GREATER EGYPT REGIONAL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION

(GREATER EGYPT)

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMMISSION

APRIL 12, 2016

The Regular meeting of the Commission convened on Tuesday, April 12, 2016, at 7:00 p.m. at Benton City Hall, Benton, Illinois.

Commission Members Present: Jason Ashmore, Cindy Humm, Steve Leek (Franklin County); Bill Alstat, Robert Hopkins, Julie Peterson (Jackson County); Steve Damron, Steve Draege (Jefferson County); Sam Robb (Perry County); Eric Pflanz (Du Quoin); Robert Spencer (Pinckneyville); Jim Marlo, Jeffery Robinson, Greg Smothers (Williamson County).

Commission Members Absent: Neil Hargis (Franklin County); Fred Krondritz (Benton); Cate Dinn (West Frankfort); Robert Clodi (Rend Lake Conservancy District); John Rendleman (Jackson County); Jeff Williams, Robert White (Jefferson County); Mary Ellen Bechtel (Mt. Vernon); Jim Epplin, Fred Kelly, Brian Otten (Perry County): Ron Ellis (Williamson County); Mark T. Krones (Carterville); Steve Miller (Herrin); Robert Butler (Marion).

Staff Present: Cary M. Minnis, Executive Director and Margie Mitchell, Program Director.

Others Present: Cindy Draege.

Call to Order

Ms. Peterson, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. It was determined that a quorum was physically present. The proceedings of the meeting were recorded.

Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Commission, Treasurer’s Report, and List of Bills

Motion was made by Mr. Robinson and seconded by Mr. Damron to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Commission of March 8 as received. All members present voted “AYE”. Motion carried.

Motion was made by Mr. Hopkins and seconded by Mr. Alstat accepting the Financial Report of March 31, 2016, as received. All members present voted “AYE”. Motion carried.

Motion made by Mr. Ashmore and seconded by Mr. Marlo authorizing the payment of expenditures over $500 on the List of Bills, bills including The i5 Group contractual payment, as distributed. All members present voted "AYE". Motion carried.

Old Business – Administrative

None

Old Business - Program

Staff Program Report to the Commission

Motion was made by Mr. Alstat and seconded by Mr. Ashmore accepting the March, 2016 Staff Program Report to the Commission as received. All members present voted “AYE”. Motion carried.

Water Quality Management Planning

Mr. Minnis noted the VLMP appreciation luncheon is April 14. The luncheon is to kick off the 2016 monitoring season and to recognize volunteers for their participation and years of service. Presentations will be made.

Staff is planning to host a conference on storm water management which is especially relevant in new urban areas because of the MS 4 requirements. Working with engineers on how the storm water management will impact the area. Will bring in different speakers to discuss Best Management Practices for storm water at the conference.

EDA

Mr. Minnis discussed information contained in the 2016 Annual CEDS Report. The Commission has to create a 5-year CEDS and update the report annually. Key Economic Indicators includes Sales Tax Receipts, which increased each year from 2007-2015; Hotel Receipts are going up; Equalized Assessed Value for the Region is increasing; building permit data was not available, they were estimated. The unemployment rate is down, as is the Illinois and national rates. Industry clusters are discussed. The population has been flat, lagging in population growth. The 24 years and under are declining, while US increased 5.3%; the 25-54 age group is 3.82 %, US average is 3.59% and population 55+ increased 16%. The per capita income stays stagnant; the poverty is picking up from 18.6% in 2007 to 20.9% in 2014. Also looked at education attainment and high school performance. The sheet that was distributed shows the labor force from 2007-2014 and indicates about 15,000 are no longer in the workforce, while unemployment rates are about the same. The population has increased slightly. Some may have retired, those 62 and over (5,600). Staff is trying to figure the where other 10,000 are. Need more investigation; there are job openings in the area, but not that many. Need to check if there was an increase in public aid. Need to get those people back to work. It was noted that some coal mines in the area have closed. Report also includes a strategy and an updated project list; completed projects were taken off the list. The Commission was asked to approve Resolution No. 1-4-2016, Adoption of the 2016 CEDS Update.

Motion was made by Mr. Robinson and seconded by Mr. Smothers to Approve Resolution No. 1-4-2016, Adoption of 2016 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Annual Update. All members present voted “AYE”. Motion carried.

Mr. Minnis noted that the Commission should be getting the invitation to apply for a 3-year EDA grant renewal soon.

Mr. Minnis said it appears that the Waltonville grant will not come to fruition. The requirements of the grant cannot be met and Waltonville will request the grant be terminated for convenience. Termination for convenience will not harm the Commission or the Village of Waltonville. The $1.9 million will not be invested in our Region and will be returned to EDA in DC.

DRA

The DRA 2016 funding cycle should be announced soon. The applications will require a participation agreement signed by a business that would benefit from the grant. There should be $700,000-$800,000 in funds available for normal program in Illinois. DRA received an additional $10 million and they are using the funds for infrastructure. Guidelines aren’t out yet. If anyone knows of any potential projects, advise staff. Last year Energy received a $325,000 grant to upgrade East College Street to the Village limits.

Transportation Planning

A public meeting was held in March to discuss the east-west corridors that staff has been analyzing. The corridor would be a supplemental route to route 13. After reviewing and analyzing data from each of the corridors (Herrin Road to Reed Station Road and Crenshaw Road), the Herrin Corridor seems to be a better option. This would be about a $15 million project to extend Herrin Road to Reed Station Road. Received favorable comments at the public meeting for the Herrin corridor. Also mentioned was extending the road to Route 51 at Airport Road, this would be a good connection. This hasn’t been studied to date.

Mr. Minnis requested Commission support for the City of Carbondale’s application for a TIGER grant to fund a multi-modal center to serve Amtrak and busses. Also received a request from the Evansville Western Railway, Inc (EVWR). The railway is also applying for a TIGER grant. The train operates from Okawville IL to Evansville, IN. The bridge over the Wabash River is out and needs repair. EVWR provides services to a number of customers on their route. This would give access to a class 1 Railway CSX. Kim Watson, DCEO, requested a letter of support.

Motion was made by Mr. Robb and seconded by Mr. Spencer that the Commission send a letter of support for the City of Carbondale and the Evansville Western Railway, Inc. regarding their TIGER grant applications. All members present voted “AYE”. Motion carried.

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Hazard Mitigation Grants

Mr. Minnis reported the Rend Lake Project was completed some time ago. Rend Lake requested that additional work be included, but FEMA did not approve the request. The Project will now be closed out.

Reed Station Road Project: all but two mobile homes have been purchased; there is a legal discussion of ownership that needs to be resolved. Then the clean-up and demolition of the property can be done.

The Multi-Hazard Mitigation plans for the five counties have been completed and are waiting to be adopted. The Counties have met their match.

West Frankfort Project: the contract for the relocation of the wastewater plant has been approved. Construction should start this month. This is a $9 million grant. About $5 million of materials will be purchased upfront.

New Business – Administrative

None

New Business – Program

None.

Adjournment

A motion was made by Mr. Leek and seconded by Mr. Alstat to adjourn the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 7:38 p.m.

Handouts

List of Bills

Labor Force Statistics from the CEDS Update

Letter from Evansville Western Railway, Inc. re Tiger Grant

Copies of all background documents furnished to the Commission in connection with this meeting are on file in the office of Greater Egypt, Marion, Illinois.

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