Union County Economic Development Corporation
P O Box 1208 1119 Washington Avenue La Grande , OR 97850
Phone: 541-963-0926
Fax: 963-0689
e-mail: ucedc@eoni.com
website: www.ucedc.org
Minutes
August 17, 2006
Monthly Meeting: 7:30 a.m. at UCEDC Office 1119 Washington Avenue , La Grande
Meeting Facilitator: Tim Seydel , President
Board Reporter: Violet Trapp, Administrative Assistant
Executive Director: Craig Thompson
Members Present: Dale Case, Janet Hume-Schwarz, Tim Seydel , Howard Perry , Dennis Spray, Mark Davidson, Sheri McDonald, Bill Whittemore and Russell Lester
Absentees: Steve Rzonca, John Howard and Lori Hines
The meeting was called to order at 7.30 a.m. , by Howard Perry , Vice-President.
Tim Seydel arrived at 7:31 .
Tim Seydel entertained a motion to approve the July Minutes .
Dale Case moved the board accepts the minutes as written. Russell Lester seconded the motion. Dale rescinded the motion.
This item to be discussed under New Business: Motion on Cricket Building, 7/20/06 Board Meeting.
OLD BUSINESS:
Cricket Building Update : - Craig Thompson for John Howard
The closing on the sale of the cricket building was to be August 15, 2006 . The Liability Release Agreement being written by Lawyer David Baum was not completed by the 15 th and the closing was rescheduled for 9:00 a.m. August 17, 2006 . The building sold at $175,000. The net proceeds split between Oveson Ranch and UCEDC is approximately $82,000.
Oregon Business Tour Update - Craig Thompson
The 2007 Oregon Business Tour with Governor Ted Kulongoski and Senator Gordon Smith is tentatively scheduled for September 10-21, 2007 . The theme of the tour is Partnerships. The proposal for a tour in Union County has to be submitted no later than September 8, 2006 . The tentative itinerary will include a luncheon at the conference center and speakers, a tour of the partnership businesses and finish in the evening at the Gilstrap Winery. A few more items are to be added to the proposal's itinerary before submitting the proposal to the Oregon Business Tour Committee.
Judy Loudermilk , Director of the Union County Chamber of Commerce is to let Craig know what the cost of the luncheon for approximately 30 to 35 people will be. Craig said it would be good for UCEDC to help finance the luncheon.
Russell Lester asked, “What is the purpose of the visit?” Craig said it is to showcase some of our successful projects to the leaders of our state and spend the time touring and visiting with these leaders. Tim Seydel said that an Oregon Business Tour is done every two years somewhere in Oregon . Craig added that the tour is published in the Oregon Business Magazine and that will give Union County some additional exposure if Union County is selected to be toured.
LGB&T Park Infrastructure Project Update - Craig Thompson
Craig talked with Dan Chevalier about the infrastructure progress. Dan said the construction is right on schedule maybe even a little ahead. The project should be completed in October as scheduled.
Dale asked about a spec building that was talked about earlier on to be built in the LGB&T Park . Craig said that has fallen through due to lost interest or the party is looking elsewhere. Dale thinks it would a good idea do an equal partnership with someone by UCEDC providing the land and the other partner construct a building. This way the park would have a building on the site as well as the infrastructure.
REPORTS :
Finance Committee: - Janet Hume-Schwarz
The Profit and Loss Budget Performance report shows a net loss for the month of July 2006 and the same net loss for the Year-to-Date. This appears to be primarily because of very low income during the month of July. We budgeted $9,683 of income but only received $ 1,868. We did not receive the $5,900 in partnership revenue or over $ 1,000 in membership dues.
We have $2,386 in the bank checking and money market accounts. The operations account is back in the red with a negative $3,021 and, $5,400 is the designated cash for the property committee so we are borrowing funds from them for operations at this time, but hopefully it will not last long. The current Credit Line balance is $104,154; however, it can be expected to decrease when we receive the cash from the Cricket Building sale.
Craig reported that UCEDC was approved for partnership funding by Union County and UCEDC should be receiving the first quarter's payment. Dennis Spray said an invoice needs to be sent to the county to which Violet responded that an invoice was sent August 16 th .
Property Committee: - Mark Davidson
The committee met on Tuesday, August 16, and most of the discussion centered around realtors and how to handle recommending realtors to prospective land buyers in the La Grande Business & Technology Park. The consensus was that the Property Committee develop a list of realtors and brokers that are members of UCEDC. Craig will give the list to prospective buyers.
The MLS Listing Agreement was signed and the LGB&T Park is now listed on the MLS.
The Property Committee also discussed the listing of realtors on the current sign in the park. The committee agreed to print the names of the brokers and realtors that are members of UCEDC onto the sign in the common type script and common type listing. According to John, when he spoke of the listing at the MLS Meeting on August 16 there were a number of realtors interested in becoming UCEDC Members in order to be placed on the listing as well as the signage. John mentioned meeting with Matt Barber of Grande Sign Company in a week or so to determine the cost of adding the list of names.
Russell Lester suggested UCEDC write a letter to each of the brokers inviting them to meet with UCEDC to be informed about the listing for prospective buyers and the signage in LGB&T Park .
