Economic Development Corporation
February 8, 2005
Minutes
Members Present:		Richard Diebold, Tom Lane, Sherry Comben, Bob Peterson, Robert Atkinson, and Peter Garwood, Allyn Wright joined the meeting at 8:45
Members Absent:		Bob Peterson, Laura Stanek and Jerome Simowski
Others Present:		Terri Crandall-Kimble (Elk Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce)
1.         Call to Order
	Meeting called to order at 8:30 a.m. by Rick Diebold.
2.         Organizational Meeting
	² Election of Officers Pete Garwood presided over the election of officers.  Motion to close nominations for Robert Atkinson for president by Rick Diebold, supported by Sherry Comben. Motion carried - unanimous. Motion by Sherry Comben, supported by Robert Atkinson to close nominations for Rick Diebold as vice president.  Motion carried - unanimous.  Treasurer must be a County staff person. Sherry Comben will thus be treasurer-secretary. Minutes will continue to be provided by the Coordinator’s office. President Atkinson presided over the remainder of the meeting. ² Meeting Date and Time Motion by Rick Diebold, seconded by Sherry Comben, to meet on the 3^rd Tuesday of each month at 8:30 a.m.  Motion carried - unanimous.
3.         Minutes of the October 12, 2004 Meeting
	Motion by Sherry Comben, seconded by Bob Peterson, to approve minutes of the October 12, 2004 meeting.  Motion carried – unanimous.
4.         Old Business
	Candidates are being interviewed for Tom Johnson’s vacated position as Executive Director of the Northern Lakes Economic Alliance (NLEA).
5.         New Business
	The timetable for the Antrim County master plan was discussed. Terry Crandall-Kimball thought that pieces may be approved by various committees before the completed Master plan goes to the County Board of Commissioners. Terry Crandall-Kimball recommended that EDC, planners and others help inventory potential properties in Antrim County that would be suitable for new industry, especially clean manufacturers. She then recommended that a list of sites with vacant buildings (preferred by potential industries) be published along with alerts of existing land not currently zoned against industrial development.  Rick Diebold commented that this is NLEA’s function but agreed that their information is out of date (at least 10 years old). Allyn Wright recommended that realtors get involved because the list of such properties changes daily. Terry Crandall-Kimball also recommended that an economic forum, including the various Antrim County committees and commissions, meet every 6 months to promote business opportunities and jobs in Antrim County.  Rick Diebold will discuss this idea with Pete Garwood
6.         Communications
	None.
7.         Member/Public Comment
	None.
Meeting adjourned at 9:22 a.m.