[00:00:02]
MEETING AS THE FRONT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TO ORDER.UM, WE HAVE A ROLL CALL FOR RICK NOVAK HERE.
UH, WE'LL MOVE ON TO APPROVAL OF MINUTES.
UH, HOPE YOU GUYS HAD A CHANCE TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
YEAH, I, I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE IT.
ANY, UH, DISCUSSION? UM, I GUESS I'D HAVE TO ASK JOE, BECAUSE WE BROUGHT BEFORE TOWN COUNCIL FOR, UH, BRINGING UP RETAIL STRATEGIES OR HAVING RETAIL STRATEGIES.
HILLARY, YOU NOTE IT'S IN OLD BUSINESS.
ALRIGHT, WELL, UH, WHILE WE ARE, UH, APPROVING MINUTES, UH, DO YOU, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS ABOUT 'EM FROM LAST WEEK? UM, IT'S AYE IT'S AYE.
SO ANYWAY, ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY WITH SAYING AYE.
UH, NEW BUSINESS DOWNTOWN FRONT ROYAL INCORPORATED PRESENTATION.
I HAVEN'T PUT A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION TOGETHER SINCE I WAS PRAYING IN COLLEGE.
PRETTY, I'M NOT VERY GOOD AT IT ANYMORE.
SO INSTEAD WE'RE JUST GONNA WORK FROM THIS, WHICH IN MY OPINION IS MORE IMPORTANT.
LIZZIE, I THINK YOU'VE GOT ONE.
SO JOE ASKED ME TO COME AND TALK TO YOU GUYS ABOUT THIS.
IS THERE ANYBODY SITTING IN THAT CHAIR? UH, NOW YOU TILL DAVID AGAIN.
SO, UM, JOE ASKED ME TO COME AND SPEAK TO YOU ALL ABOUT DOWNTOWN FRONT ROYAL AND EXACTLY WHAT OUR MISSION AND VISION IS ALL ABOUT AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.
AND JUST A VERY BRIEF HISTORY.
IT WAS FORMED IN 2007 AND I MOVED HERE IN 2010.
IT WAS STILL ACTIVE IN 2010 AND THEN SOMEWHERE OVER 20, 20 10.
AND WHEN I GOT INVOLVED IN 2022, THE BOARD FELL APART.
I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHAT HAPPENED.
I KNOW SOME KEY MEMBERS PASSED AWAY AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS KIND OF STEPPED TO THE FOREFRONT.
FRONT ROYAL INDEPENDENT BUSINESS ALLIANCE KEPT, UM, THE ORGANIZATION ALIVE WITH THE STATE CORPORATION COMMISSION.
SO IN 2022, I FINISHED UP WITH, UM, MY RESPONSIBILITIES WITH THE ANIMAL SHELTER.
I WAS KINDA LOOKING FOR SOMETHING NEW TO DO.
I LIVE IN OUR HISTORIC DISTRICT.
I WENT TO REBA AND ASKED FOR PERMISSION TO KIND OF START WORKING ON IT.
UH, WE GOT THE 5 0 1 C3 BACK IN GOOD STANDING AGAIN.
I TOOK MYSELF UP TO BOSTON TO ATTEND THE MAIN STREET NOW NATIONAL CONFERENCE.
UM, I'VE ALWAYS WONDERED WHY OUR LITTLE FRONT ROYAL WASN'T MAIN STREET ACCREDITED SINCE THE TIME I GOT HERE.
AND I KNOW IT'S BEEN ATTEMPTED A COUPLE OF TIMES.
SO I NEEDED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE PROCESS.
SO I WENT UP TO BOSTON FOR A FEW DAYS, ATTENDED THEIR NATIONAL, UH, CONFERENCE, CAME BACK AND WE PUT A LITTLE BOARD TOGETHER.
AND FAIRLY QUICKLY WE STARTED WORKING WITH THE VIRGINIA MAIN STREET AND WE APPLIED FOR A $15,000 GRANT THAT WAS 50% MATCHING.
SO, UM, WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY TO WORK WITH.
WE HIRED A NONPROFIT CONSULTANT THAT HELPED US, UM, KIND OF REVITALIZE OUR MISSION AND OUR VISION, WORK ON A STRATEGIC PLAN AND LAY A STRONG FOUNDATION SO THAT AS BOARD MEMBERS CHANGE, AGAIN, THE ORGANIZATION DOESN'T GO AWAY.
THIS IS OUR ANNUAL REPORT THAT RUNS FROM, UM, JULY OF 2023 TO JULY OF 2024.
SO WE'RE IN OUR SECOND YEAR RIGHT NOW.
UM, AND I THINK PROBABLY THE BIGGEST QUESTION THAT I GET IS WHAT'S, WHAT IS THE MISSION AND THE VISION? SO IF YOU DIVE INTO THE MAIN STREET PROGRAM, YOU LEARN FAIRLY QUICKLY THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, A MAIN STREET COMMUNITY IS A COMMUNITY THAT IS FOR YOUR COMMUNITY.
IT IS COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM ANY TYPE OF A TOURISM ENTITY.
BECAUSE OF THE FOUR POINTS OF MAIN STREET THAT WE'RE WORKING TO ESTABLISH, ONE OF THEM IS PROMOTION.
SO CLEARLY TOURISTS COME AND ARE A PART OF THAT ALSO.
BUT OUR GOAL IS TO CREATE OUR DOWNTOWN AND GET IT TO A PLACE WHERE THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE IN WARREN COUNTY ARE PROUD OF OUR DOWNTOWN COME TO OUR DOWNTOWN, WANT TO BRING THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND THEIR GUESTS TO OUR DOWNTOWN
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AND SUPPORT OUR DOWNTOWN, UM, FINANCIALLY.SO WE'RE WORKING FROM FOUR POINTS.
WE'RE WORKING FROM AN ECONOMIC VITALITY POINT.
SO WE'VE GOT FOUR DIFFERENT COMMITTEES SET UP.
ECONOMIC VITALITY IS DESIGNED TO DO JUST THAT.
