KEDC hopes for Foreign Trade Zone expansion
By KATHRYN MARTINEZ news1@kilgorenewsherald.com

Kilgore Economic Development Corporation officials are in Washington D.C. at the office of foreign-trade zone officials to request letters of approval on an application submitted to extend the foreigntrade zone at East Texas Regional Airport to include Synergy Park.

Amanda Nobles, KEDC executive director, told KEDC Board of Directors at last night's meeting that Scott Taylor, grant writer, will also attend the meeting scheduled in an effort to garner support for the expansion.

According to Nobles, Synergy Park tenant Berco is pushing the hardest for the application to go through because Berco has an immediate application for use.

Nobles also told board members Orgill, Inc., another Synergy Park business, has scheduled its grand opening for Saturday, March 15. The company has decided to keep the ceremony low-key, but intends to invite public officials and dignitaries, who have shown interest and support throughout the project, for a tour of the facility.

In other reports, Nobles told the board Elder Lake Road is nearing completion, with only a few items left on the project punch list; a parking lot on the north side of Elder Lake is complete; the trail at the upper pond has been repaired and had an armored culvert installed; and, the park's security tower has been erected and surveillance equipment installed.

Lisa Denton, economic development specialist, said since the tower cameras - and others throughout the park - were installed, vandalism and mischief activities have been reduced.

Denton told the board two of the cameras are point-andzoom capable and one is stationary. She added that the cameras at the pavilion and restroom area are infrared.

The board considered discussion and took action on several items associated with the development of Synergy Park, including a request received from Dana Sneed, adjacent landowner and private airport operator, to have access granted to a parcel of land that joins his at the end of his airport runway. Sneed asked that he be allowed to cut and trim trees that interfere with aircraft take-off and landing.

Bill Adamson, KEDC board president, said the board should look into regulation and liabilities, before discussing the issue any further.

Tank relocation for the erection of the Phase II Shell Building at Synergy Park will not be possible. Karl Edmonds, board secretary, said the old tanks are in no shape to be moved and new tanks will have to be built at the chosen location instead. The board agreed and approved a bid from Flint Energy Service for $43,000 to build new tanks, empty, disconnect, remove and dispose of old tanks, plumb and fill the new tanks, as well as move fencing and build a fire wall.

Construction to widen FM 349 is still delayed while the state's contract is waiting for approval from Austin. Nobles said the project is slated for completion through an inter-local agreement with an in-kind donation of equipment an labor from Gregg County of approximately $170,00, a city expenditure of $170,00 - that would be reimbursed by KEDC - and another $100,000 to $150,000 from Texas Department of Transportation.

KEDC board approved an effort to facilitate a reasonable solution to a problem at North Kilgore Industrial Park, between AEP SWEPCO, Dialog land owners and Texas Hot Shot landowners.

Because owners of property occupied by Dialog and Texas Hot Shot won't allow Swepco to bury a line to provide electricity fo street lights, Bucyrus (formerly Minserco, a division of Bucyrus) wil have to pay $15,000 to get lights installed. Also, the line will have to be buried under Bucyrus's paved parking lot.

If KEDC cannot facilitate a negotiated solution, the corporation plans to offer Bucyrus 50 percent, or up to $7,500 toward project costs. Bucyrus wants the lighting for parking lot security.

In other business, Nardis, Inc. has been found in compliance with its performance-based incentive agreement. So far Nardis has hired five employees, knocking $10,00 off its debt to KEDC.

KEDC will issue a notice of termination of another agreement with Hanover, which merged with Exterran, since the corporation has had no communication with the company since 2004.