The Bradley County Economic Development Corporation (BCEDC) board met on Monday, June 27 after not having a meeting in May.
BCEDC Chariman Dr. Bob Smalling reported a contract with LaSalle Corrections was signed, but LaSalle had not made payments yet. The BCEDC received an estimate on the cost to restore the property where the correctional facility would be. The board approved to accept bids on the project and let the executive committee decide.
Dr. Matthew Pelkki, Director of the Arkansas Center for Forest Business, Dr. Sagar Chhetri, postdoctoral economist, and Ana Gutierrez, research associate with the Center were the guest speakers at the meeting. Warren Mayor Denisa Pennington said the Arkansas Forestry Commission had every tree downtown inspected and each one was diseased. She said the wrong type of tree was planted. Different trees would be planted downtown.
Mayor Pennington reported after four years, the pistol and rifle range project was finally completed. She stated the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will put in a pond at the range. They will also put install an archery range. She commented Warren had the only public shooting range in south Arkansas.
There was some discussion about the census population. In Warren, the census showed 700 less people were in Warren. Mayor Pennington said this affects the city and the county because it means they receive less money from the state.
In the intermodal report, John Lipton said they had a large industrial prospect. He said it would be one of the largest investments in the area.
Bradley County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Terrie White reported the Pink Tomato Festival was a huge success, despite the storm. It was commented that the parade was one of the biggest the festival had seen. The Chamber of Commerce still has festival t-shirts and cookbooks available for sale at the Warren Municipal Building.
Dr. Smalling said the BCEDC finalized a lease renewal with Sorrells Lumber. The contract to lease part of the BCEDC property is still pending with Scott Richardson.
The BCEDC approved to donate $100 to the Bradley County Fair.
The next BCEDC meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. Monday, July 25 at the BCEDC building.
