PDA signs lease for Rees Park Economic Development Center

The Americus-Sumter Payroll Development Authority (PDA) got down to business at its regular monthly meeting Tuesday, with talk of One Georgia grants and a review of insurance of all properties the PDA owns.

The first matter was a resolution making the PDA the conduit for One Georgia grants and loans for projects in Andersonville and Plains. The amount of the loans are $200,000 each.

"We would be the applicant," said PDA Executive Director David Garriga. "The money comes to us and we disburse it."

PDA member Scott Ivey asked if the amounts would be in the resolution. Garriga said they were not.  "I think we need ... the amounts," Ivey said. So, Garriga called the Middle Flint Regional Development Center (RDC) to speak to Kay Haigler to find the amounts. 

While Garriga was consulting with the RDC, PDA attorney Mike Fennessy said it was time to sign a lease from the City of Americus for the PDA's space in the Rees Park Economic Development Center.  "The city is requesting leases from all occupants," Fennessy said. He explained the City wants the leases signed by July 1, but it may be after that the agencies get to move in.  Fennessy said it's a one-year lease renewable every 10 years, and the rent is $10 per year; however, the PDA - as well as other agencies, have to pay their pro rata share per square footage of utilities, pest control and cleaning service, among other maintenance issues.  "We also have to maintain liability insurance," Fennessy said.  "All of this is very appropriate for what we're doing and very routine," he said.

Having gotten the amounts for the loans, Garriga returned and the PDA voted unanimously on the resolution to be the conduit for the One Georgia funds.

The PDA authorized the signing of the Archway Project agreement between the City, County, PDA and Sumter County School System.  The way the project works is that all entities will help fund an unbiased individual without an interest in the community to pool state, local and University of Georgia resources to help solve problems in the community.  PDA member Juanita Wilson gave the example of Moultrie, a Southwest Georgia town that saw it had a shortage of nurses. Using the Archway project, the town solved the nursing shortage. "This person wouldn't have any loyalty to anything the community," Wilson explained.

 "I think this is a great opportunity," said PDA member Mike Donnelly.

The agreement is a year-to-year contract and the PDA would pay one-fifth of the total local match cost.

The agreement passed unanimously.

The next item was a long one, and it had to do with property and casualty insurance, and Raymond Baldwin of the Baldwin Agency gave a presentation to the PDA.

Baldwin said the PDA's current insurance carrier ‚ Travelers, dropped them.  "They made the decision they had carried vacant buildings long enough," Baldwin said. He said they had sent him a letter of non-renewal for PDA-owned properties.  Baldwin explained the idea of insuring vacant buildings scares most insurance companies.  Another carrier, Liberty Mutual, had provided a "very, very comparable proposal," Baldwin said.  The PDA owns two unoccupied buildings, the property at 400 Martin Marietta Drive and the old Lockheed Martin facility. Baldwin explained the deductibles on those buildings would be higher than on occupied buildings, under the new plan.  The deductibles on occupied buildings are $10,000, but the deductibles on the unoccupied buildings are $25,000. This would be under the Liberty Mutual plan.  After gathering quotes and discussions, the PDA had some issues they wanted addressed with more research by Baldwin, and he said he would do the research, gather more quotes and remit a letter to Garriga's office.

The PDA approved the recommendations from Phase II Consulting for the Sumter Regional Physician Assistance Program.

The last major topic of discussion was the lease from Vericorr, a business that has been affected by the closing of Collins & Aikman, explained Garriga.  After some discussion, it was determined that representatives of the PDA would speak with representatives from the company on an agreeable monthly rent.

Garriga said he expects an announcement this week, in regards to a company that wants to locate in Sumter County. He said the food processing plant has already committed.

He said new companies would provide the community with 300 to 400 jobs this year