WE ARE WORKING WITH THE CHAMBER RIGHT NOW TO AND FRONT ROYAL INDEPENDENT BUSINESS ALLIANCE TO PUT SOME WORKSHOPS TOGETHER FOR OUR DOWNTOWN MERCHANTS TO HELP THEM WITH ADVERTISING AND DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF BEING BUSINESS OWNERS.
THERE'S AN EVENT AND PROMOTION, UH, COMMITTEE, WHICH IS FAIRLY OBVIOUS, THAT'S WHO'S BEEN DOING OUR FARMER'S MARKET SINCE MAY WILDLY SUCCESSFUL.
UH, WE HOSTED SOMETHING ON THE 5TH OF MAY IN 2023 TO KIND OF KICK THINGS OFF.
EVENTS, PROMOTION TYPE SITUATION.
THERE'S A DESIGN COMMITTEE THAT, UM, EXISTS TO MAKE THINGS PRETTY TO HELP BUSINESS OWNERS FIND GRANTS TO KEEP OUR HISTORIC PROPERTIES, UH, IN GREAT CONDITION.
THE DESIGN COMMITTEE, UM, IS RIGHT NOW WORKING ON SECURING AN AGREEMENT WITH THE TOWN TO BE ABLE TO PUT A PERMANENT SIGN AT OUR GATEWAY AT THE END OF COMMERCE AND MAIN STREET.
SO WHEN FOLKS COME INTO OUR COMMUNITY FROM THAT DIRECTION, THEY COME IN THROUGH, UH, YOU KNOW, THEREBY PAVEMENT OR WHERE PAVEMENT WAS AND THERE REALLY ISN'T, OTHER THAN THE LOVE LETTERS, WHICH AREN'T PERMANENT.
THERE'S NOTHING TO SAY, HEY, HERE'S MAIN STREET COME DOWN.
SO, UM, THAT'S GONNA BE OUR BIG DESIGN PROJECT.
AS SOON AS I GET THE IN OU OR WHATEVER THE DOCUMENT THAT JOE'S WORKING ON FOR ME THAT SAYS THE TOWN OWNS IT AND WE GIVE YOU PERMISSION TO PUT A SIGN THERE.
I'VE ALREADY MET WITH, UM, A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT TO WORK ON PLANS AND WE HOPE NEXT YEAR TO HAVE THAT PERMANENTLY IN PLACE IN THERE.
UM, YEAH, I THINK I'VE HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE MENTION THAT.
AND IT WOULD BE NICE ON THAT END OF OUR MAIN STREET, UM, THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE, WHICH IS JUST OUR SPECIFIC ORGANIZATION, BUILDING OUT ROBUST COMMITTEES, FINDING VOLUNTEERS, KEEPING A STRONG BOARD, THAT'S, SO I'VE GOT EVENT PROMOTION, ECONOMIC VITALITY, DESIGN, AND THEN ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE.
THOSE ARE THE FOUR KEY COMPONENTS, UH, TO, TO MOVING US IN THE DIRECTION OF MAIN STREET ACCREDITATION.
RIGHT NOW, DOWNTOWN FRONT ROYAL IS IN THE EXPLORING MAIN STREET PHASE OF THIS PROCESS.
UH, THIS WEEK OUR APPLICATION IS DUE TO MOVE US INTO THE MOBILIZING MAIN STREET, WHICH IS THE NEXT STEP TOWARDS OFFICIAL ACCREDITATION.
UM, THE TOWN HAS TO SIGN OFF AND SUPPORT THAT THEY ARE ENCOURAGING US TO DO THIS.
IT'S A TWO YEAR COMMITMENT OF, UH, BOTH VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS THAT HAPPEN ON A MONTHLY BASIS WHERE SOMEONE FROM OUR BOARD OR OUR VOLUNTEER BASIS WILL BE GOING AND LEARNING ALL ABOUT OUR NEXT STEPS.
AND THEN HOPEFULLY BY THE END OF THAT TWO YEARS WE'LL BE READY TO MOVE INTO AND APPLY FOR FULL MAIN STREET ACCREDITATION.
I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT OPENS UP A WHOLE SEA OF GRANT OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES THAT WE AREN'T CURRENTLY THAT'S HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF OUR PROGRAM.
UM, THIS IS PROBABLY THE FIFTH OR SIXTH GROUP.
IN THE PAST 25, 30 YEARS, WE HAD A ONE GROUP THAT KIND OF WENT THE FUNDS AND WE HAD THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION.
WE ACTUALLY HIRED SOMEBODY AND WE JUST COULD NEVER GET ALL THE CRITERIA AND UH, IT WAS A STRUGGLE.
AND, UH, IT FINALLY KIND OF JUST WENT BY THE WAYSIDE AND OTHER GROUPS COME GONE, BUT CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.
I THINK THEY CHANGED THE PROGRAM A LITTLE BIT AND THAT'S WHY THIS MOBILIZING MAIN STREET IS A TWO YEAR COMMITMENT.
WE HAVE TO APPLY AND BE ACCEPTED.
AND THEN IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT, THAT BY THE END WE WILL HAVE WORKED WITH VIRGINIA MAIN STREET TO WHERE WE ARE AT THE PLACE WHERE WE'RE READY AND THEY HELP US.
THEIR WINDOW WAS REALLY, IT WAS, IT WAS NOT THE EASIEST THING TO QUALIFY FOR.
I'M GLAD THEY ADJUSTED, BUT THANK YOU TO YOU GUYS.
WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE A FULL-TIME EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
UM, SO WE, AT THIS POINT, WE HAVEN'T ASKED THE TOWN OR THE COUNTY FOR ANY FINANCIAL COMMITMENT AT ALL.
WE'VE GOT ANOTHER FUNDRAISER PLAN FOR THE PROJECT AT THE END OF THE STREET.
WE'RE GONNA APPLY FOR ANOTHER GRANT TO TRY AND GET THAT DONE.
BUT AT SOME POINT THERE PROBABLY WILL BE A FINANCIAL ASK.
JOE AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT.
UM, JOE PETTY WAS OUR APPOINTED BOARD MEMBER FOR THE COUNTY, BUT SINCE WE'VE MOVED ON TO THE WARREN HERITAGE SOCIETY, WE'VE GOTTA GET, UM, A DAILY TO A POINT ELSE FROM THE COUNTY.
BUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT FROM A BIGGER PICTURE DOWNTOWN FOR ROYAL ANYWAY, FEELS LIKE THAT MAIN STREET IS AN ASSET TO THE ENTIRE COUNTY IN THAT PEOPLE
[00:10:01]
WHO VISIT, IF OUR HOSPITAL IS RECRUITING OR ANY OF OUR BUSINESSES OUT IN THAT INDUSTRIAL AREA ARE RECRUITING, YOU KNOW, HAVING A DESIRABLE AND ATTRACTIVE DOWNTOWN THAT'S, THAT'S AN ASSET TO TRY AND GET PEOPLE TO MOVE HERE.SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT A BIG PICTURE LIKE THAT, THE COUNTY ABSOLUTELY HAS SOME SKIN IN THE GAME BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR BIG BUSINESSES ARE OUT IN THE COUNTY.
SO IN THE COMING YEARS, NEXT TWO YEARS, WE'RE GONNA LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW TO INCORPORATE EVERYBODY INTO THE PICTURE TO WHERE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
HOW ARE YOU PRIMARILY GETTING YOUR DONATIONS FROM PRIVATE COMPANIES? WE HAVEN'T STARTED YET.
SO WE GOT THE GRANT AND THEN I JUST MADE ASKS FOR THE MATCHING TO PEOPLE THAT I KNEW WERE VESTED AND INTERESTED AND LOVED OUR DOWNTOWN.
AND, UM, PEOPLE WERE VERY GENEROUS.
IT WAS A 75 WHATEVER AFTER THAT $7,500 MATCHING GRANT THAT CAME QUICKER THAN I THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA HAPPEN.
SO WE HAVE RAISED MONEY FROM OUR FARMER'S MARKET.
UM, THAT IS, THAT'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF A, UM, I THINK MAYBE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THREE TO $5,000 WE'VE MADE FROM THE VENDORS THAT HAVE COME AND BEEN A PART OF THAT.
WE DO IT TWO SUNDAYS A MONTH AND THE VENDORS HAVE ALREADY ASKED NEXT SEASON IF IT CAN BE AN EVERY SUNDAY THING.
SO, UM, OUR MERCHANTS HAVE DOWNTOWN HAVE EVEN SAID THAT THEIR BUSINESS HAS SEEN AN INCREASE ON SUNDAYS WHEN WE HAVE TO MARKET DOWN HERE ON SUNDAYS.
UM, IT'S DESIGNED TO GET PEOPLE DOWN HERE BUT NOT COMPETE.
SO WE'VE BEEN SELECTIVE ABOUT WHO CAN COME HAS TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS, UH, 80% OF YOUR PRODUCT YOU HAVE TO GROW OR RAISE THAT GOES INTO WHAT YOU'RE MAKING.
UM, AND WE'VE ACTUALLY TURNED PEOPLE AWAY THAT OFFER A PRODUCT THAT YOU CAN GO AND PURCHASE FROM ONE OF OUR STORES ON MAIN STREET.
SO AS WE MOVE INTO NEXT YEAR, I SUSPECT THAT WILL BE AN EVEN BIGGER SITUATION THAT WE COME INTO BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S IMPORTANT TO US.
IT'S FOR OUR DOWNTOWN BUSINESS OWNERS.
HOW MANY MEMBERS ARE YOU RIGHT NOW, ELLEN? OUR BOARD.
JUST OUR BOARD, WHICH CONSISTS OF, WELL, WE HAVE EIGHT SEATS, SEVEN OF THEM ARE FILLED, AND THEN WE HAVE THREE NON-VOTING BOARD MEMBERS, WHICH WOULD BE SOMEONE FROM THE CHAMBER, LIZZIE FROM THE TOWN.
AND THEN WE'VE GOTTA FILL JOE PETTY SEAT FROM, SO IT'S NOT DESIGNED TO BE, UM, A CLUB OR AN ASSOCIATE NO.
IT'S DESIGNED FOR THESE BOARD DIRECTORS.
AND SO WHEN WE REWROTE OUR BYLAWS AS A PART OF OUR WORK WITH THE, UM, NONPROFIT CONSULTANT, WE TOOK AWAY THE MEMBERSHIP BASE AND WE'RE MOVING TO A FRIENDS OF, WE ARE WORKING ON THAT RIGHT NOW.
AND IT'S JUST ABOUT DONE WHAT THE BENEFITS OF BEING A FRIEND OF DOWNTOWN FRONT ROYAL WOULD LOOK LIKE.
SO, UM, BUT IT WILL NOT BE A MEMBERSHIP BASE ORGANIZATION.
WELL, I, I, LIKE TOM SAID, I, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, REITERATE, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT, UH, FOR BRINGING IT BACK OUT, YOU KNOW,
I MEAN, IT'S SELFISH FOR ME TOO.
MY BUSINESS IS HERE AND I LIVE HERE AND I CAN WALK TO DOWNTOWN AND I REMEMBER WHEN I MOVED HERE IN 2010, UM, IT WAS, I WAS HERE, I THINK VISITING DURING THE TIME THERE WAS A CANDIDATE FOR HIM.
AND I ASKED WHERE THE TOWN WAS WITH THE MAIN STREET, WHY, WHY WE WEREN'T THERE YET.
AND ONE OF THE FOLKS THAT WAS RUNNING FOR COUNCIL QUICKLY ASKED ME, WELL, WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO LIVE WHEN, WHEN YOU MOVE HERE PERMANENTLY? AND THEN WASN'T REALLY INTERESTED IN EXPLORING THAT WITH ME.
I MEAN, SINCE LIKE 2010 I'VE BEEN LIKE, WE'VE GOT TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN FOR DOWNTOWN FRONT ROYAL.
I JUST, UM, YOU KNOW, I GOT INVOLVED WITH THE ANIMAL CHILDREN, DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO DO IT.
AND HOPEFULLY, UM, WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME SUCCESS.
I KIND OF FEEL LIKE WE'RE MOVING AT A SNAILS PACE A LITTLE BIT.
