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Region Gets Preview of Website
Fort Leonard Wood, MO – November 10, 2005 ---- The monthly meeting of Missouri’s Fort Leonard Wood Region (MFLWR) was held at the St. Robert Municipal Center. Bob Kreuter, chairman of the MFLWR, welcomed all to the meeting. On behalf of the City of St. Robert, Norm Herren, the City Administrator, welcomed the MFLWR board to the city.
Special guests at the meeting included Christy Bohrer, city attorney, St. Robert; Kim Burns, project manager for Tetra Tech, a new tenant company in the University of Missouri Technology Park at Fort Leonard Wood; Richard Cavender, executive director of the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC); Dr. Edger Jillard, regional director, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP); and Dr. Denise Martin, director, Rolla Technical Institute, Rolla.
Richard Cavender and Mark Newell, United States Geological Survey, discussed the on-going petition drive to keep USGS in Rolla. The drive is going well. Forms are available through MRPC. They expect a decision in late December.
Greg Maxwell, Office of the Garrison Commander of Fort Leonard Wood, provided the FLW Update. All construction projects are on schedule. The final FAA certification test flight for the instrument landing system is scheduled for December 12.
Ed Musgrove and Denise Martin gave the Schools Report. Ed said that Waynesville School District participated in a recent meeting of the Missouri Military Preparedness Commission in Jeff City. The commission was advocating the need to have two military members appointed as voting members on the school board. After the Waynesville presentation and further discussion, the recommendation was dropped by the commission. Several other issues related to the impact of frequent family moves on children were considered instead.
There was also a discussion concerning advanced manufacturing skills and the need to review regional education and training programs to see if they provide the needed instruction at the secondary and post-secondary levels. Advanced manufacturing companies with their high-pay jobs are an industry segment that the region wants to capture. It was agreed that the Education Committee will be convened to address this issue.
Bruce Harrell provided the Airport Committee report. He stated that the Joint Airport Board, which includes St. Robert and Waynesville, has formally requested that Fort Leonard Wood agree to increase the area currently leased and extend the lease so that airport expansion plans developed by the recent airport study can be implemented.
Steve Jenkins reported on the proceedings of the Regional Marketing Committee. Steve stated that the survey phase of Regional Workforce Study is completed. The response has been good for both. The study results will be available later this month.
Ron Selfors used an electronic projector, PC and broadband internet access to provide a preview of the region’s website. The website is designed so that it can be easily updated as information changes. It is specifically targeted at site selectors who help companies find new plant locations. The intent is to have the website operational by the end of the month. A news release will be distributed when the site becomes operational.
Missouri’s Fort Leonard Wood Region is a not-for-profit association which promotes economic and community development in the Fort Leonard Wood Region. The region extends along the I-44 Technology Corridor from Lebanon to Rolla/St. James. It includes the three counties of Laclede, Pulaski and Phelps. Its membership includes cities, counties, school districts, utility companies, businesses and other associations. Fort Leonard Wood, University of Missouri Rolla, United States Geological Survey, the regional planning councils and the Missouri Department of Economic Development also participate.
Fort Leonard Wood Region meetings are normally held on the second Tuesday of the month, and the public is always invited. The next regular meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 8, 1:30PM in the Concurrent Technologies Conference Room, Building 2, University of Missouri Technology Park at Fort Leonard Wood. Call 573-329-8505 to confirm time and place.
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