Jo-Carroll Depot LRA Board of Directors

Meeting Minutes

May 6, 2009

I. CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Bill McFadden called the board meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6, 2009 at the Jo-Carroll Depot LRA Conference Room, 3651 Crim Dr. Ste. 1, Savanna, Illinois.

II. ROLL CALL was answered as follows: Present-Don Crawford, Steve Keeffer, John Major, Ed Olds, Bill Sparboe, Bill Wright, Bill McFadden. Present: 7. Absent-Ron Smith. Absent: 1. Ayes: 7. Nays: 0. LRA staff present: Diane Komiskey, Mara Sutton, and Dawn Hall.

III. Executive Session as permitted for the following under:

5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11) for pending, probable, or imminent litigation.

A motion to enter closed session at 2:01 p.m. was made by Bill Wright, seconded by Steve Keeffer. The motion carried by roll call vote as follows: Don Crawford, Steve Keeffer, John Major, Ed Olds, Bill Sparboe, Bill Wright and Bill McFadden. Ayes: 7, Nays: 0.

A motion to exit closed session at 3:00 p.m. was made by Ed Olds, seconded by Bill Sparboe. The motion carried by roll call vote as follows: Don Crawford, Steve Keeffer, John Major, Ed Olds, Bill Sparboe, Bill Wright and Bill McFadden. Ayes: 7, Nays: 0.

CALL TO ORDER: Chairman McFadden reconvened the meeting at 3:05 p.m.

Guests present: Alan Anderson (USFW), Jeff Horn (USFW), Tom Kamper (RRX), Jack Koster (RRX), Alex Jordan (RRX), Laurie Gungel (TCEDA), Sharon Pepin (Community Funding & Planning Services).

IV. THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited.

V. AGENDA ADDITIONS None

VI: CONSENT ITEMS

A motion to approve the consent items as presented was made by Bill Wright, seconded by Steve Keeffer. The motion carried by voice vote.

VII: OLD BUSINESS:

A. COMMITTEE REPORTS:

1.FINANCE/PERSONNEL- Mr. Olds

Mr. Olds reported that the committee had met on April 17. They reviewed CDs that were approaching maturity and the investment policy. They also reviewed a tenant’s request for the LRA to purchase a truck scale.

2.ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The committee met on April 17. They had received a request from Washington Township to extend their lease with the LRA until the property was transferred by the Army so they could do improvements to the building.

A motion to extend the Washington Township lease until the property is transferred to the LRA was made by Don Crawford, seconded by Ed Olds. The motion carried by voice vote.

3.INFRASTRUCTURE

Mr. Keeffer reported that the committee had met on April 17.

A motion to issue a use agreement to the Savanna Army Depot & Military Museum for use of LRA property as presented to the Infrastructure Committee for a Civil War re-enactment on Oct. 10-11 was made by Steve Keeffer, seconded by Bill Wright. The motion carried by voice vote.

A motion to give IDNR permission to search on the LRA industrial park for ornate box turtles and to request that the LRA be provided with a report of the findings was made by Steve Keeffer, seconded by Don Crawford. The motion carried by voice vote.

Per the board decision in August 2008, the committee had reviewed the WWTP operator’s performance to determine if proposals for operating the system would be solicited. The WWTP operator’s contract expires August 31, 2009.

A motion to continue working with Tim Schoenig and make no request for proposals for WWTP operator this year was made by Steve Keeffer, seconded by Bill Wright. The motion carried by voice vote.

B. JO-CARROLL ENERGY TOWER AGREEMENT

The board had approved a tower agreement with Jo-Carroll Energy subject to LRA attorney review. The LRA attorney had drafted a new agreement, which was sent to JCE. JCE had contacted the LRA and asked for more time to review it.

C. Set Committee Meeting Dates:

June committee meetings will start at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 17.

D. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

Sharon Pepin, Community Funding & Planning Services, presented a draft inventory of capital improvement projects for a 5 year period and asked that each member of the board prioritize each project on a scale of 1 to 5 with 1 being the highest. She requested the board’s input be received before the May 19 Infrastructure committee meeting. At the May 19 committee meeting she will have the cost estimates for each project as well. Ms. Pepin answered questions from the board regarding the draft she presented.

VIII: NEW BUSINESS

A. STAFF REPORTS

1. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Executive Director presented a written report to the board and highlighted:

• The importance of marketing the property through the web site and her appreciation for the work done by Dawn Hall, which resulted in the launching of the new LRA website on Monday, May 4.
• The need for marketing in a digital age by using social networking, and her finding that groups from ADC and IEDC participate in using LinkedIn, which she has found to be a good way to obtain information from other LRA executive directors and economic development professionals.
• That new ads have been placed in local newspapers marketing the property and new materials have been developed for use in-house to give to prospects.
• Other activities: meeting with Savanna Mayor-elect, attending a luncheon for Congressman Manzullo as a guest of Jack Koster, as well as meetings and follow-ups with prospects.
• Being appointed to the bylaws committee of TCEDA.

2. PROPERTY MANAGER

Property Manager Sutton reported that two letters from the IL EPA was received

Ms. Sutton submitted a written report and updated the board on the water and sewer projects that Mr. Schoenig is working on.

She reported that on-site full-time employees for the month of April were at 52 which is an increase of 2 from March.

The board reviewed detailed information and maps of parcels 3a and 3.

3. BOOKKEEPER

Cash Flow - Financial reports from April 1, 2009 through April 30, 2009 show

total income of $12,821.69 and total expense $15,883.71. This shows a difference of $3062.02 for the month of April. Bank Account Balances - The LRA bank account balances as of 4/30/09 total $1,888,224.96. Two CDs matured in April.

B. BOARD OF DIRECTORS REPORT

Mr. Olds reported that the hearing of SB 1784 is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. today. The bill had been rewritten as House Amendment 1 with input and comment from the LRA. Chairman McFadden thanked Mr. Olds for going to Springfield and keeping an eye on the bill’s progress.

C. ATTORNEY’S REPORT – None.

D. OTHER NEW BUSINESS – None.

IX OTHER REPORTS

A. COMMANDER’S REP – Report submitted. Next RAB meeting May 21.

B. TENANTS – Jack Koster (RRX) reported that they are working with Congressman Manzullo’s office to expedite the transfer of parcel 14. They also want parcel 14b transferred and to acquire parcel 6.

C. US FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE – Alan Anderson thanked the board for approving the turtle project and introduced Jeff Horn as the person who will be leading the project. Mr. Anderson reported 9 active eagle nests here. He reported that they had lost one staff person to cuts.

D. ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURSES – No one present

E. ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY – No one present.

F. JO-CARROLL ENERGY – No one present.

G. GUESTS – Laurie Gungel, representing TCEDA, welcomed Diane Komiskey to their board of directors and said that TCEDA’s goal is economic development and bringing jobs to northwest Illinois.

X PUBLIC COMMENTS - None

XI ADJOURNMENT – A motion to adjourn was made at 4:04 p.m. by Bill Sparboe, seconded by Steve Keeffer. The motion carried by voice vote.

_________________________

Dawn Hall, LRA Secretary