WYANDOT DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
(WYANDOTTE COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL)
NOVEMBER 15, 2000, 11:00 A.M.
BONNER SPRINGS COMMUNITY CENTER, 200 E. THIRDBoard Members Present: Mayor Ted Stolfus-Chairperson, Commissioner Tom Cooley, Mayor Luther Pickell, and Mary Ryan
Others Present: Marcia Ashford, Bob Evans, Teresa Garrison, Jackie Hampton, Weldon Padgett, and Jim Thompson
Mayor Stolfus called the meeting to order at 11:04 a.m. Ms. Ryan joined the meeting at approximately 11:30 a.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of the September 20, 2000, meeting were unanimously approved by a motion from Commissioner Cooley and second by Mayor Pickell.
CITIZENS PLANNING COMMITTEE UPDATE
A. Report on Community Forum for 2005 Vision – Jackie Hampton reported on the outcome of the Community Forum for the 2005 Vision that was held on November 6, 2000, at the Reardon Civic Center. Approximately 150 people attended the event. Dr. Graham Toft from Indiana was the facilitator. The purpose of the community forum was to share information from two surveys that were previously mailed to Wyandotte County citizens and Chamber members and business owners. Small groups were formed to discuss the issues raised from the survey results. The information gathered at the forum will be summarized so that the CPC can determine the five core issues in which to focus for the next five years, develop a vision statement for 2005 and establish benchmarks during the five year period.
Ms. Hampton shared some feedback concerning the forum: (1) The elderly weren’t represented well because of the meeting being held after dark; (2) Information about the forum was neither publicized enough nor in time for individuals to know about it; (3) Host several small events instead of one large event during the five year period; and (4) A feedback questionnaire was not distributed to participants at the forum. She said a questionnaire would probably be sent out to everyone who attended.
The CPC will also be focusing on a membership drive, and a nomination application was distributed. Some members have been on the CPC for a number of years and want to step down. Individuals will be sought from Bonner Springs, Edwardsville and Kansas City, Kansas. Ms. Hampton said that ads will be published for the membership drive. By January, the CPC hopes to have a list of new members. A retreat may be held for the new membership, and they would be asked to develop the new 2005 vision. The current CPC would establish the core issues. At some point next year, the CPC will present to the WCEDC the core issues, vision, objectives and benchmarks that were developed.
Mayor Stolfus suggested that the CPC approach Leadership 2000 and Leadership 2020 for new members. Mayor Pickell said that he would post the form at City Hall and distribute to the City Council. Ms. Garrison said she would post the application on the WCEDC web page and the Vision 2005 information as soon as it is ready.
Mayor Stolfus inquired if the CPC was able to maintain benchmarks from the last vision statement. Ms. Hampton responded that there were not any benchmarks set, but this time around, they would be more definitive. Mr. Cooley stated that the retail survey was accomplished as well as the Wyandotte County pledge. He said that the CPC is a catalyst for projects or programs to be accomplished by other groups.
REPORT ON HUB/HOME PAGE ADVISORY COUNCIL
Teresa Garrison, chair of the Hub/Home Page Advisory Council, reported on the WCEDC Web Page statistics from January through October 2000. During this reporting period, the averaged top five hits per month were City of Bonner Springs (691), WCEDC home page (313), Community Index (275), Wyandotte County Museum (274) and Calendar of Events (163). An average of 5,000 pages are viewed per month on this Internet site. The Edwardsville page was moved to a new server, so Ms. Garrison is unable to get detailed reports for Edwardsville. The top users are from AOL. Ms. Garrison stated that it is very important to keep the information current. Updates can be e-mailed to her, and she will provide a quick turn around.
Ms. Garrison reported on and distributed a flyer concerning KC Metrolink – Your Community Connection, which is a part of the Community Connection statewide database of community resources and consumer information on the World Wide Web. It is a free public service that provides a central source for information about a variety of local and bi-state (Kansas and Missouri) resources. Resources, after obtaining an account, can manage their information themselves from anywhere there is Internet access. Adonna Thompson at the West Wyandotte Library coordinates training sessions for groups. All you need is Internet access, and it is very easy to input and update the information.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Commissioner Cooley provided a treasurer’s report for the Wyandot Development Corporation. A cash report for the corporation, check register, and a breakdown of the three funds that are included in the corporation account were provided for the board’s review and consideration for approval. The account balance was $85,574.56 as of September 30, 2000. He explained that he had not received an October statement. Therefore, the report was as of September 30. The large deposits were for the New Century Partnership fundraising campaign.
Mayor Pickell made a motion to approve the treasurer’s report as submitted. Ms. Ryan seconded the motion, and it was unanimously approved.
A. Director and Officer Liability Insurance – Commissioner Cooley reported that the Unified Government is self-insured, so the Wyandot Development Corporation could not be a rider on their insurance. He said that he will contact Bob Charlesworth, the insurance advisor for the City of Bonner Springs, to see if he could find this type of insurance for the board of directors.
B. Corporate Legal Attorney – Commissioner Cooley stated that he had discussed this matter with Unified Government personnel, and they suggested that the board contact Mark Conklin, a Unified Government attorney assigned to BPU. Prior to consolidation, Mr. Conklin was a county attorney. He stated that he has not talked to Mr. Conklin, but would recommend him as the corporate legal attorney for the Wyandot Development Corporation. Commissioner Cooley made a motion that if Mr. Conklin agrees to it, to appoint him as the corporate legal attorney for the Wyandot Development Corporation. Mayor Pickell seconded the motion, and it was unanimously approved.
OTHER BUSINESS
A. Resolution Allowing Donation of Stock to New Century Partnership - Mayor Stolfus explained that there are some individuals and/or companies who would like to donate stock to the New Century Partnership fundraising campaign instead of making a cash donation. For this to occur, the board would need to pass a resolution that would allow a brokerage account to be opened for this use. The brokerage account would be opened at United Missouri Bank in Kansas City, Kansas. The stock would be liquidated when needed by WDI.
Commissioner Cooley made a motion to draft a resolution to allow for the donation of stock to the New Century Partnership fundraising campaign. Mayor Pickell seconded the motion, and it was unanimously approved.
Commissioner Cooley said that in light of the fact that the WCEDC only meets every other month and the fact that urgent matters may arise, he wondered if the board of directors could confer by conference call so that decisions could be made quickly. Since it is not in the current set of bylaws, this item will be placed on the January agenda for further discussion.
B. Future Agenda Items
1. Corporate Legal Attorney
2. Director and Officer Liability Insurance
3. Amendment to bylaws regarding meetings by conference call.
C. Next Meeting Date – The City of Edwardsville will host the January 17, 2001 meeting.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 11:47 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Ashford
Asst. to the City Manager/Deputy City Clerk
City of Bonner Springs
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