The Economic Development Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Wednesday, December 12, 2007, @ 7:00p.m. in the Legislative Center’s Freedom Room.  Chairman Eileen Dubin called the meeting to order.  Members present were Mr. Andersen, Ms. Fauci, Mr. Metzger, Sr., Mr. Stuckert, Ms. Vary and Mr. Walt.  Others present were Aaron Ruder, Doug Dashner and Greg Millburg.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

Moved by Mr. Metzger, Sr., seconded by Mr. Walt, and it was carried unanimously to approve the amended minutes from November 2007.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

          Moved by Ms. Vary, seconded by Ms. Fauci, and it was carried unanimously to approve the amended agenda. 

CHAIR’S COMMENTS

          Chairman Dubin said that she did receive a letter yesterday from Mr. Dan Curran, President of the DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC).  She had written DCEDC asking them for some input when they do have some of the candidates coming in to interview for Mr. Roger Hopkins position.  He said in his letter that “once they have narrowed the search to the final candidate(s) they will endeavor to have interested parties meet the individual and provide feedback.” 

          Mr. Dashner, the Interim Director, said that they have received many applications from 6 different states.  The search committee currently is trying to narrow the number down as quickly as they can.

          Chairman Dubin updated the committee on grant possibilities.  She explained that over the last few months she has invited a few members of the community regarding grant possibilities for the County for economic development.  These meetings consisted of people representing TBCNet, Economic Development Corporation, 4C’s, Northern Illinois University, Kishwaukee Health System and Steve Walt to name a few, to explore avenues to help existing businesses and to determine how to bring knowledge-based businesses to DeKalb County.

          Representatives from the IEPA and The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) were also present at one of these meetings.  The last meeting that they held was last week Friday.  Mr. Andre Ashmore of DCEO said he felt that they do have grants available for us.  The issue that Mr. Hopkins said that the County needs the most direction with right now is a Target Industry Study.  This study has not been done for about fifteen years.  This grant is a planning grant to help attract both small and knowledge-based businesses.  This will be working with Dr. Gleeson in submitting the grant application to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

TAX ABATEMENT RESOLUTION      

          The committee said that this Resolution of Intent was voted recommended to be forwarded to the full board this month at the last committee meeting.  January is the month that the resolution will appear on the County Board Agenda for approval.

COMMUNITY-BASED FARMING: JULIA FAUCI AND PAUL RASMUSSEN

     Ms. Julia Fauci, County Board Member, said that she would like to bring community-based farming back to the committee in January 2008 to discuss further.

CONSERVATION INITIATIVE UPDATE: JULIA FAUCI AND PAT VARY

          Ms. Vary and Ms. Fauci updated the committee on the Conservation Initiative that they are involved in. 

          Ms. Vary said that the Go Green webpage is up on the County’s Website.  They have many links out there for the public to refer to for information on conservation.  There is also information on what the County has been doing for conservation. She said that there will be environmental sites for kids eventually, too.

          Ms. Fauci updated the committee on the Water Conservation Conference that will be held on February 2, 2008 at the Farm Bureau Building.  She informed the committee who the speakers will be, the rain barrel project with Soil and Water and what other counties are doing throughout the country.

COUNTY-WIDE TOURISM – JEFF METZGER, SR.

          Mr. Metzger, Sr., said that he would like to work on developing a county-wide tourism guide.  He said that this guide could be utilized by visitors looking to enjoy our region, the business community, economic development organizations, civic organizations, and individuals looking to relocate.  Some suggestions that the committee made for the guide to include were, a film festival, wineries, Underground Railroad, Museums and Ice Cream parlors. 

Before adjourning Chairman Dubin and the committee agreed to hold their January 2008 meeting on 1/10/07 since the Potawatomi Tribal Agreement Public Meeting is scheduled at 7:00p.m. on 1/9/07. 

The committee also agreed that they would only hold a meeting in January if Mr. Dashner needed to bring anything before them for action, like a tax abatement request.  Otherwise the meeting would be cancelled for the month of January 2008.

ADJOURNMENT

          Moved by Mr. Stuckert, seconded by Mr. Walt, and it was carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting

                                                          Respectfully submitted,

                                                          ____________________________

                                                          Chairman Eileen Dubin

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