9 January 2015 Dearborn County Redevelopment Meeting Notes

9 January 2015 Dearborn County Redevelopment Meeting Notes

Present: Dave Deddens, Chairman, Jim Helms, John Rahe, Jim Deaton, Dennis Kraus, Sr. 

ABSENT: Dusty Burress (non- voting school board member)

Also present: Terri Randall, county administrator and economic development director, Andrea Ewan, attorney, Sue Hayden, minute taker, Gayle Pennington, Auditor and DCRC treasurer.

ABSENT: Randy Maxwell, consultant.

An executive session preceded this meeting. Verification of Executive session discussion- verified that they only discussed what they advertised.

Action on Executive session- no action- everything remains as is, no land purchase and no change in incentives.

Approval of December 11th minutes- approved. 

Election of officers- Chairman- Dave Deddens and Vice Chairman- Jim Deaton.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Terri to follow up with Doug Denmure on the Aurora Industrial Park sign after Dr, Rahe had contacted him.

CLAIMS AND FINANCIALS:

Voucher for Oren Turner salary approved.

$6070.63- Terri and Sue salaries, Maxwell consultant fee, etc.

I-74 Marketing Group dues- Randall said DCEDI had been involved with this for a number of years. Dues were taken over last year by DCRC and she attends their meetings at times. She said she is spread thin enough so someone else on the board will hopefully go to this. [NOTE: This Economic Development Director position was to be reviewed in a year when they set it up, so perhaps it is time to take a look at it again.] Dues are $2000. She recommends staying in it. And they market us. The next level is to send site selectors out by helicopter. Helms said that he was on the original founding group. He is willing to go whenever Terri can’t. Approved to pay dues.

REDI meeting- Rahe said he went to a meeting- they are doing a tremendous job- doing what EDI could do but on a bigger scale. They will share every lead they get and they market throughout the world.We can’t get kind of extensive service anywhere else. $10,000 per year to get on the board. Jim Deaton- agrees- more important than their contacts is their marketing around the world. The EDI money could help defray the cost on this. Randall said we feel like the stepchild to Indianapolis and also to the Greater Cinti region. They were just thrilled that we contacted them.  There was a business development person who was quite sharp and would come out to mentor me. We can take them with to take to prospective businesses. Deaton said they were a very dynamic group. If they can sell us the way they sold themselves to us- they will be great. It’s the $10,000 level that will build that relationship. They want to consider the 3 year option as it will take that long. Randall said that EDI is going to dissolve and their funds will cover this. The Board decided to join REDI at the $10,000 level.[NOTE: Why does this still seem unconvincing?]  

NEW BUSINESS:

Rahe said that we should be looking ahead to get some fund for future economic development in Dearborn County- 10-20 years down the road. What lands are available- level land around Dillsboro and Moores Hill. We need to look at how to open that up- highways, the RR that runs to Batesville. This Cross County Highway could intersect all of that. To see if we want to look at that- just bringing it up. Deddens said that was talked about years ago.Randall said we are just beginning the whole visioning process- to get communities to do their updates to all their Comp Plan. Aurora, Lawrenceburg, the county and Dillsboro are finished or finishing this. Then get the County Plan Dept to put this all together. Then take this to an economic development plan. Randall said she takes in leads all the time- she did get one lead that was viable for Dillsboro but it didn’t work out. It has been focused on unincorporated areas of the county that are near the interstates. They may do a labor shed out there in the Dillsboro area. She said that we are going thru a few growing pains but we are working on it. State won’t pour federal dollars in unless redevelopment is imminent. She was with INDOT meeting on American Structurepointe’s presentation on Bellevue and I-275. Kraus said- it’s not just roads- it’s electricity, sewer and utilities. [NOTE: And telecommunications and tech services.] Helms talked about the old maps showing the future of this county area and roads. Randall said that St. Leon will grow too- and we are continuing dialogs there. 

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICER’S REPORT- Randall had already discussed her part. 

ATTORNEY’S REPORT- EDI Dissolution money- Ewan said that the funds get split between DCRC and the Chamber $9707.15 is our 50% share. The board motioned to accept the money and then to put it towards the $10,000 to join REDI.The balance will come out of Fund 4931 operating expenses. Randall said the timing of that was quite nice. 

OTHER BUSINESS- none

ADJOURNMENT -Meeting adjourned at 9:35AM 

Christine Brauer Mueller

Lawrenceburg Township