INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
OF THE
COUNTY OF PRINCE WILLIAM
March 4, 2019
Approved Minutes
The Regular Meeting of the Industrial Development Authority of the County of Prince William was called to order by the Chairman at 6:31pm in the Occoquan Conference Room of the Prince William County James J. McCoart Administration Building located at One County Complex Court, Prince William, Virginia 22192.
Present were: Patrick O’Leary, Chairman
Lorna Wallen, Vice Chairman
Laurie Wieder, Secretary/Treasurer
Steve Dawson, Assistant Secretary/Treasurer
Paul O’Meara
Andrew Taylor
Absent was: Doug Taggart
Donna Flory attended to provide administrative support.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
CITIZEN’S TIME: There were no citizens present.
Chairman Pat O’Leary thanked the members of the Industrial Development Authority for working together to accomplish many tasks over the past two months, including attending multiple meetings to ensure that projects were presented in a timely manner. By working together, the IDA is able to demonstrate that government can work. He thanked Lorna Wallen for chairing multiple meetings in his absence. Ms. Wallen thanked the other members of the IDA for their support in assisting her.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
January 24, 2019: Mr. O’Leary asked if there were any questions or concerns regarding the Proposed Minutes from the January 24, 2019 meeting of the IDA. Steve Dawson made a motion to approve the January 24, 2019 minutes as presented, seconded by Paul O’Meara. The motion passed with Lorna Wallen, Laurie Wieder, Steve Dawson, Paul O’Meara, and Andrew Taylor, each voting aye. Pat O’Leary abstained from the vote as he was absent from the January 24, 2019 meeting.
February 4, 2019: Laurie Wieder made a motion to approve the February 4, 2019 minutes as presented, seconded by Lorna Wallen. The motion passed with Lorna Wallen, Laurie Wieder, Steve Dawson, and Andrew Taylor, each voting aye. Pat O’Leary and Paul O’Meara abstained from the vote as they each were absent from the February 4, 2019 meeting.
February 14, 2019: Steve Dawson made a motion to approve the February 14, 2019 minutes as presented, seconded by Paul O’Meara. The motion passed with Lorna Wallen, Laurie Wieder, Steve Dawson, Paul O’Meara, and Andrew Taylor, each voting aye. Pat O’Leary abstained from the vote as he was absent from the February 14, 2019 meeting.
TREASURER’S REPORT: Laurie Wieder reported that American Water has been invoiced for $1,850.00 for the 2006 Bond Series. The Virginia Municipal League has been contacted to correct the spelling of Ms. Wieder’s name and create a login for its website so that the online questionnaire may be completed by the March 15, 2019 deadline. Karen Nuchols, of the Virginia Municipal League, will provide a copy of the 2018 response to the questionnaire as a template for to complete the 2019 version. There is no check register for the First Virginia Community Bank Sweep Account (#4003) as there was no activity this month. There is no collections report as all administrative fees that are due through February 2019 have been collected. Ms. Wieder noted Donna Flory’s diligence in ensuring that administrative fees are collected on time. Two CDs will mature in the coming months. One at the Fauquier Bank (CD 4444, for $103,703.06) matures on April 21, 2019 and one at United Bank (CD 0208 for $51,211.02) matures on May 1, 2019. Following this discussion, Paul O’Meara made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report as presented, seconded by Steve Dawson. The motion passed unanimously with Pat O’Leary, Lorna Wallen, Laurie Wieder, Steve Dawson, Paul O’Meara and Andrew Taylor each voting aye.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT: Update on Neabsco Creek Dredging Project: Paul O’Meara reported that dredging continued through February 14, 2019 and was completed. There is a meeting scheduled for March 15, 2019 to provide an update to all involved parties.
Section 6.2 Report: Laurie Wieder noted that this report is now provided as part of the Treasurer’s Financial Report that each member of the IDA receives prior to the monthly meeting. A column will be added to the Bonds Report to show the year that the bond is expected to mature, at the request of Mr. O’Meara. Additionally, the Incentive Report will note that the U.S. Foods Project will receive a total of $700,000, with only $350,000 coming from Prince William County and $350,000 from the state through its Commonwealth Opportunity Fund.
Flory Small Business Center: Pat O’Leary reported that he recently had a long telephone conversation with Linda Decker. While the Flory Center’s operations have ceased, Mrs. Decker is continuing to work through the inventory of books and research materials both at the Flory Center and at Manassas Park. The books will be donated to the Center for Nonprofit Excellence (a 501 (c) (3) organization) as approved by Flory Board members, Pat O’Leary, Lorna Wallen and Frank Jones. The corporation may be preserved by paying the annual fee and filing a report to the Virginia State Corporation Commission. Ms. Wallen questioned the need to maintain the corporate status. Ms. Flory responded that if the annual fee of $25 is not paid now, then tax returns will need to be filed immediately. Mr. O’Leary stated that he thought there may be $3,000 left in the Flory Center’s financial accounts based on bank statements. Mrs. Flory noted that there have been additional expenditures since those bank statements were received and the current funds balance is closer to $1,000. Ms. Flory stated that she is expecting an additional $500 to be refunded to the Flory Center as a result of the Workman’s Comp audit recently submitted. Remaining Flory Center funds will be used to pay the electric and telephone bills. Liability insurance is paid through June 1, 2019 and provides liability insurance for both the Flory Center facility and the Manassas Park property that is used for storage.
