CAMDEN -- The Ouachita Partnership for Economic Development spent the majority of its meeting in an executive session on Wednesday regarding Executive Director Norm MacNeill.
When the meeting reconvened, it was announced that MacNeill submitted a letter of resignation, and board members voted to accept MacNeill's resignation.
The board also amended its payroll date to reflect that MacNeill's salary payments would end on June 1.
Later in the meeting, Ouachita Partnership for Economic Development Board President Blake Fain nominated Camden Defense Business Initiative Vice President Dale Turner to act as interim director of operations. The board voted in favor of Fain's recommendation.
The group then briefly discussed its committee bylaws.
Fain gave an explanation about an amendment that will add an SAU Tech representative as a voting member, which will increase the number of voting members to 12. The member will be selected by the SAU Tech chancellor.
Another amendment was approved that will allow the mayor and the county judge to select their own representation so that, when the mayor and judge are unable to attend a meeting, those representatives can attend in their place.
Beth Osteen, executive director of the Camden Area Chamber of Commerce, briefly explained a new economic development video that can be found on the investinsoutharkansas.com website. The video covers the assets of the area, such as the major industries, health care providers, utilities and educational institutes.
It was originally planned for the group to watch the video during the meeting, but Fain stated that since the executive session lasted longer than planned, he did not want to keep members of the board too long. He encouraged everyone to visit the website and watch the video.
Turner then provided a quick overview of his Camden Defense Industry Consortium report. He provided members with information and asked that everyone review the documents regarding the Camden Defense Business Initiative in their packets and told them not to hesitate to ask him any questions about it.
Turner went on to say that the No. 1 priority is securing a grant and finishing a meeting room at the Ouachita Partnership for Economic Development building that will allow additional training for manufacturers from across the state.
As the meeting was adjourning, office manager Dotty Harris asked whether the group was going to set a date for a workshop with Arkansas Manufacturer Solutions. Fain said the group would do so via email.
In the April Camden City Council meeting, Mayor Marie Trisollini said that area leaders are trying to redesign the Ouachita Partnership for Economic Development and look for ways to improve its services.
The mayor added that the new partnership will consist of input from the Camden City Council, the Ouachita Partnership for Economic Development executive board and the Ouachita County Quorum Court. She said at the council meeting that Arkansas Manufacturer Solutions will provide a workshop on how to rebuild the partnership.
However, no mention was made during the meeting on Wednesday about the statements made during the recent Camden City Council meeting. The Camden News was unable to contact Fain after the meeting for a comment regarding to any future changes to the Ouachita Partnership for Economic Development.
State Desk on 04/25/2015