COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION

OF THE STEUBENVILLE OHIO AREA

Meeting of the Board of Trustees – March 16, 2010

CALL TO ORDER   

President Kenneth Perkins called the meeting to order at 3:55 p.m.  The meeting was hosted by Jefferson County Joint Vocational School at that facility

ROLL CALL              Present:  President Ken Perkins; Vice-President David Skiviat; Treasurer Edward Florak; William Blake, Immediate Past President; Trustees Paul Prater, Robert Hargrave, Rob Gribben, Patrick Hyer, Kyle Brown, Steve Bohach, Bob Chapman, John Riley, Lisa Quattrochi, Jay Phillipone, Frank Bovina, Jon Rogers, Susan Hershey, Commissioner Tom Gentile, Councilman Tom Bottorf

Absent but represented:  Anthony Mougianis represented by Chrissy Taylor, Dr. Laura Meeks represented by Tracee Joltes

Absent:  Secretary Alex Marshall; Trustees B.J. Smith, Karen D’Anniballe, Ross Patten, Deborah Venci, Geary Bates, Joe Luckino, Joseph Glaub, Lou Petrozzi, David D’Anniballe, Richard Delatore, Jim Emmerling, Huberta Siciliano, Tom Timmons, Kristin Cantrell, Sevy Petras, Thomas Minor, Nick Cacciacario, Sam Shorac, Sheila Milic, Fred Brower, Derek Ferguson, Billy Petrella, Chuck Robinson, Don Snyder, Dave Hindman, Gary Folden, Commissioner Maple, Dr. Thomas Graham, Domenick Mucci, David Lalich, Ed Chanoski, John Geddis, Trustee Geno Morelli, Mayor John Abdalla, Mayor Dominic Chappano, Trustee Sam Grafton

Others in Attendance:  Anita Jackson and Larry Coleman, Kiwanis Club; Arnold Zierkes of NetRe$ult$; Paul Giannamore, Steubenville Herald-Star; Executive Director Ed Looman, Ruth Casey and Joanna Styczinski, Progress Alliance

INTRODUCTION OF MEETING HOST and HOST’S REMARKS

President Perkins announced that the regular order of business was suspended in order to permit JVS Superintendent Dale Edwards to welcome the Board of Trustees.  Mr. Edwards said that the Culinary Arts Dept. prepared the food for the meeting, and that the department runs a small restaurant within the facility.  Mr. Edwards said that the JVS offers career training in technical services with programs which prepare students for the workplace or for continuing education.  There are 16 programs available for students at JVS, including the welding program, multi-media design, and the CADD program, to name a few.  He said that when JCC purchased the AEP building, the CADD students worked with the architects on that project, and one of the JVS pre-engineering students went to Kansas City for a national competition and tied for first place.

The Criminal Justice courses offer training in dispatching, use of a shooting range, and training in electronics used by some local law enforcement agencies.  Students who complete the Health Technologies program receive certification as phlebotomists, aides and other medical positions.

Mr. Edwards said he is proud of how hard the JVS instructors work, and that they are currently recruiting students for next year.  He said that Dorothy Blaner is the official tour guide, and she would be pleased to show the facility to anyone interest in looking at the available programs.

The subdivision next door to the school was begun eight years ago, so the students could learn carpentry and construction skills on site rather than be transported to other locations.  The development is called Breezewood Manor and students are completing their sixth house, which will be sold at auction in May.  Mr. Edwards said students do almost all of the construction work, although plumbing is done by local plumbers.

The current enrollment at JVS is approximately 400; funding is based on a per-student basis, but JVS does receive some weighted funds which help pay for equipment.

President Perkins thanked Mr. Edwards for his most interesting talk, and thanked the Culinary Department for demonstrating its abilities with the outstanding buffet.

MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS

10-03-01          Following the board’s review of the minutes of the CIC meeting of February 16, Trustee Brown made a motion to accept the minutes as presented.  Trustee Riley seconded the motion; motion approved unanimously.