OLD BUSINESS: Storage of IDA’s Physical Records: The IDA’s physical records are currently in the Flory Center’s building. Where practical, files are digitized. The IDA will need physical storage space for approximately 25 boxed files. Mr. O’Leary will address the need for storage space at his March 11, 2019 meeting with Prince William Deputy County Executive Chris Price and Business Development and Investment Director Tom Flynn. Mr. Price has indicated that space is available within the offices of the County’s Department of Economic Development. Mr. O’Leary will ask if the space will be open or secured. Ms. Flory noted that the boxes were previously stored on shelves to provide easier access and to ensure that the boxes are not crushed. Following this discussion, Laurie Wieder made a motion authorizing the expenditure of up to $500 to purchase a shelving unit to be used for the IDA’s records. The motion was seconded by Andrew Taylor and passed unanimously with Pat O’Leary, Lorna Wallen, Laurie Wieder, Steve Dawson, Paul O’Meara, and Andrew Taylor each voting aye.
Update on Creation of IDA Website: Recovery telephone numbers for the IDA’s email addresses will be updated to reflect the new IDA cell phone number: 703-362-3570. This number will also be added to the website. Donna Flory will create an email to introduce Paul O’Meara to two potential website designers, Patrick King of Imagine, Inc. and Joe Marshall of Sire Studios. The IDA’s current mission and what it hopes to accomplish in the future will be considered in working with the website designer to create the new site. Ms. Flory noted that each of these website designers will want to know the IDA’s mission, business practices, and goals for the website in order to create it. It was agreed that it is imperative that the IDA’s contractors be able to make changes and updates to the site without going through a third party. Scarlett Barbee will be responsible for updating the new website. Mr. O’Meara asked if the Flory Center’s website utilized Squarespace and Ms. Flory responded affirmatively, noting that it is relatively easy to update Squarespace. Andrew Taylor made a motion authorizing the expenditure of up to $3,000 for the design of the IDA website. Following additional discussion, Mr. Taylor withdrew his original motion and made a motion authorizing Paul O’Meara to obtain financial quotes from Patrick King, Imagine, Inc. and Joe Marshall, Sire Studios for the cost of designing a new website. The motion was seconded by Paul O’Meara and passed unanimously with Pat O’Leary, Lorna Wallen, Laurie Wieder, Steve Dawson, Paul O’Meara, and Andrew Taylor each voting aye.
NEW BUSINESS: Discussion of IDA’s Vision: The IDA’s current assets are $1.2 million, expected to rise to $1.4 million by June 30, 2019. Annual income is $326,000 with expenses in the $50,000 to $70,000 range. This results in approximately $250,000 in annual growth. Mr. O’Leary noted that the IDA has never had employees and does not have the financial backing to do so. The Flory Center was a 501(c)(3) organization when it was providing administrative support to the IDA. He believes that the IDA’s principal role is selling bonds. Mr. O’Leary put forward several ideas for the IDA including: 1) Offering direct incentive grants, not just passing through grants negotiated by the Department of Economic Development; 2) Starting a Venture Capital fund; 3) Funding a successor to the Flory Center; 4) Contributing to Brickyard; and 5) Collaborating with the Prince William Board of County Supervisors to support a common vision. Ms. Wallen suggested that the IDA develop a five-year strategic plan working with the County’s Department of Economic Development and focusing on County targeted businesses. Mr. Taylor suggested: 1) the IDA acquire properties to own or lease; 2) Pollution control; 3) Medical facilities; 4) Religious facilities; 5) Non-profits; 6) Government 7) Museums 8) Equine facilities. Mr. Taylor asked where the IDA can find the appropriate audience to make its programs known. Ms. Wieder responded that the Chamber of Commerce and local Rotary Clubs are good places to start. She suggested that IDA members begin speaking at some of these groups to create marketing “buzz” for the IDA. This could lead to working together to ensure that appropriate entities are aware that they are candidates for private activity bonds. Further discussion indicated that the IDA is allowed to be a landlord. Mr. O’Leary stated that other IDAs in Virginia have built spec buildings and then leased them to companies. Caution is necessary as the real estate market can be volatile. Other suggestions included facilitating soccer fields and other facilities for children’s athletics. Mr. O’Meara suggested funding for mental health facilities as there are none in the immediate area and families must drive substantial distances to obtain services. Mr. O’Meara displayed a map that showed that mental health facilities are as far away as Loudoun County, Falls Church, and Fredericksburg with none in the immediate vicinity of Prince William County offering overnight services. He showed another map that displayed a possible location for such a facility in Prince William County. Mr. O’Meara noted that 1 in 5 individuals are in need of mental health services with 1 in 25 are coping with a severe mental illness. Many of these individuals end up incarcerated. This could possibly be avoided if appropriate treatment were available in the community. Mr. O’Meara asked who would be the appropriate people to approach regarding this idea. Ms. Wieder suggested that County Supervisor Frank Principi, who was involved with the County’s Health Clinic and represents the Woodbridge District, come to a future meeting of the IDA to discuss how some of these ideas could be facilitated in his district. Mr. O’Leary suggested that both Supervisor Principi and Marion Wall, a former member of the IDA who is very active on the Sentara Hospital Foundation Board, be invited to the May meeting of the IDA.
OTHER MATTERS TO COME BEFORE THE AUTHORITY/INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS TIME:
Mr. O’Leary will be absent from the April meeting but suggested that the IDA focus on the website design and the cloud storage for electronic records at the next meeting of the IDA scheduled for April 1, 2019 at 6:30pm in the Potomac Conference Room.
There being no further business to come before the Authority, the meeting was adjourned at 8:04pm on the motion of Laurie Wieder, seconded by Lorna Wallen.
APPROVED April 1, 2019