[1. Call to Order – Jerald Jones, Chairman] [00:00:06] EVERYONE, I APOLOGIZE FOR THE LATE GETTING STARTED, BUT I'M GOING TO MOVE THE MEETING AS QUICKLY AS I CAN TO TRY TO RESPECT EVERYONE'S TIME. SO I'M CALLING THE WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22ND MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY TO ORDER. MRS. SIMMONS, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE? GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. STUART MOSS. DAVID TOUPS. PRESENT. DAVID AMOSS. HERE. JOHN AUSTIN. HERE. BARRY MELE. HERE. SCOTT NIEMEYER. REPRESENTATIVE DARYL DESHOTEL. SENATOR FRANKLIN FOIL. KYLE POLOZOLA. JERALD JONES. PRESENT. SENATOR BETH MIZELL. RONALD REMEDIES. REPRESENTATIVE TONY BACALA. MICHAEL TANNER. PRESENT. ANNE VILLA FOR SECRETARY BOURGEOIS. PRESENT. GEORGE NASSAR. PRESENT. ERWIN THOMPSON. HAROLD CALLAIS. HERE. RIDGE MIGUEZ. PRESENT. WESLEY WHEELIS. HERE. LETTI ARDOIN. ROBBY MILLER. HERE. REPRESENTATIVE JULIE EMERSON. WE HAVE A QUORUM. GREAT. THANK YOU. YOU'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE MINUTES FROM OUR FEBRUARY 25TH, [3. Approval of Minutes from February 25, 2026 meeting] 2026 MEETING. I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE. I HAVE A MOTION FROM MR. MILLER, SECOND FROM MAYOR TOUPS. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? HEARING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES. MRS. ADEGBE, GOOD MORNING. [4. Quality Jobs Program – Michaela Adegbe] PLEASE. GOOD MORNING. THERE ARE TWO RENEWAL APPLICATIONS. 20210133 BREEZE AVIATION GROUP, INC. DBA BREEZE AIRWAYS, JEFFERSON PARISH. 20200458, [INAUDIBLE] LLC. TERREBONNE PARISH. ALL RIGHT. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE. MOTION FROM. I'M GOING COMPLETELY BLANK. MR. AMOSS. I WANTED TO CALL YOU SOMETHING ELSE, AND I KNEW IT WASN'T RIGHT. MR. AMOSS. SECOND FROM MR. WHEELIS. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES. ONE CHANGE OF COMPANY NAME ONLY. 20200094. CURRENT COMPANY NAME, VITALIS, LLC. NEW COMPANY NAME, AUROREOM, LLC. LIVINGSTON PARISH. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE. MOTION FROM MR. AMOSS. SECOND, MR. CALLAIS. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? THERE IS NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES. 3. CHANGE OF PROJECT PHYSICAL LOCATION 20220424 DELTA TREATMENT SYSTEMS, LLC. PREVIOUS ADDRESS 9125 CORMIER DRIVE, WALKER, LOUISIANA, 70785. LIVINGSTON PARISH. NEW ADDRESS, 15785 INDUSTRIAL WAY, WALKER, LOUISIANA, 70785. LIVINGSTON PARISH. 20220475 TECH NEW TECHNOLOGY SERVICES. PREVIOUS ADDRESS, 312 WESTGATE ROAD, LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA, 70506. LAFAYETTE PARISH. NEW ADDRESS, 709 CALLAIS ROAD, LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA, 70508 LIVINGSTON. I'M SORRY. LAFAYETTE PARISH. 20170270 TOTAL QUALITY LOGISTICS, LLC, 935 GRAVIER STREET, SUITE 2000, NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, 70112. ORLEANS PARISH. NEW ADDRESS, 3838 NORTH CAUSEWAY BOULEVARD, SUITE 2100, METAIRIE, LOUISIANA, 7002. JEFFERSON PARISH. I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE CHANGES OF LOCATION. MOTION FROM MR. CALLAIS, SECOND FROM MAYOR TOUPS. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? THERE IS NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES. THIS CONCLUDES QUALITY JOBS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MRS. METOYER. GOOD MORNING. YOU'RE GOING TO HANDLE RESTORATION TAX ABATEMENT FOR US TODAY? [5. Restoration Tax Abatement Program – Travis Rosenberg] YES, SIR. GREAT. THERE'S ONE APPLICATION. 20250124, INFINITE RENTALS, LLC. TERREBONNE PARISH. ALL RIGHT. WE DON'T ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE. MOTION FROM MR. MILLER. SECOND FROM MR. NASSAR. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. [00:05:01] AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES. THAT CONCLUDES RTA. THANK YOU. YOU'LL JUST TRANSITION US INTO ENTERPRISE ZONE? [6. Enterprise Zone Program – Joyce Metoyer] YES. WE HAVE ONE CHANGE IN OWNERSHIP. 20220494 CAPITAL CITY PRODUCE. THE OLD OWNER IS PAUL FARACI, AND THE NEW AFFILIATE AND OWNER IS PAUL FARACI FRESH REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS, LLC. ALL RIGHT. BATON ROUGE PARISH. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? MOTION, MR. CALLAIS. SECOND, MR. WHEELIS. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE BEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES. THAT CONCLUDES EZ. THANK YOU. LET'S MOVE RIGHT INTO INTE, PLEASE. MORNING, MR. [7. Industrial Tax Exemption – Hud Usie] USIE. GOOD MORNING. WE HAVE ONE NEW 2018RULES. APPLICATION. 