MEDC Board Minutes November 2009
Monticello Economic Development Commission
Board of Directors Meeting
November 4, 2009
The Board of Directors of the Monticello Economic Development Commission met at noon on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 in the Caucus Room at the Gibson Center on the UAM campus. The following directors were in attendance: Jack Lassiter, Chris Lampkin, Bill Wisener, Bettye Gragg, George Harris and Tommy Maxwell. The following directors were absent: Wayne Fawcett, Bennie Ryburn III, Mike Layfield, Dave Dickson, Carolyn Brown, Ron Echols and Bobby Harper. Guests in attendance were: Ann Goad, Lou James, Joe Burgess, Mary Seymore, Dr. David Ray, Ranelle Eubanks, Damon Lampkin, Drew County Judge, Shellia Lampkin, Allen Maxwell and Tom Wingard. Truman Hamilton and Linda Jones of the staff were also in attendance. Proxies were voted for Bennie Ryburn III and Michael Layfield by George Harris.
Tommy Maxwell called the meeting to order at 12:20 pm. Upon motion made by George Harris and seconded by Jack Lassiter the minutes of the previous meeting were approved as printed and the treasurer`s report was accepted.
Maxwell welcomed everyone to the meeting and asked Hamilton to make his report.
Truman Hamilton gave a brief report on the Ridgeway Project. Some roof repair has been made and cleanup work has begun. The application has been signed and returned to NBI. The airport fencing project has been slowed because of rain. The material is on site and work will resume when the ground dries enough to work. Hamilton gave a brief report on a meeting he had attended in Little Rock with GTI. It is premature to get too excited about the potential their program can bring to South Arkansas, however, the feasibility study has been supported by the governor. UAM will be one of the beneficiaries of this $1,000,000.00 study. Should this energy source be developed, it could generate several hundred jobs in the timber region of the state. Hamilton made the board aware of a letter that has been sent to Maria Haley at the AEDC requesting that the position that had been vacated when Nita McDaniel resigned be filled as soon as possible. Copies of the letter have been sent to John Lipton and our legislators. The board instructed Hamilton to send a copy of this letter to the governor also. In new business, Hamilton asked the board to authorize support of the high school rodeo that will be in Monticello on November 14th and 15th. Over 100 contestants participated last year and that number is expected again this year, from all over the state. The motion was made by George Harris, seconded by Jack Lassiter that the MEDC provide $1,500 to help sponsor this event. The motion passed.
UAM Report: Dr. Lassiter made the meeting aware of the last football game of the season that will be in El Dorado, the Boomtown Classic. Everyone was invited to attend. Dr. Lassiter gave an update on the current financial situation at the university. He advised that when this year`s budget was made, only 97% of the anticipated revenue was budgeted and 3% held in anticipation of a funding shortfall. The governor announced that there will be a 2% reduction in funding so that UAM is not having to cut programs or layoff personnel to reduce expenses. Lassiter advised that the university has received $2.5 million to be used toward making the campus more energy efficient. The anticipated savings of these changes is $300,000.00 in reduced energy bills. Lassiter also advised that the lottery money for scholarships will likely be insignificant at UAM. The conditions imposed on students to maintain a 2.5 or better GPA or 19 ACT or higher score will limit the number of students that will benefit from the lottery scholarships.
The Hospital Report: In the absence of Mike Layfield, George Harris briefly went over some of the numbers from the hospital report included in the monthly packet. When asked about the status of the $14 million dollar hospital expansion, Harris said that he has a great deal of information about the project, however he cannot make that information public at this time. The initial information given out was that the quorum court has approved expansion and upgrading the facility. The USDA will provide a 12 million dollar loan and local banks will loan 2 million dollars for the project. Ground breaking is expected in about 14 months. Additionally the hospital made a profit last month.
Lou James advised that the hospital foundation event raised $20 to $30 thousand dollars.
Mary Seymore reported that annual banquet was attended by over 150 people. The governor was the keynote speaker and everything went well. She thanked the University for the support they provided with facilities and the meal.
Drew Health Report: A representative was not present, however, information made available and included in the monthly package.
Allen Maxwell gave a lengthy report that covered the GTI study, history of the organization and information on some of the plants they currently have in operation. He also covered the Lignite Coal study and he made the group aware of a meeting that will be held in Little Rock November 12 at 9:30 a.m. at the Association of Counties building to discuss development of coal in Arkansas as an energy source.
Hamilton nominated Tom Wingard to fill a vacancy on the board that was created when Al Womack moved to El Dorado. That nomination was approved by the board.
With no other business to conduct, the meeting was adjourned.