Minutes of Menno Area Development Meeting

January 17, 2006

 

The Menno Area Development Corporation held its regular meeting at the Open Door Café on January 17 with the following in attendance: Peg Thranum, Darlene Mehlhaf, Nancy Larsen, Lee Friesen, Wilma Liebl, Glenn Kirschenman, Gary Herman, Teresa Anderson, Morna Anderson, David Bender, Brent Haberman, Dale Weiss, Shannon Herrboldt, Mike Hauck, Donna Zeeb, Ken Stepanek, Marsha Schelske, Mark Anderson, Calvin Hagge, Alice Hagge, and Brenda Edelman.

 

 President Dale Weiss called the meeting to order at 12:15 p.m.

 

Marsha Schelske moved to approve the agenda as presented; Wilma Liebl seconded, all present in favor.

 

David Bender made a motion to approve the minutes of the December 20 meeting and the January finance report. Gary Herman seconded, all present in favor.

 

Nancy Larsen gave the SEFP report. Since Nancy began as facilitator, Menno has had 24 inquiries, 17 clients, 4 retained businesses and 1 business start-up. The Career Fair is February 17 at the Menno Gym from 9-12:30. Help is needed to do mock job interviews.

 

Committee Reports: Plans are to tear the existing motel building down this spring and put up a fence as per our purchase agreement. The Power Show has expressed interest in part of the building, to be moved out to Pioneer Acres.

 

Lee Friesen presented some ideas about the grocery store. The ideal solution would be for someone to buy it. He talked about possibly running it as a cooperative. More research and information need to be gathered and if this was a real possibility, public informational meetings would need to be held. The grocery warehouse would establish the selling price for the store. He stated a new store with fixtures would cost $700,000.

 

Dave Bender is working on ideas for an ad campaign to encourage shopping in Menno that would feature a monthly drawing.

 

Teresa Anderson made a motion to pay all the taxes on the motel, $186.78. Brenda Edelman seconded, all present in favor; motion carried.

 

Our next meeting will be February 21 at the Open Door Café at 12:00 noon.

 

Dave Bender made a motion to adjourn at 1:05 p.m. Brent Haberman seconded, all present in favor.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Peggy Thranum, Secretary