20220056-C ASH INDUSTRIES, INC. IN LAFAYETTE PARISH. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE. MOTION FROM MR. CALLAIS. SECOND, MAYOR TOUPS. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES. WE HAVE EIGHT NEW APPLICATIONS FOLLOWING THE 2024 EMERGENCY RULES. 20240598 ASH INVESTMENTS, LLC, LAFAYETTE PARISH. 202403900 BUYER RADIO, LLC. SAINT TAMMANY PARISH. 20240126 CNC MACHINE SHOP, LLC. JEFFERSON PARISH. 20240515- A. LOTTE CHEMICAL LOUISIANA, LLC. CALCASIEU PARISH. 20240078-A LOUISIANA SUGAR CANE COOPERATIVE, INC. SAINT MARTIN PARISH. 20250093 STEEL FORGINGS, INC. CADDO PARISH. 20250088-A. TRI-STATE INDUSTRIES OF LOUISIANA, LLC. RAPIDES PARISH. AND 20240073 VALERO REFINING NEW ORLEANS, LLC. SAINT CHARLES PARISH. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE, MR. NASSER. SECOND FROM MR. MELE. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? MR. CHAIRMAN, I NEED TO RECUSE MYSELF FROM LOUISIANA SUGAR CANE COOPERATIVE. THANK YOU, MR. MIGUEZ. NOTE THAT RECUSAL. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE BEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES. NEXT, WE HAVE 17 PROJECT APPLICATIONS FOLLOWING THE 2025 RULES. 20250689 ACLARA TECHNOLOGIES, INC. CALCASIEU PARISH. 20260046 BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS, LLC. SAINT MARTIN PARISH. 20260044 BAKER PETROLITE LLC, ACADIA PARISH. 20250646 BOUDREAUX'S JEWELERS, LLC. SAINT TAMMANY PARISH. 20260070 CYNTHIA, LOUISIANA, LLC. TERREBONNE PARISH. 20260028 ECO SERVICES OPERATIONS CORPORATION, JEFFERSON PARISH. 20260029 ECO SERVICES OPERATIONS CORPORATION, EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH. 20250161 FRY MASTER, LLC. CADDO PARISH. 20260007 FRY MASTER LLC. CADDO PARISH. 20260005 FRY MASTER, LLC. CADDO PARISH. 20250578 GEORGIA-PACIFIC, PORT HUDSON, LLC. EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH. 20260004 HOOD CONTAINER OF LOUISIANA, LLC. WEST FELICIANA PARISH. 20250705KNB MACHINEWORKS, LLC. TERREBONNE PARISH. 20250706 K AND B MACHINEWORKS, LLC. TERREBONNE PARISH. 20250703 MARCO, LLC. NATCHITOCHES PARISH. 20260002 STEEL FORGINGS, INC. CADDO PARISH. AND 20250695 WEYERHAEUSER IN OUR COMPANY, NATCHITOCHES PARISH. ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE FROM MR. CALLAIS, SECOND FROM MR. AMOSS. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE BEING NONE. [00:10:03] ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES. NEXT, WE HAVE 11 TIMELY FILED RENEWAL APPLICATIONS FOLLOWING THE 2018 RULES. 20180503 ALLIANCE COMPRESSORS, LLC, NATCHITOCHES PARISH. 20200177 BIRLA CARBON USA, INC. SAINT MARY PARISH. 20180148-B FLOW, INC. IBERVILLE PARISH. 20190285 FRY MASTER, LLC, CADDO PARISH. 20180108 GATOR MILLWORKS, INC. LIVINGSTON PARISH. 20190159 HOOD CONTAINER OF LOUISIANA, LLC. WEST FELICIANA PARISH. 2020 0133-A. INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY, WASHINGTON PARISH. 20190393. MARCO, LLC, NATCHITOCHES PARISH. 20161895. STONEHAVEN, NEW ORLEANS PLAQUEMINES PARISH. 20190485. STELLAR, INC. LAFAYETTE PARISH AND 2020 0010. WEYERHAEUSER IN OUR COMPANY LIVINGSTON PARISH. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR THESE RENEWALS. MOTION FROM MAYOR TOUPS, SECOND FROM MR. MILLER. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? THERE IS NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES. WE HAVE ONE LATE RENEWAL APPLICATION FOLLOWING THE 2018 RULES. 2020 0052 HOOD CONTAINER OF LOUISIANA LLC AND WEST FELICIANA PARISH. THE INITIAL CONTRACT EXPIRATION DATE WAS 12/31 OF 2025, AND THE LATE RENEWAL REQUEST DATE IS JANUARY 2ND OF 2026. ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE ANYBODY HERE FROM HOOD CONTAINER? PLEASE COME UP. IF YOU'D STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR POSITION WITH THE COMPANY, PLEASE. OKAY, I'M DANIEL CLANCY. I'M THE RELIABILITY ENGINEERING SUPERINTENDENT. GREAT. CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO US WHAT HAPPENED ON THE LATE RENEWAL REQUEST? ALL RIGHT. THAT WAS A HOLIDAY. THE 31ST AND THE FIRST WAS HOLIDAY. AND WE'RE A SMALL COMPANY. WE DON'T HAVE ANY INTERNAL NOTARIES. WE HAD ISSUES TRYING TO FIND A NOTARY TO TURN THAT IN. UNDERSTAND, WHEN I LOOK AT THE DATES, IT'S, YOU KNOW, DUE ON DECEMBER 31ST. THE FIRST IS THE HOLIDAY. THE SECOND IS THE FIRST AVAILABLE DAY AFTERWARDS THAT. SO YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO GET THE DOCUMENTS NOTARIZED TO GET THEM FILED ON THE 31ST? THAT'S CORRECT. I COULD I COULD