regarding the Annual Plan of Work, he had asked
Chairman Cecil to give him some more time. He said he hopes to
have something to the Board members in the next few weeks for
discussion at the next meeting. He said at the present time he
has identified four major goals. He said one would be a public
relations campaign primarily focusing on the local businesses,
and then the marketing plan promoting the advantages and
positive aspects of our community, industrial recruitment
including retention/expansion of local industries and target
sector industries, community development which includes
infrastructures and work force training and education. He said
he would be getting something to the Board members for review
before the next meeting.
8
Vice President Fendley asked if there was any other business
and there being none he declared the board meeting adjourned.
VICE PRESIDENT CURTIS FENDLEY
ATTEST:
ASSISTANT CITY CLERK, BARBARA DENNY