BRUNSWICK AND GLYNN COUNTY
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
MINUTES – December 8, 2014
Chamber Large Board Room
11:30 AM
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
BRUCE DIXON
MEL BAXTER
CEDRIC KING
SUSAN EASTIN
MISSY NEU
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT
OTHERS PRESENT
CHUCK SCRAGG, STAFF
DAVE SMITH, STAFF
SHERRI PRUITT, STAFF
REES SUMERFORD, COUNSEL
ROD SAWALL, GICA
ROB BURR, GCAC
MAYOR CORNELL HARVEY, CITY OF BRUNSWICK
JULIE MARTIN, CITY COMMISSION
KEITH CRUSAN, ST. SIMONS BANK AND TRUST
PEGGY JOLLEY, GA POWER
JAN MELCHER, QUICK START
ALYCE THORNHILL, GA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
MONICA SMITH, CITIZEN
JULIAN SMITH, CITIZEN
RUSS MENTZER, CITIZEN
LINDSEY ADKISON, BRUNSWICK NEWS
I. CALL TO ORDER –Chairman Bruce Dixon
II. INVOCATION & WELCOME GUESTS – Dave Smith gave the invocation and Chairman Bruce Dixon welcomed Rob Burr of the Glynn County Airport Commission, Mayor Cornell Harvey, Peggy Jolley of Georgia Power, Jan Melcher of QuickStart, Alyce Thornhill of Georgia Department of Economic Development, City Commissioner Julie Martin, Keith Crusan of St. Simons Bank and Trust, Rod Sawall of GICA, Julian and Monica Smith, Russ Mentzer, and Lindsey Adkison of the Brunswick News.
III. PUBLIC COMMENT –Chairman Bruce Dixon invited public comments from the guests.
Alyce Thornhill with the Georgia Department of Economic Development reported on staff changes within the Department.
Jan Melcher with QuickStart announced staff changes within the Technical College System of Georgia. Peggy Jolley, with Georgia Power, commented on staff changes announced at the State level.
IV. GCAC
A. Glynn County Airport Commission Recommendation for Airport Commission Members – Rob Burr reported that there are four positions on the Airport Commission that are currently open or will become open on January 1, 2015. Commissioner Houseman’s term will expire and he is seeking re-appointment. Commissioner Combs and Riess terms will expire, and they will not seek re-appointment having moved out of the county. Commissioner Brunson will be ineligible to serve his remaining two year term when he assumes his position as a Glynn County Commissioner. The vacancies were advertised for a 30 day period and eight applications were deemed eligible. The Nominating Committee of the Airport Commission met and interviewed the candidates for the Airport Commission vacancies on Tuesday, October 14, 2014. On November 18th the Glynn County Airport Commission approve the following Nominating Committee’s recommendation for terms to be effective on January 1st, 2015:
• Bill Houseman be reappointed for a four year term
• Casey T. Lavin be selected for a four year term
• Misty Collins be selected for a four year term
• Alexander Suto be selected to fill Bill Brunson’s remaining two year term on the Airport Commission
The Airport Commission recommends that Bill Housemen, Misty Collins, Casey Lavin and Alexander Suto be appointed as new Airport Commission members as indicated above.
A MOTION was made by Mel Baxter, seconded by Cedric King and passed unanimously to approve the new Airport Commission members as presented.
B. Gulfstream Easement Request – Rob Burr reviewed the GCAC easement request with the Board and recommends approval.
A MOTION was made by Cedric King, seconded by Missy Neu and passed unanimously to approve the Gulfstream Easement Request as presented subject to review by Legal Counsel.
V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Approve Minutes for October 27, 2014
A MOTION was made by Missy Neu, seconded by Mel Baxter and passed unanimously to approve the October 27, 2014 Meeting Minutes.
B. Approve Called Minutes for November 18, 2014
A MOTION was made by Susan Eastin, seconded by Cedric King and passed unanimously to approve the November 18, 2014 Called Meeting Minutes.
VI. FINANCIALS
A. Approve Financials – November 2014 – Mr. Smith reviewed the November 2014 preliminary financial statements, as the final statements have not been completed. He reported that the cash portion of the balance sheet reflects the on-going drawdown of funds from the Gulfstream loan proceeds as construction of the new MRO Hangar continues. All other revenues and expenditures to date this year are typical and near budgeted levels. The Share-the-Future fund balance at the end of November was approximately $529,000. Dave Smith reported that the final financials will be available in the next week, and can be approved at the next meeting.
