Meramec Regional Planning Commission
Minutes
January 14, 2010
Call to Order
Chairman Laura Antolak called the January 14 meeting of the Meramec Regional Planning Commission to order at 7:30 p.m.
Welcome
The following individuals were welcomed to the meeting:
Mardy Leathers, president of the Cuba Chamber of Commerce;
Katy Disinger, office of Sen. Claire McCaskill;
Dan Engemann, office of Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer; and
Darren Lingle, office of Rep. Jo Ann Emerson
Consent Agenda
The following consent agenda items were presented for approval
a. Minutes (December)
c. Contracts
• Steelville Homes, Inc.
Permission was requested for MRPC’c chairman and/or executive director to enter into a contract to provide project management of Federal Home Loan Bank Affordable Housing Program Grant for Steelville Homes, Inc.• Autumn Age Homes
Permission was requested for MRPC’s chairman and/or executive director to enter into a contract to provide project management of a Federal Home Loan Bank Affordable Housing Program grant for Autumn Age Homes• Greater St. Clair Homes
Permission was requested for MRPC’s chairman and/or executive director to enter into a contract to provide project management of a Federal Home Loan Bank Affordable Housing Program grant for Greater St. Clair Homes.• Arcadia Valley Senior Citizens, Inc.
Permission was requested for MRPC’s chairman and/or executive director to enter into a contract to provide project management of a Federal Home Loan Bank Affordable Housing Program grant for Arcadia Valley Senior Citizen, Inc.• Leasburg Senior Citizen Homes, Inc.
Permission was requested for MRPC’s chairman and/or executive director to enter into a contract to provide project management for a USDA MRR Loan Renovation Project for Leasburg Senior Citizen Homes, Inc.
• Lake of the Ozarks Council of Local Governments (Addendum)
Permission was requested for MRPC’s chairman and/or executive director to sign an addendum to its contract with the Lake of the Ozarks Council of Local Governments, which changes the scope of work and extends the contract date to June 30, 2010.• Pulaski County Sewer District #1
Permission was requested for MRPC’s chairman/and or executive director to enter into a contract to provide technical assistance for a USDA Environmental Review for a sewer extension along Highway 28 for the Pulaski County Sewer District # 1.• Pulaski County Sewer District #1
Permission was requested for MRPC’s chairman and/or executive director to enter into a contract to provide technical assistance for a USDA Environmental Review for Stoney Gap for the Pulaski County Sewer District # 1.
(additions)
• City of Waynesville Police Department
Permission was requested for MRPC’s chairman and/or executive director to enter into a contract to provide technical assistance in the preparation of a State Farm Safe Neighbors grant application for the city of Waynesville Police Department.• Mid America Bank
Permission was requested for MRPC’s chairman and/or executive director to enter into a contract to provide SBA 7(a) loan packaging services for Mid America Bank of Belle on behalf of Missouri Specialty Foods, L.L.C.• Phelps County Public Water Supply District #4
Permission was requested for MRPC’s chairman and/or executive director to enter into a contract to provide administration, dispatch and fiscal services to the Phelps County Public Water Supply District #4 for calendar year 2010.• Boonslick RPC
Permission was requested for MRPC’s chairman and/or executive director to enter into a contract with Boonslick RPC to provide work on a 604b grant project to complete a statewide assessment of waste water treatment facilities. MRPC will be gathering data for waste water treatment facilities in the Meramec Region and providing that information to Boonslick RPC, who will complete a report for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.• MACOG
Permission was requested for MRPC’s chairman and/or executive director to enter into a contract with MACAG to assist in the development of a statewide hazard mitigation plan for electric cooperatives in the Meramec Region. This statewide project is being coordinated by MACOG. MRPC will be responsible for gathering information on four to five cooperatives in our area.• Maries-Phelps Health Department
Permission was requested for MRPC’s chairman and/or executive director to sign a contract with the Maries-Phelps Health Department to coordinate a shelter training for the Medical Reserve Corps in Rolla, Mo. The contract amount will be for $2,800 to $3,100. (The exact amount of funds available has not been established, )• Meramec Regional Development Corporation (MRDC) appointment
Nominations to the MRDC board, which oversees Small Business Administration and Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) loans, are made by the presiding commissioner of the affected county.
