Economic development top priority for Intergovernmental Council

The Poinsett County Intergovernmental Council met at Tyronza with Alan McVey of the Arkansas State University Delta Center for Economic Development Tuesday, Oct. 13 to discuss ways they can work together and strengthen the community.

McVey reminded the mayors on the council, as well as County Judge Charles Nix, that he is conducting focus group meetings in the county in hopes of gathering information to construct a plan for economic development.

"We are looking to you to help us," McVey said. "This strategic plan is yours. It's based on what you give us. Once we can find a common ground for us to build on, we can identify the issues in the county. And prioritize those issues ... whether it is education, housing, transportation ... and we work on those. Maybe we can help more than just one town in this community."

McVey said the ASU Delta Center of Economic Development will assist in creating the vehicle needed to make those changes.

"We will help you carry those plans forward," he said. "If you need to do anything, we will help you."

Harrisburg Mayor Donnie Faulkner said Poinsett County sits in the middle of several counties thriving on economic development. He said it's time to join in.

"We have got Craighead, Greene, Mississippi and Jackson Countys all around us and they are having great successes in economic development," Faulkner said. "We need to work together to do this."

"This is not an economic recruitment plan," McVey stressed. "We are discussing what needs to be put in place to recruit industries. What is it that will help you compete with these other counties? Is it something like education or is it some other resource?"

Faulkner said the focus groups need to bring in members of the farming community.

"They need to know what is in it for them," he said.

Tyronza Mayor Marion Bearden and Weiner Mayor Arthur Booth agreed more housing opportunities would be good in the area. The two further agreed that maybe "spec" housing could be the way to go. This would be where builders would construct homes for purchase and not a situation where the landowner had plans drawn up for the home they want built for them.

"It is important for us to work together toward a common goal," Nix said. "This was a good meeting. Good dialogue. Good to see everyone sharing the same goals."

In other business, the mayors shared what was going on in their respective towns.

Tyronza - Bearden said that it was just important that in this economy, the town is holding it's own. She also invited the other mayor's to participate in the community lip syncing event at 7 p.m. on Nov. 7.

Marked Tree - Mayor Dickson Chandler said his town has a lot of projects going on. He said the city is extending the airport runway by 500 feet to a total of 3,200 feet.

"We are using state and federal money to complete this project," Chandler said. "We are hoping this extension will help draw some industry interest."

Chandler said they will also install a set of hangars at the airport using an 80/20 state and city grant. He said despite not having the hangars built, he has already rented them out on a five-year contract for $125 per month. They will also install a fuel tank at the airport that users can use and pay for with a credit card. He said this will draw in some different people to the area.

Chandler said lights are ready to go up at the park in Marked Tree.

"We've got the walking track already being used," he said. "We are considering renting a helicopter to install the lights."

Harrisburg - Faulkner said the new Rusken Packaging has 30 employees at their facility. The mayor hopes to have a total of 60 employees by year's end.

Faulkner also hopes to have a senior citizens center open by Thanksgiving. The facility will be 4,300 square feet. "This will be a real nice addition for our senior citizens," he said.

Trumann - Mayor Sheila Walters said the city is using portions of the one-percent sales tax money generated to fix up city-owned buildings around town.

Walters said the city will have its Christmas parade on the second Thursday in December. She said there will be a city of angels theme.

Weiner - Booth discussed how successful the Rice Festival was this year and thanked all who coordinated the event.

"I enjoyed this festival more than any other year," he said. "The parade was lots of fun."

He said the city will apply for funding for a new fire station.

"The current fire station is about 50-years-old," he said. "We have four trucks and a rescue unit and I don't believe it could withstand an earthquake."

The mayors also heard from Frank Kraft, Poinsett's County's office of emergency management coordinator. Kraft told the mayors about a $60,000 Homeland Security Grant they received.

Kraft said they have started a Civilian Emergency Response Team and that he would like to have CERTs in all areas of the county.

"I would like to see us get about 20 individuals per city that are not already involved with police, fire or rescue," he said.

CERTs are valuable in the event of a disaster because they sweep the areas they are familiar with checking for deaths, injuries, missing individuals or major damage while reporting the information obtained to police, fire and rescue.

"The CERT members will be the eyes and ears for the police, fire and rescue," Kraft said.

Kraft also discussed the H1N1 virus, or swine flu.

"Keep using hand sanitizer, cough into your elbow and carrying wipes," he said. "The little things keep you safe, especially first responders."