VII. DIRECTOR’S REPORT
A. New Business Recruitment – Chuck Scragg reported on the business recruitment and will keep the Board apprised of the progress.
B. Retention and Expansion Update – John Scott updated the Board on the progress of retention and expansion with current businesses with the final Industry Appreciation tour help at MAP International.
C. SEGaJDA Report –
Chuck Scragg reported on the 10th Anniversary of SEGaJDA celebration held in Atlanta and informed the Board that the Authority sponsored the Georgia Economic Development Association luncheon. The SEGaJDA will also be in full partner with the Savannah World Trade Center for International business.
VIII. OLD BUSINESS
A. Report on Airport Bonds – Chuck Scragg reported that the County Commissioners approved and authorized Commission Chairman Michael Browning to execute an agreement between Glynn County and the Brunswick and Glynn County Development Authority to issue revenue bonds not to exceed $10 million.
B. Darden Agreement Termination – Chairman Bruce Dixon reported that the agreement termination has been concluded between Darden and the Authority effective January 1, 2015.
IX. NEW BUSINESS
A. Appoint Mel Baxter to SEGaJDA Board – Chairman Bruce Dixon reported that Chuck Scragg’s will be stepping down from the SEGaJDA board due to his departe and recommends Mel Baxter be the representative for the Authority.
A MOTION was made by Cedric King, seconded by Susan Eastin and passed unanimously to approve the appointment of Mel Baxter to the SEGaJDA Board beginning January 2015. Mel Baxter abstained from the vote.
X. CHAIRMAN’S ITEMS
A. Mel Baxter Resignation from Board Effective 12-31-14 – Chairman Bruce Dixon accepted Mel Baxter’s resignation from the board effective 12/31/14.
B. Board Vacancy Nomination Process – Chairman Bruce Dixon reviewed the Board vacancy process with the board. The ad will start on Monday, December 15, 2014.
Rod Sawall updated the board on Golden Isles Career Academy events.
Rees M. Sumerford stated that American Development Properties, L L C, (ADP) had entered into a sales contract with Lindstrom RE, LLC (Lindstrom) for the sale of real property at 2627 Sidney Lanier Drive, Brunswick, Georgia, where Titan Fasteners operates its business. Under the original agreement between the Authority, and Joseph R. Kuchar and Donna L. Kuchar (original owners of the property which was later transferred to ADP, which is owned by Joseph and Donna Kuchar) when the property was original purchased in 1989, as well as the Amended and Restated Protective Covenants for the Industrial Park, provides that the Authority has a right of first refusal or repurchase. Mr. Sumerford presented a Waiver of Right of First Refusal, Right of Repurchase and Estoppel for consideration by the Authority in connection with the sale to Lindstrom.
A MOTION was made to enter into said Waiver of Right of First Refusal, Right of Repurchase and Estoppel and authorize the officers of the Authority to sign said document, was made by Missy Neu, seconded by Cedric King and passed unanimously.
XI. IMPORTANT DATES
A. Development Authority Board Meeting – 11:30, Monday, January 27th, 2014
XII. LEGAL
A. Closed Session – Purchase and Sales of Real Estate, Personnel, Potential Litigation
A MOTION to go into Closed Session for the purpose of discussing the Purchase and Sale of Real Estate, Personnel and Potential Litigation was made by Cedric King, seconded by Susan Eastin and passed unanimously.
A MOTION to return to Open Session was made by Cedric King, seconded by Susan Eastin and passed unanimously. The Board invited guests to join the Board upon returning to Open Session.
A MOTION to change John Scott’s title from Project Manager to BRE Manager was made by Mel Baxter, seconded by Cedric King and passed unanimously.
A MOTION to approve Health Insurance for the staff subject to final review by the board was made by Cedric King, seconded by Susan Eastin and passed unanimously. Mel Baxter recused himself from the vote.
XIII. ADJOURN
A MOTION to adjourn was made by Missy Neu, seconded by Cedric King and passed unanimously.
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Approved Board Meeting Submitted by:
Attachments may be viewed in the Minutes Book at the Brunswick and Glynn County Development Authority office at 1505 Richmond Street.