DO LIKE MY ENGLISH TEACHER SAID, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HADN'T STARTED ON YOUR HOMEWORK THE NIGHT BEFORE, YOU KNOW, THE DAY BEFORE, I WON'T DO THAT. SHE DID THAT TO ME ALL THE TIME. DO WE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE BOARD FOR THIS LATE RENEWAL OF TWO DAYS? WELL, WE CAN APPROVE WITH A PENALTY, OR WE CAN DENY THE REQUEST FOR RENEWAL UNDER THE RULES. THERE ALMOST HAS TO BE A PENALTY. THIS IS WHEN I DON'T ALWAYS LIKE THE RULES. SO WITH A LATE RENEWAL COMES A WHAT THE CUSTOM OF THE BOARD HAS BEEN IS A ONE YEAR DING FOR THE, THE, FOR THE INCENTIVE. SO I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR, BUT IT'S, IT'S PER MONTH LATE. SO I'M JUST KIND OF WONDERING ABOUT THAT. THIS IS LIKE THREE DAYS LATE AFTER A HOLIDAY. SO I'M WONDERING HOW THE BOARD WOULD LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE OF IT'S BECAUSE IT'S SO SHORT. I'M JUST KIND OF CURIOUS. I'M, I'M WITH YOU. I'M I'M IF WE CAN FIT WITH THE HOLIDAY, IT'S ONE DAY LATE. I'M SORRY IT'S ONLY ONE DAY LATE. CHAIRMAN. I MEAN, CORRECT HOLIDAYS INCLUDED. I MEAN IT'S A IT'S A ONE IT'S A ONE DAY. IT'S A ONE DAY LATE. THE WAY THE RULE IS WRITTEN, IT APPEARS TO GIVE US LITTLE LATITUDE. MISS PORTER, CAN YOU HELP ME HERE? IS THERE? OBVIOUSLY, I THINK THE SENSE OF THE BOARD IS THEY'RE RETICENT TO TO HIT THEM WITH A ONE YEAR PENALTY FOR A ONE DAY LATE FILING. I'M SORRY. YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME TO. YOU HAVE TO COME TO A MIC. THERE'S ALSO A PROVISION OR OTHER. [00:15:11] ROBYN PORTER, EXECUTIVE COUNCIL LED. YOU HAVE TO PULL IT CLOSER TO YOU. ROBYN PORTER, EXECUTIVE COUNCIL LED. THE RULE INDICATES THE TERM OF THE RENEWAL CONTRACT SHALL BE REDUCED BY ONE YEAR FOR EACH CALENDAR MONTH OR PORTION THEREOF THAT THE RENEWAL APPLICATION IS FILED. THE BOARD MAY IMPOSE ANY OTHER PENALTY FOR LATE RENEWAL SUBMISSION THAT IT DEEMS APPROPRIATE. NO PENALTY. SO, MR. CHAIR. YES, MR. CALLAIS. WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT A PERCENTAGE PENALTY, PERHAPS BASED UPON THE NUMBER OF BUSINESS DAYS? IT WAS LATE OUT OF 30. AND THEN THAT PERCENTAGE COULD BE APPLIED AGAINST THE ANNUAL AD VALOREM. AND MAYBE THAT'S A COMPROMISE TO WHERE THERE'S STILL THE INCENTIVE FOR SHOWING UP, BUT THERE'S STILL A SMALL PENALTY. I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW, HOW THAT WOULD BE ADMINISTERED. IS THAT TOO COMPLICATED? YEAH, THAT'S WHY I ASKED THE QUESTION. SO CHAIRMAN. YEAH. OKAY. LET'S LET'S LET'S GO. CAN I MAKE A MOTION? WE TAKE NO PENALTY. I MEAN, IT'S ONE DAY YOU GOT A SMALL BUSINESS REINVESTING INTO THE STATE OVER THE HOLIDAYS. THEY DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY OF HAVING JUST ONE PERSON DEDICATED TO BE FILLING OUT PAPERWORK. I MEAN, I'M A SMALL BUSINESS. ARE YOU MAKING A MOTION? I'M MAKING A MOTION FOR NO PENALTY. DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR TO APPROVE WITH NO PENALTY? DO WE HAVE A SECOND? HAVE A SECOND FOR MR. CALAIS. ALL RIGHT, LET'S DEAL WITH THIS MOTION. LET'S HAVE DISCUSSION OPEN FOR COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD. MR. MELE. SO AND I'M ALL FOR THAT. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH NO PENALTY EXCEPT FOR THE NEXT TIME THIS COMES UP AND SOMEONE ELSE WANTS TO PUT THAT IN FRONT OF US. BUT AS OPPOSED TO ONE DAY, MAYBE THEY'RE 30 DAYS LATE OR MAYBE THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, 65 DAYS LATE. AND, AND, BUT WE'RE GOING TO STICK WITH THE YEAR. CAN WE TAKE 1/365 AND FOUR WITHIN? CAN WE SET A NEW PRECEDENT? SO HEY, OKAY. ANYTHING LESS THAN ONE MONTH? WE'RE GOING TO DO PRORATED PER THE NUMBER OF DAYS LEADING UP TO THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE OF THAT. THAT'S THAT'S A POSSIBILITY. BUT THAT'S NOT THE MOTION. I THINK THE REASON IS NEGLIGIBLE PENALTY. BUT FOR THE NEXT PERSON WHO ISN'T JUST, YOU KNOW, ONE DAY YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE IT COULD BE MORE SUBSTANTIAL. THIS IS WOULD BE A TOKEN JUST TO GIVE EVERYONE BECAUSE WE ARE. AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THEIR TRACK, YOU KNOW, WE LOOK AT THEIR HISTORY, THEIR COMPLIANCE. YEP. THERE, THERE ARE A LOT OF CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MATTER LIKE THE REASON TO, SO I DON'T, I DON'T REALLY WANT TO MAKE THAT AS A PRECEDENT THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW. EVERY TIME THAT SOMEONE WAS LATE. AND I THINK IT NEEDS TO COME WITH A CAUTION THAT START EARLIER. BE PREPARED TO, TO FIND A, FIND A NOTARY. I, I HAVE TROUBLE FINDING NOTARIES