CITY OF Keene Economic Development Corporation (Type B) Board Meeting Minutes KEENE January 21, 2025, at 3:30 PM TEXAS Keene City Hall - Robert G. Cooper Council Chamber 1000 N. Old Betsy Rd., Cleburne, Texas 76031 Recorded Live Stream available at htps/www.youtube.com/@ctyofkeenetexas Present: Donnie Beeson, Charles Easley, Daniel Gathings, and Vice President Cheryl Schram Absent: President Ricky Stephens, Gary Heinrich City staff present: Jonathan Seitz, Don Martin, Holly Russell, Charles Williams, Chief Dan Warner 1. Call to Order, Invocation, Pledge of Allegiance Vice President Schram called the meeting to order at 3:33 p.m. 2. President's Remarks None were made. 3. City Administration Remarks Don Martin, Director of Neighborhood and Development Services, noted that all development projects are moving forward. The City has finally been able to secure a business that can repair the Eliza Carver Park sign, and the repairs will be soon. Jonathan Seitz, City Manager, commented on the progress on the developments in the city. Staff are waiting on a third quote for the electronic marquee and a fourth possible to come. 4. Public Comments Paul Gnadt, Keene Chamber of Commerce, thanked the Board for their continued support of the Keene Business Expo, which is planned for Sunday, February 23, 2025. This will be the 21st year for the expo. The Chamber luncheon is Thursday this week, and the Jonson County Judge will be the speaker. Phillip Jackson, 420 S. Old Betsy Rd, Ste. A, announced that he will be placing a Certificate of Occupancy application for that address. More information to be provided soon. 5. General A. Review, discuss, and consider the minutes of the regular Keene EDC (Type B) Board meeting held on December 17, 2024. A motion was made to accept the minutes of the regular Keene EDC (Type B) Board meeting held on December 17, 2024, as presented. The motion carried. Motion made by Beeson, Seconded by Gathings. Voting Yea: Beeson, Easley, Gathings, Vice President Schram B. Review, discuss, and consider the approval of the minutes for the joint Keene Economic Development Corporation Board workshop held on January 6, 2025. A motion was made to accept the minutes of the minutes for the joint Keene Economic Development Corporation Board workshop held on January 6, 2025, as presented. The motion carried. Motion made by Easley, Seconded by Gathings. Voting Yea: Beeson, Easley, Gathings, Vice President Schram EDC-B Meeting minutes Page I 1 C. Receive, discuss, and consider the Keene EDC (Type B) Board Financial Report for the month ending December 31, 2024. Charles Williams, Finance Consultant, gave an overview of the financials for the month of December 2024. He reported that the sales tax has a been on a decline recently, but predicts it to pick up again in January or February. Expenditures have been and continue to be conservative, and the Money Market account continues to perform well. A motion was made to accept the Keene EDC (Type B) Board Financial Report for the month ending December 31, 2024, as presented. The motion carried. Motion made by Beeson, Seconded by Gathings. Voting Yea: Beeson, Easley, Gathings, Vice President Schram D. Review, discuss, and consider recommending to Council the reappointment of members whose term two-year terms expire March 1, 2025: Charles Easley, Cheryl Schram, Ricky Stephens. A motion was made to recommend to Council the re-appointment of EDC-B Board Members Schram, Stephens, and Easley for another two-year term. The motion carried. Motion made by Beeson, Seconded by Gathings. Voting Yea: Beeson, Easley, Gathings, Vice President Schram E. Review, discuss, and consider the applications received from Jimmy Alcala, Phillip Jackson, Cody Laux, and Nellie Youngberg for appointment to the Keene EDC (Type B) Board to fill one vacancy for the term ending March 2026 and any possible open Board appointments for the term ending March 2027. Vice President Schram noted she spoke to Mr. Acala and gave an overview of his involvement in the city, introduced Mrs. Youngberg, Mr. Jackson, and Mr. Laux. A motion was made to recommend to Council the appointment of Nellie Youngberg to the Keene EDC (Type B) Board to fill one vacancy for the term ending March 2026. The motion carried. Motion made by Easley, Seconded by Beeson. Voting Yea: Beeson, Easley, Gathings, Vice President Schram F. Review, discuss, and consider the purchase and installation of an additional secondary outdoor warning siren. Chief Dan Warner, Keene Fire Department, and Destiny Beuclear, Emergency Management Intern, presented information on the obsolete sirens that are installed around the city. Chief Warner also serves as the Emergency Management Coordinator for the City. He shared the location of known sirens, and explained that they are over 60 years old and nonfunctional. They were donated from another city that upgraded their outdoor warning system some time ago, and were installed around Keene but never made functional. Removal of the 2T22 will be expensive, some being rather easy and some taking a crane to assist with the removal to keep property and people safe. Another option is the sirens can be removed from the poles, and the poles repurposed for migratory wildlife. Should the Board wish to look into purchasing a second siren, Chief Warner stated he will look into getting cost quotes and bring them back to the Board for consideration. He estimates the cost for purchase and installation being somewhere around $50,000. The Board asked Chief Warner to move forward with investigating a second siren compatible with the current siren system and also for something like what the City of Burleson has. EDC-B Meeting minutes Page I 2 6. Executive Session There was no Executive Session held. 7. Reconvene into Open Session There was no Executive Session held. 8. Requests for Future Agenda Items Sidewalks on Old Betsy Rd - update on meeting with TxDOT Lighting for the Pickleball Courts Prioritize projects and ideas - possible future workshop? Drainage plans from the Engineers for the ball fields 9. Adjourn Vice President Schram adjourned the meeting at 4:32 p.m. Approved on this 18th day of March 2025. Approved By; Presiding Ebard Member Attest: Fellyj bibsepl Holly Russpn, City Secretary EDC-B Meeting minutes Page I 3