03-B PEDC Minutes (03/20/02)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 sales taY collection by month. Mr.
Anderson said he had mentioned last month that the February collection
represents the December sales. Mr. Anderson pointed out that the December,
2001 sales taY receipts were $123,239.00 compared to $103,782.00 for
December, 2000, and $108,920.00 for December, 1999. He indicated that the
city had a very good sales taY collection for the month of December. Mr.
Anderson also pointed out that the March payment had been included on the
sales taY receipt collection and pointed out that it was still down from two years
aga 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 ad responses have been
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March 20, 2002
Page 2
very weak as there were only five responses. He said that one prospect had been
referred to the PEDC from the Texas Department of Economic Development.
This project is being called the RV because is has to do with a company that
builds recreational vehicles.
On February 15, 2002, there was a meeting in Sherman with Todd Thompson
who represents Encore (formerly TXCT). Mr. Thompson was meeting with the
EDC's in his service area. Mr. Thompson made a presentation about what
Encore can do to help with economic development efforts and regional
marketing.
Mr. Vest was in San Diego, California, for the Market Texas Program on
February 20 through 22, 2002. He met with bio-tech companies. He said he
met with five companies and they employed ten to twenty people each. 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.
On February 27 through 28, 2002, he went to Lufkin for a meeting of the Texas
Department of Transportation Commission meeting. Mr. Don Wall made a
presentation on behalf of the East Texas Gulf Highway Association and did an
outstanding job. Mr. Vest said the group had very positive feedback Several
of the Board Members met with Johnny Johnson, Chairman of the Commission,
who came to Paris and met with the group at Paris Golf and Country Club. Mr.
Vest noted that the evening meeting was very productive, and was an
opportunity for transportation supporters in Paris and local officials to meet with
Chairman Johnson personally. Mr. Vest advised the Board that they have not
received a letter from TxDOT to tell them what TxDOT is going to do for the
PEDC. Mr Vest advised that they are expecting to get positive results because
of the million and one-half dollars that Congressman MaY Sandlin committed
from Congress on the highway from Paris to Pattonville, which was our number
one request. Mary Owen, TxDOT District Engineer based in Tyler has
committed eight million dollars from her discretionary fund toward getting that
portion of State Highway 135 between Gladewater and Kilgore completed. That
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March 20, 2002
Page 3
is an approximately six mile section of highway that continues the Greencarpet
Memorial Route to the south. The total cost of that part of the project is twenty-
one million dollars.
Mr. Vest advised the Board of a meeting on March 1, 2002, with Paul
Bellofatto, owner of 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
manufacturing business in order to build these machines. He also wants to place
one in service and start running his own plastic molding operation. Mr. Vest
said that this would basically be a start-up venture, and he would continue
working with Mr. Bellofatto.
From March 8 through 12, 2002, Eric Roddy and representatives of Paris Junior
College attended the Jewelry Manufacturers Trade Show in New York He said
it was successful and Eric is building a data base of the companies that were
identified. 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 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 met with the owners of the K-Mart building and they are looking to
sell the building and have set a price of 1.3 million dollars. Mr. Vest said that
he and Eric were going to do a data sheet and try to market this building.
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 that he plans to do
more brochures like the one they are using to market the Oliver building and the
one that they are going to use for the K-Mart building. Mr. Vest said he and
Eric are going to visit with several of the industrial brokers and leave them
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March 20, 2002
Page 4
brochures on Paris, Texas, and try to work with them a little harder.
Mr. Vest told the Board that the Northwest Industrial Park project is moving
along. The squatters are off the property 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 explained that a bulldozer would
need to be used to clear the undergrowth so that a good survey could be made.
Mr. Vest advised the Board that as soon as the 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 that other actions would include the
timber harvesting, clearing of the land, infrastructure planning, and a marketing
brochure. When those actions are accomplished, then construction for the first
tenant in the park can begin.
Mr. Vest advised the Board that Turner International Piping Systems is doing
well. Mr. Vest said he has no report on the Sara Lee negotiations.
Mr. Vest reported that he has tried to contact Exide Sure Start and had talked
to a Mr. Malone, but was not able to make contact with anyone else. Stephanie
Harris is working on who 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, TEMI'ORARY ACTING
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March 20, 2002
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ASSISTANT CITY CLERK