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OTHERS PRESENT Spencer Mueller, DCA Regional Rep. |
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| CALL TO ORDER Chairman Dave Wills called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone. 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. MINUTES Minutes of the February 2006 Board meeting were presented for the Board’s review and approval. Motion: Motion was made by Jeff Couturier and duly seconded by James Harris that the minutes be accepted as presented. Vote was unanimous. FINANCIAL REPORT Don ten Bensel presented the financial report for the period ending March 22, 2006 to those present. OLD BUSINESS Multi-County Aerial Photography Project Gerald Mixon reported that data has been taken and we should be receiving samples by April 15, 2006. Workforce System Update Mickey Holloway gave a brief update on the Workforce Program. He announced as of to date we are serving approximately 260 individuals. Included in the board packet were handouts of the 2005 Georgia Area Occupational Wages; a list comparing the Georgia Regional Development Centers Labor Force Statistics; a list of the PY 2005 WIA training activities and the number of clients in each activity; and the January 2006 Unemployment rate by counties. Mickey asked Board members to contact the Georgia’s Congressional Delegates concerning the Presidents’s 2007 budget cuts. A list of the Delegates and points to make were also included in the Board packets. Business Loan Program Update Sarah Walls reported that the Area Development Corporation recently closed a loan for $40,00 with AeroDYN Discovery Centers from Vienna. Sarah announced that at present there are $653,000 in the Revolving Loan Fund that can be loaned out for those that who meets the criteria. Community Development Block Grants Don ten Bensel reported that the staff is working diligently on ten CDBG projects to be submitted to the Department of Community Affairs by April 3rd. They are as follows: Andersonville, Buena Vista, Byromville, Montezuma, Marion County, Pinehurst, Lilly, Reynolds, Crisp County, and Cordele. Proposed FY 07 Planning and Historic Preservation Grants to RDCs Don ten Bensel reported that as mentioned at last month’s board meeting the Department of Community Affairs and the State Historic Preservation Department were proposing same budget cuts as last year. Don announced that the budget cuts have been restored We will have the same amount of money this fiscal year as we did last year. NEW BUSINESS Regional Agenda Update Gerald Mixon reminded the Board of four staff recommendations presented and approved at the February meeting. Since that time the staff has performed a closer review of the Technical Staff Report and Regional Agenda, and determined there was not sufficient reference to one of the staff recommendations, i.e. promoting the Region as a home for retirees, to amend it to the annual work program at this time. To formally add that recommended activity to the annual work program update requires more extensive RDC effort than previously believed. He asked the Board to; (1) amend the previous action by deleting reference to promoting the Region as a home for retirees, and (2) to approve and authorize submission of the draft 2006 Regional Agenda Update incorporating other staff recommendations approved by the Board last month. Motion: Motion was made by Ralph Brown and duly seconded by James Harris to accept the request as presented. Vote was unanimous. New Staff Don ten Bensel reported interviews are being conducted for the position of Historic Preservation Planner. He also said that advertising will be begin next week to hire another Community Developer. Dooly County Comprehensive Plan Don ten Bensel reported that due to the workload of the staff and the time frame to complete the comprehensive plan for Dooly County in October, with the agreement with Dooly County, the RDC will subcontract with a consultant to develop the majority of the plan. The RDC staff will still be responsible for updating the Service Delivery Strategy and Solid Waste Management Plan. The consultant is Matt Martin from Valdosta. Don added that we are also looking into the possibility of using him for certain elements on some of the other plans. New EDA Requirements on Board Make-up Don ten Bensel reported that as mentioned in previous Board meetings the Economic Development Administration (EDA) has established new rules on our Board make-up. He said that the new EDA rule states that our Board make-up has to consist a minimum of 35% of non-elected officials. As of present, we only have 16%. Don stated that this needs to be done by October to have the new ruling in place and operating by the January 1, 2007. If not, we do not receive any money from EDA. It was recommended to appoint a committee to study ways of meeting the new Board make-up. Chairman Dave Wills suggested that Jarrod Stevens, Jeff Couturier, Mary Ayers, Willie Davis, and himself be appointed to a Committee to come up with some recommendations and bring them back to the Board at a later date. Dave, Jarrod, Jeff, and Mary were at the meeting and agreed to serve on the Committee. Mayor Davis was not at the meeting and will be contacted later. Motion: Motion was made by Ralph Brown and duly seconded by James Harris to accept the recommended Board members to serve on the Committee as presented. Vote was unanimous. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business the meeting was adjourned. |
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