Gun Barrel City council interviews three EDC candidates and one Parks Board applicant; discussion to continue at tables

At a special meeting in February 2025, the Gun Barrel City Council interviewed three candidates for the Economic Development Corporation and one for the Parks and Recreation Board. The council scheduled the interviews at the dais and then moved the discussion to tables for further consideration.

Jerry Rademacher, owner of Forman Fiber in Maybank, said he has lived in the area about 17 years and described a background in landscape architecture and municipal site-design products. "I have a staff of approximately 25 right now in Maybank and we're still growing," Rademacher said, and he described prior experience working with an EDC on a performance-agreement loan that included upfront cash and sales-tax reporting as security. Rademacher said his company had been tracked to pay off an EDC loan ahead of schedule and that structuring agreements creatively — performance agreements, sales-tax covenants, cash down payments — can protect taxpayer funds while supporting business growth.

Deanne Jones identified herself as a resident of Gun Barrel City for 22 years and said she applied because she wants to learn more about how the city works and to help attract more retail and service options to town. "I'm willing to learn and put in the time and effort to do what I can to try and get those businesses here," Jones said when asked if she would accept direction and training from the planning and zoning board.

Annette Everett, applying for the Parks Board, described a background in corporate real estate and local land development and said that, as a retiree, she and a network of peers could support expanded recreational programming and facility usage for older residents. Everett said walking trails at the park need maintenance and suggested that a permanent facility could be partially self-supporting through rentals and memberships.

The city manager, Dr. Smith, said the council received three EDC applications and one Parks Board application and that one EDC applicant, Alex, was delayed by weather-related damage to a building he manages and could not attend. Staff indicated packets had been distributed to council prior to the meeting. The council did not make appointments on the public record during this portion of the meeting and moved to the tables to continue discussion, as Dr. Smith recommended.

No formal appointment votes were recorded in the transcript excerpt. Councilmembers’ questions focused on applicants’ experience with economic incentives, loan security and practical ideas for expanding services and facilities. The council planned to continue the appointments discussion and review financial policies at the table following the interviews.