Story by Cary Griffin, Forney Messenger.

During a meeting last Thursday evening, members of the Board of Directors of the Forney Economic Development Corporation (EDC) held a public hearing on a proposed land purchase.

The public hearing was originally scheduled for May 28, 2009, but the EDC’s regular May meeting was moved to June 4 for lack of a quorum resulting from a conflict with Forney High School graduation, which took place May 28.

Purpose of the public hearing was to solicit public input regarding the project, which was specifically described as follows:
“The acquisition of a real property of 13 acres of land located on the west side of FM 548 between FM 1641 and FM 741 and within the city of Forney.”

The required 60-day notice of the public hearing was originally published April 2, 2009; however, no written or other public comments were received.

The public hearing was the first item on the agenda of the June 4 EDC meeting following consent items. There was one consent item to consider: the approval of the EDC minutes of a regular meeting held April 16. EDC directors approved the minutes as presented by unanimous “yes” vote on a motion made by director Jay Calvin and seconded by director Tyler Moore.

Moore made the motion to open the public hearing sometime around 6:40 p. m, with Calvin seconding and all directors voting in favor. Board president Bill Cates called for public comment as soon as the hearing was declared opened, but no one was present to speak to that topic. However, Bill Cates did read an e-mail sent to the EDC by a Dawn McNary, a member of Forney ISD’s DEIC, suggesting that the EDC consider options for putting a “wet zone” in Forney for use by student swimming athletes and other Forney and area residents. At approximately 8:47 p. m., director Matt Ferguson moved to close the public hearing, with Calvin seconding. All directors voted in favor.

The next portion of the June 4 EDC agenda was devoted to monthly reports. Interim board treasurer Meredith Briggs gave the treasurer’s report. Next came a lengthy report from EDC Executive Director Fran Owens recapping EDC activities since the board’s last regular meeting, which included the following:

A report on the second-quarter Eggs and Issues, hosted April 22 by the Best Western hotel in Forney. The informational mixer featured reports from District Judge Howart Tygrett, Mayor Darrell Grooms, and a presentation and tour of the new hotel facility by representatives of the Best Western management group.

A report on a meeting between Owens and Brian Murphy and Adam Schiller, formerly of Endeavor Real Estate who have united with six members of the former Staubach Group to Form Edge Realty. The new group, which has purchased all of the Dallas assets of Endeavor, is moving forward with Paul Cheng to develop Meadow Ridge Farms.

An overview of the 1st Quarter, 2009 report from Residential Strategies. The report consists of a detailed overview of the housing market for our area.

An overview of 2009 population reports received to date from Claritas.

A report on the annual CORENet Summit held April 26-29 at the Hotel Anatole. The EDC staff served as a co-chair of the state volunteer committee for the sponsoring organization, which is comprised of corporate real estate executives, developers, and economic development representatives.

A report on the Best Western hotel grand opening on April 30.

A report on the first annual Main Street Rabbit Trax, which took place in downtown Forney on May 2.

A report on the EDC staff’s attendance at ICSC 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada, between May 17 to May 20.

A report on marketing materials that will be used by the EDC for the remainder of the 2009 calendar year.

A report on the second-quarter Bankers Profit meeting, hosted by the EDC on May 27.

A report on the UTA downtown study in which Owens stated that the EDC was to receive an electronic version of the first draft of the report sometime during the week of May 7. Final documents and the printed report will be forwarded upon review and comment by the EDC staff and interested parties. The study is expected to form the basis of a request for proposal seeking private-sector interest in redeveloping all or portions of the Main Street Corridor and the First Baptist Church property located on South Bois d’Arc Street.

A report on recent meetings between the EDC staff and Becky Kuban, Capital Projects Manager for Cirrus Health. In those discussions, the EDC has learned that proposed changes in federal law are “prompting Cirrus Health to revisit the legal structure of the partnerships proposed in financing and operating of health care facilities.” Staff has recommended that Cirrus Health principals meet with the EDC and the City of Forney in order to further the two local entities’ understanding of their efforts.

A detailed overview of a compliance report recently sent to the EDC. The report is required by a U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Mitigation Monitoring Plan for the Forney Industrial Park. Staff has contacted the Steve Silver Company regarding the findings and has contacted Richard Cunningham regarding costs associated with fixing the erosion gully as indicated in the report.

A report on preparations being made for the second annual EDC board retreat, which will take place June 26-27 in Rockwall.

There were three discussion items on the June 4 agenda. The first item concerned a proposal by KBA Environmental Science Ltd. of Lewisville, Texas to perform a Phase 1 environmental site assessment for a 50-acre tract of land near Reeder Road as explained toward the end of the Executive Director’s report. The second item was a discussion regarding entering into a contractual agreement for the purpose of funding a labor work force study. The EDC committee that has been exploring this matter recommended June 4 that action on the matter be postponed because the committee is still gathering information. It will be placed on the agenda of the next regular EDC meeting for action.

The third and final discussion item concerned a request for consideration of the purchase of the Cirrus property in the wake of the public hearing that took place earlier in the meeting.

The only action item was to authorize the Executive Director to execute a check payable to Mustang Crossing LTD. for first quarter, 2009 sales tax abatement in an amount not to exceed $98,079.94. After a brief discussion, Ferguson moved to authorize the issuance of the check, with Calvin seconding. All directors voted in favor.

At approximately 7:50 p. m., board president Bill Cates asked for a motion to go into executive session to discuss three matters concerning real property: (1) Discussion of the appraised price and the asking price of the 13 acres that was the topic of the public hearing held earlier in the meeting and options for the location of the future Forney Regional Medical Center; (2) Discussion of a request that the EDC withdraw its partnership with Cirrus Health in the wake of proposed new federal regulations concerning the financing and operating of health care facilities and to accept back the $25,000.00 the EDC had put forward in support of Forney Regional Medical Center; and (3) Economic development negotiations with businesses wishing to expand in Forney.

EDC board president Bill Cates declared the board back in open session at 8:18 p. m. The only motion considered after the board returned to open session was to give the Executive Director the authority to dissolve the EDC’s partnership with Cirrus Health and to take back the $25,000.00 the EDC had invested in Forney Regional Medical Center. The motion was made by Calvin and seconded by Ferguson and all directors voted in favor.

The next regular meeting of the EDC board will take place on June 18. At that meeting, the agenda will include the election of new board officers as well as a proposal to enter into a contract for the funding of a labor work force study.
The June 4 meeting was adjourned at 8:28 p.m.

This story and any accompanying photo(s) were originally published in the Forney Messenger and are Copyright © 2009, Forney Messenger, Inc. and have been used by permission. The Forney Messenger is the publisher of Kaufman County’s oldest newspaper and may be found online at www.ForneyMessengerInc.com.

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