Plans for MEDS study derailed - for now

By James Beaty

Discussion about the possibility of paying up to $26,000 for a new feasibility study for the McAlester Economic Development Service took a sharp detour after MEDS learned about a separate pending study for the city of McAlester.

The proposed MEDS study was expected to include a plan for raising funds privately from the business community and from individuals to be used by MEDS.

However, the other planned study for the city of McAlester — and its ultimate impact on the separate MEDS proposal — didn’t come up until the original proposal for the $26,000 in MEDS expenditures had been the focus of a sometimes-intense discussion.

During the MEDS board meeting held on Tuesday at the Southeast Expo Center, several MEDS board members talked about why they didn’t support the proposal to spend up to $26,000 for the proposed MEDS study.

Jerry Hinson and Marlene Dial, who were identified as being with Regional Development Associates, Inc., had already addressed the MEDS board during a previous meeting.

MEDS board President Dr. Kenneth Miller said he had already been back in contact with Dial.

“I talked with Marleen yesterday and told her I felt the board needed to take a few steps back,” he said.

“I’m going to propose I appoint an ad hoc committee to meet” in connection with the feasibility study proposal, Miller said, adding that the committee could consider “a change of culture” for MEDS.

MEDS board member Amy Johns, who is publisher of the McAlester News-Capital, noted that the two individuals who had addressed the board at its last meeting were also mentioned in connection with another group called Stellar Fundraising Executives.

Miller said the ad hoc committee he was proposing could look into all aspects of the proposal.

“I want our ad hoc committee to investigate with great care over the next month,” he said.

Johns noted that the MEDS board had recently hired a new executive director, Shari Cooper, who planned to come on board in December.

She questioned the wisdom of MEDS contracting with an outside firm before MEDS’ new executive director had a chance to start on the job.

“I think we’re rushing ahead and trying to do something with a company that would be a major affront to that person,” Johns said.

She noted that MEDS is being asked to spend $26,000, when expenses were included.

Another MEDS board member, Tom Bledsoe, of Komar, also had a comment on the proposed $26,000 in expenditures for the feasibility study.

“It’s 10 percent of our budget, or more,” he said.

Johns said the MEDS board knows the members will be asked to give the names of 100 people who might contribute funds to MEDS and she said that many of the MEDS board members would likely give the same 100 names.

“It’s $26,000,” Johns said of the cost of the project. “I don’t think we’re going to get a return on our investment.”

Dr. Miller said he wasn’t asking for a vote.

“I’m asking for an ad hoc committee to report to the board next month,” he said.

Acting City Manager Pete Stasiak, who is filling the seat allocated for the city manager on the MEDS board, said “I was a little bit concerned that we were going to be asked for a vote on the expenditure.”

Stasiak said he felt glad the MEDS board was slowing down.

“I don’t think we have all the information.”

Questions were then raised about where “the hook” was.

Stasiak spoke of his background working with economic development in other communities. He also noted that MEDS could use a new “spec” building or business incubator to offer to companies interested in coming to McAlester.

“To me, the ‘hook’ is a new building — but you’ve got to have a plan,” Stasiak said.

Another MEDS board member, Steve Benefield, of Choctaw Manufacturing, said his company would be hesitant to donate a large amount of money to MEDS if there were no specific plan on how the money would be spent.

Several board members had little to say.

“I think some of us don’t speak because we don’t want to be quoted in the paper,” said Barbara Gilbertson, who represents Eastern Oklahoma State College.

“We need to go back to ‘what’s our purpose,’” Gilbertson said. Gilbertson also noted the new executive director is slated to come on board on Dec. 1.

“What’s our mission? Where do we want to be in three years, five years?”

Stasiak also said the MEDS board “should let the new director get her feet on the ground.”

He also mentioned that $170,000 has been allocated from economic development funds for a new study on behalf of the city.

“The city has funded a strategic plan for the community,” said Stasiak. “We’re going to be issuing a request for proposals. “We’ll contract for a strategic plan for the city.

“I see economic development being part of the plan,” said Stasiak.

“It’s not my plan — it’s the community’s. Once the consultants are here, they’ll start running the show.

“My goal in the process is to keep it going.”

That brought up a question about what MEDS could learn from the city’s plan.

“If you’re going to spend $170,000 for a strategic plan, maybe we could borrow a corner of it,” said MEDS board member Noble Miller.

Stasiak said he expected action to result from the city study after it’s completed.

“This thing isn’t going to sit on the shelf,” said Stasiak. “It will be a living, breathing document.”

MEDS board member Darryl Wright, of Newfield Exploration, had a question for Stasiak in regard to the city of McAlester.

“If they’re going to have a strategic plan, what do they need us for?

“Ya’ll are doing it.”

Johns again questioned the wisdom of spending $26,000 of MEDS money if the city already planned on conducting a strategic study of its own.

“I’m not so sure we need to jump on that boat right now, if the city’s already doing it.”

Noting the cost of the city study, Bledsoe said “That’s more money than we were given for MEDS.”

Dr. Miller mentioned his hope for an ad hoc committee, but got no takers.

“If we’re going to do this, the new director should be here,” said MEDS board member Lee Anderson.

Ultimately, the board didn’t take a vote on the proposal. The consensus seemed to be for MEDS to see what could be learned from the city study, although there was no formal vote on the matter.

Johns suggested that the MEDS board hold a meeting or retreat in February, after the new director had been on the job for a couple of months, to discuss a strategic plan, and asked that the proposal be placed on the agenda for the next meeting.

Dr. Miller had little vocal support during the meeting for his proposal to appoint an ad hoc committee to study the proposal for the separate MEDS feasibility study, and it appeared to be dropped for the time being.

MEDS board members at the meeting included Anderson, Wright, Jack Inman, Benefield, Gilbertson, Bledsoe, Johns, Stasiak, Noble Miller, Brian Lott and Dr. Kenneth Miller.

MEDS board members not present were Kenny Edwards and Terry Lanham.

Contact James Beaty at jbeaty@mcalesternews.com.

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