Phelps County Presiding Commissioner Randy Verkamp recommended the appointment of Eric Anderson of Phelps County to serve on the MRDC Board for the 2010 calendar year. This interim appointment is to replace Barry White of Phelps County while he fulfills duties he has been elected to for the Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce. Barry White will resume his position on the MRDC Board in January 2011.
There were no objections from the MRPC board, and the chairman appointed Mr. Anderson to the MRDC board.
• Region I HSOC Request to MRPC Board
Region I HSOC has $21,238.11 left over funds that they want to reallocate to purchase radios for the following entities: Sullivan Fire District, Crocker Police Department, Ozark Central Ambulance District, Red Cross and Maries County Emergency Management. MRPC board approval was requested to reallocate the HSOC funds as listed.
Mary Heywood made a motion to approve the consent agenda with the changes; seconded by Jim Decker. The motion carried.
Idea Exchange
Chairman Antolak reported that Ann Kutscher from Rep. Ike Skelton’s office called to report that she was ill and would not be at the meeting. She sent her regrets.
Katy Disinger, from Sen. Claire McCaskill’s office in Columbia, reported that the Senate is scheduled to go back into session on Jan. 19 and the members will probably talk about health care and Cap and Trade. Ms. Disinger added that Sen. McCaskill’s office is busy assisting individuals with social security benefits, medical needs and veterans benefits.
Darren Lingle, from Rep. Jo Ann Emerson’s Rolla office, complimented MRPC for providing great service to the region. He added that MRPC is a model organization in the state and country. He noted that Rep. Emerson is not sure how the health care issue will turn out, and that she was disappointed the talks were not put on C-Span. He stated that he believed that the senate is pulling back on the Cap and Trade Bill as it is so unpopular. He noted that Rep. Emerson’s office was seeing trends in businesses bringing their jobs back to the United States. Tacony is a good example of a company doing that. Mr. Lingle further noted that Rep. Emerson’s District office works with constituents on topics such as social security, national parks and forests and veterans benefits. He stated he is surprised that many veterans are not aware of services available to them.
Dan Engemann from Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer’s office in Washington, Mo. reported that it has been an interesting year in Congress. They have dealt with a lot of issues. Cap and Trade is one that the Washington, Mo. office received 80 calls opposed to it. He is a House Committee Member of Agriculture, Oversight and Government Reform and Small Business. Rep. Luetkemeyer does eight radio shows per month. He co-sponsored a bill to stop automatic pay raises for members of Congress and one to repeal the death tax. His office also provides casework to constituents on a variety of issues.
External Relations Committee
Russell Scheulen reported that the External Relations Committee reviewed the 2010 Federal Legislative priorities as identified by the board and made the following recommendations to the board for approval:
Transportation: 1 and 2;
Economic Development: first 3;
Health: 1
Energy: 1 & 2
Homeland Security: 1 & 2 combine and edit;
Education: 1
Local Government: top 2.
* T. R. Dudley had an editing change that Bonnie Prigge was going to incorporate in the final report.
Randy Verkamp made a motion to approve the federal legislative priorities; seconded by Jim Decker. The motion carried.
The committee reviewed the MRB Bylaws. No changes were recommended.
Mr. Scheulen also reported that the chairman, director and assistant director will be taking the state priorities as identified by the board on Feb. 2 to the state Capitol. MRPC is hosting a luncheon in the hall outside of Sen. Barnitz’s office for the region’s legislators. After lunch, they will visit the ones they missed. Board members interested in going are to contact the MRPC office.
Mr. Scheulen also reported that MRPC is hosting an all-day Strategic Planning Session on Feb. 16 at the Nelson Hart Community Building in the St. James Park. The purpose of the session is to assess and plan for the future of MRPC. This is an important meeting and all board members are encouraged to attend.