BUT WHEN I MEET WITH VIRGINIA MAIN STREET MM-HMM.
SHE'S LIKE, YOU'RE LEAPS AND BOUNDS AHEAD OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE APPLYING FOR THE MOBILIZING MAIN STREET.
SO SHE CONTINUES TO REMIND US THAT THE GRANT IN THE FIRST YEAR AND WORKING WITH A NONPROFIT CONSULTANT AND OUR FARMER'S MARKET, ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE, YOU KNOW, GETTING US WHERE WE NEED TO BE.
SO I'M EXCITED TO GET THIS APPLICATION IN AND START WORKING ON THE NEXT STEP.
ELLEN, CAN YOU SHARE WITH THEM A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THE PLANS ARE FOR SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY? NO.
THAT'S, YOU KNOW, OUR EVENTS AND PROMOTION COMMITTEE IS WORKING ON THAT.
JODY'S GOT SOME PRETTY, JODY AND DANIELLE HAAS THAT OWN ON Q.
THEY'VE GOT SOME PRETTY, UM, SOME PRETTY GOOD IDEAS.
WE HAVEN'T FIRMED ANYTHING UP COMPLETELY YET.
BUT WE ARE PLANNING TO, TO HAVE A PRESENCE DOWN HERE AND HOPEFULLY GET SOME STUFF TO DRIVE BUSINESSES DOWN HERE, BUSINESS DOWN THERE.
OUR MERCHANTS SMART THAT IT'S FOCUSING ON PRESERVATION AND THE HERITAGE AND VERSUS THE TOURISM END OF IT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THAT'S JUST BASICALLY
[00:15:01]
THE FROSTING ON THE CAKE FOR TOURISM.UM, INSTEAD OF WORRYING ABOUT DO WE ADVERTISE IN HER, DO WE ADVERTISE IN DC AND ALL THAT.
THAT'S ACTUALLY A, A BETTER APPROACH THAN WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN THE PAST.
SO I CERTAINLY THINK SO THE MORE THAT I'VE LEARNED ABOUT IT, IF YOUR COMMUNITY DOESN'T COME DOWNTOWN AND SUPPORT DOWNTOWN, IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT ON THOSE MONTHS WHEN WE DON'T HAVE TOURISTS AND TOURISTS COMING IN HERE.
IT'S HARD FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESSES.
AND LIVING IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT, I HAVE A FAIRLY GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF WHO'S COMING DOWN HERE AND WHO'S NOT.
SO I KIND OF FEEL LIKE THIS IS FAR REACHING, BUT TO ME IT IS A MULTI-LEVEL APPROACH WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOTTA WORK ON OUR DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOODS SO THAT PEOPLE THAT WANNA SUPPORT OUR DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES ARE LIVING IN OUR DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND THEN THOSE FOLKS THAT COMMUTE OUTSIDE OF FRONT ROYAL WARREN COUNTY, I, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT REALLY SURE IF THEY'RE COMING DOWN.
SO THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OUT THERE THAT WE WANNA CAPTURE FROM JUST GETTING OUR COMMUNITY DOWN HERE TO SAY, HEY, DOWNTOWN'S GREAT AND THIS IS WHERE WE WANNA GO.
AND THEN, YES, TO YOUR POINT, THE TOURISM JUST LAYERS ON THE ICING ON THE CAKE THERE.
WELL, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE IN SIMILAR PLACES ORGANIZATIONALLY BECAUSE UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL WORKING ON GETTING OUR FEET UNDERNEATH US AS WELL.
SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN KIND OF GROW TOGETHER.
YOU KNOW, I GO BACK TO MY, UM, WHERE I GREW UP DOWNTOWN WAS DEAD WHEN I WAS A KID.
AND, UM, THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH ALL THIS MAIN STREET.
THEY WERE EVEN AWARDED AMERICA'S GREATEST MAIN STREET.
AND SO A LOT OF TIMES I LOOK TO WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.
I LOOK AT THEIR WEBSITE AND WENT FROM AN ECONOMIC VITALITY STANDPOINT, THEY EVEN HAVE A WHOLE SECTION OF THEIR WEBSITE THAT'S DESIGNATED TO EMPTY STOREFRONTS AND WHAT'S FOR LEASE AND, YOU KNOW, WHO WOULD BE AN IDEAL CANDIDATE FOR DOWNTOWN.
SO FREEDOM MOVING FORWARD WILL BE A GOOD PARTNER FOR US AS WE GET FURTHER AND FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD AND, YOU KNOW, ARE READY TO GO DOWN THAT PATH BECAUSE THERE'S A BIG PIECE OF THAT THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO BE INVOLVED IN TOO.
I HAVE THIS IDEA THAT, UM, I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW THIS WOULD WORK OR EVEN IF IT COULD, AND I PROBABLY SHOULDN'T EVEN SAY OUT LOUD, BUT I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE REALLY FUN AND KIND OF A DIFFERENT WAY TO ENGAGE WITH EMPTY STOREFRONTS.
IN PARTICULAR WHAT ELLEN BROUGHT UP.
UM, I'D LOVE TO ENGAGE AN ARTIST TO PAINT THE OUTSIDE OF A WINDOW OF A BUILDING OF WHAT IT COULD BE.
LIKE, MAKE IT LOOK LIKE A BOOKSHOP OR MAKE IT LOOK LIKE, YOU KNOW, TO KIND OF SPARK THAT CREATIVITY OF OH, THIS COULD BE THIS TYPE OF SPACE.
AND OBVIOUSLY WE'D HAVE TO WORK WITH THE BUILDING OWNER AND ALL OF THAT.
BUT I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, CREATING THAT MENTAL MODEL OF LET'S IDEATE A LITTLE BIT ON WHAT THIS SPACE COULD BE.
I THINK THAT COULD BE A FUN FIT FOR DFRI OR A FUN FIT FOR FRIDA OR THE COMBINATION OF THE TWO OR, UM, YOU KNOW, REIMAGINING THE EXISTING, WHAT WE HAVE.
