Meramec Regional Planning Commission
Minutes

May 13, 2010  

Call to Order
Chairman Laura Antolak called the May 13 meeting of the Meramec Regional Planning Commission to order at 7:30 p.m.

Introductions
The following individuals were welcomed to the meeting:

Dr. Joan Schuman: Mo. University of Science and Technology, Dept. of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering; Dixon Somerville, newly elected mayor of Owensville; Trisha O’Dell, newly elected mayor of Bland and Mardy Leathers, Cuba Chamber president.

Staff Introductions
Richard Cavender introduced MRPC’s three new staff members.

• Jessica Mattingly, Senior Secretary—is from the field of teaching. She previously worked as a paraprofessional at Lucy Worthem James Elementary School and taught at Visitation Inter-Parish School in Vienna for four years prior to coming to MRPC. She has a degree in business administration. Jessica is married to Rob Mattingly and has a daughter. They reside near St. James.

• Kevin Beaver, IT Specialist/Community Development Specialist—has 15 years of experience managing hotels. During those years, he was also the Information Technology person for the hotels. He is returning to school at Missouri University of Science and Technology, and will be pursuing a degree in Information Science and Technology with an emphasis on Enterprise Resource Planning.

• Connie Rasmussen, Bookkeeper—lives in Bland with her husband and daughter. She has worked in finance and banking for 25 years. She currently serves as the collector for the city of Bland, serves on several finance committees and serves as church treasurer for the First Baptist Church in Bland.

Consent Agenda
The following consent agenda items were presented for approval:

a. Minutes (April)

b. Statewide Grant Applications

c. Contracts

• Newburg Community Housing, Inc.
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 Federal Home Loan Bank-Des Moines Renovation Grant application for the Newburg Community Housing, Inc.

• MRPC/MRDC Contract Renewal for Professional Services
Permission was requested for MRPC’s chairman and/or executive director to sign a contract renewal for professional services between the Meramec Regional Planning Commission and the Meramec Regional Development Corporation for the purpose of providing administrative support for the Small Business Administration’s 504 loan program. The contract will renew for the period of July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2011.

• EDA/RLF Disaster Assistance Plan
Board approval was requested for the Revolving Loan Fund Disaster Assistance Plan, which was approved by EDA on April 22, 2010. The plan outlines the guidelines that will be followed to administer recapitalization of the RLF loan program in the amount of $375, 000 to be funded by the Disaster Assistance Program. Copies of the plan are available upon request.

• Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District (Addendum)
Permission was requested for MRPC’s chairman and/or executive director to sign an addendum to its contract with ORSWMD to provide the services described in this agreement for the period commencing July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011.

• Washington County PWSD #1
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 CDBG sewer grant application for Washington County PWSD #1.

Additions to Consent Agenda

• 401(a) Money Purchase Pension Plan Restatement
Permission was requested for MRPC’s chairman and/or executive director to sign a 401(a) Money Purchase Pension Plan Restatement as prepared by our third party administrator—Heartland Consultants. The plan restatement includes new language regarding highly compensated employees pursuant to Code Section 415 and the required qualified domestic relations order procedure pursuant to Code Section 414. The plan restatement brings us into compliance with the new IRS regulation and does not change the status of any MRPC employee.

• Boonslick RPC/MRPC Amendment #2
Permission was requested for MRPC’s chairman and/or executive director to sign amendment #2 to the Statewide 604(b) project contract between Boonslick RPC (client) and MRPC (consultant). The amendment adds additional communities to be surveyed and increases the lump sum payment for services to $19,900.

Paul Smith made a motion to approve the consent agenda with the additions; seconded by T.R. Dudley. The motion carried.

Presentation: Dr. Joan Schuman
Dr. Joan Schuman from Missouri University of Science and Technology talked about the University’s program to have engineering management students work with local government to address their needs and identify solutions. Dr. Schuman has taken over the classes formerly taught by Dr. Karl Burgher and is looking for communities to participate in this program. She noted that the best way to learn is by doing. Students work on real projects. The city can have no more than 19 projects. Smaller communities can be paired up with another small community to work with a team of students. After the projects are finished, those reports will be left with the city for future use.

T.R. Dudley noted that Potosi was able to secure tax credit and applied for a skate park grant using the engineering report from participating in the program.

John Tracy, Owensville city administrator, reported that the city is interested in a sports complex and would like to get on the docket for a class project.

Mr. Cavender reported that if a community is interested in participating in the program to let him know, and he will talk to that community to set up a preliminary visit.

Election of Officers & Appointment of At-Large Board Members
Russell Scheulen reported that the External Relations Committee met and recommended the following slate of officers for MRPC and certain at-large positions.

He added that all candidates have been contracted and are willing to serve if elected. Board members were given the opportunity to nominate someone from the floor. No nominations were received.

MRPC Officers

Chairman: Russell Scheulen, Osage Co.

Vice Chairman: Gary Brown, Dent Co.

Secretary: T.R. Dudley, Washington Co.

Treasurer: Mary Heywood, Crawford County

At-Large Board Members

People With Disabilities: Earl Brown

Labor: Nicholas French

Tourism: Marcus Maggard

Seniors: Franky Todd

At-Large Representative on Executive Board: Marcus Maggard

Russell Scheulen made a motion to approve the slate of officers and at-large members as recommended by the External Relations Committee; seconded by Gary Brown. The motion carried. The new officers will assume office at the June meeting.

