The Ponca City Development Authority (PCDA) held their regular monthly meeting on Thursday, June 8 in the John McNeese Gallery at City Central at 7:30 am.

Nancy Laffey called the meeting to order.

At the top of the meeting, the Board approved the consent calendar which included the minutes of the May 11, 2023 meeting, the financial report for May 2023, and the payment claims for May 2023.

PCDA Executive Director, David Myers, then provided the Board with information on Change Order Number Six to the construction management contract with Hembree and Hodgson for the “Duke” spec building in the amount of $18,505.45.

Duke is currently in the process of having details such as electrical, plumbing, and HVAC installed. On June 7, the City of Ponca City came out to perform and electrical inspection and the building has received a “green tag” or indication that it has passed code. Likewise, the roof and plumbing have received green tags.

The ramp is partially completed and is expected to be ready for concrete sometime next week. Once the ramp is poured, then work can begin on the entrance and the parking lot.

This change order includes moving a drainage spout, correcting an engineering issue regarding the alignment of restrooms and plumbing, and running some line to set a gas meter away from the building.

The Board approved Change Order Number Six.

Myers then discussed the east side Airport industrial Park drainage project with the Board.

In 2019, Precision Tool and Die were filled out and wanted to expand. The area near the business is for water detention, and according to city standards, a certain amount of land must be available for this purpose.

PCDA spoke with the City of Ponca City on what could be done to help facilitate the expansion. At that time, the Ponca City Airport project was beginning to start, and it was suggested that since dirt was being moved for the runway, a region detention basin could be added in the area.

As the runway project moved forward, it became apparent that there was an excess of dirt, not a shortage. Prior to that, PCDA entered into an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with the City of Ponca City to allow Precision to expand. The MOU was never used by any parties involved, as land became available for Precision, and the City never used it for additional drainage.

PCDA had potential funding for studies and worked with an engineering firm out of Enid to look at the area and see what needed to be done for region detention. The study showed that the area, which is east of the airport and between Ash, would need three bases. The cost was estimated at $3.1 million.

A different approach was proposed that would perform the project in phases, and search for any potential grant funding.

The Board then moved on to discuss a potential expense with BC Coatings in the amount of $13,175 to paint the external east facing hangar doors at the PCDA-owned hangar at 2501 Waverly.

This hanger is leased to NextGen Aviation and the doors need a new coat of paint. The doors didn’t receive an updated coat because there were discussions to originally expand the hangar. The FFA advised against expanding the hangar, and so PCDA had to inform NextGen that they would be working with the available space, which they will use for smaller planes if PCDA has the doors painted.

The Board approved the expense.

The Board then approved the draft for the 2023-2024 PCDA budget.

Next, the Board then elected PCDA Board officers for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. The new officers are as follows: Chair - Mark Detten Vice Chair - Eric Peitz Secretary - Mark Southard Treasurer - David Myer (this position is interim until a new CPA is designated) Staff with PCDA then provided their various reports. Lori Henderson provided information on HVAC project at City Central. The damper installation has been completed and wiring is moving forward. Testing will be performed to ensure that pressure within the building is good, and that all systems are working properly.

Select Oklahoma is having a conference on Aug. 28 and Aug. 29, those interested in attending can contact Lori Henderson or David Myer for more information.

Liz Leaming then provided information on marketing. PCDA ramped up their marketing, and have both a video on an entrepreneurial roadmap, and a 30-second Summit video.

Girl Power is coming up at the end of July this year and has more girls signed up then PCDA is able to have in the program. It is an application process and they will go through to find which will be most benefited by the program.

Kat Long shared information on the Cost of Living Index (COLI), and that Ponca City is in the top 10 for lowest cost of living, placing in eighth place with a COL Index of 82.9. The index is based on six components including housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, health care, and miscellaneous goods and services. Ponca City regularly ranks in the 85 to 89 percentiles for Cost of Living.

PCDA was at the Okies Celebration at Philips 66 on Wednesday, May 24.

David Myers shared some information on state issues. The State of Oklahoma is putting together a Workforce Transformation Taskforce and shared copies of their study with the Board. The information in this study shows that the taskforce wants to privatize workforce, and put together a private non-profit organization “owner.”

The Senate also developed an Economic Development Taskforce several months ago that also seems to be leaning toward privatization.

The Board then voted to enter into executive session.