I
MINUTES
MIDDLE FLINT REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
WINDSOR HOTEL
AMERICUS, GA
WEDNESDAY, MAY 26,
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 Mary Ayers, Taylor Co.
Dave Wills, 3rd Vice-Chairman, Webster Co. Terrell Hudson, Dooly Co.
Jeff Couturier, Treasurer, Crisp Co. J. B. Williams, Taylor Co.
Bill McGowan, Sumter Co. Greg Speight, Dooly Co.
Willie James Larry, Macon Co. Dan Gattis, Schley Co.
Steve Arrington, Schley Co. Ronald Graham, Marion Co.
LaVonne Jernigan, Marion Co.
James Harris, Crisp Co. .
Willie Davis, Dooly Co.
Sarah Trask, Macon Co.
Roosevelt James, Macon Co.
A. J. Rivers, Crisp Co.
George Crawford, Secretary, Webster Co.
Jerry Kirksey, Webster Co.
Cora Black, Schley Co.
Jared Stevens, Sumter Co.
STAFF PRESENT DCA APPOINTMENT ABSENT
Don ten Bensel Barbara McCarty
Kay Hagler
Gerald Mixon
OTHERS PRESENT
Sarah Walls U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss
Mickey Holloway Debbie Cannon, Representative, U.S. Senator Saxby
Ebony White Chambliss=s Office
Buddy Kidd Thomas Daniels, Representative, U.S.
Tammy Collins Congressman=s Sanford Bishop=s Office
Tom Queen, Georgia DOT
WELCOME AND CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Ralph Brown called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone.
INTRODUCTIONS
Chairman Ralph Brown introduced and welcomed guests U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss,
Debbie Cannon, Representative, from U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss Office, Thomas Daniels, Representative, from U.S. Congressman Sanford Bishop=s Office, and Tom Queen, Georgia Department of Transportation.
MINUTES
Minutes of the April 28th Board meeting were presented for the Board=s review and approval.
Motion: Motion was made by Willie James Larry and duly seconded by Jared Stevens that the minutes be accepted as presented. Vote was unanimous.
FINANCIAL REPORT
Don ten Bensel presented the financial report for the period ending April 30, 2004 to those present. There were no questions from the Board regarding the financial presentation.
GUEST SPEAKER
U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss provided a report on current world events and followed with discussions pertaining to topics of local interest.
OLD BUSINESS
Marion County Water System/GPS
Buddy Kidd gave a brief report and presented sample map books of the Marion County Water System that includes the GPS location of the fire hydrants with a hydrant ID number and the waterline with line size. The book has 8 2 A x 11" maps at the scale of 1" = 2666'.
E-911 Update
Gerald Mixon reported that good progress is still being made on development of the regional E-911 center. The authority convened for the regular monthly meeting last night (Tuesday), and decided to authorize the executive director to advertise to fill two administrative positions to further increase the pace of activity. Work is progressing toward completion of the various data bases which must be incorporated into the center. Construction of the E-911 building is still on schedule for a July completion.
Planning & Educational Workshops
Gerald Mixon reported staff is preparing to present planning education workshops in Marion and Taylor Counties. The state has implemented new, more stringent planning standards that apply to comprehensive plans, solid waste management plans and service delivery strategies since state-mandated standards first became effective in the early 1990's. Of our six counties (and their cities) which have not started updating their local plans, Marion/Buena Vista is the next plan due (6/06), followed by Taylor/Butler/Reynolds with a 10/06 deadline adoption date. The workshops, June 15 and June 22, respectively, are scheduled to give local officials adequate lead-time to decide how they want to pursue plan development and still have time to prepare and adopt the document prior to the deadline.
DCA Planning & Assistance
Gerald Mixon reported the office had received a proposed contract from the Department of Community Affairs for the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2004.
County Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plans
Gerald Mixon reported that since the board last met, seven member counties have received notices from the Georgia Emergency Management Agency that their individual requests for financial aid to prepare pre-disaster mitigation plans have been approved. As the result of the federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, any community experiencing a disaster must have adopted such a plan to be eligible for federal disaster assistance. Based on preliminary conversations with a GEMA representative, these counties will receive contracts in June and will be expected to send representatives to a workshop tentatively scheduled for July. The communities should have 12-15 months to prepare the plan.
Workforce System
Mickey Holloway reported that we expect to have served about 450 people through the Workforce Investment Program by June 30, 2004. Funding has become available to serve 20 people through the summer job program. Mickey reported according to the Department of Labor unemployment for the state of Georgia is currently 3.5%, while our eight county area is 5.1%.
Montezuma EDA Full Application
Kay presented information regarding a $ 1.0 million grant application for Montezuma and the Development Authority in Macon County to facilitate Flint River Foods plant coming into the Industrial Park Area.
Flint River Ferry Project
Ebony White announced that Oglethorpe has the last ferry boat in Georgia and has been awarded a Transportation Grant Award. A feasibility study is currently in progress to consider the possibility of placing the ferry back into the water and placing it as a stationary exhibit. A Bike and Pedestrian Trail is also being considered for the area.
Board Member Appointments
Don ten Bensel reminded everyone that board appointments will expire 6/30/04. We have not yet received in writing appointments for Crisp, Macon, Ellaville & Preston.
NEW BUSINESS
Nominating Committee for FY05
Ralph Brown asked for volunteers for the FY05 nominating committee. Jared Stevens volunteered. Ralph Brown chose A.J. Rivers and Dan Gattis.
Evaluation Forms
Don ten Bensel asked the board members to complete evaluation forms for the Executive Director and the RDC. Board members may mail the evaluations to the RDC or bring them to the next board meeting.
Draft MFRDC Work Program for FY04
Don ten Bensel noted that a draft copy of the MFRDC FY05 Work Program was included in the Board packet. Don asked the members to review the information and be ready to vote at the next meeting.
State Water Plan
Don ten Bensel presented a resolution in support of utilizing RDC=s to assist in the development of a State Water Plan for Board consideration.
Motion:
Motion was made by Dave Wills and duly seconded by Willie Davis that the resolution be approved as presented. Vote was unanimous.
PROGRAM
Tom Queen, District Planning & Programming Engineer, Georgia Department of Transportation gave a presentation regarding Georgia road conditions and Governor Perdue=s Fast Forward project. Board members asked questions relating to future local area projects. Several members showed interest in the plans for widening of Hwy 49.
BOARD MEMBER REPORTS
Ralph Brown suggested due to the length of the board meeting thus far that board member reports be postponed until next month.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.