PCDI Board of Director Elections Set for March 27

Three positions on the Prowers County Development Incorporated board of directors will be up for election during the business portion of the annual business meeting, Friday, March 27.  The meeting will be held at the Holly High School which will feature a tour of the facilities at 6pm, conducted by members of the National Honor Society, followed by the dinner meeting, set for 7pm.

Long time board member, Lawrence Brase will not run for re-election and Larry Lusher has decided not to run for board membership for a second term.  Rick Robbins, the current PCDI President, whose term is coming to an end, stated that he will run for another two year period.  The election is open to those business owners who are attending the annual meeting and because of a change in PCDI by-laws several years ago, there will not be any proxy votes admitted.  Voting will be allowed only by those in attendance.  PCDI office manager, Carla Scranton, said there are currently four candidates for the three positions, and nominations may also be made from the floor during the annual meeting.  The meeting will also focus on future business memberships with PCDI.

The directors held an open information meeting recently, highlighted by the keynote speaker, Kari Linker, the economic development director for Morgan County and a past state representative for the Office of Economic Development and International Trade.  She led the discussion on rural economic develop strategies and helped the audience define several forms of local economic development.  She will be one of two speakers at the annual meeting.  Emily Neischburg, director of the Healthy Places Initiative, will be the other featured speaker for the event.  PCDI has been in contact with various municipal officials and businesspeople, ascertaining the future focus PCDI should take for the hiring of a new executive director.

The board narrowed the first dates for their sponsored seminars to April 21 or 22 to cover prescription and drug use prevention in the workplace.  Maureen Carney from Peer Assistance Services will conduct several seminars on workplace prevention services.  Director Aaron Leiker said this date will provide ample time to publicize the event and attract interested businesses to sign up for the seminars.  Plans are underway for a repeat forklift training seminar in May, but a date is still pending.  The board is waiting for dates for haz-mat training which will be conducted by the Colorado State Patrol.  Website marketing is another idea for a future seminar that was briefly discussed.

By Russ Baldwin