Operations Committee
Paul Smith, Operations Committee vice chairman, reported as follows:
Financials: Paul Smith made a motion to approve the MRPC/MRB financial statements and MRPC/MRDC-RLF & IRP program financial statements for the period ending December 31, 2009; seconded by Randy Verkamp. The motion carried.
Audit: John Petersen made a motion to approve the MRPC/MRB/MREPC/RLF & IRP audit report for the period ending June 30, 2009; seconded by Kathy McCain. The motion carried. (The MRB portion of the audit will be approved at the MRB meeting, which follows the MRPC meeting.)
Personnel Policy Changes: Paul Smith made a motion to approve the addition of two job descriptions to MRPC’s Personnel Policies — 1) an Information Technology Specialist/Community Development Specialist, and 2) Part-time Information Technology Specialist; seconded by Randy Verkamp. The motion carried.
Revised Budget: The MRPC/MRB/MREPC/RLF & IRP Budget Revision for fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, was presented to the Operations Committee for review. Ms. Loughridge gave a detailed power point presentation of the revised budget. She noted that the revised budget supported a two percent across the board Cost of Living salary increase for MRPC’s employees. She also noted that fringe benefits were lower due to health insurance rates coming back lower for the 2010 year.
Paul Smith made a motion to approve the MRPC/MRB/MREPC/RLF & IRP Budget Revision for fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, and the MRPC/MRB lease agreements, which are a part of the budget. John Petersen seconded the motion. The motion carried.
* The MRB portion of the budget will be presented for approval at the MRB meeting, which meets immediately after the MRPC meeting.
Planning Committee
John Petersen reported on Planning Committee activities in the absence of Committee Chairman Dennis Wilson as follows:
• The committee reviewed federal priorities.
• Connie Willman updated the committee on the NADO Peer Learning Conference/RPO America and Office of Economic Adjustment Conference that she attended.
• Tammy Snodgrass and Connie Willman updated the committee on hazard mitigation plans.
Housing Advisory Board
Darrell Skiles reported on Housing Advisory Board activities as follows:
• Linda Loughridge presented the Dec. 31, 2009 financials. She informed the Advisory Board that there was no need for a budget revision at this time.
• Linda Hollandsworth reported on the Section 8 Homeownership closings to date. She added that eleven homes have been sold to housing participants.
Hazardous Materials Emergency Planning
In addition to the handout Tammy Snodgrass provided, Kraig Bone reported that the MREPC board is seeking additional people to serve on the committee, specifically representing state officials, local environmental organizations, hospitals, transportation, broadcast and print media, community groups and owner/operators of covered facilities. Anyone expressing interest, or any nominees will be submitted to their county commission for review and appointment to the MREPC.
Business Loans
Tom Klebba distributed the hand-out on business loans. He stated that he nothing to add to the report.
MCEC & Grant Update
Connie Willman passed out reports on MCEC activities and a grant update.
Workforce Development
T.R. Dudley said he would report on workforce activities at the February board meeting.
Chairman’s Report
Laura Antolak reported that MRPC is hosting a one-day Strategic Planning Session on Feb. 16 at the Nelson Hart Community Building in St. James. Board members and key leaders of MRPC’s affiliated organizations will be invited to attend. It has been ten years since MRPC has done a strategic plan, and she emphasized how important it is to attend.
Director’s Report
Richard Cavender added that executive directors David Warm from Mid America and Steve Etcher from Boonslick RPC will be the facilitators for the session and will discuss the future of regional planning commissions. The board will discuss what issues MRPC should address in the future and what strategies should be taken to address them. Mr. Cavender stated that the Strategic Planning Session is worth your time.
Richard Cavender reported that he attended an annual transportation meeting at Willow Springs. The main topic of discussion was the Highway Planning Bill. There is an opinion split between Congress and the Administration. Mr. Cavender added that he will report further on this after he returns from the upcoming NADO Washington Policy Conference.
Adjourn
Mary Heywood made a motion to adjourn at 8:30 p.m.; seconded by Russell Scheulen. The motion carried.
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Laura Antolak, Chairman
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Gary Brown, Secretary