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

September 15, 2006

An urgent rescheduling of the regularly scheduled board meeting – September 21, 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 , Steve Rzonca, John Howard and Lori Hines
Absentees: Russell Lester

The meeting was called to order at 7.31 a.m. , by Tim Seydel , President.

Tim Seydel entertained a motion to approve the August Minutes . 

Mark Davidson moved the board accepts the minutes as written. Dale Case seconded the motion. The motion carried

Tim said there is no old business and the reports will not be called for in order to give time to the urgent business for which this meeting was called. Janet asked to mention the part in the financial report that shows a loss on the Oveson Receivable. This will carry over for the rest of the fiscal year but will be ignored for the remainder of the year. Since this is a written report it is in the minutes as follows. Janet will e-mail a copy of the report to the board members.

REPORTS :

Finance Committee: - Janet Hume-Schwarz
The Profit and Loss Budget Performance report shows a net ordinary income of $2,999 for the month of August 2006 and a net loss of (3,295) for the Year-to-Date. This appears to be primarily because of very low income during the month of July though we did receive $11,700 income in August. We budgeted $19,366 of income YTD but only received $13,700.

In the Other Income and Expense we are now showing the $137,500 Loss on the Oveson Receivable. This will carry forward for the rest of the year and we will ignore this transaction from now on.

We have $21,800 in the bank checking and money market accounts. The operations account is back in the black with $8,188 and $12,837 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 $38,800 it decreased when we received the cash from the Cricket Building sale.

NEW BUSINESS:

UCEDC Board Meeting Time Discussion: - Craig Thompson
The E-Board discussed whether the board should continue to meet on the third Thursday of each month at 7:30 a.m. as it has for the summer. With school back in session and work schedule, some of the board members cannot attend the morning meetings. The E-Board decided to take this matter to the full board to decide the time for meeting.

Dale Case made a motion that the monthly UCEDC Board Meeting be moved to 6:00 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month. Mark Davidson seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Business Park Signage: - Craig Thompson
John Howard and Craig met with Matt Barber of La Grande Sign Company to discuss the signage on the existing sign in the park. Matt brought a copy of the proposed design to the office. John and Craig attended the MLS Meeting Wednesday, September 14 and John presented to the realtors the proposed design. John and Craig are encouraging the agents to become members of UCEDC and have their names attached to the sign. The sign would also include “For land sale information contact the following real estate agencies”. Craig and John will continue to work on the project with Matt Barber and obtain a cost for the additional signage. The information will be brought to the full board for approval.

Howard Perry asked if individual realtors who are paid members of UCEDC would also be listed with the agencies. Dale Case suggested that these names be listed in the brochure to be given to parties interested in purchasing land in the park. The brochure will be easier to update.

State Business Lead: - Craig Thompson
Jill Miles of OEDD gave Craig a state lead which Craig has responded to with a letter of interest. The deadline for response was September 12, 2006 . The letter was sent online on September 12.

UCEDC Funding Request/By-Laws Discussion - Craig Thompson
Craig gave a brief summary of the events leading to today's board meeting. Tim, Janet and Craig met with the City of La Grande in a work session June 24, 2006 where goals and objectives were discussed. At the end of this meeting a discussion of the LGIDC Board occurred. On June 26 UCEDC received an e-mail from the city requesting information on several items about the LGIDC Board. Craig forwarded the e-mail to Steve Joseph, President of the board. August 18 Steve hand delivered the information to the city. Steve also sent a copy to UCEDC which was received on Monday August 21 the same day UCEDC submitted the funding request to the city. UCEDC was tentatively scheduled on the city council's August 24 meeting agenda but was moved to the September 20 council meeting. On September 1 an article about the LGIDC Board appeared in the Observer. On Wednesday September 13 the Urban Renewal Advisory Committee (URAC) met and voted to recommend funding to UCEDC out of the Urban Renewal Fund.

Since the regular monthly board meeting is Thursday September 21, the Executive Board decided to reschedule the board meeting prior to the city council meeting scheduled for September 20 on which UCEDC is tentatively on the agenda.

Mark Davidson moved that the full board direct the E-Board to pursue UCEDC's Funding Request with the City of La Grande and the Urban Renewal District for all of our available resources. Bill Whittemore seconded the motion. Motion was approved

Mark asked for all the board members who are available to attend the September 20 th City Council/URA Meeting. Also, for the UCEDC President, Tim Seydel to send a personalized request to all of UCEDC's paid membership soliciting their presence of support or a letter of support.

Janet Hume-Schwarz moved to amend Article VII of the UCEDC By-Laws to change board appointments made by La Grande Industrial Development Corporation (LGIDC) to appointments made by the UCEDC Membership . Lori Hines seconded the motion.

Janet requested that the vote be taken by roll call. Tim Seydel asked for the question. The question was called.

John Howard made a motion to table Janet's motion until UCEDC meets with the La Grande City Council. Mark Davidson seconded the motion. Janet Hume-Schwarz and Lori Hines voted not to table the motion, the remaining 9 board members voted to table the motion.

Janet Hume-Schwarz moved that the UCEDC Executive Board , one county commissioner and two or three of the city councilors meet with the LGIDC Board to discuss what these organizations think the future of UCEDC is. The motion was seconded by Lori Hines. The motion was defeated by 2 yes and 9 no.

Sheri McDonald asked if there is a problem with the above organizations meeting together. John Howard said that any further discussion or plans need to wait until the city council/URA meeting on September 20 is held and then continue from there if needed.

FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER

Craig announced that the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for the City of La Grande Library is scheduled on Tuesday September 19 at 1:00 p.m.

The board agreed to call a full board meeting on Thursday September 28 at 6:00 p.m.

Meeting Adjourned 8:27 a.m.

Respectfully Submitted by:
Violet Trapp
Administrative Assistant

Note:

Next Board Meeting: Thursday October 19 , at 6:00 p.m.
UCEDC Office at 1119 Washington Avenue

Executive Meeting: Tuesday, October 10 , 2006 at 7:30 a.m.
UCEDC Office at 1119 Washington Avenue