Meramec Regional Planning Commission
Minutes
June 10, 2010
Call to Order
Vice Chairman Gary Brown called the June 10 meeting of the Meramec Regional Planning Commission to order at 7:30 p.m.
Consent Agenda
The following consent agenda items were presented for approval:
Minutes (May)
Statewide Grant Applications
Contracts
• Gasconade Valley Enterprise Zone
Permission was requested for MRPC’s chairman and/or executive director to sign a contract with the Gasconade Valley Enterprise Zone to continue providing technical assistance and fiscal services for July 1, 2010, to June 30, 2011.• Phelps County (Floodplain)
Permission was requested for MRPC’s chairman and/or executive director to renew its contract to provide floodplain services for Phelps County for the period July 1, 2010, to June 30, 2011.• Gasconade County Industrial Development Authority
Permission was requested for MRPC’s chairman and/or executive director to renew its contract to provide administration services to the Gasconade County IDA for the period July 1, 2010, to June 30, 2011.• MRC Recycling of Crystal City
Permission was requested for MRPC’s chairman and/or executive director to sign a contract with MRC Recycling of Crystal City to provide professional services for electronic waste collection and disposal contingent upon a satisfactory site visit to the facility.• Brown Heating and Cooling of Salem
Permission was requested for MRPC’s chairman and/or executive director to sign a contract with Brown Heating and Cooling of Salem to provide professional services for appliance refrigerant removal contingent upon receiving proof of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) equipment certification from the contractor.• Little Piney Productions, LLC
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 general grant application to rehab Sullivan House in Newburg for Little Piney Productions, LLC.• Region I HSOC Request to MRPC Board
The State Homeland Security Advisory Committee has approved Region I’s grant application. Region I HSOC hereby requests permission for MRPC’s board to approve its grant recommendations and authorizes the HSOC chairman and/or the MRPC executive director to issue grant awards and enter into grant agreements. (Attached is the list of projects Region I Homeland Security Oversight Committee has recommended for funding through the HSOC grant program.)• Village of Leasburg
Permission was requested for MRPC’s chairman and/or executive director to enter into a contract to provide technical assistance in the preparation of CDBG grant application for a water project for the Village of Leasburg.• Missouri Department of Corrections-Vocational Enterprises
Permission was requested for MRPC’s chairman and/or executive director to contract with the Missouri Department of Corrections-Vocational Enterprises to provide professional services for waste tire collection and disposal.• Helping Hand Outreach Center of Gasconade County
Permission was requested for MRPC’s chairman and/or executive director to enter into a contract to provide technical assistance in the preparation of The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) grant application for Helping Hand Outreach Center of Gasconade County.• Meramec Region Disaster Recovery Revolving Loan Fund Plan
MRPC board approval was requested for the Meramec Region Disaster Recovery Revolving Loan Fund Plan, which was established and approved by EDA on April 22, 2010. This plan coincides with MRPC’s recent grant application to recapitalize the existing RLF program for $375,000. The Disaster Recovery RLF program will benefit small businesses within the Meramec region affected by those designated disasters. A copy of the final plan is available upon request.• St. James Caring Center
Permission was requested for MRPC’s chairman and/or executive director to enter into a contract to provide technical assistance in the preparation of The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) grant application for the St. James Caring Center.• Lake of the Ozarks Council of Local Governments
Permission was requested for MRPC’s chairman and/or executive director to enter into a contract to provide technical assistance in the preparation of Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) application for LOCOLG.• Lake of the Ozarks Council of Local Governments
Permission was requested for MRPC’s chairman and/or executive director to enter into a technical assistance contract to perform lead-based paint risk assessment services for the MHDC HeRO program for LOCOLG.• Lake of the Ozarks Council of Local Governments
Permission was requested for MRPC’s chairman and/or executive director to enter into a technical assistance contract to perform housing inspection services for the MHDC HeRO program for LOCOLG.(Additions to consent agenda)
• Pollution Control Industries of East Chicago, Indiana
Permission was requested for MRPC’s chairman and/or executive director to enter into a contract with Pollution Control Industries of East Chicago, Indiana, to provide satellite HHW collection center servicing, which is contingent upon a satisfactory site visit to the facility.• Meramec Regional Development Corporation (MRDC)
Ed Worley, presiding commissioner of Crawford County, nominated Leonard Armstrong, mayor of Bourbon, to another three-year term on MRDC’s board effective July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2013.
There were no objections from the MRPC board, and the chairman reappointed Leonard Armstrong to the MRDC board.
• USDA Rural Development
The Meramec Regional Development Corporation (MRDC) requested permission to submit an application on behalf of MRPC to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development program for a second Intermediary Relending Program (IRP) loan. The current match available is $43,500, which would leverage a loan of $175,000. This would recapitalize the IRP fund with $218,500 for relending to small business.
Mary Heywood made a motion to approve the consent agenda with the additions; seconded by Kathy McCann. The motion carried.
