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Dr. Judene Blackburn Joins Board
Fort Leonard Wood, MO – June 16, 2006 ---- The monthly meeting of Missouri’s Fort Leonard Wood Region (MFLWR) was held at the Waynesville School District Administration Building. Norm Herren, vice chairman of the MFLWR, welcomed all to the meeting. Dr. Ed Musgrove welcomed all to the School District and Waynesville.
Ed Musgrove also introduced Dr. Judene Blackburn, who will be the new District Superintendent. Judene will be replacing Ed on the MFLWR board. Ed will be retiring this month. He and his family will be moving to Kentucky where will be assuming superintendent duties for another school district. Ed said that he “will miss Waynesville/ St. Robert very much. I am proud of the progress we have made here and am looking forward to the new challenges that Kentucky will bring.” Norm Herren thanked Ed for his many years of service to the region and his strong interest in economic development.
Norm Herren reported that Bob Kreuter, Chairman of the MFLWR, arrived at the MD Anderson Clinic in Houston yesterday. He will be there for the week as part of his cancer treatment program. Norm asked that we all keep Bob in our thoughts and prayers.
Sue Halter, Deputy Garrison Commander of Fort Leonard Wood, provided the FLW Update. She said that all construction projects on post are on schedule. The new post exchange is 65% complete. Grand opening is scheduled for September or October. The Chemical, Biological, Radiation and Nuclear (CBRN) Responder Training Facility is under construction. It is scheduled to be completed in June 2007.
The change of command for Colonel JC Abney, the Garrison Commander, will be June 27. His replacement will be Colonel John Megnia, a Chemical Corps officer.
The arrival of the 94th Engineer Battalion from Germany is on-going. Over 700 soldiers plus their family members are expected to arrive from Germany and other locations this summer. The colors for the unit will be uncased in an early August ceremony.
There will be a large Independence Day celebration open to the public. It will culminate with the All Army Show on the 4th followed by fireworks.
Norm Herren provided the Airport Committee report. He stated that the Joint Airport Board, which includes St. Robert and Waynesville, is working with the Army to lease 12 more acres for the commercial side of the airport. An environmental study is now on-going to support the development. They are also installing self-service fuel pumps for aircraft after-hours. They currently have about $450 thousand to support airport upgrades to include a replacement tanker truck. They are awaiting word if they were successful in getting $1.2 million from the FAA for further airport upgrades as part of the FAA Military Airport Program.
Dr. Ed Musgrove gave the School’s Report. He said that Rolla will also have a new superintendent, Dr. Jerry Giger. The Waynesville School District is expecting about 40 new students from the move this summer of the 94th Engineer Battalion. The total school system will go from about 5,200 to 5,300 students. Ed also reported that renovation of the old Powell building for the Waynesville Technical Academy is scheduled to begin next summer. The district is considering using a design-build contract. Ben Jones reported that the Lebanon School District has a study underway to determine its future infrastructure needs.
Chris Heard discussed the marketing committee. He said that letters with brochures have gone out to site selectors and target companies. Ron Selfors reported that traffic to the website (www.MidAmericaLocations.org) increased again in May.
Richard Cavender and Connie Wellman, Meramec Regional Planning commission (MRPC), provided a briefing on Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). In 1975 MRPC was designated as an economic development district with regional planning responsibilities. In 2000 they conducted a region-wide planning effort which resulted in a comprehensive strategy for the seven counties that it was responsible for at the time. The strategy is the result of a number of public meetings and SWOT (Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis. The strategy identifies needs and action items. MRPC and the counties and cities use these to guide their economic and community development programs. These strategies are updated annually.
MRPC is now beginning a major five-year update of the strategy and will include Pulaski County for the first time. They also want to get input from the MFLWR. The plan will be completed in June 2007. There was a consensus that MFLWR will support this effort.
Ron Selfors reminded everyone that Steve Tupper and he will co-host the next segment of “’Round the Region”, MFLWR’s regional economic development radio program, on KUMR on Friday, June 23, at 8:10am. He hopes everyone will tune in and listen.
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, July 11, 1:30PM in the Lebanon/Laclede County Library. Call 573-329-8505 or visit the news section of the website (www.MidAmericaLocations.org) to confirm time and place.
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