The Webster Progress-Times

Webster County Development Council officials plan to decide next week whether or not to move the organization's office to the Eupora Depot.

A special called meeting of the council's members and directors is set for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Wood College library in Mathiston. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss and vote on the possibility of moving the WCDC office to the Eupora Depot.

The meeting will precede a 6 p.m. presentation in the library by Vision to Action committees of their goals and plans for the future of Webster County. The Appalachian Regional Commission will take these plans into consideration for grants to implement these goals. The presentation is open to the public.

The matter of moving the WCDC office was discussed at the board of directors' quarterly meeting on Sept. 11 at the newly restored depot on South Dunn. Executive Director Steve Anderson's office is now located in the east wing of the old Eupora High School building on West Clark Avenue.

President Larry Crowley said the WCDC would need to request use of office space in the Depot from the Eupora Board of Aldermen. Mayor Pete Fortner, who is vice president of the WCDC Board, stated that the organization would be asked to pay one-half of the utilities for use of the east end of the Depot, with the city paying the other half.

But Director Jack Haney, noting that the WCDC does not have to pay any utilities for use of the office at the old school, said, "We have a very economical building now."

Secretary/Treasurer Belinda Stewart pointed out that the organization has $2,000 budgeted for relocation expenses and another $2,000 for equipment. Others in support of the move mentioned the lack of parking at the EHS campus during school hours and the fact that Anderson's small office is cramped when he has meetings there. They also cited the image that the appearance of the nearly 65-year-old building presents to industrial prospects, referring to the old drapes in the auditorium as an example.

But Haney countered that Anderson could still keep his office at the school for day-to-day activities and meet with prospects at the Depot if desired.

"We have a location. It's sufficient for the output we're doing," he said.

Anderson said his office is adequate for himself but that he felt the Depot would be a better permanent location in order to make a good impression to prospects.

The School Board voted in July to approve a request from Billy Powell of the Recruitment and Training Program of Mississippi to use the current WCDC office if it is vacated. RTP uses a nearby classroom for GED classes.

Because a quorum of directors was not present last week to vote on the matter, Crowley decided to set the special meeting just for that purpose. Fortner was asked to provide at that meeting the estimated cost of utilities that the WCDC would have to pay each month.

In other business last week, Crowley discussed recent activities of the WCDC. He said two industrial recruitment projects are ongoing in conjunction with the Mississippi Development Authority. The MDA lists them as "Project Gold," which would employ 300 people at the vacant Red Kap building in Mathiston, and "Project IMC," which would employ 10 to 15 people at the vacant Alloyd building in Eupora.

Crowley and Anderson distributed copies of a contact sheet for the offices of the governor, lieutenant governor, executive director of the MDA , Rep. Charlie Smith and Sen. Glenn Hamilton, and urged directors and members to contact them and ask what they could do about getting the industrial prospects to Webster County. Fortner said the two sites are the best available industrial buildings in the state.

Crowley also reported that a grant application which the WCDC and the county had made to the MDA to light the intersection of highways 82 and 9 was unsuccessful.

In a report on this summer's Job Fair, he said 25 employers and 300-plus job applicants participated, with 101 job offers made and projected hires during the next year estimated at 72.

Crowley said the president's Advisory Committee had discussed making a donation to Leadership82 as a sponsor and Anderson said he would like to see the WCDC support the program. The recommendation will be presented to the Finance Committee.

A suggestion was made that the bylaws be changed to allow the vice president to automatically move up to the position of president;.an amendment of the bylaws requires a two-thirds majority vote of the directors. The issue was tabled until the next quarterly meeting.

In his executive director's report, Anderson said a newly formed committee met with representatives of the Mississippi Technology Alliance in May, at which the MTA provided goals regarding technology resources within the county. Mike McCully is chairman of the committee.

Anderson also reported that:

€ the MDA is conducting a retail evaluation of Webster County;

€ a brochure is being developed;

€ interest has been expressed from a hotel developer;

€ Kimbrough Seal is in the process of working out an agreement with Hughes Water and Supply Co. to market its patented compress seal.

€ a free seminar on "How to Start Your Own Business" will be Oct. 16 at 6 p.m. Reservations may be made by calling 258-7835.