Minutes IDC meeting

Minutes of the Industrial Development Commission meeting held on Wednesday, September 30th, 2009 at city hall pursuant to notice duly given.

1. Meeting called to order at 8:00 a.m. by Chairperson Doeren.
2. Roll call: Dick Doeren, Joe Stiloski, Mike Trepanier, Howard Schaden, Vernon Panske and Ken DePouw. Excused: Wayne Bostwick. Also present: Jack Maas advisory member, Mayor Nerenhausen and Linda Belongia Administrator and as recording secretary.
3. Moved by Panske seconded by Stiloski to approve of the agenda as presented.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 6 ayes
4. Moved by Stiloski seconded by DePouw to accept and place on file as typed the minutes from the 8/26/09 meeting.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 6 ayes
5. No correspondence or public input
6. Chairperson Doeren stated the commission may vote to convene into Closed Session pursuant to notice duly given and as allowed by Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(e) for the following:
a. Consideration on a revolving fund loan to 09-02
b. RLF 05-02
Moved by Stiloski seconded by Trepanier to convene into Closed Session at 8:03 a.m.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 6 ayes
Also included in the closed session were Mayor Nerenhausen and Jack Maas

Closed Session

7. Moved by Stiloski seconded by Trepanier to reconvene into Open Session at
8:29 a.m.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 6 ayes

8. Discussion/possible recommendation/action on:
a. No action in open session on RLF # 05-02.

b. Response Mayor received on letter sent to Oconto County; Maas questioned why the letter came from OCEDC and not Mr. Rymer…doesn’t agree with doing it that way; Mayor stated that’s how OCEDC operates; Doeren asked for discussion on how the IDC feels about participating and paying the $2,000 fee to get us on their website; Panske stated this is like dues; Maas stated we need more information…find out how the other communities that pay the fee feel…are they satisfied…receiving good results? Mayor stated he had a meeting with Kevin Hamann from the county, and was made aware that some of the county board commissioners feel that we are snubbing our nose at the county…not participating on the library fee…was even mentioned that some supervisors feel that the county should not be participating in funding for the airport, as it only benefits the City of Oconto…Bruce Mommaerts is part of Oconto County we need to be more cooperative and show that we support the county; Maas stated we are not snubbing Oconto County…we are looking out for the people who put us in office, we are not going to double tax our people; Mayor stated the county doesn’t look at it that way; Belongia questioned if the city participated with the $2,000 fee would we be able to stop paying the monthly administration fee on the Woodland loan? Belongia to report back on term of that loan, what the Dept of Commerce has to say about this adm fee and what other communities who are with OCEDC, how are they doing and what is the benefit they have seen; Doeren stated he thinks it’s Oconto Falls, Gillett and Suring;

Moved by Stiloski seconded by to table for further information.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 6 ayes

c. Discussion on available land for IDC both city owned and private; develop
a marketing plan; Trepanier stated we need to look at what we want to
target…before bringing in a marketing firm; Mayor stated we contacted all the property owners in the industrial park to see if they would sell some of the vacant property around them…only one was interested…in selling some property to the city…the bus company; Belongia informed commission that we can put available property with some details, etc on our website; Maas suggested we form a sub committee between the IDC and the Industrial Fund Inc to look at what we want to do…how to market the property; Doeren and Trepanier volunteered to represent IDC; Trepanier suggested we get some retail representation on this sub committee; Doeren referenced when he was on the Brazeau Ave ad hoc committee, some of the members had personal agendas…were there for themselves; Maas stated we can go to the industries we have…fin out what their capabilities are…how can we help them…build on what we already have; Doeren stated that is similar to what he had a couple of years ago…sent out letters, got surveys etc., will bring that information to the next meeting; encouraged the other IDC members to kick around some ideas and come with suggestions for the next meeting.

d. & e. Doeren stated he had a brief discussion with Jeff Belongia about how we could promote the IDC; Belongia’s response was included with the agenda for today’s meeting; Doeren stated maybe we can get a group to go meet with NEW North; find out if there are any seminars etc;

f. Electronic message boards; Doeren stated he has information on these types of message boards; Maas stated we need to find out who has these types of signs and what are the benefits; Trepanier stated he has one, 7’ x 38” on his station at Stiles…it was $27,000 and by the time he was done the cost amounted to $40,000; Maas stated we need to see if any businesses would have any interest in financially participating by advertising on a sign; Trepanier briefly explained to the commission how the sign worked and the benefits of such a sign; Doeren will get more information and report back;

g. Report from Alderperson Stiloski regarding the Up-North promotional information; Stiloski stated he spoke with Cindy Brezinski from Eagle River who stated that each town works through the Chamber of Commerce; last month Forest County went to a county wide Chamber of Commerce; these counties going at it a little different…also have started a Greater North, like our NEW North…this will be for tourism; Stiloski stated a good contact on the state level is Kit Sorenson…also the Governor’s Conference on Tourism in March; Stiloski stated he will report back with additional information; DePouw stated approx 20 years ago the city went to four sport shorts…received lots of inquires, Milwaukee show was 10 days long; Maas stated we did this on our own…need participants to help; DePouw stated if you’re going to run the business, you need to promote it; Trepanier stated tourism is the easiest “industry” to bring into this community;

h. Doeren stated he proposes the 2010 budget be same as 2009; Maas stated as the Finance chairperson this budget should come with a plan, breaking out how the money would be spent; Stiloski stated we should use the Green Bay sports shows, they are closer; DePouw stated sometimes are events are covered in the local papers and on TV…we’re close enough to get attention…going to Appleton, Oshkosh or Milwaukee areas…promoting the walleye tournaments we now have coming here; Maas agreed, we need to promote ourselves;

i. Belongia updated the commission on the Rasmussen property…county has started the year long process; Doeren stated he hasn’t heard anything from Steve Payant; Maas stated he received a call from Lomae Andersons…interested in having a movie theatre and arcade on the Kelly Pickle property; Stiloski stated a new strip mall is going up in Marinette by the Walgreen’s;

9. Doeren referenced email from Tom Fulton, advisory member to the IDC; Fulton cannot make Wednesday a.m. meetings…asked if commission member had any problem with moving meetings from Wed., to Thursday a.m.? Maas stated he feels Fulton is a good contributor to the IDC and is in favor of moving the meeting day;

Moved by Panske seconded by Stiloski to move the meeting day to Thursday and the next meeting will be 10/29/09.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 6 ayes

10. Moved by Stiloski seconded by Panske to adjourn. M/C
Meeting adjourned at 9:45 a.m.

Minutes submitted by
Linda M. Belongia, Administrator