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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990.12.10_OEDA MinutesMEMORANDUM TO: Owasso Economic Development Authority FROM: Richard Hall, O.E.D.A. Director SUBJECT: Director's Report DATE: December 19, 1990 STATUS OF THE WOODS PRECISION PRODUCTS DEAL We continue to work on the financial package of the machine shop. An ad hoc committee to bring the business to Owasso journeyed to the Small Business Administration office in Oklahoma City on December 12th. We and others visited with the Small Business Administration representatives about the requirements of the S.B.A. in the financial package. The meeting included representatives of all facets of the deal: buyers, sellers, financiers and packagers. We should be able to write a thick text book on economic development based on our project experiences. The meeting at the S.B.A. ended on a positive note but the financial commitments for the project have yet to be given by all of the financial institutions involved. LEADERSHIP OWASSO City Government was the topic at the December 11th class of Leadership Owasso. We heard from City Councilman John Phillips, Mayor Mark Thompson, Planning Commission Ray Haines, and Steve Compton. Ron Cates also addressed the group about state laws regulating cities while Sherry Lambert explained the budget process. The topic next month will be county government. CLEAN AIR LAW I attended a cable television telecast produced by the Public Broadcasting System about the new Clean Air Act signed into law on November 21, 1990. The law is quite extensive in what it regulates and what it requires. It will have an impact on all aspects of life in the country from peoples' homes to what they can purchase, from their work place to municipal services and utility rates. Costs will be born by permit fees but it will be state and local governments that will enforce the provisions mandated by the law and drawn by the E.P.A.. As with other recent laws, states will be denied federal monies if the law is not well enforced. There are provisions for fines, imprisonment and civil suits as well. There is even provision for rewards for reporting violators of the law. O.E.D.A. Director's Report December 19, 1990 Page 2 The new clean air act was mainly designed to correct smog, acid rain, air toxics and freon type gasses which affect high atmosphere ozone. The law will address the following partial list of problems, activities or businesses: wood burning fire places, urban air -borne dust, air emissions for both new and older vehicles, service station fixtures, utilities emissions, especially those plants burning coal, spray applied paints and coatings, gasoline and petroleum product manufacture, dry cleaning businesses, chemical manufacturing, heavy industry such as steel mills and coke ovens, bakeries. The law will require that states' air quality will be graded as moderate, serious, severe and extreme. Each grade will be given its own goal to reduce pollution and increasingly more strict control measures are required for each more polluted classification. Businesses producing more than 25 tons per year (about 10 to 15 drums per month) of discharges are required to obtain a permit. The cost of such a permit is $25 per ton. The permitting authority must approve or reject the permit within 18 months after receiving it. As I understand the law, the following Owasso businesses will be affected by the law: gasoline retailers, dry cleaners, paint and body shops, auto and small engine repair shops, any manufacturing business that uses solvents or spray coatings and possibly construction companies whose projects contribute to airborne dust. I have received a summary of the law which is available for review. I have also spoken to Ray Bishop at the Tulsa City- County Health Department about the law. I will continue to monitor the situation. INQUIRIES Since the last O.E.D.A. meeting I have sent out six letters to prospects requesting demographic and other information. One letter was a response to an insurance company, one to a church, one to a business that may expand and three letters concerned potential new businesses. GOOD SAMS MEETINGS Vickie Nance and I continue to meet with a City Hall committee that seeks to attract a trailer club to Owasso next spring. We have met twice and will meet again in January. Logistics for the recreational vehicles and entertainment for the club members are O.E.D.A. Director's Report December 19, 1990 Page 3 the important issues that the committee has so far discussed. The event should generate a significant amount of retail sales for our merchants. DECEMBER CALENDAR OF MEETINGS AND EVENTS 3 - Owasso School Board, 7:30 p.m., Ator Elementary, 1500 North Ash. Special Meetings can be called. 5 - Owasso Chamber of Commerce Board Meeting, 10:45 a.m., Rayola Baptist Retirement Center. 5 - Owasso Chamber of Commerce Membership Luncheon, 12:00 p.m., Rayola Baptist Retirement Center Cafeteria. 8 - Christmas Parade, 9:30 a.m., 201 N. Main, call the Chamber to enter. 8 - Christmas Teen Dance, 8 p.m. -12 a.m., Owasso Middle School Gym, 86 N. Main St. 13 - Residential Christmas Lighting Contest Judging and Business Window Decorating Contest Judging. 18 - Owasso City Council, 7:00 p.m., Community Center, 301 S. Cedar. Special meetings can be called. 18 - Owasso Public Works Authority, Community Center, 301 S. Cedar, immediately following city council meetings. 19 - Owasso Ambassadors, 11:30 a.m., Golden Corral Restaurant, 7703 N. Mingo Valley Expressway. 19 - Owasso Economic Development Authority, 12:00 Noon, O.E.D.A. Conference Room, 315 S Cedar. Special meetings can be called. 20 - Grand Re- Opening Allstate Insurance, 3 -5 p.m., 8361 N. Mingo Valley Expressway. 20 - Christmas Business After Hours, 5 -7 p.m., Allstate Insurance & Rhythmic Notions Dance Studio, 8361 N. Mingo Valley Expressway. 24 & 25 - Christmas Holidays, Chamber Office closed. 26 - Owasso Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee Meeting, 12:00 Noon, Golden Corral Restaurant, 7703 N. Mingo Valley Expressway.