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
December 14, 2006
Monthly Meeting: 6:00 p.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: Janet Hume-Schwarz , Tim Seydel , Mark Davidson , Bill Whittemore , John Howard , Dale Case , Dennis Spray and Howard Perry
Absentees: Sheri McDonald, Lori Hines , Steve Rzonca , and Russell Lester
Visitors: Ron Singel, City Manager of La Grande, Gary Lillard, City of La Grande Council Member
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. , by Tim Seydel , President.
Tim Seydel entertained a motion to approve the November Minutes .
Janet Hume-Schwarz moved that the board accepts the minutes as written. Mark Davidson seconded the motion. The motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS:
UCEDC Funding Request to City of La Grande - Craig Thompson
Gary Lillard and Tim Seydel have met and conversed about the UCEDC funding request to the city. Gary contacted Tim and said the request could be scheduled on the agenda for the January 4, 2007 City of La Grande Council Meeting and that a motion by the UCEDC Board to request the funding of $35,000 and to establish a study committee with the partners and UCEDC would help move the request forward.
Mark Davidson moved that the request made by several of the City of La Grande councilors to the Union County Economic Development Corporation that UCEDC submit a funding request in the amount of $35,000 for the fiscal year of 2006-2007 and further that UCEDC establish a study committee to include representatives of the City of La Grande and the economic development board to review the relationship between the City of La Grande and the economic development corporation. Motion seconded by Dale Case .
Dennis Spray moved to amend the motion by adding and invite the other partners to participate'. Bill Whittemore seconded the motion. The motion was approved by 7 yes and Janet Hume-Schwarz abstained.
Mark Davidson moved that the request made by several of the City of La Grande councilors to the Union County Economic Development Corporation that UCEDC submit a funding request in the amount of $35,000 for the fiscal year of 2006-2007 and further that UCEDC establish a study committee to include representatives of the City of La Grande and the economic development board to review the relationship between the City of La Grande and the economic development corporation and to invite the other partners to participate. Bill Whittemore seconded the motion. Motion passed with 7 yes and 1 no.
Survey of Membership - Craig Thompson
The survey was sent to 44 members on December 6 asking for the survey to be filled out and returned by December 13. Nine surveys were returned, about an 18-19% response which is about the average for this type questionnaire. This survey did not include the UCEDC Board Members.
The board decided to extend the deadline to December 29. The results will then be tallied and given at the January board meeting.
Business Park Marketing - Craig Thompson/ John Howard
Several conference phone calls have transpired with Martin Fenton, John and Craig. Ron Singel, City of La Grande Manager was in on one of the calls. Martin has reviewed the UCEDC website and sent a copy of the proposed redesigning of the site. Craig gave each of the board members a copy of the information. The La Grande Business & Technology Park, the Baum Industrial Park and the Airport Industrial Park are proposed to be on the website along with information about the community so an individual can get an overall view of the community to help generate an excitement of this area and respond by inquiring further. As the search engines progress the committee would like to add what is called a Pay Per Clip Campaign'. When a person is searching a terminology such as Oregon Industrial lands, Eastern Oregon lands, these can be entered by the searcher and the search engine will bring up related subjects. This feature will cost $200 - $1,000. There will be an on going monthly cost for each click which could add up as high as $60 per month, depending on the number of clicks the website encounters. The total cost for redesigning the site is expected to be $6,000.
Howard Perry moved that UCEDC pay $3,000 of the cost and that UCEDC submit a request for a grant of $3,000 from the county discretionary fund. Dennis Spray seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Election of Officers Tim Seydel
The board agreed to table the election of officers until the January 18 board meeting.
Baum Industrial Park land-farm deferral status - Craig Thompson
The unsold land in the Baum Park was taken off farm deferral tax several years ago. At the executive board meeting on December 5 Craig was asked to check into this to see if the land can be moved to the farm deferral rate again. Craig spoke to Bart at the County Assessor 's Office and was asked to submit the information on the land in Baum Industrial Park between January and April of 2007. Craig and Dale will work together on this. The real taxes are about $740 and on farm deferral it will be approximately $50.
By-laws - Tim Seydel
Dennis Spray moved to table the approval of the by-laws revision until January 18 board meeting. Bill Whittemore seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
REPORTS :
Finance Committee: - Janet Hume-Schwarz
The Profit and Loss Budget Performance report shows a net ordinary income of $11,148 for the month of November 2006 and a net loss of ($11,332) for the Year-to-Date. This appears to be primarily because of reduced partner income. We budgeted $16,200 of income YTD but only received $5,938.
Even though, revenues are under budget, being under budget in expenses have helped to soften the blow. YTD budgeted expenses were $48,367 but Craig managed to run the office with $43,732, almost $5,000 less than budget.
In the Other Income and Expense we are still showing the $137,500 Loss on the Oveson Receivable. This will carry forward for the rest of the year and we will continue to ignore this transaction.
We have $54,044 in the bank checking and money market accounts. The operations account is in the black with $11,345 and, $42,699 is the designated cash for the property committee so we are not borrowing funds from them for operations at this time. The current Credit Line balance is $-0- it was paid off when we received the cash from the HNS Loan Receivable payoff.
Property Committee: - Mark Davidson
No report
Communications/Marketing Committee: Tim Seydel
No report
Membership Committee Janet Hume-Schwarz
No report
Executive Director: Craig Thompson
Due to time Craig did not give his report
Administrative Assistant Report Violet Trapp
- October Minutes were sent to the membership and partnerships.
- Financial Reports (Balance Sheet, Profit & Loss Statement and the Budget vs Actual), through November were given to Janet for the Financial Report.
- The membership list is updated through the month of November.
- All the board member binders are updated for the November Board Meeting.
- Invoices and letters for December membership renewals were sent.
- Thank you letters and membership certificates were prepared and are ready for delivery to the renewed and new members.
- No renewal of membership or new members for the month of November.
NEW BUSINESS:
US Bank CD Early Withdrawal Penalty: - Craig Thompson
The Executive Board asked Craig to check with US Bank as to whether there is an early withdrawal fee on the CD that will mature on April 3, 2007 . The dollar figure the bank gave to Craig is $8,625 for withdrawing the money before April 3.
UCEDC Office Space: - Craig Thompson
The lease for the office space UCEDC is now using expires on July 31, 2007 . The present lease is $1,140 per month. The Union County Library District subleases for $200 per month. At the Executive Board Meeting it was discussed that perhaps UCEDC should begin looking at what is available for rent in La Grande. Craig will check into what is available and the cost and report to the board in January.
UCEDC Board Appointments: Tim Seydel
Tim said the City of La Grande has appointed a new UCEDC Board member to replace Mark Davidson whose term expires December 31, 2006 . The LGIDC Board has an appointment to make for the place of Steve Rzonca whose term also expires on December 31. Craig read the letter Steve wrote to the board that he appreciated the opportunity to serve as a board member and that he will continue to give us his support. Thank you cards were given to Mark and Steve.
FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER
Meeting Adjourned 7:18 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted by:
Violet Trapp
Administrative Assistant
Note:
Next Board Meeting: Thursday January 18 , 2007 at 6:00 p.m.
UCEDC Office at 1119 Washington Avenue
Executive Meeting: Tuesday, January 9 , 200 7 at 7:30 a.m.
UCEDC Office at 1119 Washington Avenue
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