Army Depot Museum coming soon

The Jo-Carroll Local Redevelopment Authority (LRA) at its Oct. 3 meeting gave the nod to the Rock Island Technical Society (RITS) for it to acquire the Welcome Center at 3651 Crim Drive in the Savanna Depot Business, Industry and Technology Park, 8 miles north of Savanna. In the center, RITS plans to open an information center about the Savanna Depot Park and a RITS gift shop as well as creating with area residents an Army Depot Museum. RITS would like to relocate its gift shop to the building soon and add model railroads.

Economic Development Committee chairman Don Crawford said RITS plans to hold tractor, auto and railroad motorcar shows on the lot and work with the Blackhawk Waterways CVB on a trail of railroad museums. It is interested in acquiring only the part of the parking lot. Another worker obtained through the Experience Works program would be added.

A motion was made and approved to enter into a lease-purchase with RITS for 3651 Crim Drive, Building 255, for $45,310the full asking price, which includes survey cost, with RITS to pay $2,000 per year with a 3 percent per year escalator clause, and the understanding that "the sand box," (a diorama of the Savanna Army Depot) would remain in the building and remain the property of the LRA.

Individuals with items to loan or donate may contact Jack Carson, RITS president, at 815-273-4013 or cell 563-451-7458.

Crawford also reported that Riverport Railroad wants a buffer zone between a planned corporate retreat and the railroad operations. A motion to sell Building 108 at 16266 Vincent Road and the pool and land on other side of Vincent to Riverport Railroad for $2,500 was approved. (Riverport has yet to notify the LRA if it is agreeable to purchasing the property for that price. It had offered $1. The LRA's customary asking price on vacant land has been $2,500 per acre.)

During the Finance/Personnel Committee Report, chairman Ed Olds said that the LRA Budget Spreadsheet and Financials were reviewed and approved by the committee.

Action was taken on a maturing Certificate of Deposit (CD). The committee studied three proposals offered after letters were sent to banks in the two counties, and selected the highest rate. The board approved the transfer of CD# 11, which matures on 10/10/07 into a new CD with Blackhawk Area Credit Union for 7 months at 5.25 percent.

Regarding the Water and Sewer Contract, the LRA appointed Bill Green of Riverport Railroad to serve as a backup operator to independent contractor Tim Schoenig and to refer a mutual aid agreement with the operator of a nearby water and wastewater treatment plant to the Infrastructure Committee for a recommendation.

In new business, LRA Chairman John W. "Jack" Rapp asked that his colleagues not re-elect him to another term as chairman. He has made a commitment to his church that consumes a lot of his time and requires out-of-state travel.

Elected unanimously were: Current Vice Chairman Bill McFadden as chairman and Ed Olds, vice chairman. Committee assignments will remain the same as in the past.

The Executive Director's Report was presented by Diane Komiskey. LRA marketing efforts continue. A new rack card was designed and printed in-house. It was made available at the LRA kiosk and was distributed by the Savanna Chamber of Commerce. Advertising approved for publication and/or distribution in October included the Lake Carroll News and Quad City Times. New maps of land transferred by the Army, tenants' property and land available from the LRA were created. Visitors to Lost Mound stopped for information about available property and visited Rock Island Technical Society's museum.

Komiskey reported the beautification project saw fence posts removed and trees and shrubbery trimmed.

Prospective tenants continued to contact the LRA by phone and email. Condominium and ethanol plant building sites were in demand. Lot maps of available property were requested.

Komiskey said that on Sept. 17, the LRA closed on the sale of Lot 4 in Riverview Campus, which includes Building 10 at 3234 McIntyre Road, for the full asking price of $45,100. The purchaser was Gary Frederick of Savanna, who is moving his business, Fluidic µControls, to the Savanna Depot Park. The LRA also closed on the sale of buildings 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29 and 12 acres, to Terra Firma Technologies on Sept. 19.

More property is available. The LRA has received the deed to Parcel 6, which consists of approximately 48.5 acres of vacant land. The property in Lot 5 of Sandpiper Park, is now available for purchase from the LRA. The land is in Jo Daviess County and zoned for industrial uses.

The LRA continues to receive the services of work crews from the minimum-security unit at the Thomson Correctional Center, Komiskey said.

Frank Barton of the Department of Defense, Office of Economic Adjustment, scheduled a visit to the Savanna Depot Business, Industry & Technology Park with executive directors of three LRA's on Sept. 24-25. Two ED's were able to make the trip, Ms. Pat Jones of Seneca County Industrial Development Agency (Base: Seneca Army Depot, Seneca, NY) and Marc Elliott of River Ridge Commerce Center, (Indiana Army Ammunition Plant, Jefferson, IN).

On Sept. 24, the trio heard a briefing about the Savanna Depot Park and toured portions of it. Staff grilled the trio about policies, procedures and progress at other bases.

On Sept. 25, the EDs presented their observations and answered questions. "It was an extremely valuable learning experience," Komiskey said. "It should lead to many actions that will enable the LRA to market the Savanna Depot Park more effectively and as a result create more jobs, improve the economy and increase the tax bases of Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties."

In other action, the board authorized Executive Director Komiskey to contact Frank Barton, project manager with OEA, and request OEA funding for (a) a business incubator feasibility study (b) a market analysis update and (c) website design and maintenance.

The 2008 regular scheduled meetings and 2008 Holiday schedule were established. Set board meetings for: Jan. 9, Feb. 6, March 5, April 2, May 7, June 4, July 9, Aug. 6, Sept. 3, Oct. 1, Nov. 5 & Dec. 3, 2008; holidays are those set by the 15th Judicial Circuit.

New and prospective tenants have requested confirmation that McIntyre Road and Graham Circle will remain open to the public. A motion to approve Resolution 14, which says that McIntyre Road and Graham Circle will remain open to the public was passed.

Russ Simpson, Jo-Carroll Energy Economic Development Director, was a guest at the meeting.

The Commander's Representative reported that environmental projects include Zone L work, and are continuing as previously reported. The Exclusion Zone schedule is subject to change based on Army-LRA negotiations. Notification and map of the exclusion zones have been forwarded to the LRA and other stakeholders for distribution. Zone L work should be completed this fall.

As of 1 October, the US Army is in fiscal year 08. Information and maps concerning potential MEC projects for next spring and summer, (Upper Function Test Range, Graze Impact Range Fan, and New Function Test Range/75mm Graze Impact Range Fan) have been forwarded to the LRA, USFWS, and IDNR.

FY07 LRA property transfers include LRA Parcel 11A, 49 acres. The transfer is complete. FY08 (fy07 carryover) LRA property transfers are for LRA Parcel 6, 52 acres. The deed was forwarded to the LRA for review/signature.

The Army FY08 Budget at the former depot is approximately $4.48 million.

- Tom KocalTKocal@prairie-advocate-news.com

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