I
MINUTES
MIDDLE FLINT REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
ANDERSONVILLE RESTAURANT
ANDERSONVILLE, GA
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 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.
Terrell Hudson, Dooly Co.
Jeff Couturier, Treasurer, Crisp Co.
J. B. Williams, Taylor Co.
George Crawford, Secretary, Webster Co.
James Harris, Crisp Co.
Bill McGowan, Sumter Co.
Sarah Trask, Macon Co.
Mary Ayers, Taylor Co.
Roosevelt James, Macon Co.
Steve Arrington, Schley Co.
Ronald Graham, Marion Co.
LaVonne Jernigan, Marion Co.
Jerry Kirksey, Webster Co.
Greg Speight, Dooly Co.
Willie Davis, Dooly Co.
.
Dan Gattis, Schley Co.
A. J. Rivers, Crisp Co.
DCA APPOINTMENT ABSENT
Cora Black, Schley Co.
Barbara McCarty
Jared Stevens, Sumter Co.
OTHERS PRESENT
STAFF
PRESENT
Don ten Bensel
Jody Redding, Southwest GA Regional Representative
Gerald Mixon
U. S. Senator Zell Miller=s Office
Sarah Walls
Peggy Sheppard, Andersonville
Mickey Holloway
Ebony White
Grace Howell
WELCOME AND CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Ralph Brown called the meeting to order and
welcomed everyone and introduced Jody Redding, Southwest GA Regional
Representative of U. S. Senator Zell Miller=s Office
and Peggy Sheppard from Andersonville.
MINUTES
Minutes of
the May 26 Board meeting were presented for the Board=s review
and approval.
Motion:
Motion was made by George Crawford and duly seconded by A. J. Rivers that the
minutes be accepted as presented.
Vote was unanimous.
FINANCIAL REPORT
Don ten Bensel presented the financial report for the
period ending June 17, 2004 to those present. There were no questions from the
Board regarding the financial presentation.
OLD BUSINESS
E-911 Update
Gerald Mixon reported that at last night=s regular monthly meeting, Executive Director Michael
Yates of the Middle Flint Regional E-911 Authority reported that it had met all
the criteria for the OneGeorgia grant which was awarded several months ago.
The approximate $700,000 grant will be used for equipment and construction.
An open house/ribbon cutting ceremony is tentatively planned for 10:00 am
on October 27.
Pre-Disaster Mitigation Planning
Gerald Mixon
reported that seven of the region=s eight counties have just been
notified by GEMA that they have been approved for grant assistance to aid in the
preparation of the federally mandated pre-disaster mitigation plans. The eighth
county, Crisp, received funding the previous funding cycle. The Federal
Emergency Management Agency is making 75% grants available through GEMA to help
counties prepare and adopt plans which are required for communities to be
eligible for federal disaster aid in the event the community experiences a
disaster severe enough to receive a presidential disaster declaration. These
communities will have approximately twelve months to prepare the plans.
Regional Agenda/CEDS
Gerald Mixon reported that in the
process of preparing the last of the Regional Agenda elements for submission to
the Department of Community Affairs, it was determined that a couple of needs,
goals and objectives had been overlooked. He presented recommended text to
include in the draft Regional Agenda. The board passed a motion approving the
recommendation and authorizing its submission to DCA. After a period during
which surrounding RDCs and state agencies will have an opportunity to comment on
the draft document, the board will be in position to formally adopt the 2004
Regional Agenda.
Gerald reported the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, an Economic
Development Agency requirement, will be presented for official board action at
the July meeting.
WIA Update
Mickey Holloway reported that in addition to the year
round work experience for the youth, 20 extra jobs will be available for the
summer beginning next week. Mickey
also reported that the Workforce Investment Board has approved continuation of
existing contracts with the current service providers.
Mickey announced that the Accountant Position has been
eliminated in the Workforce System, partly due to lack of Administrative funds.
Mickey said that we still have the accountant function that we need but will now
fall under the responsibility of the Middle Flint RDC Finance Director.
Mickey
pointed out that included in the Board packet is information pertaining to each
Middle Flint county.
Georgia Association of Regional Development Centers
Annual Meeting
Don ten Bensel reported that the Georgia Association of
Regional Development Centers Annual Meeting will be held November 10 -12, 2004
at the King & Prince at St. Simons Island. Don urged all Board Members that could to
attend.
Executive Director/Evaluation Forms
Chairman Ralph Brown requested each Board member that
has not filled out an evaluation form please do so and return it to Middle
Flint. Chairman Brown expressed how
important these evaluation forms are.
NEW BUSINESS
RDC Manual
Don ten Bensel reported that the Georgia Association of
RDCs, as one of their projects for the year, developed a RDC Manual with the
assistance of professional designers and printing company. The manual contains the functions of the
RDCs, history of the APDCs and RDCs, a description of each of the RDCs, areas
they represent and what they do, etc.
Don stated that these manuals should be available in approximately two
months.
Changes in Finance/Accounting
Don announced that our accounting firm, Chambliss Sheppard Roland & Baxter, approached us
and said that under new federal rules they cannot audit us and consult with us
also. They told us that they could
better serve us by advising us through the year in getting ready for the audit
instead of actually doing the audit.
A contract has been signed with Chambliss
Sheppard Roland & Baxter for consultation. They will be in our office weekly and
present us with reports for the Board on a better basis. Don stated that this will help us to keep
up in a shorter time span than what we have been able to do in the past. Don said that by eliminating the
accountant position in the workforce system were we able to make this change.
Other Staff Changes
Don ten Bensel announced that Historic Preservation
Planner, Ebony White, last day of employment with Middle Flint RDC will be July
9, 2004. Ebony will be leaving to
take a job in Savannah. Everyone
wishes Ebony the best and she will be greatly missed by the staff as well as
well as all in the Middle Flint area.
FY 04/05 Budget
Jeff Couturier, Treasurer, presented the FY 04/05
Revenue Budget and Expense Budget to the Board.
Motion:
Motion was made by Steve Arrington and duly seconded that the budget be accepted
as presented. Vote was unanimous.
Election of Middle Flint RDC Officers
Nominating Committee Chairman, Jared Stevens, reported
that the Nominating Committee met and recommends to the full Board that the
officers for FY 05 remain the same as FY 04.
They are as follows:
Chairman - Ralph Brown; 1st Vice-Chairman -
Terrance Bryant; 2nd Vice-Chairman - Richard Turk, 3rd
Vice-Chairman - Dave Wills; Secretary - George Crawford; and Treasurer - Jeff
Couturier.
Motion:
Motion was made by Bill McGowan and duly seconded by A. J. Rivers that the
recommendation be accepted as presented.
Vote was unanimous.
Middle Flint RDC Work Program for FY 05
Don ten Bensel presented the FY 05 Work Program for the
Board=s review and approval.
Motion:
Motion was made by Jared Stevens and duly seconded by A. J. Rivers to accept the
Work Program as presented. Vote was
unanimous.
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.
PROGRAM
Mrs. Peggy Sheppard with the Andersonville Guild, Andersonville Trail Association gave a brief history of the Drummer Boy Museum and a private tour of the Drummer Boy Museum.