PRESENT:

MIKE FITZGERALD, CHAIRMAN
SUE COLLINS, VICE CHAIRMAN
JOSEPH GILLIS, SECRETARY
TODD RULISON, TREASURER
JOSEPH SEMIONE, MEMBER
DAVID D’AMORE, MEMBER
GREG TRUCKENMILLER, MEMBER
JAMES MRAZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
KARA LAIS, FITZGERALD, MORRIS, BAKER, FIRTH PC
SCOTT HENZE, PLANNING DIRECTOR
DENIS WILSON, FULTON COUNTY CENTER FOR REGIONAL GROWTH
JACK WILSON, TOWN OF JOHNSTOWN
CHRISTINE VAN VALKENBURGH, TOWN OF JOHNSTOWN
TRAVIS MITCHELL, P.E., ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN PARTNERSHIP

MOTION        :           Accept as presented.
MADE BY      :           Dr. Greg Truckenmiller
SECONDED  :           Mike Fitzgerald
VOTE             :           Unanimous

MOTION        :           Accept as presented.
MADE BY      :           Joseph Semione
SECONDED  :           Sue Collins
VOTE             :           Unanimous

A. Nominating Committee

• No report.

B. Audit Committee:

• Monthly Bank Reconciliation Report:  Mike Fitzgerald

IDA DISCUSSION:   Mike Fitzgerald approved the Monthly Bank Reconciliation Reports.

C. Governance Committee:

• No report.

D. Finance Committee:

•  No report.

1. Fulton County Report:
2. FCCRG Report: (See attached.)  Denis Wilson

IDA DISCUSSION:  Denis Wilson reviewed the FCCRG’s monthly report that was attached to the Agenda.

• Nexus still expecting to receive National Grid’s approval of the interconnect in 3^rd quarter of 2023.
• Once interconnect approval is received, Nexus will obtain quotes to construct solar project.

1. Tryon Electric Service:

• NG is currently implementing a project that will bring an additional 5-7 MW of distribution level power to Tryon. That project should be done in the 4Q of ’24 or early ’25.
• NG has said that if a company wants to move to Tryon and it needs 13.2 kV distribution level power, NG is obligated to provide that power at their cost.
• WE will rely on the 5-7 MW of additional power NG is bringing to Tryon. If WE is successful in attracting companies to Tryon that would use all of this 5-7 MW of additional power, WE would then rely on NG to bring more distribution level power to Tryon.  This approach will limit WE to only working with companies that need 13.2 level of power or less.
• WE is also exploring incorporating co-generation into future projects to generate the additional power needed that was not available from NG’s 13.2 service.

• Punchlist was prepared and submitted to Koval.
• Once punchlist is complete, final payment will be processed.
• At August meeting, the Board authorized installing an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) on the sewer pump and changing some programming on the pumps to allow them to automatically restart when the generator shuts off.
• UPS has been ordered.

1. Sales Tax Exemptions:
   a) On July 13, 2021, the IDA Board approved granting up to $2,251,520 in sales tax exemptions.
   b) On August 9, 2022, the IDA Board authorized increasing the total sales tax exemptions available from $2,251,520 to $3,284,534 contingent upon Vireo signing either a standard Lease or an Agent and Equipment Lease.
   c) On May 9, 2023, the IDA Board authorized extending from May 31, 2023 to October 31, 2023 the deadline for using sales tax exemptions. This approval was granted contingent upon Vireo signing an Agent and Equipment Lease and paying the balance of the Administrative Fee owed the IDA.
   d) To date, the Lease has not been executed.

• IDA Board must adopt a 2024 Budget by November 1, 2023.
• Draft 2024 Budget is attached.
• Key details include:
  – Proposed budget totals $244,220 which is an increase of $40,600 from 2023.
  – Proposed Tryon Budget totals $15,450 which is an increase of $3,150 from 2023.
• See attached.

IDA DISCUSSION:  Jim Mraz reviewed the information on the Agenda.  He reviewed the proposed Tryon and IDA Budgets.  With respect to the Tryon Budget, he explained that the increase in insurance was due to the fact that the 2023 Budget had assumed that the IDA would be selling all of the land at Tryon to Winstanley.  This resulted in reducing the insurance line item in the 2023 Budget to $1,000.  Since the IDA did not sell the land to Winstanley, the insurance line item for 2024 is back up to $4,200.  With respect to the IDA Budget, he reviewed each of the line items in the proposed 2024 Budget.  He stated the two (2) increases in expenses were adding dollars for the updating the County’s Development Strategy and for marketing of the Crossroads Business Park.  He asked if there were any questions.  Mike Fitzgerald suggested consolidating the Tryon Budget into the main IDA budget.  After a brief discussion, it was the consensus of all IDA members present to have Jim Mraz consolidate the Tryon into the main IDA Budget and present that revised budget at the next meeting.  Sue Collins stated that, if the IDA is going to become a sponsor of next year’s Brownfield Summit, dollars should be added in the budget for that.  Jim Mraz suggested adding a line item for sponsorships in general.  All IDA members present agreed to have this added to the budget.

