Greene authority gets good grade on audit
WAYNESBURG – The Greene County Industrial Development Authority received a good audit report for 2004 Wednesday, with its expenditures slightly exceeding its revenue for that year, something its auditor said is proper for the funding body. And according to James Milinovich, the authority moved a record amount of money through federal and state grants to projects across the county.
The authority received more than $2.6 million in state and federal grants for the 2004 fiscal year, and expended nearly $4.5 million toward various projects during that span.
“You obtained an array of funding sources and you distributed the money,” Milinovich said. “That is how you do business.”
Milinovich said the major amount of funds from the authority went toward the reclamation project of the Mather Gob Pile and added that only one negative for the entire year was found, some late payments on a state Department of Agriculture loan.
“Funneling money in and out is how an authority like this is supposed to work,” Milinovich said. “You did that very well.”
In other business, the authority heard from Executive Director Don Chappel about the progress of the EverGreene Technology Park in Franklin Township.
According to Chappel, roadways at the 14-parcel site are being installed and the authority has issued several proposals to various companies to build at the site.
Chappel said walls for the building to house anchor tenant R.J. Lee Group are now being erected and excavation is underway on phase two of the project.
Chappel said R.J. Lee Group is now in the third round of contract negotiations with the U.S. Air Force.
Chappel said the push for a third year of contracts is just one of many steps toward getting the defense contractor established at EverGreene, something he hopes to accomplish early next year.
Horizon Properties, one of the primary developers of the Southpointe complex along Interstate 79 in Washington County, was hired to complete the massive 228-acre EverGreene project.
Horizon officials said the total site preparation for the park will cost about $8.1 million, including about $3.4 million for Phase 1 site work.
More than 2.7 million yards of dirt must be moved for the 14-parcel park.
R.J. Lee will be the first tenant at the park, and the government subsidy will be used to build a wear debris data repository center. The company has partnered with the Air Force for the project, which, officials said, could produce as many as 250 jobs over the next few years.
Greene County Commissioner Pam Snyder said R.J. Lee already is employing 10 people in Waynesburg at its temporary facility and expects to hire another 10 people this year.