Forest Park/Fort Gillem Local Redevelopment Authority

Board of Directors Meeting

 

March 25, 2009

Minutes

 

 

A regular meeting of the Forest Park/Fort Gillem Local Redevelopment Authority was held on Wednesday, March 25, 2009, at the Forest Park City Hall, 745 Forest Parkway, Forest Park, GA 30297.

 

Board Members: Sparkle Adams; Corine Deyton; Donald Judson; Linda Lord; Maudie McCord; John Parker; and John Westervelt. 

 

Staff, Legal Counsel and Others: Fred Bryant, Executive Director; Frank Barton, OEA; Herb Wolverton, Fort Gillem BRAC Transition Coordinator; Cynthia Easley, DCA.

 

John Westervelt called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. It was determined that a quorum was present. The following matters were addressed:

 

Approval of Minutes:   Linda Lord made a motion to approve the minutes of  the  February 25, 2009 meeting, seconded by John Parker. The Board voted to approve the minutes, Corine Deyton abstaining. 

      

Chairman’s Announcements and Comments:

John Westervelt welcomed everyone to the meeting.  

 

Executive Director’s Update:

On Mar 12, 2009, Senate Bill 590, the Defense Communities Assistance Act, was submitted by Senators Snow and Pryor. If enacted, the Act would grant permanent authority to the military departments to do real property exchanges; to contract for municipal services; and, to provide no-cost EDCs as a preferred disposal tool.

 

The Economic Development Agency is soliciting grant requests under the $150 million American Recovery Act Program from communities experiencing chronic high unemployment and low per capita income. Applications are due by June 30, 2010.

 

Mike Comodeca and Fred met on Tuesday, March 10, 2009, to lay out the road ahead to prepare for negotiations with the Army. Mike will prepare an “issues” paper/agenda in late April. The LRA and City staff will meet with Mike in early May, and the LRA/City will meet with the Forest Park Development Partners in early June. Our goal is to speak with “one voice” when dealing with the Army.

   

                                                                                                                                               

      

 

 

Old Business:

 

Fred has again contacted Fort Gordon officials about scheduling a meeting to discuss access through the Army enclave and other issues.

 

Nothing new on the Programmatic Agreement between the Army and State Historic folks.

     

 

New Business:

On March 10th, Mayor Deyton, John Parker, Fred and the Clayton Delegation met with Carbon Motors reps to discuss their decision to no longer consider Forest Park for the Carbon Campus. That had been announced in a press release where Carbon identified five states (NC, SC, IN, MI, and GA) as finalist. GA cities being considered are Pooler and Braselton. Carbon is in the process of applying for additional financial assistance and must, within the next few months, identify a specific site on which development can begin. Fort Gillem is not available as soon as needed.

 

Fred, the Development Partners and the Matrix Team met on March 5th to discuss progress on the business plan and to refine the EDC parcel. Matrix has provided a draft of the site absorption rates and a cost breakdown by phase. That will be discussed in detail during tomorrow’s conference call. Matrix will return to Forest Park for another workshop on April 16th, and will brief the LRA Board at the regular meeting on April 22nd. That meeting may take 3 hours, so recommend beginning at 5:30PM. The final Business Plan will then be produced and submitted most likely in early May. Fred will seek an extension of the current OEA grant until June 30, 2009.  

                                    

The next regular meeting will be April 22, 2009, at 5:30 PM.

 

Open Discussion:

John Parker informed the Board that the Implementation LRA may want to consider adding a member of the Clayton County Board of Commissioners either to the Board or a Sub-Committee. John Westervelt directed this be added to the May agenda.

 

John Westervelt asked about the companies or organizations that have expressed an interest in locating on Fort Gillem. Fred advised those letters are on file and will be brought to the Forest Park Development Partners, LLC at the appropriate time.

 

Adjournment:

A motion was made by Sparkle Adams to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by John Parker.  The meeting was adjourned at 6:18 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

Recorded By:

 

Fred Bryant, Forest Park/Fort Gillem LRA

Executive Director

 

 

Approved:

 

April 22, 2009

 

 

Fred E. Bryant

Executive Director