TO SMALL TOWNS, SMALL BUSINESS. AND SO I GET THAT, BUT I THINK THE REASON MATTERS TOO. SO I DON'T WANT TO SAY THAT ANY TIME THAT COMES BEFORE US, WE WOULD APPLY THAT SAME FORMULAIC APPROACHES ARE DIFFICULT BECAUSE EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE IS DIFFERENT. YOU'RE RIGHT, YOU'RE RIGHT. RIGHT NOW THE MOTION BEFORE US IS NO PENALTY. MR. PRESIDENT, I THINK WE CAN HUG THE FACT THAT THIS WAS A HOLIDAY. THE NEXT DAY WAS A HOLIDAY. THEY FILED THE FIRST AVAILABLE. AND COULD WE ADD TO THE MOTION THAT THERE'S A STRONG CAUTION TO TO BE PREPARED EARLIER IN THE FUTURE HOLIDAY? WE KNEW WE KNOW THE HOLIDAYS ARE COMING, SO WE DO NEED TO SAY THAT IT SHOULD BE DONE AND IT SHOULD BE DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER SO IT DOESN'T END UP BACK HERE. WELL, I DON'T THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO ADD TO THE MOTION. I THINK THAT'S THE SENSE. THAT'S THE SENSE OF THE BOARD. I THINK THE FROM A FROM A MOTION PERSPECTIVE, WHAT WE NEED TO BE CLEAR ON IS WHETHER THERE'S A PENALTY, WHETHER THERE'S NOT A PENALTY. AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS IN THE FUTURE, STAKEHOLDERS IN THE ROOM NEED TO HEAR WHAT THE SENSE OF THE BOARD IS. BUT I'M. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? MR. AMOS. FROM THE PRESIDENT PERSPECTIVE, I AGREE. LIKE YOU DON'T WANT TO OPEN THE PANDORA'S BOX OF HEY, I FILED 27 DAYS LATE, RIGHT? AND THAT'S WHY I WOULD THINK THAT IN TERMS OF INTENT AS A BOARD, YOU KNOW, WE'RE PUBLICLY STATING THAT THERE IS A SPECIFIC SITUATION HERE ABOUT TWO CONSECUTIVE HOLIDAYS. YES, THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN FILED BEFORE THEN, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT WAS FILED THE FIRST AVAILABLE DAY AFTER THE DEADLINE. [00:20:02] YES. YEAH. THAT'S GOOD CLARITY. YES. OKAY. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? I HAVE ONE COMMENT TO MAKE. I WANTED TO ECHO THAT. YOU KNOW, AS YOU KNOW, BECAUSE, I MEAN, I SECONDED THIS MOTION, YOU KNOW, SO I'M IN SUPPORT OF NOT PENALIZING SMALL BUSINESSES. BUT I DO THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT. LIKE, I KNOW WHENEVER I'M LOOKING AT THE HOLIDAY SEASON, I SEE IT COMING AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE THINGS I HAVE TO DO BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR, AND I ALWAYS TRY TO PLAN THOSE AHEAD OF TIME BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE YEAR IS ALWAYS CRAZY. SO IN MY IN MY OPINION, YOU KNOW, THIS IS LIKE A ONCE THING THAT LIKE, YOU'LL GET CREDIT FOR THIS, LIKE, REALLY, LIKE THIS WAS A SPECIAL SITUATION. GRACE. BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN GREAT IN THE PAST. BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, LIKE THEY'RE SAYING, THAT'S JUST, THAT'S MY OPINION. SO I THINK THE SENSE OF THE BOARD IS THE HOLIDAY ISSUE, THE COMPLIANCE HISTORY OF THE COMPANY, ALL THOSE FACTORS COME INTO, INTO PLAY HERE, I THINK IS WHAT IS WHAT THE SENSE OF THE BOARD IS. ALL RIGHT. ARE YOU READY TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY FROM FROM NOW ON. START A DAY EARLY. CAN WE ACCEPT VIRTUAL MEMBERS? ALRIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON. NEXT WE HAVE TWO CHANGE IN LOCATION CONTRACT AMENDMENT REQUEST. THE FIRST IS FOR DELTA TREATMENT SYSTEMS LLC CONTRACT 2022 042 FOR PREVIOUS LOCATION. 9125 COMAR DRIVE, WALKER, LOUISIANA. 70785. NEW LOCATION 15758 INDUSTRIAL WAY, WALKER, LOUISIANA. 70785 IN LIVINGSTON PARISH AND SOUTHLAND INDUSTRIAL COATINGS, LLC. CONTRACT 2024 0245. PREVIOUS LOCATION 9442. LA 103. WASHINGTON, LOUISIANA 70589. NEW LOCATION 9557 HIGHWAY 103, WASHINGTON, LOUISIANA. 70589 IN SAINT LANDRY PARISH. MOTION TO APPROVE THESE CHANGES OF LOCATION. MAYOR TWO SECOND. MR. NASSER, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE BEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES. WE HAVE ONE FULL CONTRACT TRANSFER. HEXYON INK CONTRACT 20250546. TRANSFERRING TO NEW OWNER VOLUNTARY LLC IN ASCENSION PARISH. AS POINT OF ORDER, I'LL BE RECUSING MYSELF FROM ANY VOTE ON THIS MATTER. DO WE HAVE A MOTION FROM MR. NASSER? SECOND FROM MR. MILLER? ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE BEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES. NEXT, WE HAVE FOUR CONTRACT CANCELLATION REQUESTS AND ATTACHMENTS LLC CONTRACT 2020 0369 IN EAST FELICIANA PARISH COMPANY REQUEST CANCELLATION CF INDUSTRIES NITROGEN, LLC. CONTRACT 2023 0310 IN ASCENSION PARISH COMPANY REQUEST CANCELLATION SELECTION, LLC, DBA SABER SABER ENTERPRISES BUILDING SYSTEMS BY SELECTION CONTRACT, 2023 0280 IN BOSSIER PARISH COMPANY REQUEST CANCELLATION AND EXXONMOBIL CORPORATION LUBES CONTRACT, 20180514 IN WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH COMPANY REQUEST CANCELLATION. MOTION TO APPROVE THESE CANCELLATIONS. MOTION FROM MR. AMOS, SECOND FROM MAYOR TOUPS. