The PCED board also voted to recommend an incentive package of up to $150,000 for the WCS project.

WCS plant manager Tony Pesaresi had earlier enquired about an upfront cash incentive from the county to assist with the significant front-end costs involved in this project.

Origer explained that a tax abatement not only would spread the incentive out over a decade, but also would not be especially lucrative in this particular situation. Longer-term company projections will be more helpful in considering a loan rather than an abatement. PCED board members Larry Brady and (president) Bill Champion both expressed support for a forgivable loan guaranteed by a contract, including appropriate claw-back provisions; Champion reported successful similar incentive packages used in the past in Cass County.

Board member Jamie Bales remarked that WCS is an impressive company, and others seconded these sentiments. The director noted that, although at this point the project had become largely non-competitive, earlier in the year Winamac could have been passed over for Chicago land or an on-site expansion in Kewanna; the county’s and Winamac’s willingness to assist the company and the property coming onto the market helped WCS to select Winamac.

Winamac Coil Spring is one of the area's well-known "founded in a Winamac garage" companies, two other's being Braun Corporation and Galbreath Inc.

A family-owned business, WCS was founded in 1948 by Walter Pesaresi. It a leading manufacturer of compression, extension and torsion springs. The company has also added wireforms to its product offering. The company is led today by second- and third-generation descendants of Pesaresi. The company's springs are found in a variety of products, such as agricultural equipment, household applicances, lawn and garden products, railroad equipment, offroad recreational vehicles, and other industrial applications.

To learn more about the company, visit www.winamaccoilspring.com

Old Business

Associated Images’Savor Indiana / ExtraordINary Indiana project: Origer reported that Savor Indiana's Pulaski County episodeis currently in the editing process and scheduled to debut in late November or early December. Barring unforeseen circumstances, scouting for the  ExtraordINary Indiana Pulaski County episode will take place this month. This will entail visits to three local employers, as well as to the hospital, because of the importance of healthcare to business attraction. 

PC-CARE engineering-study proposal: Territorial Engineering (TE) has reported a slow start due to prior projects still underway, but will be resuming PC-CARE work soon. Origer intends to encumber funds in order to ensure that costs incurred in 2014 be paid for with funds earmarked in this year’s budget, rather than with 2014 appropriations.

NIPSCO has contracted with Banning Engineering to complete 10 desktop reviews for potential industrial-development sites in its service area. Though not as intensive as the study that TE will perform, a desktop review can provide advantages in certain cases. Origer submitted one property that did not cleanly fit the criteria for the TE study, but would benefit from Banning’s review, which would examine utilities, transportation infrastructure, general soil, and aerials. If NIPSCO accepts this proposal, then PCED will have an additional site studied at no cost.

CAGIT-rate issue: Origer has spoken one-on-one with the commissioners, who all seem to be amenable to taking action, though what form this action takes is still to be determined. Options include changing special-CAGIT legislation to free up more CEDIT money and lowering the CAGIT rate. The director has also spoken with county council president Jay Sullivan and councilman Doug Roth, both of whom are supportive of taking action, but not yet willing to commit to specifics.

President Champion asked Origer to clarify the process for moving forward with the issue. The director said the process depends on which way PCED and the county will decide to proceed, alluding to the possibility of a study to help determine that direction. In the legislative route, he would request a vote of support from the commissioners and council then ask State Rep. Doug Gutwein, State Sen.Ed Charbonneau, or both to sponsor a measure in the General Assembly. Otherwise, the council will have to advertise and then to vote to set a new rate.

Pulaski County Young Professionals Network: Mr. Howard has done research on other young-professionals groups and compiled a brief of pertinent information. Origer hopes to hold a committee meetingbefore the end of the year in order to start the project in earnest early next year.

2014 meeting schedule: Origer asked for opinions on the 2014 meeting schedule, noting that he liked the secretary’s idea of rotating the months in which PCED visits Francesville, Medaryville, and Monterey. He reiterated his preference for moving the annual summit to March to align it with the beginning of the term year, hoping that holding it on a regular meeting night would make it easier for members to attend.

