I
MINUTES
MIDDLE FLINT REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
WINDSOR HOTEL
AMERICUS, GA
WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 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
Jeff Couturier, Treasurer, Crisp Co.
Dave Wills, 3rd Vice-Chairman, Webster Co.
Willie James Larry, Macon Co.
George Crawford, Secretary, Webster Co.
Otis Mathis, Jr., Taylor Co.
Steve Arrington, Schley Co.
Terrell Hudson, Dooly Co.
Bill McGowan, Sumter Co.
James Harris, Crisp Co.
Roosevelt James, Macon Co.
LaVonne Jernigan, Marion Co.
Greg Speight, Dooly Co.
Sarah Trask, Macon Co.
Mary Ayers, Taylor Co.
Dan Gattis, Schley Co.
A. J. Rivers, Crisp Co.
Ronald Graham, Marion Co.
Cora Black, Schley Co.
Jerry Kirksey, Webster Co.
Jared Stevens, Sumter Co.
Willie Davis, Dooly Co. .
STAFF
PRESENT
DCA APPOINTMENT ABSENT
Don ten Bensel
Barbara McCarty
Gerald Mixon
Sarah Walls
OTHERS PRESENT
Mickey Holloway
Mike Beatty, Commissioner, DCA
Grace Howell
Phil Foil, Assistant Commissioner, DCA
Spencer Mueller, Regional Representative, DCA
Joyce Hardy, City Clerk, Montezuma
WELCOME AND CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Ralph Brown called the meeting to order and
welcomed everyone. Mayor Brown
welcomed guests Mike Beatty, DCA Commissioner; Phil Foil, DCA Deputy
Commissioner; Spencer Mueller, DCA Regional Representative; and Joyce Hardy,
Montezuma City Clerk.
SPECIAL GUEST
Board Member, Bill McGowan introduced our special
guest, Mr. Mike Beatty, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Community
Affairs.
Commissioner Beatty spoke on the relationship between
the Department of Community Affairs and the Regional Development Centers. The Commissioner described the RDCs and
the DCA as being a team with many common issues working together. He explained that the message he wanted
to bring before the Board is that DCA wants to work with the RDCs and look for
ways that DCA can help us and want to be part of the effort of getting the done.
He
stated that the Team (Together We Can Achieve More) GA Concept is a very
innovative way of delivering services.
Mr. Beatty continued by saying AWe are
going to work not only across the regional lines within DCA but work across the
departmental lines throughout State government so DCA can get the resources and
technical assistance that the RDCs need to get the job done.@
Deputy Commissioner, Phil Foil, reported on the
reorganization of the Department of Community Affairs.
MINUTES
Minutes of the June 23, 2004 Board meeting were
presented for the Board=s review and approval.
Motion:
Motion was made by Jared Stevens 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 July 28, 2004 to those present. There were no questions from the
Board regarding the financial presentation.
OLD BUSINESS
E-911 Update
Gerald Mixon
reported that progress is still being made on development of the regional E-911
center.
A few of the activities that Gerald mentioned are: building is expected to be
completed by early August, equipment is expected to be installed within the next
three weeks, there are now three people on staff at the Center.
Pre-Disaster Mitigation Planning
As mention previously, Gerald Mixon
reported that the Federal law requires state and local governments to have an
approved disaster plan in place by November 1, 2004, to be eligible for federal
disaster assistance in the event a federally-declared disaster occurs in their
jurisdiction. Gerald explained that
seven area counties that recently received FEMA/GEMA funding to prepare the
required plans the State recognizes that the plans cannot be completed within
this time frame but states that there is a provision in the law that will allow
communities that are working on their plan to receive disaster funding if needed
before the plan is completed. The
Georgia Emergency Management Agency extended the deadline to September 5, 2005.
Total Maximum Daily Load Contracts
with the Department of Natural Resources
Gerald Mixon reported that we have two
current contracts with the Dept. of Natural Resources. One contract is primarily to identify
causes/sources of, and resolution(s) to, fecal coliform contamination in Swift
Creek on the Crisp/Warwick County line.
A meeting has been scheduled
in Warwick, GA on August 12, 2004, to get input from the general public. Several state government agencies, along
with the general public, have been invited to the meeting.
The other contract deals with
Whitewater Creek in Taylor County, Spring Creek in Macon County, Sweetwater
Creek, Bailey Branch, and Angelica Creek in Sumter County; and Gulley Creek and
Gum Creek in Crisp County. All
these creeks have been identified as having a high sediment count. These watersheds will be studied to
hopefully identify likely causes/sources of the sediment and to reduce sediment
presence in the waterways.
Comprehensive Plans
Gerald Mixon reported that all
communities have comprehensive plans that have to be updated and wanted to report to the Board that Sumter
County has recently gone through their update process and the State has approved
the Plan. All the local governments
in Sumter County must now adopt the
joint plan to complete the process.
WIA Update
Mickey Holloway reported that as of
year end June 4, 2004, the Workforce System served 400 clients through the
On-the-Job Training, Classroom Training, and Youth Programs. Mickey stated that the Workforce System
are doing things to get involved
more with area businesses.
Mickey informed the Board that the
Americus Department of Labor Career Center has a new Manager, Jamie Loyd, and
will be working with him and his agency on the One Stop Program.
Mickey also reported that, according
to the Ga. Department of Labor=s figures, during
the last eighteen (18) months in the Middle Flint area Nine Hundred
Seventy-Seven (977) people have been impacted negatively through plant closing,
layoffs, and down sizing,
RDC ASelf Evaluation@ Results
Don ten Bensel reported that in the
Board packet is a copy of the results of the Annual Performance Evaluation of
the program activities of the RDC.
These results were rated by the Middle Flint RDC Board of Directors.
RDC Revenues
Don ten Bensel reported that in the
Board packet is a copy of Budget Breakdown for this coming year. This breakdown shows where the RDC will
be receiving the funds.
NEW BUSINESS
Don ten Bensel presented the EDA
Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Plan for the Board=s approval.
Motion: Motion was made by Dave Wills and
duly seconded by Mary Ayers to accept the Plan as presented. Vote was unanimous.
Historic Preservation Planner Hired
Don ten Bensel announced that Matthew
McDaniel will be replacing Ebony White as the Middle Flint RDC Historic
Preservation Planner. Matt=s employment will begin no later than
August 18th.
BOARD MEMBER REPORTS
Chairman Ralph Brown suggested due to the length of the board meeting thus far that board member reports be postponed until the September meeting. (There will be no August meeting)
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the
meeting was adjourned.