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE BEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES. WE HAVE EIGHT OPT OUT JOBS. PAYROLL AND COMPLIANCE COMPONENTS. EXHIBIT A AMENDMENT REQUESTS. INTERNATIONAL MEZZO TECHNOLOGIES, INC. CONTRACT 2023 0012. LINDY INC. CONTRACTS 2017 0516 AND 2022 0091 RELIANT TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED CONTRACT 20180120-A SYNGENTA CROP PROTECTION LLC CONTRACTS 2022 0344 AND 20220344-A AND VENTURE GLOBAL [00:25:03] CP TWO LNG, LLC CONTRACTS 2021 0516 AND 2021 0532. AND AGAIN, THESE ARE THOSE WHO HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO OPT OUT OF THE JOBS AND PAYROLL REQUIREMENTS PROVIDED UNDER THE ROUTE TO 2025RULES. HAVE A MOTION FOR MR. NASSER TO MASTER TO APPROVE THESE OPT OUTS. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. MR. WHEELIS, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES. NEXT, WE HAVE TWO SPECIAL REQUESTS. THE FIRST IS FOR AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC. CONTRACT 2022 0395. AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC. IS REQUESTING AN AMENDMENT TO ITS EXISTING EXHIBIT A AGREEMENT TO ALLOW FOR A PHASED APPLICATION AS PART OF THE PLANNED PROJECT. AT THE TIME OF SUBMITTING THE INITIAL APPLICATION, THE COMPANY UNDERSTOOD THE PROJECT END DATE TO REPRESENT THE BEGINNING OF OPERATIONS FOR PRODUCING THE PRODUCT, RATHER THAN THE DATE BY WHICH ALL ASSETS WOULD BE FULLY OPERATIONAL AND PLACED IN SERVICE. AS A RESULT, THE APPLICATION WAS SUBMITTED ON NOVEMBER 18TH, 2024, WITH AN ESTIMATED PROJECT END DATE OF OCTOBER 26TH, 2024, ALONG WITH CONFIRMATION THAT ALL PROPERTY HAD BEEN PLACED IN SERVICE IN 2024, THE COMPANY IS NOW REQUESTING THE ABILITY TO TO DESIGNATE PROPERTY PLACED IN SERVICE IN 2024 AS PHASE A OF THE OVERALL PROJECT IS NOW EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN 2026. WE HAVE SOMEONE HERE FROM AIR PRODUCTS. HI. DAVID SMITH, COMMERCIAL MANAGER FOR LOUISIANA HYDROGEN PIPELINE SYSTEM. GREAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. AND BRIAN MIRANDA, ASSET MANAGER. GREAT. THANK YOU. I THINK I UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE, BUT CAN YOU PUT IT INTO A LITTLE BIT BETTER EXPLANATION SO THE BOARD IS CLEAR ON WHAT'S HAPPENED. SURE. WE HAD A SUMMER PLANT AND A STEAM TURBINE THAT WERE BEING BUILT AND RETROFITTED IN OCTOBER. THE APPLICATION WAS MADE IN SEPTEMBER. THE PLANT WAS READY FOR OPERATION IN 2024. WE HAD SOME ISSUES ON THE STEAM TURBINE GENERATOR, ON THE RECOMMISSIONING OR COMMISSIONING OF THAT PROJECT. AND RIGHT NOW, IT'S ESTIMATED TO GO THROUGH TESTING NEXT NEXT WEEK AND BE OPERATIONAL BY THE END OF THIS MONTH. OKAY. SO BY MAKING THIS A PHASED CONTRACT, WHICH IS WE SEE ALL THE TIME MAKING THIS PHASE, IT ALLOWS FOR THAT ADDITIONAL TIME. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE AFTER? YES. OKAY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE A. SO BASICALLY WHAT MAKE MAKE CLEAR FOR THE BOARD WHAT AIR PRODUCTS IS REQUESTING THAT WE AMEND THEIR CONTRACT TO ALLOW ADDITIONAL TIME FOR THEM TO COMPLETE THIS PORTION OF THE PROJECT, ESSENTIALLY. IS THAT CLEAR AS MUD? OKAY. DO I HAVE A MOTION? YES, SIR. WELL, IF YOU'RE CALLING FOR A MOTION, I WAS GOING TO ASK A QUESTION. LET'S HAVE A MOTION THEN YOU CAN ASK YOUR QUESTION. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM MR. NASSER, SECOND FROM MR. AUSTIN. AND NOW HERE'S YOUR QUESTION. MR. HAVE WE DONE THIS BEFORE? YES. OKAY. YES. SAMSUNG'S CONTROVERSIAL. IT'S IT'S NOT CONTROVERSIAL. IT'S IT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY THEY DO THE INITIAL FILING. SOMETIMES THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS CAN HAPPEN, BUT MOVING IT TO A PHASED APPLICATION GIVES THEM ADDITIONAL TIME THAT THEY NEED. SO IT'S IT'S NOT UNUSUAL. ONE SECOND. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? WHY WOULDN'T WE ACCEPT SOME SORT OF PHASING AND THE INITIAL PART OF THE APPLICATION. BECAUSE THAT'S TYPICALLY HOW WE DO IT IN COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS. WHY WOULDN'T THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING THAT GENERALLY LIKE AS A STANDARD PRACTICE, YOU KNOW. WELL, IT DEPENDS ON HOW THE COMPANY WANTS TO DO THEIR BUSINESS. WE DON'T WE'RE NOT TRYING TO TELL THEM HOW TO. BUT THIS THIS IS THIS GIVES THEM THE THIS WILL GIVE THEM THE FREEDOM TO FINISH THEIR WORK. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD. HEARING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOUR WORK. THE SECOND SPECIAL REQUEST IS FOR CABOT CORPORATION CONTRACT 2020 0327. CABOT CORPORATION IS REQUESTING TO AMEND THEIR EXISTING EXHIBIT A AGREEMENT, SECTIONS 4.02 D AND 6.01 B ONE TO EXTEND THE COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND ASSOCIATED GRACE PERIOD FROM THREE YEARS TO FOUR YEARS TO ACCOUNT FOR UNFORESEEN DELAYS. OKAY. SOMEONE HERE FROM CABOT? [00:30:02] OKAY. IF YOU STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR POSITION WITH THE COMPANY, PLEASE. I'M THE FACILITY GENERAL MANAGER OF THE VILLE PLATTE PLANT. RIGHT. TELL US WHAT'S GOING ON HERE. SO LAST YEAR, WE ASKED FOR AN EXTENSION. WE BELIEVED WE WOULD BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE IN THE YEAR. ALL OUR MAJOR CONSTRUCTION IS FAIRLY COMPLETE. ONLY SOME MINOR THINGS LEFT US, BUT THE PROBLEM WE'RE RUNNING INTO IS COMMISSIONING PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH MOSTLY DESIGN ISSUES. I KNOW OUR PRODUCTS JUST HAD A PROBLEM WITH A STEAM TURBINE. THAT'S MY BIGGEST ISSUE RIGHT NOW IS THE STEAM TURBINE. THERE'S SOME DESIGN FLAWS THAT WE HAD TO HAVE REMODELED AND EQUIPMENT ORDERED THAT HASN'T EVEN ARRIVED ON SITE. AND WE'RE GETTING THE STEAM TURBINE BUSINESS. YEAH. SO WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE FAILURES OF EQUIPMENT DESIGNS THAT HAVE SLOWED US IN OUR PROJECT PROGRESS OF COMMISSIONING. WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO TAKE US SIX MONTHS. IT'S GOING TO TAKE US CLOSER TO A YEAR. OKAY. AGAIN, LET ME SEE IF I CAN SET THE TABLE FOR THE BOARD A LITTLE BIT, A LITTLE BIT BETTER. THESE THESE CONTRACTS WE PROVIDE TIME PERIODS IN WHICH THESE PROJECTS ARE TO BE COMMENCED AND CONCLUDED FOR A REASON, BECAUSE WHEN THE PROPERTIES ARE NOT PLACED ON THE TAX ROLL, THERE'S A TAX ROLL ISSUE. THERE'S WHEN DO THEY WHEN DO THEY START PAYING TAXES ISSUE? WHEN DO THE ABATEMENTS ACTUALLY KICK IN ISSUE? THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT REVOLVE AROUND THESE TIMELINES. WE'VE ALSO SEEN SITUATIONS WHERE COMMISSIONING CAN GO ON FOR A LONG PERIODS OF TIME. AND THEY'RE NOT PAYING TAXES. AND EVEN THOUGH MAYBE SOME PRODUCTION IS GOING ON. AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF, THERE'S A LOT OF REASONS WHY THE CONTRACT, THE ITEP CONTRACT HAVE THESE DEADLINES IN THEM. TYPICALLY THE CONTRACT HAS THERE'S AN AGREEMENT, THIS IS HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO BUILD THE PROJECT X NUMBER OF YEARS. AND THEN THE CONTRACT HAS A GRACE PERIOD IN CASE BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS OR THERE'S ALWAYS THE ALWAYS A POSSIBILITY. DURING CONSTRUCTION, THERE'S A HURRICANE. THERE'S SOMETHING. SO EVERY CONTRACT HAS A GRACE PERIOD BUILT INTO IT. WHAT APPARENTLY HAS HAPPENED WITH CABOT IS THEY'VE GONE THROUGH THEIR CONTRACT PERIOD. THEY'VE GONE THROUGH THEIR GRACE PERIOD. THEY CAME TO US LAST YEAR AND ASKED FOR AN EXTENSION BECAUSE OF SUPPLY CHAIN AND DESIGN ISSUES. AND NOW WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE IS THOSE DESIGN ISSUES ARE CONTINUING, AND THEY'RE ASKING FOR AN ADDITIONAL YEAR, WHICH WOULD ACTUALLY IT WOULD BE ANOTHER YEAR TO, TO, TO BEGIN START UP OR, OR TO ACTUALLY BE OPERATIONAL. OPERATIONAL. OKAY. BECAUSE YOU'RE IN COMMISSIONING RIGHT NOW. RIGHT. I'M IN COMMISSIONING. YOU'RE IN COMMISSIONING AND STARTUP RIGHT NOW. SO TO ACTUALLY BE OPERATIONAL WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR. DO YOU ANTICIPATE IT'LL TAKE YOU THE WHOLE YEAR TO GET THERE? MY CURRENT SCHEDULE. NO. I'M SORRY, MY CURRENT SCHEDULE DOESN'T HAVE IT AS A WHOLE YEAR. NO. OKAY. BUT BUT I'M ONE BEARING OR PUMP FAILURE FROM 4 TO 8 WEEKS DELAY ON THAT. SO. RIGHT. MY CURRENT SCHEDULE SAYS BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER I SHOULD BE DONE. I WOULD IMAGINE YOUR CEO AND YOUR BOARD WOULD LIKE YOU TO BE OPERATIONAL YESTERDAY. CORRECT. OKAY. SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE WE ARE. APPARENTLY WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH CABOT? THEY'VE HAD SOME DESIGN ISSUES. THEY'VE HAD SOME PRODUCT ISSUES. AND SO THEY'RE ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL TIME PERIOD TO GET THOSE WORKED OUT BEFORE THEY HAVE TO BE FULLY OPERATIONAL. THAT'S THE THAT'S THE REQUEST. DO I HAVE A MOTION? I HAVE A MOTION FOR MR. AUSTIN TO APPROVE. DO I HAVE A SECOND FOR MR. AMOS? DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? MR. MIGUEZ WILL BE RECUSING HIMSELF. PLEASE NOTE THAT FOR THE RECORD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IS THERE ANY PART OF THIS THAT INVOLVES THE LOCALS, LIKE THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT? NO. NO NO. IS THIS A SAINT MARY LOCATION? SAINT MARY PARISH LOCATION. NO, IT'S THE EVANGELINE PARISH. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE THIS MORNING. NEXT WE HAVE 16 NON COMPLIANT CONTRACT REPORTING PERIODS FOR CONTRACTS FOLLOWING THE 2018RULES. OKAY THIS IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO ON THESE. AND BOARD AGAIN THIS IS WE'RE UNDER THE 2018RULES. AND ALL OF THESE ARE NON COMPLIANT FOR ONE REASON OR THE OTHER. AS YOU'LL RECALL UNDER THE 2018RULES WE GO TO THE LOCALS. [00:35:04] LOCALS HAD TO APPROVE THESE. AND THE LOCALS ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHETHER THE COMPANY SHOULD BE PENALIZED FOR THEIR NONCOMPLIANCE OR NOT. AND IF YOU'LL NOTICE US, NOT ONE LOCAL RESPONDED TO A REQUEST. IN MY WORLD, IF THEY DON'T CARE. I'M NOT SURE WHY I SHOULD, BUT THAT'S JUST ONE MEMBER OF THE BOARD. BUT HISTORICALLY, WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THOSE SITUATIONS? WE HAVE, WE HAVE VOTED NO PENALTY. NOW, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE WITHOUT PENALTY, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THREE ACTUALLY. THERE YOU WILL SEE THERE ARE THREE COMPANIES BANCROFT BAG INC. LET'S SEE. IS IT GRAHAM? IT'S A 20190204 GLASS TECH INDUSTRIES TECH. THANK YOU. AND THEN PK LLC THE VERY LAST 120 220396. SO I WOULD I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE ALL BUT BANCROFT BAG GLASS TECH INDUSTRIES. AND I WANT TO HANDLE THEM SEPARATELY. BUT I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO, TO APPROVE ALL WITHOUT THE REST OF THEM WITHOUT PENALTY. HAVE A MOTION FOR MR. CALL A SECOND FROM MAYOR TOUPS. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES. NOW, LET'S GO BACK TO LET'S START WITH BANCROFT BAG. THERE'S ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR CONTRACTS FOR BANCROFT BAG. I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY FILED. THEY THEY'RE THEIR NONCOMPLIANCE WAS LATE FILING OR NO FILING. AND I UNDERSTAND THEY FILED YESTERDAY. IS THAT CORRECT, MR. USA? YES, THE 2020 REPORTING YEAR WAS FILED, I BELIEVE, ON THE 20TH. OKAY. WHILE I DON'T LIKE THE. AND I'LL I'LL START AGAIN. I'M ONE BOARD MEMBER, BUT I HAVE THE MIC RIGHT NOW. THE THING THAT BOTHERS ME ABOUT THESE THREE IS WHEN I SEE NO REPORTING. THESE, THESE, THESE ARE VALUABLE INCENTIVE PROGRAMS. AND THE AGENCY REACHES OUT WHEN THEY ARE NONCOMPLIANT. AND THEY SAID, OKAY, YOU'VE BEEN NONCOMPLIANT. YOU NEED TO FILE. AND WHEN THEY WHEN THEY THEN REFUSE TO FILE AND DON'T FILE, THAT BOTHERS ME A LITTLE BIT WHETHER OR NOT THE LOCALS CARE OR NOT. TO ME, IF YOU'RE GETTING THE BENEFIT OF THE, OF THE INCENTIVE PROGRAM, AND YOU HAVE BEEN DEEMED TO BE NON-COMPLIANT, AND THE AGENCY REACHES OUT TO YOU AND SAYS, CAN YOU NEED TO FILE SOMETHING? AND THEY STILL DON'T DO IT. THAT TENDS TO BOTHER ME. BANCROFT BAG MAY HAVE SOLVED THEIR PROBLEM YESTERDAY BECAUSE THEY, THEY, THEY FINALLY HEARD, GOT THE MESSAGE AND FILED. BUT FOR THE OTHERS GLASS TECH INDUSTRIES AND PK LLC IT IS AT LEAST THIS BOARD MEMBERS OPINION THAT PERHAPS SOME PENALTY IS APPROPRIATE, NOTWITHSTANDING THE FACT THE LOCALS HAVE NOT MADE ANY KIND OF RECOMMENDATION. SO THAT IS, THAT IS MY OPINION. THAT IS DONE. YOU MAY OR MAY NOT AGREE WITH IT, BUT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE HANDLE THESE THREE SEPARATELY. SO IT SEEMS, MR. CHAIR, WOULD IT, WOULD IT MAKE SENSE TO INCLUDE GLASS TECH AND PK TOGETHER IN A MOTION AND THEN HAVING A SEPARATE ONE FOR BANCROFT. IN MY WORLD IT WOULD. YES, THAT'S THE WAY I FEEL TOO. OKAY. AND SO I WOULD MAKE A MOTION ACCORDINGLY. I THINK WE SHOULD DO A SOME SORT OF PENALTY TO THOSE TWO THAT HAVE NOT FILED AT ALL. I THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME SORT OF CONVERSATION OR DISCUSSION AROUND BANCROFT, GIVEN THAT THEY DID FILE, BUT AFTER A LOT OF CONTACT AND HOUNDING, YOU KNOW, OUR TEAM, YOU KNOW, THE LED TEAM SHOULDN'T SPEND ALL THEIR TIME HOUNDING THE COMPANIES THAT BENEFIT FROM THESE PROGRAMS. RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. BEFORE LET'S LET'S HAVE A MOTION. AND THEN I'M AND THEN I WILL INVITE THE. WHAT KIND OF PENALTY SHOULD WE. WELL, THAT'S THAT'S A FAIR QUESTION. AND SO IF THEY HAVEN'T, IF THE. SO I MEAN, WHAT ABOUT CANCELING THE CONTRACT. IS