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10/20/2015 MINUTESPARIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION REGULAR MEETING Tuesday, October 20, 2015 MINUTES Board Members Present: Richard Manning, Chair John Brockman, Vice -Chair Don Wilson, Secretary- Treasurer Ray Banks Dave Turner Ex- Officio Members Present: Pam Anglin, PJC Steve Keywood, COC Stephen Gerrald, COC Legal Counsel: Kent McIlyar Call to Order: Staff Present: Angie Corbell Office Manager Paula Brownfield Admin. Assistant Guest(s) Present: John Cunningham Anna Spencer Paul Linck, Turner Industries Louise Mosley Trey Glasscock, Turner Industries Danielle Kloap, The Paris News City Council Mayor Hashmi Liaison: Sue Lancaster Richard Manning, Chairman called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. and welcomed those present. A quorum was present. Citizens Input• Steve Keywood addressed the Board and introduced Stephen Gerrald the new President of the Paris Chamber of Commerce. Discuss and possibly take action on Infrastructure Support for Turner Industries: After a presentation on the planned expansion, and a completed Incentive Application by Paul Linck of Turner Industries, a motion was made by Mr. Turner to allocate $100,000.00 for Turner Industries Infrastructure support. The motion was seconded by Ray Banks. The motion carried 5 -0. ; Mr. Wilson made clear the Contract Agreement is pending draft from the City Attorney. Citizens Input• Mayor Hashmi was recognized by the Chair. Mayor Hashmi requested the Board to appear at the City Council meeting to discuss future Airport prospects. Mayor Hashmi asked for cooperation on the part of the Paris Economic Development Corporation and the City Council to create and develop Hangars at the Airport for commercial use. Discuss and Possibly take action on Industrial Park and 2305 NW Loop 286 cleanup: Mr. Wilson addressed the Board stating he has requested quotes on the underbrush cleanup in the Industrial Park. Mr. Wilson stated with all the overgrowth it is difficult to ascertain the area of the site to be mowed. Mr. Wilson commented he had located a suspected water leak and was in the process of getting with the City for its repair. The Board agreed a proper assessment on cleanup will wait until the leaves are gone from the trees in the Industrial Park. Mr. Wilson went on to say he had the RFP for Demo and Disposal of the building located at 2305 Loop 286 emailed to Josh Bray. Mr. Wilson asked if any of the Board knew of any other contractor who would be qualified to make a proposal other than Ned Jenkins. Discuss and possibly take action on funding a Haas CNC Tool Room Lathe for PJC to provide machining training under the High Demand Job Training Program: Dr. Anglin addressed the Board and explained that the Texas Workforce Solutions has yet to obtain the approval for the grant in question. Dr. Anglin mentioned that the PEDC Board has already approved the allocation of funds and that PJC could make up the overage due. Dr. Anglin added that PJC is partnering with Country Music Association who will be funding 15 colleges nationwide to help colleges to host an event to allow the Community College to reconnect with industry and to recruit people to be trained in skills needed for local industry targeting high school students and long term unemployed persons in the area. Discuss and possibly approve minutes of the September 15, 2015 meeting: Mr. Banks made a motion to accept the minutes. The motion was seconded by Mr. Turner and the motion carried 5 -0. Discuss and possibly approve September 2015 Financials: Mr. Turner stated he received an email that asked why PEDC had purchased the building at 2305 Loop 286, and what did PEDC get for the money. Mr. Turner added the PEDC had also received 28 acres with the purchase. Mr. Wilson stated a new slab alone was worth over $600,000.00. Mr. Wilson went on to say the infrastructure and water line that supplies the sprinkler system was worth over $100,000. Mr. Wilson stated the parking lot was a factor also and even if you discount the purchase 50% it is still worth $500,000.00. Mr. Turner stated PEDC would also be cleaning up an entry into the community and that PEDC would have something to sell. Mr. Manning stated when the cleanup was complete the public would have a better understanding of what was there. Mr. Wilson added PEDC receives opportunity inquiries and if "you don't have a building you don't have a shot ". Mr. Banks added that PEDC just sold six acres for $100,000.00 and PEDC is buying 28 acres for $240,000.00. Mr. Turner stated he wanted to get the information out so that the public would know PEDC is not just squandering a million dollars, but was getting something for the community and the taxpayers. Mr. Wilson added there has been a complaint that the property was taken off the tax rolls, but the building was not on the tax rolls because it was owned by a church. Mr. Manning stated it was a good thing for Paris and Lamar County. Mr. Wilson stated PEDC would be second guessed on anything, but on this particular thing it was a wise decision, that there was money in the budget for a spec building on that slab that would include 28 acres. Mr. Banks made a motion to approve the August financials pending corrections. The motion was seconded by Mr. Turner and carried 5 -0. Citizen Input•. Louise Mosely was recognized by the Chair. Ms. Mosely stated she thinks the property at 2305 Loop 286 is polluted. Mr. Wilson stated the property has been completely and properly abated. Ms. Mosely stated that when she "googled" the property it said the land had been contaminated. Ms. Mosely went on to ask why is it on Google that the land is contaminated. Mr. Banks asked Louise why does Google show St. Joseph Hospital as the hospital in town? Ms. Mosely asked if there were tanks on the property. Mr. Wilson stated there are no tanks. Mr. Wilson stated before the plant was closed the plant was cleaned. Ms. Mosely went on to say if the property is contaminated it's going to cost a fortune to clean it up. Mr. Wilson again stated he has documentation that says otherwise. Mr. Manning and Mr. Banks stated that was the first thing done. Ms. Mosely remarked when she heard PEDC had bought that land, that she was thinking, that would be like her going in and buying a house in Paris Texas and expecting a company to buy the house that she chose, Ms. Mosely stated that is what you guys have done, you picked the land and now you're holding it until a plant comes in to buy the one that you guys have bought. Ms. Mosely went on to say she would not have done that with her money, she would not have picked a piece of property, bought it expecting people coming to buy something from Paris, they need to know where they are going to be, and what they are wanting, and that was her opinion. Mr. Manning stated the contacts PEDC receives requests from would prefer buildings already in place. Convene into Executive Session: The Board convened into Executive Session at 4:49 p.m. Reconvene into Open Session and possibly take action on item(s) discussed in Executive Session: The Board re- convened at 6:19 p.m. No action was taken on Executive Session. Discuss Future Agenda Items: No items were discussed. Adiourn• Mr. Turner made a motion to adjourn. The motion was seconded by Mr. Wilson. The motion carried 5 -0. The meeting ended at 6:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Angie Corbell Office Manager Paris EDC