Staats approved to fill vacancy on WCEDC

 

December 13, 2020



Jack Staats was approved Tuesday to fill the vacancy on the Woods County Economic Development Committee (WCEDC). He will serve the remainder of the term left vacant when Allan Poe moved out of the county.

At the previous meeting in September, Poe’s resignation was announced. Usually the person leaving the committee names someone willing to fill that position. When Poe suggested Staats, there was a question about how many committee members were required to be from different areas of the county. Poe lived in Waynoka and worked in Alva. Staats is from Alva. The by-laws were checked, and it was determined Staats would be acceptable, so he was approved to join the committee.

Committee member Susan Bradford said that Charlene Bixler of Waynoka was willing to serve on the committee if the vacancy required a Waynoka resident. Committee members liked the suggestion and said they’d keep her in mind for any future vacancy.

Chairman Bo Hannaford conducted the meeting. Other committee members present were Bradford, Dr. Kay Decker and Jeremy Eaton. Absent were Matt Tucker and Randy McMurphy. Others attending were WCEDC Executive Director Neal Williams, former committee member Daren Slater and former WCEDC director Sonja Williams.

Financials

Neal Williams went over the financial information saying there hadn’t been much change other than a transfer of $29,590 from the Woods County Industrial Development Authority. Sonja Williams explained that financial information was being prepared for the annual audit, and she was assisting her husband Neal because he’s new to the job.

Sonja said WCEDC will be getting some rail car charge from Avard for the end of year and will also get some income for the administration of the business incubator at Waynoka. Hannaford asked if Neal is still working on some of the contributors who help fund the WCEDC. He explained that some pay quarterly so some of that will still be coming in. Neal said he has also worked with two businesses, OG&E and Pioneer Telephone, who are now back to making contributions. Sonja said a lot of that was change of policy. Neal said since he was “unknowledgeable” he just called and asked, found the right contacts and got things set up. Funds collected for the year so far total $37,924.

Explaining NWOEDA

“I don’t know how many of you, because this is a fairly new board, understand what NWOEDA is, Northwest Oklahoma Economic Development Authority. That’s a tri-county board. And they divided up their money and put it in three pools,” said Sonja Williams. She said the division occurred recently just as she was transitioning out of her role with the WCEDC.

NWOEDA only meets three times a year with the next meeting in February. At that time, the WCEDC will need to submit their approved budget and how much the committee wants to pull out of their portion of the NWOEDA funds. “Generally in the past we’ve asked for $20,000, and we use it for operations, and that’s what we have to tell them,” she said. “We provide them with a copy of our audit. We provide them with our approved budget, and we ask them for what we want for operations.”

She said NWOEDA used to divide what they had received that year in tipping fees and retain a portion of it to build on and divide the rest among the three counties. “You never knew if you were getting $12,000 or if you were getting $30,000.”

Now NWOEDA has divided it up and each county knows what they have banked. “You can ask for it for grants, if you need grants for something,” said Sonja. But the WCEDC depends on the $20,000 they ask for in operating money.

At a question from Decker, Sonja explained further that the three counties are Woods, Major and Woodward. The amounts are divided equally but the amounts banked are not equal because Major County has asked for more of their funds. Woodward has not asked for any money because of the way they are set up. Woodward does not want to abide by the open meeting laws so they are set up as a foundation.

“So are there funds for project grants?” asked Decker. Sonja said the Woods County balance is about $70,000 right now, and that would be lowered to $50,000 by the $20,000 request in February. She said it was advisable to leave about $20,000 in the banked account so that would leave about $30,000 for possible grants. “They do want to know what it will be used for. You need to plead your case that it will be used for economic development, job creation,” Sonja said.

Decker asked if project requests need to go through the WCEDC, and Sonja confirmed that. Decker said she has a Freedom West project she’d like to submit for a building in Alva on the north side of the square. It’s planned to house a restaurant space, entertainment space, maker space where the old furniture store was located. “There will be about 30 employees at that location, and we’re getting ready to start construction after the first of the year,” said Decker.

Goals and Objectives

With financial reports approved, the committee looked at a list of goals and objectives for the year. Hannaford sent out a questionnaire to committee members and compiled the list from responses.

Goals and objectives listed are:

• Create resource guide for marketing/site selections.

• Continue to work on telecommunications upgrades for county.

• Large scale job creation (manufacturing, agri-business, tourism, aviation).

• Expand, retain and support existing businesses.

• Work with and educate legislators on municipal government actions that affect our communities.

• Regional DOC training center (CLEET).

Director expectations for the fiscal year include attending city council meetings and meeting with chamber of commerce contacts, communicating relevant information to committee and relevant entities (city managers, etc.), and representing Woods County at professional development or state/city wide events.

Decker asked if there were any dates associated with the goals, and Hannaford said some were more ongoing rather than having a completion date. Decker suggested that Neal Williams focus on this list in making his reports to the committee.

Bradford made a motion to approve the list, seconded by Eaton, and it passed unanimously.

Website Discussion

Hannaford said he, Neal Williams and Slater sat in on a presentation by Golden Shovel about developing a website for WCEDC. The company has worked with entities in 29 states and Canada. Williams said it would be expensive, but he thinks it would be worth the cost.

The company develops websites geared toward industrial and economic development. Slater said it’s not just a chamber of commerce style site showing what the area is like for families who might move here. It also includes information regarding businesses, workforce and site availability.

In addition to designing the site, the company can also maintain and update the information. Committee members expressed interest and a desire to learn more about what the company offers. Decker said she had a lot of questions.

Golden Shovel sent more information which Williams will email to the committee members. A special meeting is planned for next Wednesday, Dec. 16, to give committee members the chance to talk with the Golden Shovel representative.

Williams presented his director’s report. He gave the same report at the Woods County Industrial Development Authority meeting, and that information is covered in a news story in the Friday, Dec. 11, Alva Review-Courier.

 

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