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Report to Nemaha County
Business Prospects RDA has continued to meet with the Nemaha County Co-op regarding the feed mill venture with Midwest Ag Services, LLC. We are seeking out various funding mechanisms. The mill will decide on a final site soon. I also explained the benefits of the Kansas Enterprise Zone and how cost-benefit analysis of tax abatements is calculated should abatements be an issue for the co-op. We have been in contact with various agencies regarding funding and grant opportunities. RDA is still working with Koch & Co. on the final stages of the tax abatement process. I have been in close contact with Thurman Miller, Nemaha County Appraiser, regarding the cost-benefit analysis. I arranged to meet Thurman on Wednesday, June 21 to complete the cost-benefit analysis. I have met with a new regional business that hopes to locate a new processing facility in our region. The facility could cost as much as $15 million. The plant could bring initially as many as 75 jobs. I am meeting with local and county officials to put together a proposal/incentive package that could land the firm in Brown or Nemaha County. I contacted a couple from Hiawatha with whom I spoke about a month ago. They are interested in opening a business just outside of the city limits. Other financial difficulties have temporarily set back the venture. I am continuing to provide information and answer questions for them. Local Government Relations John King, an engineer with Cohorst and Associates in Marysville, contacted RDA regarding sewer system funding. The City of Summerfield in Marshall County needs a citywide upgrade of its sewer system. Cohorst, who has been retained by the City, is interested in funding sources for such a project. I referred Mr. King to KDOC&H and USDA Rural Development. I plan to contact Marshall County to inquire about any services RDA can provide to their county. Marshall County currently has no economic development organization. I reviewed the Regional Solid Waste Management Plan for Brown and Nemaha Counties. The counties must complete a five-year review of the plan in 2001. RDA has processed the annual reviews. The five-year review is a more formal process with public hearings and a meeting of the full committee. RDA should be an integral part of the review. The City of Reserve hopes to install a sewer system in the city. Because Reserve’s LMI (low-to-moderate income) level is eligible by 1990 census data, RDA will actively pursue a CDBG grant and possibly USDA Rural Development grants to incorporate a sewer system into Reserve. I have been in contact with Galen Lay, an engineer for Bartlett and West Engineers, Inc. Years ago, Bartlett and West did a preliminary study for Reserve. I hope to expand the preliminary study into an engineer’s report if we can procure a grant through CDBG and/or USDA Rural Development. The preliminary report for Reserve was done in 1990. The City of Willis hopes to have some street work completed. RDA will check into available funding for them. Willis has also requested that RDA check into condemnation proceedings for residents who do comply with sanitary/pollution ordinances. I met with Brown County to discuss the five-year review of the Regional Solid Waste Plan. The review in 2001 will be more formal because the committee must be recalled for public hearings to address solid waste disposal concerns that have risen in the last five years. RDA has filed the annual reports each year and expects to play a major role in the five-year review. We also discussed funding for RDA. The commissioners will discuss the request along with other budget matters in the coming weeks. I spoke with Gayle Landoll, County Clerk of Marshall County, concerning the potential of RDA to work with Marshall County. She said that a tax option will be a measure in the general election in November. The additional revenues will be dedicated to economic development. She was unclear as to the dedication of these funds other than that Marshall County would use the funds for economic development. She was under the impression that the county commissioners would seek the possibility of forming an economic development organization. I hope to be placed on the agenda of the next Marshall County Commissioners meeting so that we can discuss the prospects of RDA expanding into the Marshall County. Currently, Marshall County dedicates a percentage of their ad valorem taxes to the City of Marysville to perform the economic development functions of the city and county. Miscellaneous/Public Relations I spoke at the Sabetha Kiwanis Club regarding the services that RDA delivers I met with Nancy Petty, Director of the Hiawatha Chamber of Commerce, regarding the household survey as part of the Bi-County Strategic Plan. She seemed interested in working with RDA to develop and share the survey among her constituents. Jonathan Wimer, Jackson County Economic Development Director, and I are working on the web site for the Northeast Kansas Coalition for Regional Economic Development (NEKCRED). I took part in an interview conducted by Monica Coverdale of the Sabetha Herald. RDA has received a few positive calls as a result of the interview. I attended the Hiawatha Business Appreciation Social on June 14. I attended the City of Sabetha Comprehensive Plan meeting on June 14. Respectfully submitted, Scott M. Huizenga, Executive Director |