Commissioner Brady approved of the idea, noting that moving the summit out of the summer would free up more time for members to spend with family. Board secretary David Zeltwanger questioned tying the summit to a meeting, concerned that a meeting might take away valuable time from the summit, which had shown prodigious growth in the previous year. Origer clarified that the meeting prior to the summit would be abbreviated so as not to detract from the summit. The secretary retracted his dissent, noting that it would not hurt to try.

Discussion ensued regarding the town-visit schedule. Zeltwanger suggested moving each town forward a quarter – Monterey to May, Francesville to August, and Medaryville to October – and then rotating in the same fashion in subsequent years. The members agreed to this.

Origer broached the subject of limited-agenda meetings. A consensus of board members indicated that limited agendas are unnecessary. The director hesitantly agreed given the difficulty of predicting in which months a limited agenda would work a year in advance. The board then voted to scrap limited agendas, with the proviso that the March agenda would be limited due to the summit.

Pulaski Online: Origer reminded the members that a PCED committee had been appointed to interview New View Solutions (NVS) and Crane + Grey (C+G), the final candidates for the county website project. He noted that the committee had been very impressed by C+G, and that he felt similarly. After discussion, the board voted to hire C+G for the website project.It was suggested that C+G attend a meeting at project end to present it to and to discuss it with the members.

Hotel project: A potential-investor luncheon meeting with John Seibert from Cobblestone Hotels is set for Nov. 20, at the Winamac Events Center. Registration has been slow thus far, and the director encouraged members to put him in touch with anyone who may be interested in this project. Board member Lawrence Loehmer enquired as to projected costs; Origer reported a figure in the vicinity of $2.5 million. The project area has been narrowed to approximately four sites on U.S.-35 North.

New Business

The board voted to approve a recommendation from its executive committee to reappoint Origer as PCED executive director. Before the vote, the executive committee offered a brief summary of the executive session, held prior to the meeting, covering Origer's year-end review.

New members and current-member second terms: The director reported that, at the end of February, vice-president David Broad’s tenure would conclude, and that Cheryl Stone would be resigning with the close of her first term. Additionally, because of work responsibilities, Derrick Stalbaum had reported uncertainty about his future with the organization, but had yet to make a decision. Andrew Fritz is willing to serve a second term, as is Jamie Bales if the Francesville Town Council reappoints him. Origer encouraged members to offer suggestions for new at-large members and noted that Winamac will have to replace the exiting Rod Button.

Revolving Loan Fund cash injection: Origer presented a proposal to transfer between $100,000 and $150,000 from the CEDIT Fund into the RLF, explaining that with one notable exception the program has been an invaluable tool, and that two-to-four businesses are currently considering applying for county financing. Excluding approximately $580,000 invested and 2014 appropriations and revenues, the fund has about $800,000 of “free money”. In one-on-one sessions, the three commissioners and councilman Roth had all expressed support for this proposal; pending PCED approval, the director would discuss it individually with other council members before seeking formal approval from the commissioners and council.

Champion asked how loan decisions are made; the director detailed the membership of the ad hoc committee and explained that the commissioners have the final say. Zeltwanger enquired as to the original amount available to lend; the fund had started with about $500,000, more than $150,000 of that having been lost in the Chesapeake Recycling default. The director reiterated the program’s successes, specifically highlighting the turnaround at Winamac Lumber Yard. Commissioner Brady encouraged moving $150,000, hoping to ensure a healthy balance after any expected forthcoming loans. The board voted to approve the transfer.

Ball State BBC’s Economic Development Course: The board approved Origer's attendance at this week-long training program in Muncie in January; NIPSCO will pay for tuition, so costs will be limited to travel, accommodations, and regular pay.

Other Pertinent Business

CDC Assistant: Origer introduced his new assistant, Terry L. Howard, II.

Illinois-business relocation project: Zeltwanger reported having spoken with the president of an REMC other than Carroll-White; this president estimated a cost significantly higher than what Carroll-White would charge to deliver three-phase service to a site currently under consideration for the company considering a move from Illinois to the Francesville area. The REMC president encouraged taking advantage of the wind turbine at the West Central campus, particularly to attract green industry and eco-conscious companies.