Minutes of Menno Area Development Meeting

March 15, 2005

 

The Menno Area Development Corporation held its regular meeting at the Open Door Café on March 15 with the following in attendance: Peg Thranum, Darlene Mehlhaf, Wilma Liebl, Glenn Kirschenman, Bruce Anderson, Bill Headley, Teresa Anderson, Dale Weiss, Donna Zeeb, Cindy Aisenbrey, Dennis Aisenbrey, Gary Herman, Dorothy Harnisch, Gary Schelske, Marsha Schelske, Nancy Larsen, and Shannon Herrboldt.

 

President Weiss called the meeting to order at 12:20 p.m.

 

Bruce Anderson moved to approve the agenda as amended with the following additions: Governor’s Economic Development Conference, Group Tourism Workshop, and Post Prom. Larry Tolzin seconded, all present in favor.

 

Wilma Liebl made a motion to approve the minutes of the February 15 meeting and the March finance report. Cindy Aisenbrey seconded, all present in favor.

 

Nancy Larsen gave the SEFP report and reported on the Career Fair. Menno will host the Career Fair in 2006.

 

Committee Reports: Everyone is encouraged to email community events information to tjean81@yahoo.com and Tammy will post it ASAP!

 

Dale Weiss, Wesley Schaeffer, and a few others went to look at the motel. Their opinion is this: the price for the property is fair, but they suggest tearing down the old building and constructing a similar new one. A couple rooms would be finished off and the rest used as storage until enough money is accumulated to finish off some more rooms.

 

Following further discussion, Cindy Aisenbrey made a motion to purchase the Menno Motel property from Fred Sayler for the price of $12,000 (Fred stated he wanted this amount at the January 18, 2005 meeting.) Marsha Schelske seconded. A ballot vote was taken with 17 voting yes and 1 voting no. Motion carried.

 

Larry and Barb Tolzin, Wilma Liebl, and Peg Thranum will serve as the committee for the Playground Fund Raiser. We were asked to serve coffee and cookies on July 2, 2005 during registration for the All-School Reunion. Members will be asked to donate cookies or bars for the event and the money raised will go toward the purchase of the new playground equipment for the city park.

 

Dale forgot to bring the MADC logos to the meeting, so this will be tabled to next month.

 

Thranum was approached by J&P Menagerie, owned by Jim & Penny Dolezal, about bringing their Mobile Petting Zoo to the 4th of July Celebration. They get $300 for the 1st day, $250 for the 2nd day, and $200 for each additional day, plus an additional $1 per mile after 50 miles. They are from Tama, IA and have llamas, goats, a donkey, mini horses, sheep, poultry, rabbits, and more. It was the consensus of the group to thank them for their offer, but we aren’t interested.

 

The Governor’s Economic Development Conference is April 5-6, 2005 in Pierre at the Ramkota. Tolzin will check if he can attend.

 

Cindy Aisenbrey will try to attend the free workshop in Yankton about “How to Strike Gold with Group Tourism” that is being sponsored by the Yankton Convention and Visitors Bureau and held at the Regional Technical Education Center on March 31 from 8-11 a.m.

 

Teresa Anderson addressed the group about Post Prom donations. She is going to give a percentage of the profits from her prom receipts to the Post Prom Committee in Menno Money so the donation will stay in Menno.

 

Cindy Aisenbrey shared an interesting article from the February 24, 2005 edition of the Press & Dakotan concerning the impact Wal-Mart has on the local economy. Once they’ve driven out the competition they set prices where they want them!

 

Bruce Anderson asked if we advertised at any area sports shows. We did in Omaha a year ago through the Southeast South Dakota Tourism Association. He stated his son has a booth booked for next year and we could possibly have some brochures at his booth.

 

Wilma Liebl asked for help Friday evening setting up for the Welcome Home program for the 153rd Engineer Battalion National Guard unit that is to be held March 19 at the Menno city-school gym.

 

Our next meeting will be held at the Open Door at 12 noon on April 19, 2005.

 

Larry Tolzin made a motion to adjourn at 1:10 p.m. Gary Herman seconded, all present in favor.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Peggy Thranum, Secretary