UM, WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE THAT RIGHT NOW, MARK ON WOOD, WE HAVE VERY LITTLE THAT'S VACANT DOWNTOWN.
COMPARED WHERE WE WERE 25 YEARS AGO.
I MEAN, I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY WHAT ONLY EMPTY TWO STOREFRONTS AND I MEAN, WE JUST GOT SOME GREAT ENTREPRENEURS IN TOWN THAT HAVE OPENED UP BUSINESSES AND TAKEN THE RISK AND HUNDRED PERCENT.
AND UH, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY THAT WILL CONTINUE.
PEOPLE CONTINUE TO SHOP, BUT YEAH.
COMPARED TO WHERE WE WERE 25 YEARS AGO WHEN THERE WERE MORE EMPTY STORES THAN THERE WERE FULL, PRETTY CRAZY.
I'D LOVE FOR OUR ORGANIZATION TO BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR GRANTS THAT COULD BE PASSED ALONG TO THE BUILDING OWNERS TO HELP.
THAT WAS, THAT'S A PASSION OF MINE.
SO WHEN I WAS IN BOSTON, A LADY SHARED A STORY THAT, UM, SHE WAS WALKING THROUGH A DOWNTOWN AND SHE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS LOTS OF SITUATIONS WITH ROOFS.
AND ROOFS ARE EXPENSIVE, ESPECIALLY ON THESE BIG OLD BUILDINGS.
AND SOME OF OUR OLD BUILDINGS DOWN HERE NEED A LOT OF HELP.
WELL, IN THAT PROGRAM, I MEAN, THERE'S ALL KINDS OF FUNDING FOR THAT.
YOU JUST HAVE TO BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR IT.
AND IT'S NOT GEARED TOWARDS ANYTHING EXCEPT WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
BUT WE DID THAT LAST TIME IN 2016 WITH THE BESIDE GRANT PROGRAM.
I THINK THAT ENDED UP BEING WHAT, SEVEN OR 800,000 MM-HMM.
AND WE ACTUALLY IMPROVED QUITE A FEW FACADES.
I MEAN, I WAS FORTUNATE TO, TO QUALIFY FOR ONE.
AND THE COOL THING ABOUT IT WAS IT WASN'T A, I MEAN IT WAS A GRANT FROM THE, THE, UH, VIRGINIA MUNICIPAL, WHEREVER IT CAME FROM, WE HAD TO MATCH IT DOLLAR FOR DOCK, WHICH WAS AWESOME.
AND, UM, ANYWAY, IT HELPED ME IMPROVE MY BUILDING BECAUSE OF THAT, FOR THAT EXACT REASON.
SO, ANYBODY ELSE? THANKS FOR INVITING ME.
THANKS FOR, THANKS FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN.
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KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED.WE GET TO MOVE INTO THE NEXT, UH, THE NEXT PHASE.
UM, SO ITEM B IN NEW BUSINESS, IS HILARY GONNA SLAP HER HANDS? SHE'S NOT.
SHE'S GONNA BE HERE TO TAKE NOTES NEXT MONTH WHEN WE ALL GO THROUGH FOIA TRAINING TOGETHER IN THIS ROOM SO THAT WE MAKE SURE EVERYONE CHECKS THE BOX.
IT'LL BE A FUN BONDING EXERCISE.
AND THAT'S THE DATA SEE AROUND THE CAMPFIRE.
SO WE'RE ACTUALLY HAVING A GENTLEMAN FROM THE FOIA COUNCIL COME DOWN AND DO THE TRAINING FOR ALL OF US.
SO 1230 AND WE'LL GET OUR LITTLE CERTIFICATE THEN.
OH, I SPEND AN HOUR TRYING TO FIND MY PROOF THAT I DONE IT AND I COULDN'T FIND WELL, YOU'LL GET TO DO ANOTHER.
SO CHRISTMAS IS COMING EARLY, YOU KNOW, BOY TRAINING FOR EVERYONE.
SO JUST FOR CLARITY WE WOULD DO THAT AS PART OF THE NORMAL MEETING.
NOT, HE SAID HE WOULD TRY TO KEEP IT UNDER AN HOUR.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THAT? JUST COME TO THE MEETING.
SO YOU SAID YOU WANTED A POSTCARD? WELL YOU GOT A POSTCARD MY FRIEND
SO OUR FRIENDS IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, YOU TAKE ONE DOWN, PASS IT AROUND PLEASE.
UM, OUR FRIENDS IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT ARE HELPING US GET THOSE IN THE HANDS OF EVERYONE WITH A BUSINESS LICENSE IN TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.
I CAN'T HAVE THE LIST 'CAUSE THERE'S LIKE RULES AND STUFF, BUT I CAN GIVE THEM THE POSTCARDS AND THEY CAN DO THE THINGS.
SO, UM, SO WE'RE GETTING THAT OUT.
UM, WE DID HAVE SOMEONE TAKE THE SURVEY LAST WEEK, ODDLY ENOUGH.
SO, UM, PEOPLE ARE STILL LAST WEEK.
AND SHE PUT IT IN THE, AND HILLARY PUT IT IN THE NEWSLETTER AS WELL.
SO, UM, I HANDED OUT 17 BUSINESS CARDS IN MY WALKING AROUND, SO IT COULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF THEM.
BUT I HANDED
SO WE ARE STILL CONTINUING TO GATHER RESPONSES FOR THAT.
SO THEY'RE COME, THEY'RE TRICKLING IN, BUT MAYBE THE, I THINK THE POSTCARDS WILL, THEY WILL CERTAINLY REACH MORE PEOPLE.
WE DON'T KNOW, BUT WE'LL GIVE IT A GO.
EITHER CONCERNS OR QUESTIONS ON THAT.
I LIKE THESE, THESE ARE A LITTLE MORE EXPLANATORY THAN THE, THE BUSINESS CARDS.
'CAUSE WE GOT THE, YOU KNOW, THE SPIEL.
AND I CHECKED WE CAN, SORRY, AND THESE ARE ALREADY PRINTED, BUT LIKE, THERE'S NO WAY TO LIKE DO LIKE A WRAP.
IT'S LIKE VAGUELY INCENTIVIZING FILLING THIS OUT.
