1. Called
to Order: 7:34 PM
2. Roll
Call: Borgeson, Hackbarth (7:56), Koplitz, Laube, LePage,
Matkovich (8:04), Mauel, Mitchell, Reinke (8:00). Others present:
Janet Greschner
3. Approve
minutes from November 3, 2008 Board of Directors Meeting: A
Mitchell/Mauel motion and subsequent vote approved the minutes from
the November 3, 2008 Board of Directors meeting.
4. Approve
minutes from December 1, 2008 Board of Directors Meeting: A
Borgeson/Mauel motion and subsequent vote approved the minutes from
the December 1, 2008 Board of Directors meeting.
5. Treasurer’s
Report: Treasurer Koplitz gave the Treasurer’s Reports for
November and December. The November 30th checking account
balance was $4,373.33, with a Chamber Bucks account balance of
$396.32. The December 31st checking account balance was
$6,410.28, with a Chamber Bucks account balance of $596.66.
6. Liaison
Reports:
1. O-W
Development Corporation (Reinke):
President Laube reported that he was at the OWADC meeting and
had asked the organization if they would like to get involved in
the Agribusiness Park development and how (see New Business
below). Vice President Reinke reported OWADC is still putting
together a list of industrial and commercial spaces available in
O-W to be given to OWACC and OWADC members at the Annual
Businesspersons Gathering. OWACC board members reviewed and
offered suggestions for the letter and questionnaire OWADC is
sending out to local businessowners asking whether they have
vacant real estate available for leasing.
2. Owen
City Council/Downtown Revitalization Committee (LePage):
Owen has founded a Community Development Authority to help move
the Agribusiness Park along.
3. Withee
Village Board (Mitchell): Nothing
new to report.
4. United
Communities of Clark Co. (Mitchell):
Nothing new to report.
5. Hwy.
29 Partnership: Secretary LePage
reported the Partnership is looking for a 2009 Yellowstone Trail
Committee chairperson.
6. Clark
County Board/Economic Dev. Corp./Cmte. & Tourism:
Nothing new to report.
7.
Committee Reports
1. Newsletter
(LePage): Secretary LePage
reported that he was intending on getting the 2009 first quarter
newsletter out Wednesday, January 7. The board decided it might
be best to wait to send out the newsletter so that it can act as
a second/reminder mailing for the Annual Businesspersons
Gathering.
2. Communications
Center (Reinke): $570 of Chamber
Bucks sold. Four new calls came in November and December.
3. Website
(Mitchell): Nothing new to report.
4. Hwy.
29 Welcome signs on each side of O-W (Mauel):
Nothing new to report.
5. Advertising
& Promotions Committee (Luzinski):
Nothing new to report.
8. Approve
Wal-Mart grant paid to Highway 29 Community Partnership: A
Mauel/Mitchell motion and subsequent vote approved paying the $2,500
grant paid to the Highway 29 Community Partnership. This grant was
paid to OWACC as the Partnership is not yet a nonprofit organization
and could not receive the grant directly.
9. Approve
$177 OWACC listing in Yellow Pages: Board decided listing
was not worth $177. Agenda item fails for lack of motion.
10.
Discuss/approve
plans for Annual Businesspersons Dinner/Annual Meeting:
A Mauel/Mitchell motion and subsequent vote
approved a 50-50 split of costs with OWADC for the Annual
Businesspersons Dinner/OWACC Annual Meeting, the event will be held
at K & B’s Hayloft, with 6 PM drinks and 7 PM dinner. March 2 or 16
or February 18 were discussed as dates for the event, though OWADC
and the board generally favored Feb. 18. So far, no speaker has
been decided upon. At the event, election of the directors will take
place, with proxy ballots being sent out with invitations and in the
first quarter newsletter.
11.
New Business:
• Agribusiness Park was discussed. OWADC
would like to send out letters to those potentially interested in
contributing to the Innovation Center. Questions were raised about
who will own and manage building, as a nonprofit has to do so. The
board agreed that hopefully the owner/management entity will be
located within the region and the IC is very important as it acts as
a “magnet” to lure agribusiness to the Park. DOT owns the land where
IC is to sit. Army Corps. of Engineers manages land and is reviewing
this idea and its effects on the surrounding wetlands and
conservancy. A Mauel/Reinke motion and subsequent vote approved
drafting a letter to send to those interested in moving forward with
the IC.
• The board discussed sending Scott & Lori’s a
plant for their grand opening. Treasurer Koplitz will take care of
it.
12.
A Mauel/Borgeson
motion and subsequent vote adjourned the meeting at
8:55 PM.
FYIs: Next meeting is
February 2 at 7:30 PM at Withee Village Hall.
