I
MINUTES
MIDDLE FLINT REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
REEDY BRANCH LODGE
BYROMVILLE, GA
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2004
12:30 P.M.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT
Ralph Brown, Chairman, Marion Co.
Terrance Bryant, 1st Vice Chairman, Sumter Co.
Richard Turk, 2nd Vice-Chairman, Taylor Co. Willie James Larry, Macon Co.
Dave Wills, 3rd Vice-Chairman, Webster Co. Bill McGowan, Sumter Co.
George Crawford, Secretary, Webster Co. LaVonne Jernigan, Marion Co.
Jeff Couturier, Treasurer, Crisp Co. Dan Gattis, Schley Co.
Steve Arrington, Schley Co. Ronald Graham, Marion Co.
Terrell Hudson, Dooly Co. Jerry Kirksey, Webster Co.
Mary Ayers, Taylor Co. J. B. Williams, Taylor Co.
Jared Stevens, Sumter Co.
A. J. Rivers, Crisp Co.
Sarah Trask, Macon Co.
Greg Speight, Dooly Co. DCA APPOINTMENT ABSENT
Roosevelt James, Macon Co. Barbara McCarty
Cora Black, Schley Co.
Willie Davis, Dooly Co.
OTHERS PRESENT
James Harris, Crisp Co. Michelle Hawkins, GDITT
STAFF PRESENT
Don ten Bensel
Grace Howell
Gerald Mixon
Sarah Walls
Mickey Holloway
WELCOME AND CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Ralph Brown called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone.
INTRODUCTIONS
Chairman Ralph Brown welcomed Michelle Hawkins with the Georgia Department of Industry, Trade, & Tourism to the meeting.
Ms. Hawkins reported that a Development Authority Board Member Training has been scheduled for March 29 and 30 in Fort Gaines. Ms. Hawkins stated that it is required for all new members to take this training.
MINUTES
Minutes of the January 28, 2004 Board meeting were presented for the Board=s review and approval.
Motion: Motion was made by Jeff Couturier and duly seconded by Roosevelt James that the minutes be accepted as presented. Vote was unanimous.
FINANCIAL REPORT
Don ten Bensel presented the Financial Report for the period ending January 28, 2004 and reviewed it with those present.
Motion: Motion was made by Terrell Hudson and duly seconded by Cora Black that the Financial Report be accepted as presented. Vote was unanimous.
OLD BUSINESS
Regional Plan
Gerald Mixon presented and explained the draft Middle Flint Regional Agenda 2003 Report of Accomplishments and 2004-2008 Update for Board review. Formal Board action will be needed at the March meeting.
Gerald also presented a schedule for the county meetings being held to receive input throughout the region into the Regional Agenda update.
Total Maximum
Daily Load (TMDL)
The staff is nearing completion of Total Maximum Daily Load Implementation Plans for segments of Patsiliga Creek in Taylor County and Lanahassee Creek in Webster County. Public meetings were held in each county in early February in an attempt to identify the possible causes of elevated counts of fecal coliform bacteria found in water samples taken from each creek in 2000. No clearly identifiable sources of the contamination have yet been identified, and more current water quality sampling and analysis are being proposed. The draft plans will be presented to the Boards of Commissioners at their March meetings, and forwarded to the state by the end of the month.
Regional E-911
Gerald Mixon reported the Middle Flint Regional E-911 Authority had awarded the contract for construction of the regional E-911 center to Warren Scott Construction of Americus. Construction is expected to begin in March and be completed in July, weather permitting.
Five of the 20+ applicants for the position of E-911 executive director had been selected for interview, and from this list three finalists had been chosen.
The Motorola
dealer in Albany was considered to be the best bidder for E-911 communications
equipment. The Authority is
currently reviewing Motorola=s proposed
contract.
WIA Update
Mickey Holloway reported that the Workforce Investment
Program is serving approximately 187 people at the present time. Mickey stated that the Program has met
and exceeded all performance standards except for the youth. Mickey went on to say that the staff is
working toward improving the youth performance.
Deadline for CDBG Applications
Don ten Bensel announced that the deadline for CDBG
applications is March 31st.
Middle Flint Staff will be assisting Andersonville, Buena Vista, Crisp
County, Ellaville, Pinehurst, Reynolds, Schley County, Taylor County, Unadilla,
and Webster County in writing the applications.
Marion County Water System Mapping
Don ten Bensel informed the Board that the Marion County
Water System Mapping has been completed.
NEW BUSINESS
Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) (Proposed Contract)
Gerald Mixon reported that at the February meeting he made
reference to the fact that the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) of the
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) would be contacting us in preparing other
Total Maximum Daily Load Implementation Plans.
We received information from EPD approximately a week ago identifying
seven additional creek segments in our region, along with a proposed contract
for writing an implementation plan for each. A list of the creeks is included in
the Board packet. Gerald stated that
authorization is needed from the Board for Don to sign the contracts.
Motion: Motion was made by Jeff Couturier and
duly seconded by Jared Stevens authorizing Don to sign the contracts for the
staff to write an implementation plan for each creek.
Vote was unanimous.
Aerial Photography
Don reported that Buddy Kidd had checked with the State to
see when they might be making another state-wide infrared flight. There seems to be no sure
timetable. There is an estimate of within two years
but that depends on the State=s revenue situation.
Buddy has learned that several of the Middle Flint counties are in need
of new aerial photography for tax purposes as soon as possible. If the State is going to take longer than
our counties can wait, Buddy feels that they might join together for one
contract and get a better price. He
will keep us abreast of the situation.
DCA Comments on Guest Meal Expenses at Board Meetings
Don ten Bensel reported that DCA had criticized Middle Flint
for paying Board member spouses and
other guests meals at the Board meetings that were not members and were not
invited on the front end. Don asked
the Board to consider establishing an informal policy that if a Board
member bring a private person with them then they would be responsible for that
person=s lunch.
Motion: Motion was made by A. J. Rivers and duly seconded by Jeff
Couturier that when a Board member bring a guest with them to the meeting
they will be responsible for that person=s lunch and they are to let Middle Flint know a week in
advance. Vote was unanimous.
Possible GPS contract in Crisp and Dooly Counties
The farming community and other interests in Crisp and Dooly
Counties have approached the Southwest Georgia United Empowerment Zone about
seeking some federal grant funds for the purpose of creating digital parcel data
and being able to pull in geo-references soils, and other features.
They would also be enabled to link to the WINGAP data on a county level.
This application has been submitted with MFRDC as a consultant on the
project. We in turn would use the
GPS staff of the South Georgia RDC in Valdosta for major portions of the work
through a sub-contract with that sister organization. It will be several months before SWGUEZ
will learn if the application is to be funded.
Direction of RDC
Don ten Bensel requested any feedback from the Board Members
that they may have concerning the direction of the RDC.
BOARD MEMBER REPORTS
Board Members present were given the opportunity to give a
brief report on things of interest pertaining to their cities and counties.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.