IS THAT, WELL THAT FEELS LIKE A GEORGE SONNET TOWN ATTORNEY QUESTION.
JUST KIDDING, JUST KIDDING, KIDDING.
WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN FIND OUT.
AND THEN RETAIL RECRUITMENT PROPOSAL.
RICK, DO YOU SHARE? CHAIRMAN, DO YOU MIND IF I MOVE? NO, I WISH YOU WOULD.
I MEAN, I DIDN'T ATTEND THE MEETING, BUT I HAVE READ THAT THE TOWN APPROVED IT.
SO, UH, THAT AGREEMENT HAS ALREADY BEEN SENT TO PURCHASING HERE AT THE TOWN.
PURCHASING IS DOING WHAT THEY DO WITH THOSE THINGS.
UM, AND THEN IT'LL GET ITS SIGNATURES AND THEN WE'LL BE ROCKING AND ROLLING.
SO I DON'T HAVE A FIRM TIMELINE ON WHAT THE LAUNCH FOR THAT IS.
I KNOW THAT, UM, JOE AND I BOTH HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR REP FROM RETAIL STRATEGIES AND THEY ARE ANXIOUS TO GET STARTED WITH US OF COURSE.
UM, BUT OVERALL SUPER, SUPER POSITIVE.
UM, SO WE'RE GREEN LIGHT FROM TOWN COUNCIL, SO NOW THEY'VE GOTTA DO THE SIGNATURES AND THE MONEY'S THERE.
I'M ASSUMING THAT IT WOULD BE PAID ON LIKE A DRAW OF SOME KIND.
SO, AND WE'LL ONLY DO ONE YEAR AT A TIME.
AS SHE HAD DISCUSSED WHEN SHE DID THE PRESENTATION FOR US.
UM, I, I DID NOT, I DON'T RECALL WHAT THE PAYMENT SCHEDULE WAS AS PART OF THAT AGREEMENT.
I CAN TAKE A LOOK AND I MEAN, IF YOU WOULD ABSOLUTELY.
[00:25:01]
IT'S ALWAYS ABSOLUTELY NICE TO GIVE A SIZABLE DEPOSIT FOLLOWED BY DRAWS THAT ARE TIED TO PERFORMANCE.WOULDN'T YOU SAY SO FRANK? I LIKE IT
UNLESS SEE SOME MOVEMENT THERE.
UM, BUT YEAH, THAT'S ROLLING ALONG AS WELL.
NICK, DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? OKAY, PERFECT.
BUT YES, UH, TOWN COUNCIL, WE DID THE PRESENTATION FOR TOWN COUNCIL.
UM, THEY, IT WAS RECEIVED REALLY WELL FROM MY ESTIMATION.
UM, IT WENT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AND AN OFF IT WENT.
I MEAN, THEY GAVE A FULL PRESENTATION BASICALLY THE EXACT SAME ONE YOU GUYS HAD.
YEAH, THEY HAD THE SAME ONE FOR THE TOWN COUNCIL WORK SESSION.
JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THIS FOR EVERYBODY.
YEAH, WELL THEY WANTED TO KNOW TOO.
EVERYONE WANTS IT ON THE COOL STUFF.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THAT? I'LL KEEP YOU GUYS POSTED ON WHAT THE TIMELINE IS PRIOR TO.
IF, IF I HAVE AN UPDATE FOR YOU PRIOR TO OUR MEETING, I'LL SEND IT OUT VIA EMAIL SO WE KNOW.
I MEAN, AND JOE'S NOT HERE TO ANSWER IT.
UM, WHEN WE FIRST REORGANIZE THIS GROUP, UH, FROM WHAT I'VE UNDERSTAND, IT'S USUALLY WORKED INDEPENDENTLY OF COUNCIL AND THAT WE WOULD HAVE OUR OWN, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, JOE SAID WE WOULD HAVE OUR OWN BUDGET, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS WITH IT.
UM, I WAS SURPRISED THAT IT WENT BACK TO COUNCIL TO BE, UM, SHOWN AND APPROVED.
I THOUGHT THIS GROUP WAS GOING TO BE STANDING AUTONOMOUS OF THAT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF GET CLARIFICATION ON THAT IN THE FUTURE.
SO BY MY ESTIMATION, UM, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF HURDLES, CLERICAL HURDLES THAT WE'VE GOTTA CLEAR BEFORE WE CAN DO THAT.
ONE IS THAT WE, WE DON'T HAVE OUR OWN EIN NUMBER BODY YET, WHICH MEANS WE ALSO DON'T HAVE A BANK ACCOUNT AND WE DON'T HAVE OUR OWN LEGAL COUNSEL YET AT THAT POINT.
UM, SO THE TOWN COUNCIL CAN'T PROVIDE ANY FUNDING TO US INDIVIDUALLY BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE EVEN A CATCHMENT MECHANISM TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AT THIS MOMENT.
UM, SECONDARILY LEAD TO THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, THERE IS MONEY IN THE BUDGET THAT'S SPECIFICALLY FOR FRIDA.
UM, BUT GIVEN OUR PROCUREMENT POLICY HERE AT THE TOWN, ANYTHING OVER $25,000 NEEDS TO COME BEFORE COUNSEL FOR THEM TO HAVE A CLEARER UNDERSTANDING OF A SIZEABLE PURCHASE LIKE THAT AT THIS PRESENT MONTH.
NOW, I BELIEVE WHOLEHEARTEDLY THAT THE INTENTION DOWN THE ROAD IS THAT THIS IS AN INDEPENDENT BODY.
UM, ONCE THOSE STRUCTURES ARE IN PLACE, I MEAN IF WE WERE TO TO, IF WE DEVELOP A BUDGET THAT COUNCIL APPROVES MM-HMM
WITHOUT, I MEAN IF WE, IF IF THERE WAS $50,000 OR MM-HMM,
SO IF THERE'S $24,000 ITEM IN THE BUDGET, IT, IT WOULD NOT REQUIRE, UH, COUNCIL APPROVAL.
IS THAT RIGHT? I, OR, OR YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT SURE.
I I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY.