REPORTS OF TRUSTEES AND COMMITTEES

Fundraising Committee:  President Perkins, who chairs the committee, reported that the commit-tee has eighteen active prospects for membership.  The next meeting is scheduled for April 13 at 8:30 a.m. in the Progress Alliance conference room.  Mr. Perkins reminded those present that the Best of County dinner will be held on March 29 and asked that anyone who hasn’t done so RSVP.  He said attendance at the dinner by board members is important, as the dinner is a fund-raiser to replace marketing funds which were lost due to the discontinuation of the TANF grant.

REPORT OF TREASURER

Treasurer Ed Florak reported that he reviewed all reconciled bank account reports and the RLF records for the month of February.  He called the board’s attention to the balance sheet which was provided to each member in the meeting packets and said that, although the total balance indicated that the accounts hold approximately $456,000, it should be borne in mind that $258,000 of that balance is in grant funds which cannot be used for operations.  The accounts indicate that an actual amount of about $197,000 is available for use by Progress Alliance.  He said that Ms. Casey provides him with a copy of the operating account check register for expenditures each month which facilitates his review of the financial reports.

Mr. Florak said that the payroll is now being handled by D’Anniballe & Company, and that all payroll and payroll tax expenses will be paid through the payroll account.  He indicated that an in-depth report on the RLF will be made during executive session.

President Perkins commented that he is pleased that our payroll is now being handled by D’Anniballe & Company, saying that this is a good example of the CIC board working with its membership.  He commented that the Chamber of Commerce works only with member organi-zations.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Executive Director Ed Looman thanked Mr. Edwards and Dorothy Blaner for their efforts in hosting the meeting.  He commented that Mr. Edwards was a basketball superstar in Ohio schools. 

Mr. Looman said that the April CIC board of trustees meeting will be held at the Wal-Mart distribution center of S.R. 43, and will begin at 3:00 p.m. to allow for a tour of the facility at 4:00 p.m.  Although the tour is optional, he encouraged everyone to attend it as be believes they will find it very interesting.

Mr. Looman said that a couple months ago he had an initial discussion with Chamber President Sue Hershey about the possibility of a soccer tournament to be held at the Kiwanis fields near the Jefferson County Airpark.  He said that the tournament would be shot in the arm financially for the area.  Mr. Looman then introduced Arnold Zirkes of NetRe$ult$ to make a brief presentation about the tournament.

Mr. Zirkes said that he hopes the soccer tournament, to be held on Columbus Day weekend, will host many as 100 teams from a three-hour driving radius, and will bring in between $400,000 and $600,000 and possibly require 400 hotel rooms, which would have a positive impact on the area economy.  He said that he currently runs seven tournaments a year, and is preparing for a new one next week in Columbus which will host 112 teams.  Mr. Zirkes expressed his thanks to Mr. Looman and Ms. Hershey for their support of a tournament.  He said that this tournament will feature both boys’ and girls’ teams, with an age range of 8 through 18.  He said that although he plans to use the Jefferson County Kiwanis soccer club, he is looking for additional venues.  He is seeking sponsors and 75 to 100 volunteers per day to work at the tournament, and is also looking for assistance with parking, and items to put in “goody bags” to promote the area.  He is working with the Convention & Visitors Bureau to book blocks of hotel rooms.  Mr. Zirkes will be using e-mail blasts to provide information about the tournament.  He said that the theme of the tourna-ment is “competition, fun, teamwork.”

Mr. Looman thanked Mr. Zirkes and wished him great success with the soccer tournament.  He called upon Trustee Frank Bovina, SVRTA General Manager, to assist with providing transport-ation for the event.  The tournament will run from 8:00 a.m. until dark on Saturday, October 9, and on Sunday, October 10, from afternoon until early evening.  Trustee Tom Bottorf said that he fully endorses and welcomes the tournament, and expressed the community’s thanks to Dr. Desai and Kiwanis.

Mr. Looman said that he has been very busy preparing for the Best of County Annual Dinner, to be held on March 29 at St. Florian Hall in Wintersville.  He said he and his staff have been working with a great committee:  Lisa Quattrochi, Billy Petrella, Matt Parise and Sheila Milic.  He said that at this point they are closing in on 250 reservations, and he anticipates a great turnout.  He is currently lining up presenters for the BOC, President’s and Director’s awards.  There will be a special section in the Herald-Star on Sunday, March 28.  He especially thanked the event sponsors, and said that the dinner and the upcoming golf invitational are important fundraisers for marketing funds.

