Phoenix, CAIDC Signing PDF Print E-mail
Phoenix, CAIDC signing makes it official  

By DONNA COLLINS Staff Writer

Camden News 12/10/2009    

   Phoenix Renewable Energy CEO Sam Anderson said signing the land lease for Phoenix’s planned $160 million-plus project in Camden was "a demonstration of true community involvement."
   Anderson signed the lease with the Camden Area Industrial Development Corporation for a nearly 48-acre site at the former International Paper Company property on old South Adams Avenue during Wednesday’s Ouachita Partnership for Economic Development board meeting.
   Anderson and Phoenix’s director of development Steve Walker praised CAIDC executive director James Lee Silliman and OPED executive director Norm MacNeill for their efforts leading to the successful lease signing. "They worked very hard to get to this point," Walker said.
   CAIDC board president Alan Dean, who also serves as vice president of the OPED board, said the company has secured financing to begin construction at the site that will eventually include a wood processing yard designed to accept 1.2 million tons of woody biomass annually, a 20.3 mega watt biomass combined heat and power plant producing electricity and steam; and a wood pellet mill plant producing 350,000 tons of pellets annually to be shipped from the Port of Camden to customers in Europe.
   "There were some delays, but construction of phase one should begin shortly," Walker said. Walker explained that certain delays, those associated with obtaining required state and federal environmental agencies approval, were expected.
   "We’re proud to have you," OPED board president Searcy Harrell said at the signing.
   Following the signing, Silliman gave a quick overview of what is now called the Camden Energy and Renewable Resources Industrial Park. The former IPCO site is owned by CAIDC. Two tenants, Paper Tigers and Chambliss Bridge Co., have been at the site for several years. CAIDC and OPED will continue to work together to market the industrial site. Details of the industrial park can be found at one the Internet site www.teamcamden.com/index.php/energy-andrenewable-resources-park.  

   In other business the OPED board approved the appointment of Blake Fain of Farmers Bank and Trust in Camden to replace Renwick Keaton, whose term expires this month. Fain’s appointment is for three years.
   A replacement for board member Tim Womack, who is relocating out of the area, was not named Wednesday. Nominating committee member Beth Osteen said the vacant position is one that is allocated to Ouachita County and is made by Ouachita County Judge Mike Hesterly, who is also an OPED board member. OPED board member Camden Mayor Chris Claybaker told board members that Hesterly is working to find a replacement for Womack.
   The board also approved officers for the 2010 year. The same officers serving now will serve another year, they include Harrell as president, Dean as vice president, Mike Cash as treasurer and Mike Murphree as secretary.
   OPED board members approved a budget of about $427,000 for 2010. The budget includes about $172,000 for personnel, about $101,000 for administration, about $52,000 for building expenses and about $99,000 for programs. Programs include retail development, business retention, Team Camden projects, Camden BizNet, business coaching and strategic planning.      In another budget matter, the audit of the board’s 2008 budget was presented by Parks and Rothwell, an El Dorado accounting firm. Auditor Pete Parks told the board the audit showed OPED is in compliance with standard accounting principals. Parks did advise the board to make some operational changes including having someone other than the office manager open OPED’s mail, have bank statements mailed directly to a board member before the office manager reconciles accounts and to produce a written conflict of interest policy and whistleblower policy.
   Parks explained that the additions would add to the board’s transparency of operations, an operations aspect being encouraged by the Internal Revenue Service.
   A copy of the audit is available for viewing at OPED offices in the Ouachita Valley  Business and Technology Development Center on South Adams Avenue.