Menno Area Development Corporation
November 15, 2011
The Menno Area Development Corporation met for its regular meeting November 15, 2011 at the Open Door Café with the following present: Peg Thranum, Bill Headley, Bruce Anderson, Marsha Schelske, Nancy Larsen, David Bender, Glenn Kirschenman, Teresa Anderson, Shannon Herrboldt, Brent Haberman, Shawn Black, Donna Zeeb, Darlene Mehlhaf and Ken Bertsch.
President Haberman called the meeting to order at 12:15 p.m.
Schelske moved to approve the agenda with the following additions: Winter Fair/Vendor Blender & Donation/ Fire Department Rescue Truck; Bender seconded; all ayes.
Teresa Anderson moved to approve the minutes of the October 18 meeting. Bender seconded; all ayes.
Kirschenman moved to approve the finance report. Schelske seconded; all ayes. A thank you was sent to our anonymous benefactor for their generous donation toward the welcome signs.
SEFP REPORT: Larsen remains busy with clients, attending meetings and training sessions. She is busy preparing for the Career Fair in February. The Investors Reception will be held in Menno at the Legion on April 11. A suggestion was made to consider having a booth at the career fair to let students know what type of businesses we need in Menno.
Committee Reports – There were no committee reports.
Old business: Shop at home – Bender reported on the cost of having ads in the Area Wide Connection and the Hutchinson Herald. Members of MADC would have the opportunity to have one free ad placed within our ad at no cost to them once per year. Plans are to do this four times a year to encourage shopping in Menno. Kirschenman moved to place a half-page ad in the Area Wide Connection and the same ad in the Hutchinson Herald four times per year. The first MADC members that respond to the notice mailed to them will have their ads placed within our ad free once per year. Herrboldt seconded; all ayes.
Bertsch reported visiting with the DOT engineer for the Highway 18 project. Grass should be seeded and the fence put in after this week. We will obtain an easement from Dr. Friesen and should then be able to place the west side welcome sign.
New business: Haberman will speak to Stepanek to see if he will trench in the wiring to light the welcome signs. He will also speak to the mayor to confirm the city will pay for the lighting after it is installed.
We need someone to shovel the sidewalks on Fifth Street. A notice will be placed at the school and if we get no response from that, we will place an ad in the paper.
Teresa Anderson asked if MADC would sponsor a winter fair or vendor blender next year. We could hold it at the gym to offer more space for a larger selection of vendors. MADC members would be offered a discount on their booth price. Black moved to create a committee to put together a winter fair proposal and present it at the next meeting. Kirschenman seconded; all ayes. Haberman appointed Teresa as chairman of the committee.
Black moved to donate $100 toward the purchase of a new rescue truck for the fire department, Headley seconded. With one no vote, the ayes carried; motion passed.
Teresa Anderson moved to amend the amount donated to the fire department to $250. Headley seconded. Hearing no opposition, the motion passed.
Bruce Anderson asked if the group would help purchase flag kits for the new light poles along the highway. It was suggested he bring more information to the next meeting.
Our next meeting will be December 20, 2011 at 12 noon at the Open Door Café.
Herrboldt moved to adjourn at 1:05 p.m. Kirschenman seconded; all ayes.
You are invited to visit our web site at www.mennosd.org to participate in our survey. We are interested in knowing what type of services you wish were available in Menno. Some that were mentioned at our meeting were: small engine repair, car wash, service station, second hand store, car dealer, youth center.
Respectfully submitted, Peggy Thranum, Secretary