08-A PEDC Min 04-17-06
Board Minutes for the
Paris Economic Development Corporation
April 17, 2006
4:00 P.M.
Board Members
Present: Sims Norment
Mike Dunn
Rodney Bass
Glen Bawcum
Board Members
Absent: Dick Severson
Ex-officio Members
Present: Tony Williams
Guests:
Charles Lynch
Charles Richards
Susan Bickert
Ma t Ptacek
Staff Present:
Gary Vest
Chad Madding
Phil Smith
Gene Anderson
Sims Norment called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m.
The minutes of the March, 2006 meeting were approved on a motion by Rodney
Bass and a second by Mike Dunn.
The financial report was presented by Gene Anderson for the month ending
March 31, 2006. Gary Vest and Tony Williams addressed the change in the tax
dollar amount due to the comptroller holding some of the funds due to a funding
change. The financial report was approved on a motion by Glen Bawcum and a
second by Rodney Bass.
Gary Vest spoke about the tax abatement for Kimberly-Clark. He recommended
100% for 7 years with an option for a 3 year extension if they keep their
employment above 500 people. Kimberly-Clark is planning to take down their
large tower storage area and replace it with a 450,000 SF warehouse. This has not
been approved by the KC corporate office but the Paris plant wants to do what it
can locally to help get the project approved. This will be a $20 to $22 million
dollar project. Charles Lynch spoke about the project and the investment in the
community.
PEDe Minutes
April 17, 2006
Page 2
Simms Norment was glad to see the project may be coming to Paris and tying the
job requirement to the abatement. Mike asked about outsourcing and Charles
Lynch said that the Paris plant has a low rage rate and there would be no need to
outsource. There was a motion by Glen Bawcum and second by Mike Dunn.
Gary talked about supporting KC at the next city council meeting.
Project Hurricane is still an active project. They are now going back and looking
for an existing building. Gary talked about the announcement of Newlyweds
Foods in Mt. Pleasant. The PEDC has been working with TxDOT on a
deceleration lane in front of Campbell's Soup. The project will cost $147,000 and
TxDOT has asked the PEDC to contribute $50,000 to the project. This action will
be on next month's agenda. The PEDC staff will be attending the TEDC Spring
meeting in Frisco this month. Ryan & Co. are working on an Enterprise Project
Designation for Campbell's Soup. To address the high energy cost Gary talked
about getting industry leaders to go to Austin and set up meetings to talk with
state leaders about this problem. Tony Williams spent some time talking about a
video that the members need to watch on open meetings. Tony Williams will get
back to the board when more information is known.
The chairman's report was given by Simms Norment. He was grateful to Tony
Williams for his help in the Tax Abatement meetings. The 7 year plan falls in line
with the State's laws and the extension was a good idea.
With no further business to come before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 4:37
p.m.
C0~/
Chad Madding
Assistant Director