Chaffee authority director receives $15,000 bonus

story by Marla Cantrell
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Ivy Owen, executive director of the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority, is $15,000 richer after the board voted in executive session to give him a year-end bonus.

“I wouldn’t have requested it if I hadn’t thought I deserved it,” Owen said. “It takes guidance, leadership, a knowledge of the business. I have 43 years experience. … It’s been a good year.”

Owen said when he took the position he requested the option of asking for an annual bonus, based on his performance. This is in addition to his $130,000 a year salary. He won’t know until the Jan. 21 meeting whether that amount will increase.

The executive director said he and his team were busy in 2010. He is particularly proud of getting Mitsubishi to commit to building a $100 million wind turbine plant on 90 acres of Chaffee land, something he said he couldn’t have done without the help of the community. Construction should begin in 2011, and when completed, bring 400 jobs to the area.

There was plenty of stress involved in that transaction, more than a few delays, and a whole lot of prayer.

The nominating committee also added new board members and appointed a new chairman and vice chairman.
• The Authority’s new chairman will be Michael Melton, who lives in Barling, and has served on the board since 2002. He will complete the one year left on Dr. Jerry Stewart’s two-year term as chairman. Stewart resigned to return to medical practice. In doing so, Melton was required to give up his position as secretary, which will now go to Linda Schmidt.

• Kelly Clark will replace Jerry Orler, who vacated his position because he moved to Dallas. Clark, a Greenwood resident, manages the Zero Street Wal-Mart in Fort Smith. It will be a five-year term.

• Janie Glover was chosen to fill Dr. Stewart’s board position; he had four years left on his term. The trustees said she will bring a great deal of experience to the board.  Glover is the former executive vice president of the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce.  She also serves on the Arkansas Economic Developers Board and the Arkansas Hospitality Association Board.

• Bob Bradford will also serve another five-year term on the board.

In other business, 1019 Logistics, a freight management company, is signing a five-year lease with an option to buy 16 acres behind Graphic Packaging. The price of the land is locked at $25,000 an acre. In return, the authority will construct a $45,000 two-acre parking lot for the company’s use. The lease will be used to pay back the cost of the lot.

1019 Logistics is hoping to build a distribution center. The company now operates out of a building on Fort Chaffee, but the company is waiting on the construction of the rail service before it commits to the purchase. Once the rail is in, the company wants to close on the land within six months.

Carrington Creek Holdings is acquiring 13.8 acres at $12,000 per acre, with an 18-month exclusive option to buy and first refusal for the 15 adjoining acres. The property is adjacent to Cisterna Village and will be developed as part of Carrington Creek, a subdivision of $150,000 to $200,000 homes. Closing is set for Jan. 22.