MY IMPRESSION OF THAT WOULD BE THAT'S CORRECT.
AND BECAUSE THE, I'M SURE THE ELECTRICAL DEPARTMENT DOESN'T, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY RUN EVERY PURCHASE BY COUNCIL.
NO, WE DO, WE DO HAVE AN UPDATED PROCUREMENT POLICY.
UM, AND, AND THOSE, THOSE PARAMETERS HAVE BEEN SHIFTED.
THEY'VE ACTUALLY BEEN INCREASED.
UM, USED TO HAVE A MUCH LOWER TOLERANCE.
UM, SO WE'VE BEEN GRATEFUL AS DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
BUT, UH, YES, I, I BELIEVE THAT ONCE, WE DON'T NEED IT NOW.
UM, I'M, WE DON'T NEED IT NOW, OF COURSE.
BUT AT SOME POINT, AS YOU SAY, IN THE FUTURE, WELL TRULY IN THE FUTURE, YOU GUYS SHOULD BE INDEPENDENT.
WE HAVE OUR OWN BANK ACCOUNT, WE'RE OUR OWN LAWYER.
BUT THAT'S, AND THAT'S AT THIS POINT.
AND THAT'S ABSOLUTELY THE VISION.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT.
THEY WANT YOU ALL TO BE ABLE TO AND DO WHAT YOU DO.
WHAT DOES THE TIMELINE LOOK LIKE FOR US HAVING OUR OWN TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBER? I'M NOT EVEN GONNA FORECAST THAT.
YOU WANTED TO, WHAT'S THE, UH, OWNERSHIP ON THAT? WHO'S MOVING THAT FORWARD? UM, JOE AND I BOTH HAVE BEEN WORKING TO FIND INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THIS BODY.
UM, THAT HAS BEEN MORE CHALLENGING THAN I WOULD'VE EXPECTED.
UM, WE'VE GOTTEN SOME GREAT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE GROUP.
UM, NOT A SINGLE ONE OF THEM HAS BEEN INTERESTED IN DOING THIS YET.
UM, SO WE'RE EXPLORING SOME OTHER OPTIONS.
UH, BUT ONCE THAT TAKES PLACE, THEN WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR THE FEDERAL NUMBER AND ALL THAT.
[00:30:01]
UNDERSTANDING.ANYTHING ELSE ON RETAIL STRATEGIES OR, SO WE MOVE TO OPEN DISCUSSION? UM, YES.
HAVE ANY YOU WANT SHARE WITH THE GROUP? I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SHARE.
UM, THE OTHER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BODY IN WARREN COUNTY THAT NEED AN EXPLANATION AS FAR AS LIKE, HAS THAT BEEN DISSOLVED OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT NO LONGER EXISTS? AND IF SO, WHERE IS OWNERSHIP OF ALL THE EDA PROPERTIES THAT GO TO GO BACK TO TOWN? I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY, SO I PARTICIPATED IN A CHAMBER FUNCTION LAST EARLIER THIS WEEK, FRIDAY ASKED, RIGHT? NOT OKAY.
MAYBE IT WAS, MAYBE IT WAS ME THAT KIND, THAT
BUT ANYWAY, UH, SO ANYWAY, IT WAS A, IT WAS, IT WAS, UH, UH, ME AS OUR, YOU KNOW, CHAIRMAN, UH, WITH ROB MCDOWELL, THEIR CHAIRMAN.
AND, UH, IT WAS, UH, MODERATED BY JOE PETTY AND WE TALKED FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE COMMUNITY AND, AND OUR PERSONAL OR PROFESSIONAL FOR BOTH, UH, GOALS FOR THAT.
UM, I MEAN, JOE, UH, IT'S, IT'S, UH, NOT JOE, UH, ROB, UH, YOU KNOW, HAS SAID OPENLY IN THAT MEETING THAT THE, SEEMS LIKE THE FUTURE OF THAT ORGANIZATION IS, IS WINDING DOWN.
AND, AND SO, I MEAN, HE DOESN'T HAVE A, MAYBE IT'S, HE'S, I UNDERSTOOD HIM TO SAY HE DOESN'T HAVE A CLEAR PICTURE OF WHAT, WHAT THE COUNTY'S VISION FOR THAT BODY IS, YOU KNOW, GOING FORWARD.
I MEAN, UH, THE REASON THAT I FEEL LIKE WE WERE FORMED WAS BECAUSE OF THAT, YOU KNOW, THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, IF YOU WILL, THAT UM, THEY WERE SPENDING 95% OF THEIR TIME DEALING WITH LAWSUITS AND VERY LITTLE TIME DOING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
HE DID MENTION THAT, UH, I THINK ON THE 14TH THEY, THEY'RE GOING TO DO AN INFORMATION SESSION ON DATA CENTERS, UH, YOU KNOW, HAD HA I THINK THAT HE SAID HE'S, THEY'RE HIRING A CONSULTANT TO COME IN AND JUST HAVE AN OPEN DISCUSSION ABOUT THE PROS AND CONS OF DATA CENTERS.
UM, I DON'T, HE MENTIONED IT AND HE ANNOUNCES IT, BUT I MEAN, YOU KNOW, BUT I, THEY WANT THAT.
SO WHEN I GET SOMETHING, I'LL GET IT OUT TO YOU GUYS SO WE CAN ALL GO AND OKAY.
HEAR WHATEVER'S SAID AT THAT MEETING.
BUT, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DID COME UP ALSO WAS, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE SEVERAL LOAN PROGRAMS WITH MONEY IN IT.
AND SO IF THEY WRAP UP, YOU KNOW, IF THEY CLOSE DOWN, WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT? SO I EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN NOT LETTING IT BE RETURNED BACK TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
YOU KNOW, THAT OUR COMMUNITY SHOULD GET A SHOT AT IT IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.
I DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY COULD TRANSFER THE MONEY TO OUR BODY, BUT LIZ, I WAS KIND OF HOPING WE MIGHT EXPLORE THAT A LITTLE BIT.
UH, ANYWAY, SO, UM, AND, AND YOU KNOW, ROB WAS IN AGREEMENT WITH IT.