Communications/Marketing Committee: - Tim Seydel
Tim has been trying to get a meeting scheduled where he, along with Janet Hume-Schwarz and Mark Davidson meet with the City of La Grande concerning the MLS Listing. Tim wants to meet with Mayor Colleen Johnson and two of the city council members. For various reasons the meeting has not come together, but Tim said he plans to continue working on getting a meeting scheduled.
Membership Committee: - Tim Seydel
After the August 8 Executive Board Meeting we talked about some options and some opportunities regarding some new marketing. Tim, Janet and Howard need to meet to map out some plans to bring to the board for action. This involves activity on the part of board to meet with prospective members. Tim would co-ordinate with the office a time schedule for Craig and a board member to meet with prospects. The committee will work with the board member's schedule and would like to have each board member make four visits within six months.
Executive Director: - Craig Thompson
- Union County approved to fund UCEDC for the same amount as last year, a sum of $32,400. A request was submitted for $35,000. All the organizations requesting funding were given the same amount as granted the previous year.
- Responded to a state lead called ‘Project Pump'. UCEDC's Proposal was submitted to Ted Worth August 16.
- The Downtown Retail Sub-Committee met in the UCEDC Conference Room. The sub-committee worked through the mission, name of the project, the state core organizations that may want to participate and the goals. Next week the sub-committee will take these items back to the full committee. This group is moving forward in an effort to plan and develop the downtown area. Craig said this is something UCEDC needs to be a part of and he will continue to meet with the downtown committee.
Mark Davidson suggested that the Communications/Marketing Committee to develop a grant proposal to the County Discretionary Fund for marketing funding to make up the difference of the $2,600 not granted in the partnership funding.
Administrative Assistant: - Violet Trapp
- June Minutes were sent to the membership and partnerships.
- Financial Reports (Balance Sheet, Profit & Loss Statement and the Budget vs Actual), through July were given to Janet for the Financial Report.
- The membership list is updated through the month of July.
- All the board member binders are updated for the August Board Meeting.
- Invoices and letters for August membership renewals were sent.
- Thank you letters and membership certificates were prepared and are ready for delivery to the renewed members.
- The UCEDC newsletter was published and sent to all members and partners.
Craig mentioned that Mike Becker has sent in his membership and thanked Dennis Spray for contacting Mike. Mike Becker will be listed on the August list of members.
NEW BUSINESS:
LGB&T Park – MLS Listing Agreement: - Craig Thompson
The listing agreement was made and the LGB&T Park is now listed on MLS.
7/24 Council Work Session: UCEDC Goals: - Craig Thompson
The Council Work Session met on July 24. The council provided UCEDC a list of goals and objectives for the fiscal year of 2006-2007. The Travel & Tourism Office, the City of La Grande and the Downtown Development Association each also received a list of goals and objectives. Craig handed a written list of the goals to each board member and went through the goals with the board.
Janet Hume-Schwarz asked if another committee was needed for the SWOT Analysis. Tim Seydel said that was for the Contact Committee to determine.
Council Request: LGIDC Board Information: - Craig Thompson
The first hour of the council meeting as mentioned above dealt with the list of goals and objectives. In the last 15 to 20 minutes of the meeting a discussion of the La Grande Industrial Development Corporation Board was held. Some concerns were expressed by some members of the council about the LGIDC Board appoints four members to the UCEDC Board but does not contribute financially to UCEDC as the City of La Grande and Union County does.
Craig received an e-mail July 26 from Sandy Lund, City of La Grande , requesting information about La Grande Industrial Development Corporation. The e-mail states that UCEDC's funding from the City of La Grande is contingent upon the city receiving the information. Craig contacted Steve Joseph, President of LGIDC and forwarded the e-mail on to Steve. Steve is compiling the information and will submit it to the City of La Grande .
Craig mentioned that originally UCEDC was tentatively scheduled to go before the city council on August 23 for our funding request. However, that is off the table now since the request of the LGIDC Board was sent. Craig's understanding is that UCEDC is free to submit a funding request to the city council at any time but it will not go on the agenda until the information about the LGIDC is submitted to the city council. Craig said if UCEDC is not on the city council's August 23 meeting then it will be September 20 before any decision is made for partnership funding.
Mark Davidson made the comment that the City can't keep the request off of the agenda. The way the charter is written 2 or 3 councilors can add any item to the agenda and it will be heard. He made the following motion and added that he would make some phone calls as well. He stressed that he had told the mayor who was on the ID board in the past and he found it difficult that she still claims that she doesn't know who they are.
Janet Hume-Schwarz asked that UCEDC receive a copy of the information Steve Joseph submits to the city.
Mark Davidson moved that UCEDC submits a letter of request for funding to the City of La Grande staff and mail to each councilor at each councilor's residential address. Howard Perry seconded the motion. The motion carried.
UCEDC Membership Thank You Ad: - Craig Thompson
The “thank you to our members” ad was in the August 2, 2006 issue of The Observer on the sports page.
7/20/06 Board Meeting: Motion on Cricket Building - Craig Thompson
Dale Case moved that the details be excluded from the cricket building motion that was made in the July Board Meeting. Dennis Spray seconded the motion and the motion was approved.
Meeting Adjourned 8:30 a.m.
Respectfully Submitted by:
Violet Trapp
Administrative Assistant
Note:
Next Board Meeting: Thursday September 21 , 2006 at 7:30 a.m .
UCEDC Office at 1119 Washington Avenue .
Executive Meeting: Tuesday, September 12 , 2006 at 7:30 a.m. |
