(PHOTO BY JENNA FRISBY / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
NEW COMMITTEE FORMED … WEDCO Chairman Mari Ivan (left) opens the board meeting up on Tuesday morning as Jackie Schlachter Flores (middle) takes notes and Executive Director Ashley Epling (right) prepares to give several reports before the board.
By: Jenna Frisby
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jenna@thevillagereporter.com
The Williams County Economic Development Corporation (WEDCO) met for their regular scheduled meeting on Tuesday, July 30th in their conference room at 110 S Walnut St, Bryan.
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Mari Ivan at 8:00am.
In attendance were: Chairman Mari Ivan, Vice Chairman Craig Grieser, Second Vice Chairman Jason Rockey, Treasurer Beth Rediger, Secretary Pam Clark, Bryan Mayor Carrie Schlade, Chad Ordway, Jackie Schlachter Flores, Richard Shatzer, Ben Fiser, Anthony Burnett, Kent Liechty, Derek Schultz, Tracey Carter, Executive Director Ashley Epling and Administrative Assistant Jaclyn Herman.
Absent for the meeting were: Dawn Fitzcharles, Edgerton Mayor Bob Day, Edon Mayor Duane Thiel, Eric Brown, Josh Fritsch, Lew Hilkert, John Waterston and Robert Langford.
After roll call for the meeting Ivan asked that everyone take a few moments to look over their last meetings minutes and asked if there were any questions. With no questions in regards to the minutes, Schultz made a motion to approve the minutes from their June 4, 2024 meeting. His motion was seconded by Rediger and agreed upon by the rest of the board members.
Ivan then moved onto the next item on their agenda which detailed financial reports ending June 30, 2024.
Ivan asked Epling to further explain the report in detail. Epling reviewed their current financial position in detailing their current asset amounts which were provided in other documents.
She then explained that cash flow seemed to be in the red only because they had an item they had invoiced for which was $5,000 and would be coming in. So that was the reason for the offset.
She then quickly reviewed statement activity which included membership fees and reviewed current account balances.
With no questions presented to Epling over the financial reports Burnett made a motion to approve the financial reports which was seconded by Ordway with the rest of the board in agreement.
Epling then presented the Director’s Report which gave a brief update to the board on the outcome of their current strategic method and project updates.
For their strategic plan for marketing, they currently have seen success of 7.9% from their social media outreach networks. This inches them closer to the 10% goal they put forth at the beginning of their plan.
They continue to see that number rise with google reviews and membership levels increasing. In terms of project updates, they currently are looking to more leads for this avenue.
Ivan then went around opening up discussion for community reports. Rockey, Village Administrator for Montpelier, opened the discussion speaking on the Land Bank and Port Authorities current relationship and their efforts in applying for a new grant which would help fund the seven new duplex units going into Montpelier.
The duplexes would be two stories and sold as condominiums. This is part of the Welcome Home Ohio Project which has been ongoing. The total amount the Land Bank is asking for from the grant would be $3.5 million dollars which would accommodate the building costs for 14 units. The Port Authority will still continue building single family dwellings as well through the outcome of this project.
Bryan Mayor Carrie Schlade gave an update on how the town was just recognized as one of Ohio’s Top 5 Hometowns.
She attributed the award to those at the Bryan Area Foundation who applied for the award and followed the process through. She also announced that North American Stamping Company has announced that they will be closing their doors on September 1, 2024.
She hopes that the surrounding factories, even in neighboring towns, can reach out to their staff and offer them jobs in efforts to keep the staffing within the county.
Schultz, Bryan Municipal Utilities, spoke briefly about some parts that would be delivered in October for the water project that was started in S Lynn St back in June. Once those ordered pieces are delivered the project will be able to be completed.
Burnett, Village Administrator for Pioneer, provided information on their Cedar Street Project. He also mentioned that currently they have received $200,000 in funding towards their community’s splash pad.
Something that they and the residents look forward to having complete and get to enjoy. Burnett also informed the board that they would be having AMP Ohio building a new substation in Pioneer. The village’s old substation would be sold once everything is transferred over to AMP.
Ivan informed the board that LE Smith Company has sold to Cutting Edge out of Perrysburg, Ohio. This sale is not changing anything directly.
Rather, it is allowing for the company to expand their resources and circle the market together as they bring together talents and perspectives of different areas of the market. L.E. Smith Company will still be staying in Bryan and will continue investing in growth.
Schaffer Flores, Human Resources for Wieland Chase, gave a brief report informing the board that their current president, Devin Denner, would be retiring at the end of the year. Tom Christy is set to take Denner’s place and will begin his role on October 1, 2024.
Shatzer, Montpelier, gave the last community report, informing the board that National Night Out (NNO) will be Tuesday, August 6th.
The Montpelier Police Department will be hosting a special NNO event in front of their department on Empire Street from 4:00pm-7:00pm. The event will have a multitude of events for kids, as well as safety activities and free food and drinks.
Ivan then moved the agenda along to the discussion of some old business, presenting first the matter of insurance coverage.
Epling had previously sent out to all board members information on their insurance coverage and was looking for a motion to approve the new insurance coverage which would now also include computer fraud.
Mayor Schlade motioned for the approval with Schaffer seconding and the rest of the board in agreement.
Epling then covered the issue that had been discussed in prior meetings about their current banking. She did find out in comparisons to other local banks that there were better options for WEDCO as a corporation.
The best option at this point would be in moving their funds to Premier Bank as they would incorporate no fees, could access online banking, have positive pay, and be able to access several other programs which were not able to be offered to them at their current institution.
Rediger made a motion for the approval to change financial institutions to Premier Bank. Carter seconded that motion with the rest of the board in agreement.
Epling then reviewed the Bylaw Review Committee’s revisions. After Rockey’s several suggestions it was determined that the Bylaw Review Committee would meet again to cover all bases and ensure everything is read correctly before the board precedes on a decision.
The review committee is set to meet before the next board meeting so that the revisions can be looked over and action can be taken.
Ivan then discussed the only new business item they had for the meeting of designating a committee to develop a Board Manual which would include Onboarding steps.
Epling discussed the importance of this further and stated that it was really something that needed to happen and be done.
Schultz, Carter and Schlachter Flores all volunteered to be on the committee to work with Epling and give their suggestions towards a manual.
With no further business to discuss, Mayor Schlade motioned for the meeting to be adjourned, seconded by Fiser and the rest of the board in agreement.
The Williams County Economic Development Corporation will hold their next regular meeting on Tuesday, September 24, 2024 at 8:00am in their conference room at 110 S Walnut St, Bryan.
