Woods County approves $7,500 annual pledge to Woods County Economic Development; hears updates on airport leases and ARPA-funded site work

Woods County members approved a $7,500 annual pledge to Woods County Economic Development and received staff updates on airport property leases, revolving loan disbursements and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)–funded water and sewer work intended to make a county industrial site “site ready” at a routine meeting.

The pledge motion passed on a roll-call vote during the meeting. Members also approved the minutes from the Feb. 20 meeting. Meeting discussion included a Plains Plastics lease at the county airport, a report that two applicants had been approved for revolving loan funds (one of whom, identified as M and J in staff remarks, had received its funds), and details about a large ARPA award being used for water and sewer infrastructure to support industrial development.

Votes at a glance - Approve minutes of Feb. 20 meeting — approved. Recorded affirmative responses in the transcript include Murphy, Baker, Klein and Fisher. (Motion and second recorded; names of mover/second not specified in the transcript.) - Approve annual pledge of $7,500 to Woods County Economic Development — approved. Recorded affirmative votes in the transcript: Murphy; Shaker; Fisher; Clark. Motion and second recorded; mover/second not identified by full name in the transcript.

Why it matters The pledge commits the county to an annual contribution commonly used to fund local economic-development activities. Staff reports at the meeting tied that funding and other updates to efforts to attract and support industry at a site that county leaders are preparing with federal ARPA money for water and sewer improvements.

Key details from the meeting - Pledge: The motion approved an annual pledge of $7,500 to Woods County Economic Development. A member said they would write the check before leaving the meeting. The pledge was described in the meeting as a standard, recurring contribution.

- Airport property and tenant lease: Staff reported that Plains Plastics holds leases at the county airport and has paid rent; its current lease runs through October and the company had asked to extend for another year. The agreement includes a small rent increase that will begin in October.

- ARPA funds and industrial site work: Staff said the county was awarded $15,000,000 in ARPA funds for water and sewer work; after a Department of Commerce administrative fee the usable amount was described in the meeting as roughly $14,000,000. Meeting remarks emphasized that ARPA funding is limited to water and sewer work. The funding is intended to increase utility capacity and extend water under the road to the property to make it more attractive to site selectors. Staff contrasted this property with an inward rail-site project that had been estimated in earlier planning at about $70 million to $80 million.

- Revolving loan fund: Staff reported the county’s revolving loan fund had approved two applicants; one applicant, identified in the meeting as M and J, had received its funds. The other applicant (referred to as “the station”) was awaiting a separate loan before the county’s process for reimbursement could be completed. Staff described the county’s process for disbursing funds as invoice-based and said the county prefers to issue cashier’s checks through the bank when processing reimbursements.

- Other finance notes: Staff discussed routine monthly payments and a pass-through line item used for Woods County Economic Development (ledger line referenced as 23890). A staff member said the county had received a $20,000 contribution from WIDA that had not yet cleared; if cash were pulled immediately the balance would read $43,008.90 (figure cited in meeting remarks).

- Events and planning: Staff invited members to a dinner on April 17 and a related workshop on April 16 intended to involve site consultants, business development presenters and community leaders. Consultant Roger Godwin was scheduled to present findings at the April 16 workshop.

- Facility maintenance item: Members discussed possible wind damage to the Westlake building; a tenant named Corey had repaired a lifted seam and fastened it back in place. No formal action was recorded on that item, and members discussed whether to inspect the repair or offer compensation; no payment was authorized at the meeting.

Outcome and next steps The board approved the $7,500 pledge and the Feb. 20 minutes. Staff will proceed with usual invoicing and loan-disbursement steps for the revolving loan applicants, continue lease administration for Plains Plastics with the planned rent increase to start in October, and advance planning for ARPA-funded water and sewer improvements intended to serve the targeted industrial property. No formal vote on ARPA spending or the Westlake repair was recorded at the meeting.

The meeting adjourned after routine closing motions.