April 19, 2022

Regular Meeting

Minutes: Meeting of Tuesday, April 19, 2022

Present: Dr. Curtis Lewis, Chair; Mr. Steven R. McGee, Vice-Chair; Mr. John Carroll Mr. Charles Frederick Smith; Ms. Renee White-Goolsby; Ms. Trayce Snow

Absent: Ms. Candice Cheney, Secretary/Treasurer

The monthly regular meeting of the Greater Alexandria Economic Development Authority was called to order by Commissioner Lewis at 9:20 a.m. Executive Administrator, Angela Varnado called the roll. A quorum was present.

It was moved by Commissioner Carroll and seconded by Commissioner McGee to approve the April 2022 Consent Agenda. There being no public comments, motion passed by unanimous vote.

It was moved by Commissioner Carroll and seconded by Commissioner Snow to add to the agenda a motion to approve the 2022 Audit Engagement Letter with Oestriecher and Company to perform an audit for the year ended December 31, 2021. A roll call vote was as follows: Commissioner Lewis-Yes Commissioner McGee-Yes Commissioner Cheney-Yes Commissioner Carroll-Yes Commissioner Smith-Yes Commissioner White-Goolsby-Yes Commissioner Snow-Yes There being no public comments, motion was added by unanimous vote.

It was moved by Commissioner McGee and seconded by Commissioner Lewis to approve the 2022 Audit Engagement Letter with Oestriecher and Company to perform an audit for the year ended December 31, 2021. A roll call vote was as follows: Commissioner Lewis-Yes Commissioner McGee-Yes Commissioner Cheney-Yes Commissioner Carroll-Yes Commissioner Smith-Yes Commissioner White-Goolsby-Yes Commissioner Snow-Yes There being no public comments, motion was added by unanimous vote.

It was moved by Commissioner Carroll and seconded by Commissioner Cheney to approve the March 2022 Special Call Minutes. There being no public comments, motion passed by unanimous vote.

It was moved by Commissioner McGee and seconded by Commissioner Carroll to approve a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Alexandria/Pineville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) in an amount not to exceed Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000) for assistance with meals and advertisement/marketing of the 2022 Youth Evangelism Conference (YEC) to be held November 20-21, 2022. A roll call vote was as follows: Commissioner Lewis-Yes Commissioner McGee-Yes Commissioner Cheney-Yes Commissioner Carroll-Yes Commissioner Smith-Yes Commissioner White-Goolsby-Yes Commissioner Snow-Yes There being no public comments, motion passed by unanimous vote.

It was moved by Commissioner Smith and seconded by Commissioner Carroll to approve a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Department of Louisiana, American Legion in an amount not to exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) for assistance with meals and advertisement/marketing of the State Convention to be held June 2-5, 2022 and furthermore; an amount not to exceed Seven Thousand Dollars ($7,000) for assistance with meals and advertisement/marketing of the July Executive Meeting to be held July 16-17, 2022. A roll call vote was as follows: Commissioner Lewis-Yes Commissioner McGee-Yes Commissioner Cheney-Yes Commissioner Carroll-Yes Commissioner Smith-Yes Commissioner White-Goolsby-Yes Commissioner Snow-Yes There being no public comments, motion passed by unanimous vote.

It was moved by Commissioner Smith and seconded by Commissioner Carroll to recommend amending the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Alexandria/Pineville Conventions and Visitors Bureau (CVB) from Eighteen Thousand Dollars ($18,000) to Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000) to host the 2022 Future Farmers of America (FFA) Conference to be held June 6-9, 2022. A roll call vote was as follows: Commissioner Lewis-Yes Commissioner McGee-Yes Commissioner Cheney-Yes Commissioner Carroll-Yes Commissioner Smith-Yes Commissioner White-Goolsby-Yes Commissioner Snow-Yes There being no public comments, motion passed by unanimous vote.

It was moved by Commissioner Smith and seconded by Commissioner Snow to approve a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the District 3 Louisiana Little League in an amount not to exceed Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) for assistance with meals and advertisement/marketing of the Senior League Softball Southwestern Regional Tournament to be held July 22-28, 2022. A roll call vote was as follows: Commissioner Lewis-Yes Commissioner McGee-Yes Commissioner Cheney-Yes Commissioner Carroll-Yes Commissioner Smith-Yes Commissioner White-Goolsby-Yes Commissioner Snow-Yes There being no public comments, motion passed by unanimous vote.

It was moved by Commissioner Smith and seconded by Commissioner McGee to approve a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with Links on the Bayou in an amount not to exceed One Thousand Seven Hundred Dollars ($1,700) for assistance with meals and advertisement/marketing of the Masters Country Shoutout and the Battle on the Bayou Golf Tournaments to be held May 20-22, 2022, and July 22-24, 2022. A roll call vote was as follows: Commissioner Lewis-Yes Commissioner McGee-Yes Commissioner Cheney-No Commissioner Carroll-Yes Commissioner Smith-Yes Commissioner White-Goolsby-No Commissioner Snow-Yes There being no public comments, motion passed by 5-2 vote.

It was moved by Commissioner Smith and seconded by Commissioner Carroll to approve a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Louisiana Early Childhood Association in an amount not to exceed Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) to assist with meals for the LAECA State Conference to be held November 3-5, 2022. A roll call vote was as follows: Commissioner Lewis-Yes Commissioner McGee-Yes Commissioner Cheney-Yes Commissioner Carroll-Yes Commissioner Smith-Yes Commissioner White-Goolsby-Yes Commissioner Snow-Yes There being no public comments, motion passed by unanimous vote.

The Executive Director reported that a 2022 Strategic Retreat will be scheduled as soon as possible to address the new board’s desires and vision for the organization. A discussion was held.

Commissioner Smith and Commissioner White Goolsby addressed concerns about grantee’s submitting the final grant status reports and the ability for the commissioners to enter into executive session. A discussion was held. Legal Counsel. The Executive Administrator stated that Legal counsel will address the issue at the next regularly scheduled meeting. There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 9:11 a.m.