BRUNSWICK AND GLYNN COUNTY
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
MINUTES – February 23, 2015
Chamber Large Board Room
11:30 AM
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
BRUCE DIXON
CEDRIC KING
SUSAN EASTIN
MISSY NEU
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT
OTHERS PRESENT
MEL BAXTER, STAFF
DAVE SMITH, STAFF
JOHN SCOTT, STAFF
SHERRI PRUITT, STAFF
REES SUMERFORD, COUNSEL
HILLARY STRINGFELLOW, COUNSEL
JENNIFER FORDHAM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FIELD SERVICES REPRESENTATIVE
ROD SAWALL, GICA
ROB BURR, GCAC
JULIE MARTIN, CITY COMMISSIONER
BILL BRUNSON, GLYNN COUNTY COMMISSINER
DALE PROVENZANO, GLYNN COUNTY COMMISSIONER
BILL WEEKS, CITY MANAGER
AL MCKINNON, SOUTH COAST BANK
KEITH CRUSAN, ST. SIMONS BANK AND TRUST
JIM BISHOP, BISHOP LAW
MONICA SMITH, SIDNEY LANIER ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY TEAM
DAVID MANNING, MANNING AVIATION
BILL AUSTIN, URBAN RENEWAL
PAM SHIERLING, THE ISLANDER
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, Hillary Stringfellow of Gilbert Harrell, Jennifer Fordham of the Economic Development Field Services, County Commissioner Bill Brunson and Dale Provenzano, City Commissioners Julie Martin, City Manager Bill Weeks, Keith Crusan of St. Simons Bank and Trust, Rod Sawall of GICA, Al McKinnon of South Coast Bank, Jim Bishop of Bishop Law Firm, David Manning of Manning Aviation Monica Smith of SLEAT, Bill Austin of URA, Pam Shierling of the Islander and Lindsey Adkison of the Brunswick News.
III. PUBLIC COMMENT –Chairman Bruce Dixon invited public comments from the guests.
IV. GCAC
A. Approve the S&J SSI, LLC Lease Amendment No. 1 – McKinnon St. Simons Island Airport – Rob Burr reported that the GCAC and EDA approved the S&J SSI, LLC Hotel Lease subject to FAA review of the lease. FAA has reviewed the lease and recommended modifications. Based on the FAA’s comments, an amendment has been prepared which structurally adjust the lease while maintaining agreed upon provisions. Revisions include: Term was adjusted to reflect county lease term, investment credit explanation included as Exhibit E, Parking area added to the rental rate, construction Term was removed, and requirement for FAA review of construction documents added. This lease amendment is subject to FAA approval, further revisions of counsel made necessary by FAA comment, and the execution of the necessary FBO amendment. The GACG recommends approval of the Sublease Amendment No. 1 for S&J SSI, LLC Hotel Lease at the McKinnon St. Simons Island Airport to include the above terms.
A MOTION was made by Cedric King, seconded by Susan Eastin and passed unanimously to approve Sublease Amendment No. 1 for S&J SSI, LLC Hotel Lease at the McKinnon St. Simons Island Airport as presented.
B. Approve the Golden Isles Aviation FBO Lease No. 1 – McKinnon St. Simons Island Airport – Rob Burr reported that the S&J SSI, LLC Hotel – Terminal Complex Project will require an Amendment to the Golden Isles Aviation FBO Lease to include the construction of the Hotel. Golden Isles Aviation has additionally requested extension of terms to include two additional five year options. Approval subject to the further revision of legal counsel to effectuate the agreed upon terms and inclusion of the revised Exhibit “B”. Also, this amendment is contingent upon the amendment in connection with the hotel leased amendment that includes the terminal construction project. The GCAC recommends approval of the Golden Isles Aviation FBO Lease Amendment No. 1 to include the above terms.
A MOTION was made by Cedric King, seconded by Missy Neu and passed unanimously to approve the Golden Isles Aviation FBO Lease Amendment No. 1 to include the terms as presented.
V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Approve Minutes for January 26, 2015
A MOTION was made by Cedric King, seconded by Missy Neu and passed unanimously to approve the January 26, 2015 Meeting Minutes.
VI. FINANCIALS
A. Approve Financials – January 2015 – Dave Smith reviewed the January 2015 financial statements. Dave reported that the cash portion of the balance sheet reflected the on-going drawdown of funds from the Gulfstream loan proceeds as construction of the new MRO Hangar continues. The Gulfstream expansion project was approximately 70% completed as of 1/31/15 with a completion target of 6/15/15. He reported that bond fees from the FLETC bonds have been received. 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 January was just over $437,400.
