2002-03-20-PEDC 695
MINUTES OF THE PARIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION SPECIAL MEETING
March 20, 2002
The Paris Economic Development Corporation met in regular session on
Wednesday, March 20, 2002, 4:00 P. M., at Heritage Hall, 1009 West Kaufman
Street, Paris, Texas. President Mike Rhodes called the meeting to order with the
following Directors present: Curtis Fendley, and Mike Dunn. Also present were
ex-officio Board Members Bobby Walters, Mike Graxiola, Executive Director
Gary Vest, Mayor Michael J. Pfiester and Temporary Acting Assistant City
Clerk Sherian Dixon.
President Rhodes called for approval of minutes from the February 13, 2002,
meeting. A motion was made by Director Fendley, seconded by Director Dunn,
for approval of the minutes as presented. The motion carried unanimously.
President Rhodes asked Gene Anderson, Director of Finance, to give the
financial report for December.
Mr. Anderson came forward presenting the financial statements to the Board
along with a cash flow statement and a sales tax receipt collection by month.
Mr. Anderson said he had mentioned last month that the February collection
represents the December sales. Mr. Anderson pointed out that looking at
December's sales it was $123,239.00 as opposed to $103,782.00 for the year
before and $108,920.00 the year before that and stated that the city had a very
good sales tax collection for the month of December. Mr. Anderson also
pointed out the March payment had been included on the sales tax receipt
collection and pointed out that it was still down from two years ago. Mr.
Anderson called the Board's attention to the financial statement for February
and stated that there were routine expenditures for the month.
After discussion, a motion was made Director Dunn, seconded by Director
Fendley, for approval of the financial report as presented. The motion carried
unanimously.
Gary Vest, Executive Director, advised the Board that their ad responses have
been very weak as there were only five responses. He said that one prospect
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had been referred to the PEDC from the Texas Department of Economic
Development, which is a project they are calling the RV, because is has to do
with a company that builds recreational vehicles.
Mr. Vest said that on February 15, 2002, there was a meeting in Sherman with
Todd Thompson, who is the PEDC's representative for Encore. There were
PEDC people present from his area, and they talked about what Encore can do
to help with economic development efforts along with regional marketing.
Mr. Vest advised that on February 20 through 22, 2002, he was in San Diego,
California for the Market Texas Program where they met with Bio-Tech
Companies. He said he met with five companies and they employed ten to
twenty people. There was one company fairly interested in doing something
in Texas, but primarily they are looking for opportunities to expand with other
Bio-Tech Companies.
Mr. Vest said on February 27 through 28, 2002, they went to Lufkin for the East
Texas Gulf Highway presentation that Don Wall made, and he did an
outstanding job. He said they had very positive feedback, and several of the
Board Members met with Johnny Johnson, the Commissioner from TxDot,
when he came to Paris, which was a good meeting. Mr. Vest advised the Board
that they have not received their letter from TxDot to tell them what they are
going to do for the PEDC. Mr Vest advised that they are expecting to get
positive results, because of the million and one-half that Max Sandlin committed
on the highway from Paris to Pattonville, which was their number one request.
Mary Owen in Tyler committed eight million dollars from her discretionary
fund toward getting that portion of Hwy 271 South completed. The total cost
of that is twenty-one million dollars.
Mr. Vest advised that on March 1, 2002, they met with Paul Bellofatto, and he
has a company called Hawk Insulation Construction. Mr. Bellofatto has built
a plastic injection molding machine that stamps out plastic pallets for people.
that need to contain hazardous products, chemicals, and food. Mr. Vest said Mr.
Bellofatto has back orders for fifty machines and he is wanting to start a
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manufacturing business in order to build these machines along with placing one
in service and start running his own plastic molding operation. He said this
would basically be a start-up venture, and they would continue working with
Mr. Bellofatto.
Mr. Vest advised that March 8 through 12, 2002, Eric attended the Jewelry
Manufacturers Trade Show with Paris Junior College in New York. He said it
was pretty successfuL and Eric is building a data base of the companies that
were identified. Mr. Vest advised that Eric feels that PEDC needs to partner
with Paris Junior College and let Paris Junior College distribute PEDC's
materials and help them display at different Jewelry Manufacturers Trade
Shows.
Mr. Vest said he met with the owners of the Kmart building and they are
looking to sell the building and set a price of 1.3 million dollars. Mr. Vest said
they were going to do a data sheet and try to market this building.
Mr. Vest reported that Eric has been in Chicago since Sunday at the National
Association of Manufacturers, which is one of the best trade shows they attend.
Mr. Vest showed the Board a Greater Dallas Industrial Guide in order for them
to see the advertisement that the PEDC has in it. He said one of the things that
he plans to do is more brochures like the ones they are using on the Oliver
Building and the one that they are going to use for the Kmart Building. Mr.
Vest said he and Eric are going to visit with several of the Industrial Brokers and
leave them brochures on Paris, Texas, and try to work with them a little harder.
Mr. Vest told the Board that the Northwest Industrial Park is moving along. The
squatters are off and Ed Ellis sent them another letter telling them that any
further access to that property would be considered trespassing. Mr. Vest said
he has ordered a survey from Jim Nelson and he is looking at it in order to give
him a price. He said one of the things that is going to have to be done is to take
a dozer in there, because it is so grown-up, and clear the lines in order for Mr.
Nelson to shoot a good survey. Mr. Vest advised the Board that as soon as the
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survey is received from Mr. Nelson, he would like to go out for design services
and try to hire a company to help with the design of the park. He said next
would be the timber harvesting, clearing of the land, infrastructure plans,
marketing brochure, and then they will start construction for the first tenant in
the park.
Mr. Vest advised the Board that the Turner National Piping Systems is doing
good. Mr. Vest said he has no report on the Sara Lee negotiations.
Mr. Vest said regarding the Exide Sure Start, he has tried to contact them and
talked to a Mr. Malone, but was not able to make contact with anyone else.
Stephanie Harris is working on who the PEDC needs to be named in the lawsuit.
There being no further business, a motion was made by President Rhodes,
seconded by Director Fendley, to adjourn the meeting.
MICHAEL, RHODES, PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
SHERIAN DIXON, TEMPORARY ACTING
ASSISTANT CITY CLERK