Presentation: Richard Cavender, director
Richard Cavender gave a power point presentation on the Strategic Plan for Leadership Succession, which resulted from the board retreat held on Feb. 16, 2010. He highlighted the written report that was provided to the board at MRPC’s April meeting.

External Relations Committee
Russell Scheulen reported on External Relations Committee activities as follows:

• Developed a slate of officers for MRPC and MRB to present to the full board for election;

• Reviewed the two nominations for at-large position for labor. The committee recommended Nicholas French, who works at Purcell Tire Company, and was nominated by Leo Dickey. (The at-large for labor vote was included in the election of officers’ section)

• Legislative Update – The Spill bBll is not going anywhere, nothing is moving on Lincoln County and county per diem reduced from $22 per day to $19 per day to house prisoners.

• Census – Bonnie Prigge provided a sheet that listed the Census participation rate of the communities in the Meramec Region. The national participation rate was 72 percent and the region’s rate was 73 percent. The sheet gave percentage returns by county and by city.

• CFO Board – Russell Scheulen reported that in addition to the executive director, two board members must be appointed to the Meramec Regional Community Foundation board. Laura Antolak and Russell Scheulen volunteered to represent MRPC on the foundation board.

Gary Brown made a motion to appoint Russell Scheulen and Laura Antolak to the foundation board; seconded by Earl Brown. The motion carried.

• Joint Paper Purchase—MRPC is offering member cities and counties the opportunity to participate in its joint purchase program. Once a bid has been awarded, city/county clerks will be notified of the prices.

Operations Committee
Gary Brown reported on Operations Committee activities as follows:

• Reviewed draft budget for Fiscal Year 2010/2011.

• Financials: Gary Brown made a motion to approve the MRPC/MRB financial statements and MRPC/MRDC-RLF & IRP program financial statements for the period ended April 30, 2010; seconded by Paul Smith. The motion carried.

• Linda Loughridge reported that each year MRPC sets aside 1.5 percent of its operating funds for a reserve fund. Due to a tight budget, the committee recommended reducing that amount to .5 percent for the upcoming fiscal year only, and if the budget improves within the year, we could increase that amount.

Gary Brown made a motion to approve that recommendation; seconded by Bob Reed. The motion carried.

Planning Committee

• Connie Willman reported that staff is in the process of updating the Regional Transportation Plan, which is due to be submitted to MoDOT in June.

• Maria Kardon gave a report on the recent RPO meeting she attended in Pittsburg. She stated that MRPC has a better working relationship with MoDOT than other RPCs have with their state transportation department. She also noted that the budget crunch for state transportation departments is nationwide.

• Richard Cavender updated the committee on the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education P-20 Grant. MRPC and the Rolla Public Schools, at the request of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, has applied for a small grant to begin the process forming a P-20 committee to serve up to 15 counties in South Central Missouri. A webinar, featuring Bill Daggett, has been scheduled for May 26 from 10 to 3 p.m. at the Havener Center in Rolla.

Housing Advisory Board
Ron Jost reported on Housing Advisory Board activities as follows:

• Linda Loughridge presented the PHA financials for the month ended March 31, 2010, and the PHA 2010/2011 budget. Both were both approved by the PHA board.

• The PHA board elected new officers for the upcoming fiscal year—Ron Jost, chairman; Ed Worley, vice chairman; and Darrell Skiles, secretary.

• Linda Hollandsworth presented changes and additions to the Administrative Plan, which was approved by the board.

MREPC
Tammy Snodgrass distributed a written report in the absence of Kraig Bone.

Business Loans
In the absence of Tom Klebba, Connie Willman distributed a written loan report. She reported that MRDC’s matching funds subcommittee continues to seek donations from the region’s communities to generate funds in order to recapitalize MRDC’s existing revolving loan fund. She also passed out a flyer, which will be used as a marketing tool to distribute to area banks, civic organizations and individuals

Workforce Development
T.R. Dudley stated Workforce Development does not have a meeting until May 26, and he will report on that meeting at the next MRPC meeting. Mr. Dudley was pleased to announce that Red Wing Shoe Company received a $261,000 CDBG infrastructure grant for a company expansion. Red Wing is also bringing a line of shoes back from China to the Potosi location.

Chairman’s Report
Chairman Antolak reported that the executive committee met to review the executive director’s job performance. He is doing a great job and received a good evaluation. He received a Cost of Living raise. In lieu of a merit raise, Mr. Cavender donated that amount to establish an educational scholarship fund in his name.

Ms. Antolak thanked the MRPC board for the opportunity to serve as chairman of MRPC for two terms. A crystal gavel was presented to her by Russell Scheulen, chairman-elect, as a token of the board’s appreciation for her service.

Director’s Report
Mr. Cavender reported that he has resumed community visits. He visited Caledonia and Irondale on May 10 and Doolittle on May 12. He has two more communities to visit—the cities of Gasconade and Rosebud. He stated that these visits let him see firsthand what is going on in the communities.

Mr. Cavender also reported that the 2010 NADO Board of Directors Meeting will be held in Branson June 5-7. This is the second time that the NADO’s board meeting has been held at Branson and the first time it has made a repeat visit to a city.

Adjourn
At 8:40 p.m., Gary Brown made a motion to adjourn; seconded by Randy Verkamp. The motion carried.=

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Russell Scheulen, Chairman

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T.R. Dudley, Secretary