CDC office move debate continues at Tuesday session
By BRENDA SOMMER bsommer@leader-news.com

L-N File Photo New Home? The City Development Corp. of El Campo may decide Tuesday whether to move its headquarters from the city-owned Chamber of Commerce building to the Northside Education Center, shown here.

The City Development Corp. of El Campo might decide whether to move its headquarters to the Northside Education Center during a special called meeting Tuesday, when it will also consider a number of other items tabled last week.

During the board's Oct. 15 meeting, directors discussed moving the agency, which currently shares space with the El Campo Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture in a city-owned building at Washington and East Jackson streets. It costs the CDC an average of $682 per month for its share of utilities.

In August, Northside board President Gordon Sorrel asked the CDC board to let Executive Director Chandra Spenrath take calls and handle business after Northside Executive Director Irene Barr stepped down Sept. 1.

The distance-learning center, opened on the refurbished grounds of the original El Campo High School at 707 Fahrenthold, is home to several adult education programs.

The CDC gives $30,000 per year to the center to help workers land good jobs, hone their office and customer service skills, and brush up on computer programs.

After discussing how a move would work, the board last week asked its attorney, Ronny Collins, to draft a sixmonth agreement by this week's meeting.

The agreement between Northside and the CDC is short so both agencies will have time to see if an arrangement would work, and work out any unforeseen problems.

The CDC would continue to pay its share of bills to the Chamber for the duration of that arrangement.

During that same meeting, the board tabled a request by the Chamber for the CDC to assume some of the costs of remodeling going on at Chamber headquarters. The exterior of the building has already been repainted, but upgrades are planned for the boardroom, which was used regularly by both the CDC and the Chamber.

Directors decided to table the request for some share of the estimated remodeling costs of between $7,700 and $8,800 until it made a firm decision on moving to Northside.

During Tuesday's meeting, the board will also:

• Consider changing the date of the November meeting;

• Consider renewal of commercial insurance for Silver Streak Bass Company and Cardell Cabinetry; and

• Hold a closed executive session to discuss and deliberate economic development negotiations and consult with board attorney Ronny Collins. If any action is taken as a result of the closed session, it will occur in open session immediately afterward.

Starting Tuesday morning - prior to the called meeting - CDC directors will hold a workshop on board development and strategic planning with two presenters from the Lower Colorado River Authority.

The CDC is a city-created entity funded by one-sixth of the city's sales tax dollars to promote economic development.

The board workshop begins at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23 in the Northside Education Center board room, 707 Fahrenthold, followed at 3:45 p.m. by the special called meeting at the same location. CDC board meetings are open to the public.