03-05-1987
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CITY OF EDGEWATER
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD
REGULAR MEETING
THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 1987
7:00 P.M.
COMMUNITY CENTER
MINUTES
Chairman Florence Baker called to order a regular meeting of the
Industrial Development Board at 7:08 P.M., Thursday, March 5, 1987,
in the Community Center.
ROLL CALL:
Members present were Florence Baker, Dale Andrew and Robert Richards.
Caryl Middleton was excused and Ralph A. Racca was absent. Also
present were Beverly Kinney, Board Secretary, Bo Becker of Senator
Chiles office, David Lee Davis of Congressman Chappell's office and
one member of the press.
There were members from various Veteran's groups present along with
Mayor Earl Baugh, Councilman Asting, J. Roland Smith, chairman of
the Industrial Development Board of New Smyrna Beach, Michael Cooney
of Volusia County Business Development Corporation, Al Masserini of
the Volusia, Lake and Flagler Count~e~ Private Industry Council. Tim
Theriot of Watercraft America and Georgia Flynn of Congressman
Chappell's office.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
The minutes of February 11, 1987, were presented for approval. Due to
the lack of a quorum the minutes are to be held until the next regular
meeting. Mrs. Baker pointed out the name Lou Fryer should be Lou
Fifer.
OLD BUSINESS:
Staffing of the Board: Mrs. Baker asked if ads for available positions
on the Board were being run in the newspaper. The Secretary was asked
to look into it. Mrs. Baker stated she had several prospects.
Plans for Industry Week: Mrs. Baker stated she talked with Mike
Cooney and he had some very good suggestions. He will be the speaker
at the next regular meeting of the Industrial Development Board.
Mr. Cooney is attempting to find out when the Economic Development
Committee of Tallahassee is planning to have Industry Week throughout
the State of Florida.
There being no further old business, Mrs. Baker moved into new business.
NEW BUSINESS:
Mrs. Baker introduced Mr. Bo Becker of Senator Chiles office and Mr.
David Lee Davis of Congressman Chappell's office, guest speakers for
the meeting regarding federal contracts and foreign competition.
Mrs. Baker explained Mr. Becker was geared more towards programs and
asked him to elaborate. Mr. Becker explained that if a person has
a problem with a federal government agency, Senator Chiles office
can act as a liaison. An example would be finding out how to bid on
a project, or sell a product to a federal government agency. Mr.
Becker stated he was also familiar with some of the government and
quasi-government agencies. Mr. Becker stated due to budget cuts
the Small Business and Minority Business Centers are being combined
with the Small Business Administration and their future is uncertain.
The Small Business Administration basically provides publications,
loans and loan assistance to the small businessperson. The Small
Business Development Center is funded partially through the federal
government and other funding, and they are very well versed in federal
programs and private industry in the area. The Minority Business
Center is mainly an advocate for the minority businessman.
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Guest Speakers Bo Becker and David Lee Davis continued: Mrs. Baker
opened the floor for questions. Mr. Paul Starker asked why so many
companies .are subcontracting work to foreign countries when we have
enough veterans looking for jobs. Mr. Becker stated there were trade
bills being considered and developed which may help. A certain per-
centage of business is to go to U.S. businesses on contracts and
Senator Chiles office is aware we are exporting more than we import.
Mr. David Lee Davis stated many of the corporations that we do bus-
iness with in the U.S. is in defense contracts, and many of those
are with multi-national corporations. Congressman Chappell tries to
ensure that much of the contract is done within the continental U.S.
Mrs. Baker read a portion of Federal Regulation 201.2 regarding sub-
contracts for veterans. Mrs. Baker stated everyone present was
supporting the efforts of Congressman Chappell and Senator Chiles.
Mr. Davis explained that Congressman Chappell has been fighting to
get government contracts to Watercraft America along with other
companies in the area. Mrs. Georgia Flynn of Congressman Chappell's
office brought the head of the Navy Procurement Office here to show
the local companies what they could do to get parts of the federal
contracts available. There is a possibility of an office going in
to Daytona Beach to further help these businesses. Mr. Davis stated
there were many large companies looking at this area to relocate some
of their major industry.
Tim Theriot of Watercraft America stated his company had lost six
(6) of seven (7) federal contracts they bid on in the past two (2)
years, because of foreign competition. Watercraft America was recently
awarded a federal contract for TAO's to be built in England and
shipped to the U.S, because if they were built in Edgewater a Bolivian
company would have underbid Watercraft and won the contract. Mr.
Theriot also explained their other contracts are running out and
the company is hoping for other contracts to be awarded to them.
Mr. Starker stated the veterans present had fought to keep this
country alive and he felt that contracts going to foreign countries
was wrong. He mentioned General Dynamics building american military
equipment overseas. Mr. Becker and Mr. Davis were not aware of such
plans and promised to look into it.
Mr. R. H. Ross stated the U.S. should tax the foreign countries in
the same manner they are taxing us, an then maybe they would "play
ball."
Mrs. Baker asked Mr. Becker and Mr. Davis to please send a quarterly
report to the Industrial Development Board and in turn a copy would
be given to the local Veteran's organizations.
Mr. Floyd Briggs, a local commercial fisherman, stated he was very
concerned at the lost sale of some species, Red Bass, King Mackerel,
and Speckeled Trout, but fishing is our livelthoods and is a very
essential food, more so than vegetables. He felt Florida should
maintain good fishing within the state. He also pointed out he was
not against business and industry coming in, but the point he was
trying to make was to keep pollution of the waters to a minimum.
He said the spraying for Medflies will just pollute the waters even
more. Mr. Davis stated that was not really in their area, but
Congressman Chappell is aware of the problem and is trying to get some
of the problems straightened out, and there should be good news
coming from Tallahassee soon.
Mrs. Baker thanked everyone for coming and read an excerpt from
Henry Ford for Mr. Davis and Mr. Becker.
Mr. Becker and Mr. Davis stated not to hesitate to contact Congressman
Chappell's office or Senator Chiles office if anyone had a problem.
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting
was duly adjourned at 8:00 P.M.
Minutes respectfully submitted by:
Beverly Kinney, Board Secretary
Industrial Development Board
Regular Meeting, March 5, 1987
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