Mr. Looman said that the board, under new business, will be asked to vote on a resolution of support for the Columbus-Pittsburgh corridor.  Mr. Looman is co-chairman of the corridor committee; he said that everyone understands what the corridor expansion could do for our area.  The next committee meeting will be held on April 16 at Historic Fort Steuben in downtown Steubenville.  He is working with Students in Free Enterprise at Franciscan to draft a summary of economic development data which he has compiled about businesses along the proposed corridor such as number of employees, investment, and transportation issues, and current information received from governmental entities.

Last week, Mr. Looman and Ms. Casey attended a new quarterly Region 10 Economic Development professionals meeting in Dennison.  The meeting was put together by Lisa Duvall, Region 10 Governor’s representative and Mark Barbash, ODOD, who provided information about potential help regarding opportunities to speed up the process of financing businesses. The process of guiding projects along is tedious at times and can be frustrating, but the state is recognizing these difficulties at the local level and is trying to work with local economic development personnel.  Mr. Looman said that he is trying to get the next quarterly meeting held in Steubenville.

Mr. Looman said that in his report which the board received, he provided updates on several projects; all projects are existing businesses in Jefferson County looking to grow, with owners who have commitment and investment in the county, and are in various stages of development.  He has picked up more projects over and above the Hub work which he has been doing, and hopes to have an announcement some time in April.

Jefferson County has two winners in the “Big Idea” contest, and received the most applicants in the nine-county region.  One winner is from Mingo Junction and the other is a Steubenville resident; both will compete for regional prizes.  For all the entrants, Mr. Looman and Joe Belinsky, SBDC representative, will be conducting a work-shop to aid them with bringing their ideas to fruition.  On March 31, MCBI will host a dinner at EM-Media for all the winners in the nine counties. 

Mr. Looman updated the board on the 3-2-1 Jobs Initiative program, which is made possible through an EDA grant to the Voinovich School at Ohio University.  The slogan of the group is “3 counties, 2 states, 1 goal.”  The group is making a unified effort to create jobs, looking at various industries and preparing a strategy for growth along the Ohio River using our roads, highways and riverfront.

Mr. Looman reminded the board the April 1 is Census Day, asking everyone to complete their census forms and to encourage others to do so, and stating that it is vital that Jefferson County have an accurate count which includes everyone, as funding distribution is based on population.  He said that Franciscan University is getting its students counted as residents of Jefferson County.  Census forms are in the process of being mailed, and some county residents have already received them.

EXECUTIVE SESSION     

Trustee Florak requested that the board go into executive session for a report on the Revolving Loan Fund.

RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION

10-03-02          Following executive session, Trustee Riley made a motion to return to regular session.  Trustee Bottorf seconded the motion; motion approved unanimously.

REPORT OF PRESIDENT OR OTHER OFFICERS

President Perkins reminded everyone to make their reservations for the BOC, and said that the next project is the golf outing.  He also advised the board that there is a Trails and Greenways meeting tonight.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

There was no unfinished business to place before the board.

NEW BUSINESS

Under new business, the board considered two resolutions:

Resolution 2010-01    Semiannual Revolving Loan Fund Plan Certification 

10-03-03    Trustee David Skiviat made a motion to approve the resolution.  Trustee Tom Bottorf seconded the motion; motion approved unanimously.

Resolution 2010-02    To Support a Columbus to Pittsburgh Corridor

10-03-04          Trustee Brown made a motion to approve the resolution.  Trustee Phillipone seconded the motion; motion approved unanimously.

ADJOURNMENT

President Perkins declared the meeting adjourned at 4:34 p.m.

 ____________________

Kenneth R. Perkins, President                                                            Date

Community Improvement Corporation

   of the Steubenville, Ohio, Area

                                                                                  Minutes prepared by Ruth Casey