Menno Area Development Corporation

May 19, 2009

The Menno Area Development Corporation held its regular monthly meeting May 19, 2009 at the Open Door Café with the following present: Peg Thranum, Bill Headley, Dale Weiss, David Bender, Darlene Mehlhaf, Morna Anderson, Arlene Bertsch, Marsha Schelske, Ken Stepanek, Donna Zeeb, Ken Bertsch, Shannon Herrboldt, Brent Haberman and Teresa Anderson.

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

Marsha Schelske moved to approve the agenda. Morna Anderson seconded; motion carried.

Darlene Mehlhaf moved to approve the minutes. David Bender seconded; motion carried.

David Bender moved to approve the finance report. Marsha Schelske seconded; motion carried.

SEFP REPORT: Nancy Larsen was absent today. Her report included SD Sales & Use Tax Reports. They show taxable sales in 2008 are 139% of what they were in 1997. A highlight of her report was from Mark Slade, SBDC Regional Director from Sioux Falls. He spoke at the second Annual Corporate Luncheon in Sioux Falls last week. He shared with the group of investors the following comments concerning his 6-county area:

1. Out of the 260,666 population served; 3.2% of them are from Turner County

2. 4.8% of all his clients are from Turner County

3. He has had 71 clients in the last 5-years from Turner County with $5.5 million in capital needs

4. Turner County clients have the highest rate of success in all of the 6-county area in the past 5-years.

Slade contributes this success to Nancy Larsen of SEFP. “He does not have time to do all that Nancy does for each client as they prepare and package a business plan (research, marketing & management team development, business planning processes, etc.) SEFP is a valuable resource for anyone wanting to start, expand or retain a business.”

There were no committee reports given.

Business: The following committee was appointed to oversee the operation of the Rural Medical Clinic in Menno: Audrey Fergen, Ken Bertsch, David Bender and Darlene Mehlhaf.

The housing committee consists of Darlene Mehlhaf, Judy Headley, Brent Haberman, Shannon Herrboldt and Cindy Aisenbrey. They are to make contact with Elton Lehr to see if there is any land available for housing development. It was suggested to put a request on the web site that we are seeking housing developers that would be interested in putting up 2-bedroom apartments or other housing development in Menno.

We hope to have someone in the parade sponsoring the development corporation on July 4.

We will try to find someone that would donate the use of their equipment and dirt to fill in the lots on Fifth Street. Until then, we will just try to keep the weeds down.

Bertsch moved to spend up to $500 to cut the trees on the lots on High Street. Bender seconded; motion carried.

The car show is scheduled for August 22. Herrboldt stressed that we need judges for the car show. He will order trophies and get sponsors. There is discussion of having a tractor pull the next day at the Power Show site and would we want to sell food?

Our next meeting will be our Annual Meeting, June 16 at 7 p.m. at city hall. The board position held by Shannon Herrboldt for a 3-year term will be voted on.

Headley moved to adjourn at 1 p.m. Bender seconded; motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,

Peggy Thranum, Secretary