04/18/2005 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Regular Council Meeting 4-18-OS Page 17 dying and everybody has been talking about it that whole time and it has obviously been before I came along and I think it is time that we did something to resunect the whole area and this could be a stepping stone for it. I personally look at it as an investment and we aren't the only Village or city or township in the world that is willing to go out and get some of this business and I think it is competitive. Mr. Panzica said we actually have 3 companies ready to move into this space; as soon as enactment of this Resolution, they are going to bring the majority of the jobs we are talking about within this resolution in a really short time frame. So they are sitting in the wings and waiting and if this doesn't pass, they have offers from other communities to go there. So that is where we are at right now. We are actually ready to go. Mr. Saponaro said the other thing as I was looking at this and as I looked at the 2020 Plan last night and reviewed everything, it seems to me that this Village has talked about having an Economic Development Director of some sort in our future. To me, this could be a good opportunity for us to meet that need but I am also encouraged by the fact that we do have a"look back" period. This is not a contract that Council has to approve for years and years down the road. We have the opportunityto review, tweak this. I am sure that you want the opportunity to review it and tweak it also because there may be changes along the way. As a Councilman and an attorney, I am ways comfortable with having an opportunity to review and to renegotiate relationships so from that perspective I think that how it is set forth and because we are already committed to the fact that we have to revitalize Beta and in revitalizing Beta it helps the rest of the community. I lend my support for this. Mrs. Mills said Finance Committee as a whole was very much in favor of this; we discussed it very thoroughly. Mayor Rinker said I said something at the outset and I will just reiterate here plus I am very encouraged by the observation of Council members. We have to step forward; we have to look forward. I think this is a very tangible way to do it. As represented, these are ongoing businesses; they are ready to make the commitment and we know there is competition out there big time. Pick up Crain's every week and you see it all over the place. And there is no point in being complacent and I see this as a very good, secure investment. Whatever the risk might be, I think return is going to be ten-fold. Council President Buckholtz said and I learned this from Bruce, I'd just like to take advantage of the Chair and make one final comment on my position here. I talked until wee in the morning with Dr. Parker, sort of, and it is funny that we shared one side of the view but it kind of went different ways. I think it definitely does send a message and send a signal and I think that public/private partnerships, alliances; I think that is just the nature of making it work; of working together and sharing it. Where I am not always sure of the numbers or where they are going; that is why I made the comment (and I wasn't being facetious) Mr. Jochum made of Mr. Brett; I see the vision and we are talking about a major stakeholder in this Village. I don't think it is going to lend to other people hopping on the bandwagon and saying, hey pay my rent. I think this is a visionary thing and are hoping for the best and we are putting our faith in it so that is what I discussed last night. Council President Buckholtz asked, any other discussion.