A MOTION was made by Cedric King, seconded by Susan Eastin and passed unanimously to approve the January 2015 financials.
VII. DIRECTOR’S REPORT
A. New Business Recruitment – Mel Baxter reported that business recruitment and RFI’s have been a little sluggish this month and he will keep the Board apprised of the progress.
B. Business, Retention and Expansion (BRE) Update – John Scott
• BRE Committee –John Scott as the elected 2015 Committee Chairman for the Georgia Economic Development Association BRE Committee reported on attended and upcoming meetings with the BRE Committee.
• BRE 2015 Plan – John Scott reviewed the BRE 2015 plan with the Board. John Scott also reported that the Manufacturer of the Year annual event held in Atlanta will be in May and he will keep the Board apprised of the progress.
C. SEGA JDA Updates – Mel Baxter reported on upcoming events on behalf of the SEGA JDA. Mel Baxter reported that the Foreign German Committee is scheduled to visit the Mercedes Plant and Gulfstream on March 20th. Mel Baxter also reported that the Savannah World Trade Center will be bringing in a Foreign Consul group on March 26th hosted by Georgia Power. The Foreign Consul group will tour our Port, Mercedes plant and then to Jekyll Island for lunch and a tour of the historic district followed by the Turtle Center before returning to Savannah.
D. JWSC Strategic/Master Plan Meeting – Mel Baxter reported that he and Dave Smith attended a meeting for future infrastructure needs (for Sea Island, FLETC, Saint Simons Island, etc.) for the next 10-20 years. JWSC is currently looking a two acre site on the north end of Saint Simons to locate a well. More to come.
E. Airport Bonds – Mel Baxter reported that the airports bonds are moving forward and the next step is to have the energy side approved by the County. The bonds should be ready for signature in March or April 2015.
VIII. OLD BUSINESS
A. McGladrey Report – Mel Baxter reported that the Authority will be partnering with Georgia Power again for the Sixth Annual McGladrey. The Authority is looking at different ways to change up the itinerary to get more value for the money. More to come.
IX. NEW BUSINESS
No Items to Discuss
X. CHAIRMAN’S ITEMS
A. Carl Vinson EDA Training Class – Chairman Bruce Dixon reminded the Board of the upcoming Carl Vinson EDA training class to be held in Statesboro in March. Chairman Bruce Dixon encouraged all board members that could attend to let Sherri Pruitt know by the end of the week.
B. GICA Report – Rod Sawall updated the Board on the GICA Five Year Strategic Plan as well as other activities and events going on with GICA.
C. Board Application Updates – Vice Chairman Cedric King, appointed as the Chairman of the nominating committee for the board vacancy, reported that all nine prospects were interviewed for the position. Vice Chairman Cedric King said it was narrowed down to a second interview and the final decision was made to recommend Wayne Johnson for the position.
A MOTION was made by Cedric King, seconded by Susan Eastin and passed unanimously to submit the name of Wayne Johnson to the City Commission and the County Commission at one of their March meetings, for the adoption by said Commissions in a joint resolution of the appointment of Wayne Johnson to the Board of Governors of the Brunswick and Glynn County Development Authority to fill the unexpired term of Harold M. Baxter, Jr. (who resigned effective January 1, 2015), beginning on the date of his appointment and ending the later of July 31, 2016, or until his successor is appointed. Commissioner Brunson agreed to sponsor Wayne Johnson on the County’s behalf. Commissioner Julie Martin agreed to sponsor Wayne Johnson on the City’s behalf.
XI. IMPORTANT DATES
A. Development Authority Board Meeting – 11:30, Monday, March 23rd, 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 or Potential Litigation was made by Susan Eastin, seconded by Cedric King and passed unanimously.
A MOTION to return to Open Session was made by Susan Eastin, seconded by Missy Neu and passed unanimously. The Board invited guests to join the Board upon returning to Open Session.
B. Return to Open Session
Upon return to Open Session, it was stated that since last month’s meeting, Glynco Machine, Inc., had defaulted in its loan agreement and promissory note dated June 12, 2014, which loan was amended November 3, 2014, and action was taken by staff to further amend said loan agreement.
A MOTION was made by Missy Neu, seconded by Cedric King and passed unanimously to approve to ratify actions taken by staff in regard to the default of the loan of Glynco Machine, Inc., as presented.
XIII. ADJOURN
A MOTION to adjourn was made by Susan Eastin, seconded by Missy Neu 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.