SO I MEAN, THE MESSAGE AT THE MEETING WAS, WE WANNA WORK TOGETHER WHERE POSSIBLE, UM, AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA TRY AND DO THAT FOR AS LONG AS, YOU KNOW, THE ECONOMIC, THE COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY IS, YOU KNOW, AROUND.
BUT THAT SEEMS TO BE A BIG QUESTION MARK.
UM, NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT, WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THEM IN THE FUTURE AS I KNOW THAT THE OUTSTANDING LAWSUITS IS, IS THE BIG DRIVER OF THAT.
THAT PRETTY MUCH SUMS IT UP RIGHT THERE.
THEY'RE TRYING, THEY'RE TRYING TO STAY RELEVANT AND YEAH.
BUT IT'S, IT, YOU KNOW, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, IT'S PRETTY OVERWHELMING, YOU KNOW, IF YOU READ THE PAPERS.
UM, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT IT? ANYWAY? IT, I DON'T KNOW.
WE GOT A LOT OF GOOD FEEDBACK ABOUT IT.
[00:35:01]
OR SO PEOPLE THERE.BUT ANYWAY, WAS THAT ON QUEUE? AND ANYWAY, IT WAS INTERESTED, WAS, WAS THAT RECORDED OR POSTED? ANYONE OF MINE TO BE VIEWED? YEAH, I'M NOT SURE.
UM, DID THE ROYAL EXAMINER WAS EARLIER THERE? NO, I MEAN THEY'VE DONE, I THINK THEY'VE DONE THREE OR FOUR OF THESE AND THEY'RE, UM, BUT, UM, I DON'T KNOW.
YEAH, IT'S A CHAMBER FUNCTION, SO, SO MAYBE IT WAS, UM, BUT I'M NOT CERTAIN I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T SEE A CAMERA, YOU KNOW, TRIPOD THERE OR ANYTHING.
SO
I I DID WATCH THE, UH, THE ROLE EXAMINER POSTED THE, THE, I GUESS IT WAS TOWN HALL YOU OPENED UP THE THEATER.
I DIDN'T SEE UNTIL AFTER THE FACT ON THE ROLE EXAMINER YOUTUBE CHANNEL.
I WAS WONDERING IF THIS WOULD HAVE LIKE A SIMILAR WAS POSTED BY THEN, BUT I'LL CHECK THAT YOU SAID THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CHAMBER.
UM, I GOT ONE, I GOT AN OPEN DISCUSSION ITEM.
UM, AND I, I GUESS I'M ON RECORD ASKING SIX OR SEVEN TIMES.
I'M, I'M SORRY JOE'S NOT HERE, BUT, UM, I'VE ASKED LITERALLY SIX OR SEVEN TIMES IN THE LAST MEETING.
UM, I'M NOT SURE WHY WE CAN'T GET A NUMBER THAT'S IN OUR BUDGET.
I MET WITH BJ AND THERE IS A NUMBER THERE, BUT I DON'T WANT TO REPEAT IT, YOU KNOW, FOR THE SAKE OF ARGUMENT FOR, FOR JOE TO GIVE IT TO US.
BUT APPARENTLY THERE HAS BEEN ALLOCATIONS MADE TO THIS GROUP OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS AND I'M NOT QUITE UNDERSTANDING WHY WE DON'T, CAN'T KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER IS.
UM, I UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS FOR A SEPARATE CHECKING ACCOUNT GET THAT.
UM, IF IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT TO FIND LEGAL REPRESENTATION, UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT THEN I'M, BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND THEN IF, IF IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT AND IT'S HINDERED US FROM MOVING FORWARD, THEN WHY CAN'T WE USE THE CURRENT LEGAL REPRESENTATION OF THE TOWN? UM, I MET WITH MR. SONNET AND ASKED HIM THAT AND HE SAID THAT HE, YOU KNOW, THAT JOE PREFERRED TO HAVE SOMETHING SEPARATE.
UM, BUT IF THAT'S BEING DIFFICULT, THEN I FEEL LIKE MAYBE WE SHOULD GO THAT ROUTE.
AND, UH, BUT I, I WOULD
AND THE FACT THAT WE'RE HAVING, WE'RE DISCUSSING AND WE'RE SEEING A PRESENTATION, UM, I JUST FEEL LIKE WE CAN'T MOVE FORWARD 'CAUSE WE HAVE NOTHING TO WORK WITH.
SO, I MEAN, WE'VE DONE AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
YOUR BUSINESS SURVEY HAS BEEN AWESOME.
WE SAW AN AFFORDABLE OPPORTUNITY WITH RETAIL STRATEGIES, WHICH I THINK SOME OF US, YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T VOTE UNANIMOUSLY ON IT, BUT WE ALL FELT PRETTY GOOD, AT LEAST GIVING IT A YEAR AND SEEING HOW IT'S GONNA LOOK.
BUT RIGHT NOW OUR HANDS ARE TIED TO MOVE ANY, ANY FORWARD UNTIL WE'RE GIVING SOME SORT OF FUTURE.
AND SO I'M JUST BASICALLY ASKING FOR THAT AGAIN.
AND I KNOW IT'D BE IN OUR MINUTES, BUT I, I, I CAN'T, YOU KNOW, I AM VERY FRUSTRATED BY THAT.
SO WE'LL HAVE TO SEE IF WE CAN GET YOU AN ANSWER.
WELL OUR NEXT MEETING IS UH, DECEMBER 2ND.
AND UH, AS WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, WE'RE GONNA DO SOME TRAINING AT THAT MEETING AND, UH, TALK ABOUT SOME OF THESE ITEMS THAT ARE ON THIS AGENDA AND MAYBE, UH, MAYBE WE'LL HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT THE RETAIL STRATEGIES TIMELINE WILL BE BY THEN.
UM, ANYTHING ELSE WE WANT TO PUT ON THAT AGENDA AT THIS POINT? I MEAN, SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE GONNA BE AN HOUR TRAINING, SO.
I'M IN A BUSINESS TRIP IN PHOENIX, SO I WILL TRY TO MAKE SURE I GET ONLINE AND FINISH IT.