ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
OF WAYNE COUNTY, INDIANA
Board Meeting Minutes
Monday, August 5, 2019
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:Frame, Golden, Leisure, Parker, Templin, Turner, Warner, Zaleski

BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:

Bolser, Salazar, Yaeger

STAFF PRESENT:

Shaffer, Doty, Mitchell

GUESTS PRESENT:

Crist, Dewayne – Indiana American Water
McClain, Brenda – Western Wayne NewsSowers, Geoge – EDC Attorney
Thurlow, Kim – Ivy Tech
Truitt, Jason – Palladium-Item
Turner, Gary – Richmond Common Council

I. CALL TO ORDER
Board Chair Robert Warner called the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Economic Development
Corporation of Wayne County, Indiana to order at 4:01 p.m. on Monday, August 5, 2019 in the EDC board room.
II. APROVAL OF MINUTES
Warner stated the minutes from the June 10th, 2019 board meeting were on pages 2 - 4. Motion to approve June
10thminutes as presented by Leisure, second by Zaleski. Motion carried.
III. TREASURER’S REPORT
June and July 2019 Financial Reports
Templin provided the treasury report. For the month of July he reported the EDC was under budget $5,337.16
MTD and under budget $67,149.73 YTD. Templin reported there were three payrolls in July. The EDC also received
a credit from the state for travel and assistance with promoting the state of $6,000. Advertising & PR remains
significantly under budget but projects are coming soon. Motion by Frame, second by Parker to approve the Juneand July 2019 financials as presented. Motion carried.
IV. COMMITTEE REPORTS
A. Executive Committee – Warner reported the executive committee met on June 27th and August 1st. Main
topics included updates on Western Wayne Regional Sewer District (WWRSD), industrial expansion andwork being done regarding the Elder Beerman building through RQAW.
B. Industrial Park Committee – Mitchell reported the committee met and continues to discuss MIP Phase I
planning, and WWRSD. The Phase 1 environmental site assessment conducted in Phase I of MIP is complete
and no further action is required, moving forward with geo-technical studies. Work continues on wetland
mitigation on lots 2,5,6 and 7.
C. Marketing and Communication Committee – Doty reported the committee met and discussed proposals
received from DCI regarding talent recruitment and retention efforts. The committee requested references
be checked for DCI. Those have been completed and came back very positive. The committee will meet inAugust but changed the date to the 15th when Ashley Sieb of Ashley Sieb Marketing can address the group.

V. EDC STAFF REPORTS
Doty – Doty reported work is moving forward on the whywaynecounty.com website including updates by IronGate
Creative as well as data updates. Doty also checked links on the website to make sure they’re still functioning.
Also working with photographer Joshua Smith to build quality of life library for use in ads, social media and onwebsites. Working with Ashley Sieb on a potential proposal. Conducted DCI reference checks per the Marketing
and Communication Committee’s request.
Mitchell – Mitchell reported she coordinated with the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce and Forward
Wayne County and representatives from Wayne County schools to talk about programs being offered forworkforce development. She worked on two housing projects – Fairview project looking at building 6 homes andthe former Nicholson project as well as scattered housing. She worked on WorkKeys testing plans for fall. She
reported she has 8 employers participating in Find a Job Fridays at the schools. Under Business Retention andExpansion she worked with interested parties looking to develop a transloading facility in Richmond. Went on 13
BRE visits and working with 5 expansion projects.
Shaffer – Shaffer reported for June and July there were 4 new attraction projects. Project Catch, the Japanese
investment project that came for a site visit is temporarily on hold. The company doesn’t feel the sales volume ishigh enough yet to make a U.S. site decision. Shaffer reported she is confident we will remain on the short list.
Shaffer provided an update on Opportunity Zones saying they are getting into discussions about potential usesof properties in the Zone. The Thomas P. Miller team will make another visit to Richmond. The expectation is theproject will be wrapped up by Labor Day. While the project time line is a little behind Shaffer reported she islearning from conferences that our community is still ahead of others. Shaffer reported the county entered acontract with RQAW to perform a reuse study on the former Elder Beerman building. As part of the work theconsulting firm will provide a third-party report on the condition of the building. Shaffer said they know thebuilding is in good shape but a third-party will add credibility. Shaffer reported the Wage and Benefit Survey
conducted by IBRC took longer than expected by the results were finally compiled and released. The study has
been distributed to local businesses. 139 companies in 10 counties responded to the survey. Shaffer reported
that options were secured on 320 acres. The county has a two-year option on 160 acres of land on both sides ofRound Barn Road. The EDC can exercise the option on each 160 parcel or the entire 320 acres. Work on due
diligence on the property will begin as well as discussions with utility providers. Discussions will also occur
between elected officials to discuss a purchase strategy in the event a buyer does not materialize in the twoyear timeframe. Shaffer reported the office manager position is still open. She will be conducting some phoneinterviews soon.
VI. OTHER BUSINESS
a. 21st Century Talent Regions
Shaffer reported the state has kicked off a new initiative as part of Governor Holcomb’s Next Level agenda. The
21st Century Talent Region designation aligns workforce development efforts of regions with the state. In Wayne
County we’re already working with Forward Wayne County on workforce development strategies which matchthe goals of the state’s initiative. The executive director of the Ball Francis Foundation reached out to Steve
Borchers at the Wayne County Foundation to see if they could partner. As a result economic development
directors, chamber directors, and representatives from foundations from 10 counties are forming a potential
region for the state’s designation. Shaffer asked the board for feedback on the EDC’s involvement. Participation
doesn’t require any funding, just time. While no funding is currently available from the state there is always apotential funding could be provided further down the line. The consensus of the board was to go ahead andparticipate and see how it goes. Motion by Parker to join the 21st Century Talent regional effort as part of theGovernor’s Next Level program and support Valerie in the endeavor. Second by Frame. Motion carried.

b. 2020 Budget Draft
Shaffer shared a draft of the 2020 budget and reported she had attended a preliminary workshop with Wayne
County Council to present the draft. So far no concerns about the budget have been communicated. The draft isnot final as some costs will change with the hiring of a new person in the office manager position. There is an extra
pay period in 2020 that needs to be accounted for. Shaffer also reported she moved $4,000 from the officemanager salary to allow for outsourcing of accounting. Employee health insurance remained the same as 2018 inanticipation of new hire. Contractual and Professional increased due to reports needed for new industrial parkland. Travel, Lodging and Meals went from $20,000 to $22,000 but with state’s reimbursement program could go
down. Advertising and PR remained the same. The vehicle lease expires so a new lease will need to be enteredinto so that cost could change. Public Education and Training was reduced from $30,000 to $10,000. Still using
AT&T grant money to pay for high school ACT WorkKeys testing, funding is also available from other grant sources.
If need to increase for an initiative can always request additional funding from Wayne County Council. Staff
training increased by $1,000. Other Contractual Services down to $12,000. Capital Outlays increased because willneed a new server in 2020. Overall budget increased by $4,414 over last year mostly due to the extra payroll. Thisis a .67% increase.

IX. ADJOURNMENT
Warner adjourned the meeting at 4:44 p.m.
NEXT BOARD MEETING – Monday, September 9, 2019
at EDC of Wayne County, Richmond, Indiana at 4:00 p.m.