Loading...
4A Wichita Falls Economic Development Minutes - 10/09/2014MINUTES OF THE WICHITA FALLS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION October 9, 2014 PRESENT: Dick Bundy, President Reno Gustafson Darron Leiker Leo Lane Dave Lilley Glenn Barham, Mayor Brian Hooker Jim Dockery, Asst. City Manager /CFO Kevin Hugman, Assistant City Manager Julia Vasquez, Acting City Attorney Linda Merrill, Recording Secretary Henry Florsheim Kevin Pearson Michael Paris Felice Baird 1. CALL TO ORDER Members Mayor City Councilor City Staff Chamber of Commerce and Industry Lone Star Milk Transport Dick Bundy called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (SEPTEMBER 18, 2014) Leo Lane moved for approval. Seconded by Darron Leiker, the motion carried. 3. PRESENTATION BY LONE STAR MILK TRANSPORT RELATING TO ESTABLISHING ITS TRUCKING OPERATIONS IN WICHITA FALLS Michael Paris introduced Felice Baird, President of Lone Star Milk Transport. The family -owned trucking company is moving from its current location in Antelope, and Wichita Falls is one of the communities it is considering. Ms. Baird said they have grown from a family dairy that formed a co -op of milk producers into a company that hauls its own milk with over 200 trucks and 180 drivers. They have thought of moving to Wichita Falls for the past few years as a cost - saving measure. They are considering the old Estes Building; it is a good size, with plenty of room for training drivers. They are in need of qualified drivers; they are down 40 drivers from last year. The company's combined payroll for 2013 was $11.5 million. The combined inventory value of their vehicles is $8.5 million. Kevin Pearson asked if some of the company's employees live in Wichita Falls. Ms. Baird replied that some do, but most of them live in the Jacksboro, Windthorst and Scotland communities. If the company does not move to Wichita Falls but to another community, key staff would relocate and other jobs would be lost to this area. Mr. Bundy thanked Ms. Baird for her presentation. 4. GARY SHORES' PLAQUE Mr. Pearson then displayed a plaque on which he collaborated with Dick Bundy for former WFEDC President Gary Shores. The plaque lists the various economic development projects in which Mr. Shores was involved during his 1997 -2014 tenure on the WFEDC Board, and it will be presented to him at an upcoming City Council meeting. 5. DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED INCENTIVES FOR SAFETY DESIGN USA, INC., RELATING TO EXPANSION OF OPERATIONS TO THE UNITED STATES AND EXPLORATION OF LEASE OPTIONS IN WICHITA FALLS FOR MANUFACTURING OF A FLASH CUTTING TOOL SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO ENSURE SAFETY DURING WELLHEAD OPERATIONS AND DURING INSTALLATION OR REMOVAL OF ELECTRO - SUBMERSIBLE PUMPS Mr. Paris provided additional information to the Board he obtained through calls made to oil and gas companies. Mr. Lane said such information made him feel better regarding the company's growth potential. 6. DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED INCENTIVES FOR NRG TRANSPORTATION, LLC, RELATING TO ESTABLISHING TRUCKING OPERATIONS IN WICHITA FALLS Mr. Pearson said more information has been provided regarding the company's business plan and will be discussed in executive session. 7. EXECUTIVE SESSION Mr. Bundy adjourned the meeting into executive session at 4:20 p.m. pursuant to TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE § §551.071, 551.072, and 551.087. He closed the executive session and announced the meeting back into regular session at 5:04 p.m. S. CONSIDERATION OF AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON INCENTIVES FOR LONE STAR MILK TRANSPORT (UP TO $310,364) Leo Lane moved, seconded by Darron Leiker, to approve the incentives as presented in today's meeting packet for Lone Star Milk Transport. The motion unanimously carried. 2 9. CONSIDERATION OF AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON SAFETY DEsiGN USA, INC. (up TO $688,500) Darron Leiker moved, seconded by Leo Lane, to approve the incentives as: presented in today's meeting packet for Safety Design USA, Inc. The motion unanimously carried. 10. CONSIDERATION OF AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON !NCENTYVES FOR NRG TRUCKING (UP TO $403,000) FIVISM"1107,1111 M, Dave Lilley moved for adjournment. Seconded by Leo Lan«, ®- motion unanimously carried. The meeting ass at Dick Bundy, President ■