President Louie Villella called the monthly meeting to order at 7:30a.m. at the Washburn County Economic Development Conference Room.

 

Present: Louie Villella, Rob Paine, Carol Dunn, Rob Lester, Greg Krantz, Chuck Jenkins, and Pete Paine.

 

Absent:  Lloyd Wallace, and Morris Gillett.

 

Others Present:  Margie Quinn, and Dick Hartmann

 

Concerned Citizens:  None

 

Rob Lester made a motion to approve the agenda, Rob Paine 2nd the motion.  M.C. by unanimous vote.

 

Approval of Meeting Minutes

Minutes of the previous meeting February 18, 2010 were circulated.  Rob Paine made a motion to approve the minutes.  Greg Krantz 2nd the motion.  M.C.  by unanimous vote.

 

Treasurer’s Report by Carol Dunn- Carol read the monthly Treasurer’s report and reported on the monthly bills.  The total expense for February/March was $8727.05 with a checking account balance of $26,611.48 and an additional $13,137.90 in the CD account to be used for ½ marketing expenses, ½ for business plan development, and 501 (c)(3) expenses to the IRS and Anderson Hager and Moe.   Total available funds are $39,749.38.  Treasurer Carol Dunn noted we have received the 1st qtr. subsidy from Washburn County. Marge Quinn has provided board members with a Treasurer Report, Rob Paine made a motion to approve Treasurer Report and pay bills, 2nd by Chuck Jenkins.   M.C. by unanimous vote.

 

UW Extension Report-by Beverly Stencel.  Beverly circulated information on Webinars that are being held in Washburn County regarding Revitalizing Wisconsin’s Downtown, Customer Service Workshop, and Building Communities Development in a difficult Economy.   Beverly stated there is a webinar being held by UW-Superior/Wisconsin on the First Steps to Starting Your Own Business at the Washburn County Economic Development office on March 24th at 5:30 p.m.  Mark Nutt from UW will be presenting this webinar.  Beverly stated she was from the understanding we stated on our 501C3 to show the Educational Outreach and to share costs of the Webinars. 

 

Members/Directors Comments:  None

 

Update on RBEG Grant-Dick Hartmann indicated he has revised the grant and is now been resubmitted in the amount of $60,000.00 for RLF.  Dick stated we should know by the end of March if the grant was approved or denied.  President Louie Villella stated if the grant is denied for some reason, he would like Dick to report to the board why it was denied. 

 

Update on Maintenance Reimbursement- Greg Krantz indicated Tourism and the Chamber have approved the additional funds EDC contributed to Maintenance fund should be reimbursed to WCEDC.  Dick Hartmann talked with Dick Fankhauser from the Rodeo Committee and Dick Fankhauser indicated the Rodeo was not in favor of reimbursing EDC.  Discussions were made by board members and agreed to drop this issue, although Dick Hartmann will draft a letter to Director Michelle Voight from Tourism and Director Aaron Arf from the Chamber thanking them for their support and effort on this, but unfortunately we will not be paying the Utilities from Jan.-Aug. 2009.

 

 

 

 

Director Report

Dick Hartmann gave Director Report.  Dick circulated the Directors report.  Dick reported he is working on two potential new businesses that may relocate to Washburn County,  both are manufacturers that combined would create as estimated of 30 to 40 new full-time employee. Dick asks Board Members for comments or questions.  Chuck Jenkins expressed his concerns on a loan request that he received a call concerning their loan and expressed the concerns on a follow up to this loan request. Dick Hartmann agreed to follow up on this loan request today.

 

Update on 501C3- Dick Hartmann stated the 501C3 is still pending, and now we have received a request for additional information by the IRS and indicated the IRS has to receive this information by March 29, 2010.   Dick stated he will set as a priority and complete the additional information the IRS is requesting and have in the mail by Monday or Tuesday. 

 

Update on Membership Letters- Dick stated he has sent all membership letters.  Chuck Jenkins has asked Director Dick Hartman to have the newsletter done in advance to send with the membership letters as done in the past to help safe postage costs.  Dick agreed to do so. 

 

Vice President Vacancy Assigned- Article V, Section 2, paragraph 3 of WCEDC By-Laws-Motion made by Louie Villella to have Rob Paine fill the vacancy/term for Vice President, 2nd by Rob Lester.   M.C. by unanimous vote.

 

Update on Incubator Regulations- Carol Dunn reported on this at the Incubator and stated the Incubators are in the City Limits, but at this time she did not have details on the regulations. 

 

Annual Meeting Discussions:   President Louie Villella stated the Annual Meeting is to be held in the Minong area this May and wanted suggestions on place and time for the meeting.    Chuck Jenkins made a motion to have the Annual Meeting at the Minong Village Hall on May 20th, at 4:00 p.m.    Rob Paine 2nd the motion.  M.C.  Pete Paine will schedule the Village Hall.  Members of WCEDC will be sent notice as well as posting the annual meeting notice at Local Banks, WCEDC Web Site, and WCEDC Office.

 

Office Organization:  President Louie Villella stated WCEDC has had a volunteer in the office to help with organizations and cleaning.  Louie stated we should compensate this person with a gift certificate to show our appreciation.  Board members made discussions with a decision to have Marge Quinn use her discretion on the amount of time spend in the office and compensate with a gift certificate.

 

Motion by Rob Paine,  second by Rob Lester to convene in closed session pursuant to 19.85 (1), C, WI statutes to discuss personnel issues of specific persons, which if discussed in public would likely to have a substantial adverse effect upon the reputation of any person, referred to in such data. M.C.

 

Margie Quinn properly took Roll Call:

 

Margie Quinn and Dick Hartmann were excused from closed session;

 

Motion by Carol Dunn to convene in open session pursuant to 19.85 (2), C, WI statutes, 2nd by Pete Paine.  M.C. by unanimous vote.

 

Discussions were made on yearly performance reviews for Dick and Marge will be done on a yearly basis by the WCEDC President and the Vice President.   WCIDA will be informed and any issues/concerns they may have with Dick or Marge should be address to WCEDC President and Vice President to be address to Dick and Marge at the time of their review.

 

Motion made by Carol Dunn to have all Employee/Personnel files kept off site.  Chuck Jenkins 2nd the motion.  M.C. by unanimous vote.

 

Rob Lester made a motion to adjourn, 2nd by Chuck Jenkins.  M.C. by unanimous vote.

 

Next Meeting–April 22, 2010- 7:30 a.m. (Monthly Meeting) at the Washburn County Economic Development located at 208 Vine Street – Spooner, WI 54801

Respectfully Submitted by,

                                                                                    Margie Quinn

 

 Draft until Board Members approve