HomeMy WebLinkAboutLaurel Development Corporation Minutes 01.08.2004 Laurel Development Corporation, Inc. (LDC)
Minutes of January 8, 2004 Meeting
Present: Kate Stevenson, President, Cai Cumin, Larry McCann, Bud Johnson, Mayor Ken Olson, John
Smith, and Judy Goldsby: also present: Rocky Smith and Cindy Henderson of Cyuroc, and John Johnson
of the USDA Rural Development and Katie Godfrey.
Rocky handed out an outline of what has happened during the past month with regard to his projects:
Cynroc has conducted interviews with 52 businesses, fielding about 7 phone calls per day from Laurel
businesses, and put 13 businesses into the Yellowstone County BEAR program. He further reported on
several projects: The Entertainment Park area has letters of intent to buy on lots 1 and 3,and has financing
solutions.
The USDA Rural Development has approved our request to begin the pre-application process. John
Johnson of the RCAC addressed the group with regard to his duties and capabilities to assist as a Rural
Development Specialists. John handed out an outline of the 523 Mutual Self-Help Housing Technical
Assistance Grant, as well as a copy of Laurel's grant application which has been approved. The outline
set out the activities and staffing required to organize and operate the self-help housing program. It
suggests a minimum staff of four to direct and maintain the agency: An Executive Director who will run
the agency, administer the program, and hire and supervise the staff. The Project Director, responsible for
day-to-day operations and assisting the executive director and supervise and evaluate the staff. The
Group Coordinator who is in charge of the pre-construction phase, recruitment and preparation, and
submission of the loan packets to the Rural Development county office. The coordinator also does most
of the family recruiting, usually, with help from other staffmembers, as well as public relations,
coordinating meeting and completing forms and reports. A bookkeeper who does all of the duties of an
independent office as well as maintaining records, financial reports, 502 family accounts, and reporting.
Finally a Construction Supervisor who will deal with the training and guiding of the participants in the
construction, assist in site selections, assist with meetings, prepare estimates of construction costs, work
with subcontractors, maintain field records, train the group, and supervise the projects. It was suggested
that a retired contractor would make a good supervisor. Mr. Johnson is located in Montana and will be
available to assist us.
Rocky and Dean Rankin went to Powell to find out about the department store coop that went in to
occupy space left when a major retailer in Powell left. This was done for general information that may be
of use to the LDC and, specifically, to possibly address the soon-to-be vacant Ace Hardware space. This
coop was put together through donations and stock sales. It is very successful.
Rocky has the Chamber of Commerce website completed and is waiting on a login and password.
The discussion then went to the issue of a stoplight on SE 4th and lst Ave. South. The local business
owners have expressed a need for traffic control and Rocky is in the research stage of this project. Larry
McCann told the group about the street work and run-offwater issues that need to be addressed for that
street, and he will check into the options available to tie some of the work together to optimize funds. An
area Special Improvements District may be the best way to address all the issues involved. MDT will
have to be lobbied. Rocky is going to start mentioning the possibility of downtown businesses creating a
Business Improvement District (BID) when he talks to local businesses.
According to Rocky, there are a couple of parties interested in the Montana Territorial Meats building and
equipment, he will keep us advised.
Cai suggested the LDC look at the advantages to the City of Laurel of the LDC acquiring the elevator that
the City is obtaining the lease for from Dean Rankin. The lease site is critical to the City of future
widening of the underpass. The elevator is unsafe according to the City. Possible alternative methods of
tearing the elevator down and issues of liability, salvage, and replacement uses were discussed. Katie
Godfrey said that the Amish may come in and dismantle the buildings and salvage the materials. The
City would need a bond of some sort to insure insurance and performanc. Kate expressed a desire to see
if the buildings could be used as an information/outlet for area products. Something along the lines of
aMontana Wheats outlet that could showcase the local crops and perhaps sell the products---even some
sort of agricultural display showing how these prairie trademark grain elevators worked. Judy is going to
find the name of the individual that is dismantling the elevator in Bridger.
Meeting adjourned.
Judy Goldsby
Secretary/Treasurer