Presentation by Lucia Flaim
Lucia Flaim, community development specialist for MRPC, updated the board on the status of the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing program (HPRP), which is being administered by employees of MRPC through MCEC for the region’s counties with the exception of Dent County, which is administered by South Central Ozark Council of Governments.
She stated that the program officially started in October 2009. The program was initially expected to last two years, however, nine months into the program, more than 75 percent of the allocation has been spent. It is now expected that the program’s allocation to this region will be fully expended within another six to nine months. If there is money remaining at the end of September 2010, the administrator will hold a meeting between the three provider agencies (MOCA, WCCP, and CMCA), the Phelps County Commission, and the county commissioners to evaluate whether a redistribution of remaining funds is necessary.
External Relation Committee
Ed Worley reported that the committee began annual dinner plans. Since the second Thursday in November is on Veterans Day, the committee recommended tentatively setting the date for Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2010. The committee also reviewed the Request for Proposals to Host MRPC’s annual dinner. No changes were made with the exception of changing the due date back to August 6. Plans are to have a silent auction again this year.
Bonnie Prigge updated the committee on the P-20 meeting, which was held on June 3. She also provided a handout from MACOG, Missouri Association of Counties and Missouri House of representatives on the results of bills at the end of the General Assembly.
Teri Smith reported that MRPC staff is in the process of creating an electronic format for the Transportation Advisory Committee newsletter.
Operations Committee
Linda Loughridge gave a powerpoint presentation of the MRPC/MRB budgets for fiscal year 2010-2011. She explained the budget process, which included fiscal year 2010 revenue estimates and expenses; major changes since June; changes by department; average employee compensation; department revenue and expenses; 2010 key investments and pass through dollars.
She noted that the budget supports a 1.5 Cost-of-Living raise for staff and up to 2 percent merit. The percent of merit is based on staff performance.
Budget: Randy Verkamp made a motion to approve the MRPC budget and the MRPC/MRB lease agreements for fiscal year beginning July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2011; seconded by Kathy McCann. The motion carried.
*The MRB board will vote on the MRB portion of the budget at the MRB meeting.
Financials: John Petersen made a motion to approve the MRPC/MRB financial statements and MRPC/MRDC-RLF & IRP program financial statements for the period ended May 31, 2010; seconded by Paul Smith. The motion carried.
Planning Committee
John Petersen reported that presentations were given on the Pulaski County Growth Alliance, PETRA Bill, ARRA and Environmental Reviews and Delta Regional Authority.
Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC)
Donald Dodd reported on TAC activities as follows:
• Heath Pickerill, Missouri-LTAP, presented information concerning the Federal Highway Administration’s new regulations for the standard for sign retroeflectivity.
• Donald Dodd made a motion to approve the updated Regional Transportation Plan, which is due to MoDOT at the end of June; seconded by Donald Claycomb. The motion carried.
• The TAC elected the following officers to another term: Co-chairman Donald Dodd, (District 9), Co-chairman Ron Jost, (District 5) and Secretary Richard Huse.
• Connie Willman discussed changes to the bylaws that were made at the last TAC meeting.
MREPC
Kraig Bone was absent from the meeting. Tammy Snodgrass distributed a written environmental report. She reminded board members that the Ozark Rivers full council will meet on June 29.
MRDC
A written report was distributed on MRDC activities.
Workforce Development
T. R. Dudley reported on unemployment statistics as follows:
—Washington County 13.6 percent (leads the state)
—Osage County 5.3 percent (shares 3 rd place with Boone County
—Pulaski County 5.9 percent
—Phelps County 6.2 percent
—Crawford County 9.3 percent
—Dent County 8.8 percent
Mr. Dudley added that over half of Washington County residents commute to the St. Louis area for employment.
Succession Committee
T.R. Dudley reported that the Succession Committee met at 3 p.m. to discuss a proposed change to Section 8.2 of MRPC’s bylaws, which addresses the process for replacing the executive director. This change will be brought back at the August meeting.
Director’s Report
Richard Cavender reminded the board that MRPC is hosting an elected officials workshop on June 23 at MRPC. Missouri Municipal League staff will be present to explain the rules and regulations of an elected official. Both new and veteran officials would benefit from the training. MML staff will brief the attendees on the requirements set forth in the Missouri Sunshine Law and will update them on the changes.
Mr. Cavender further reported that he attended NADO’s board of directors meeting, which was held in Branson June 5 -7. Kevin Keith from MoDOT and Paul Fennewald from Homeland Security were speakers. He stated that other NADO members were impressed with the partnership MRPC has with MoDOT. Our Homeland Security advisory committee was patterned after our TAC make up.
Mr. Cavender will be on vacation from June 17 through June 27.
Adjourn
Mary Heywood made a motion to adjourn at 8:25 p.m.; seconded by T. R. Dudley. The motion carried.
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Russell Scheulen, Chairman
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T.R. Dudley, Secretary