• NYSEDC’s Fall IDA Academy will be held on:

Thursday
November 9, 2023
9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
3 Willows Event Center
Lyon Falls, New York

• See Agenda attached.
• Anyone interested in attending should contact Jim Mraz or Carol Ellis to get registered.

IDA DISCUSSION:  Jim Mraz reviewed the information on the Agenda.  He referenced the Agenda that was attached to the meeting Agenda.  He stated that if anyone is interested in attending this event to contact either he or Carol to get registered.

• Rural Housing Coalition’s Annual Conference will be held on:

Monday-Wednesday
September 18-20, 2023
Lake George, NY

IDA DISCUSSION:  Jim Mraz reviewed the information on the Agenda.  He stated if anyone is interested in attending this conference to contact either he or Carol to get registered.

1. Uniform Tax Exemption Policy (UTEP):
   
   a. Draft Revised UTEP:

• At the last several meetings, the IDA Board has discussed making changes to the Agency’s UTEP.
• All of the proposed changes have been incorporated into a draft revised UTEP.
• Draft revised UTEP emailed to IDA Board members on August 30, 2023.
• Review draft revised UTEP.

 b. Next Step:

• Approve proposed changes and authorize distribution of draft revised UTEP to local taxing jurisdictions.

IDA DISCUSSION:  Jim Mraz reviewed the information on the Agenda.  Copies of the proposed changes to the UTEP were distributed to all IDA members.  Jim Mraz reviewed the proposed changes which included adding a number of definitions and adding new PILOT schedules for different types of projects.  He stated these proposed changes are the ones the Board had been discussing over the past several meetings.  After reviewing all of the proposed changes, he stated the next step would be, if the Board is comfortable with these changes, to approve them and to the authorize him to distribute copies of the draft changes to all local taxing jurisdictions.  He asked if there were any questions.  There were none.

IDA ACTION:

MOTION:                   To approve the proposed changes to the UTEP as presented and to authorize the Executive Director to distribute copies of these changes to all local taxing jurisdictions.

MADE BY:                 Dr. Greg Truckenmiller
SECONDED:             Dave D’Amore
VOTE:                        Unanimous

1. Upon a majority vote of its total membership, taken in an open meeting pursuant to a motion identifying the general area or areas of the subject or subjects to be considered, a public body may conduct an executive session for the below enumerated purposes only, provided, however, that no action by formal vote shall be taken to appropriate public moneys:

i. matters which will imperil the public safety if disclosed;
ii. any matter which may disclose the identity of a law enforcement agent or informer;
iii. information relating to current or future investigation or prosecution of a criminal offense which would imperil effective law enforcement if disclosed;
iv. discussions regarding proposed, pending or current litigation;
v. collective negotiations pursuant to article fourteen of the civil service law;
vi. the medical, financial, credit or employment history of a particular person or corporation, or matters leading to the appointment, employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal or removal of a particular person or corporation;
vii. the preparation, grading or administration of examinations;
viii. the proposed acquisition, sale or lease of real property or the proposed acquisition of securities, or sale or exchange of securities held by such public body, but only when publicity would substantially affect the value thereof.

MOTION:  To go into Executive Session to discuss the proposed acquisition, sale or lease of real property or the proposed acquisition of securities, or sale or exchange of securities held by such public body, but only when publicity would substantially affect the value thereof.

MADE BY      :           Sue Collins
SECOND        :           Dr. Greg Truckenmiller
VOTE             :           Unanimous
TIME              :           8:25 a.m.

MOTION        :           To go out of Executive Session.

MADE BY      :           Sue Collins
SECOND        :           Todd Rulison
VOTE             :           Unanimous
TIME              :           9:46 a.m.

Tuesday
October 10, 2023
8:00 a.m.

MOTION        :           To close the meeting.
MADE BY      :           Sue Collins
SECONDED  :           Todd Rulison
VOTE             :           Unanimous

TIME              :           9:46 a.m.