THAT TOO EXTREME. THAT IS THAT IS AN OPTION. THAT SOUNDS EXTREME. OKAY. TO ME. SO AND WE TYPICALLY WOULD PENALIZE FOR THE NUMBER OF MONTHS LATE THAT IT IS ON WHENEVER IT FILES PER THE NUMBER OF YEARS [00:40:02] RIGHT HERE. WE HAVE COMPLIANCE. DUE DATE WAS FOR GLASS TECH WAS APRIL 30TH OF 2025. AND WE'RE SO IT'S A YEAR LATE. I MEAN, IT'S A YEAR LATE. HOW DO YOU NOT CANCEL THAT IF EVERY MONTH WE TAKE A YEAR OFF. BECAUSE THAT MEANS THAT THEY'VE LOST THEIR WHOLE TIME FRAME. YOU KNOW, LET'S SEE. DO WE HAVE ANYBODY HERE FROM GLASS TECH? MORNING. RUBEN RANGEL CONSULTING. OKAY. LET'S LET'S GO THROUGH THAT A LITTLE BIT SLOWER BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT WITH GLASS TECH. YOU'RE A CONSULTANT, CORRECT? CORRECT. OKAY. AND I WISH I COULD GIVE YOU SOME INFORMATION ON GLAZE TECH AT THIS POINT THIS MORNING. BUT HAVING ISSUES WITH COMMUNICATION WITH THEM APPARENTLY WE ARE TO THE ONLY THING I CAN ASK IS A REFERRAL SO I CAN KEEP TRYING TO CONTACT THEM. I'VE BEEN IN DISCUSSION WITH HUD REGARDING THIS SITUATION. THAT'S ALL I CAN REALLY OFFER. OKAY. HUD. I MEAN. MR. LET ME ASK YOU THIS. I MEAN, AM I, AM I CORRECT IN MY ASSUMPTION THAT THE AGENCY HAS ALREADY BEEN IN CONTACT WITH GLASS TECH? YES. WE NOTIFY ANYONE THAT MISSES THEIR DEADLINE OF FILING THEIR NOTIFIED AND GIVEN AN ADDITIONAL 60 DAYS TO FILE IT AND IT BE CONSIDERED LATE. THESE COMPANIES THAT DIDN'T FILE AS OF TODAY IS BECAUSE WE NEVER HEARD BACK FROM THEM AFTER THAT DEADLINE THAT WE REACHED OUT. SO YOU'VE REACHED OUT AND THEY'VE NOT RESPONDED AT ALL. I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM ANY OF THEM. OKAY. MR. MUELLER. AND WHAT CAPACITY ARE YOU WORKING WITH GLASS TECH. I CONSULTING CAPACITY AND WE HAVE WE HAVE ASSISTED THEM WITH THE PRIOR FILINGS. BUT UP UNTIL THESE FILINGS THAT OF COURSE HAVE NOT BEEN FILED. SO YOU ARE THE YOU CONSULT THEM ON FILINGS. FILINGS, THE FILINGS, THE DEADLINES, THE INFORMATION NEEDED TO MAKE THE FILINGS. DID YOU SUBMIT TO THEM THE FORM THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO REVIEW, COMPLETE, AND SUBMIT? I WASN'T ABLE TO PERFORM, I MEAN. AND THEN FOR THEM TO REVIEW AND THEN SUBMIT, I HAD NO INFORMATION FROM THEM TO TO EVEN SUBMIT ANYTHING OTHER THAN FORM. OKAY. SO IN YOUR CAPACITY OF WORKING WITH THEM WITH FILINGS, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS ONE FILING. HOW MANY OTHER FILINGS ARE LIVE RIGHT NOW THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO CONTACT? THERE'S THE COMPLIANCE FILING. THERE'S ALSO A RENEWAL THAT I BELIEVE WAS DUE THIS YEAR OR LAST YEAR. SO YOU. BUT THAT IS THE EXTENT OF YOUR THAT OF WHAT THEY'VE HIRED YOU FOR. YES. THE COMPLIANCE AND MAINTENANCE OF THE ITEP CONTRACT. OKAY. YES. HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE EMPLOYED AT THIS COMPANY? IT'S THE 30S, I BELIEVE THE LAST. OKAY. 20. SO THEY DID DO 2023 FILING. THAT'S ON THIS AGENDA. THEY WERE NOT COMPLIANT BECAUSE THEY WERE SHORT ON JOBS AND PAYROLL, BUT THEY THEIR ACTUAL NUMBER OF JOBS AS OF 1231, 2023 WAS 25 EMPLOYEES. OKAY. BEFORE WE I'M DO WE HAVE ANYBODY HERE FROM P Q LLC? OKAY. I WAS TRYING TO SEE IF WE COULD PICK UP A THREAD HERE. WELL TO MR. CALLAIS'S POINT, YOU KNOW. PART OF PART OF ME, PART OF ME GOES, YOU'VE YOU'VE IGNORED LEDS REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION. YOU'VE IGNORED THEIR REQUEST FOR FILING. YOU'RE APPARENTLY IGNORING YOUR CONSULTANT'S PHONE CALLS. WHY SHOULD WE BE PATIENT? THE OTHER PART OF ME SAYS, LET'S DEFER FOR FOR THESE TWO UNTIL NEXT MEETING. GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY, ONE MORE OPPORTUNITY TO EITHER FILE OR COME EXPLAIN TO US WHY, WHY THEY DID NOT. BUT AGAIN, THAT'S JUST ME THINKING OUT LOUD. MR. WHAT IS THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? OH, I'M SORRY, MR. CALHOUN. I'M SORRY, MR. AUSTIN. SO WE'RE SAYING IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY FOR THEM TO BE. I'M SORRY. COULD YOU PULL YOUR MIC DOWN? SO WE'RE SAYING THEY'RE GOING TO BE. IT'S OKAY FOR THEM TO BE 14 MONTHS LATE TO PUSH IT TO THE NEXT MEETING. I'M I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S OUT OPTIONS TOO. I'M SORRY. FOR ME, I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO CANCEL BOTH CONTRACTS. SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO CANCEL THE GLASS TECH INDUSTRIES CONTRACT AND THE PK LLC CONTRACT. MR. CHAIR, I WANT TO MAKE A. I JUST WANT TO KIND OF MAKE. THE POINT HERE IS THAT I THINK THAT WHENEVER. [00:45:04] SO THE WAY. IT'S GOOD BUSINESS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR CONTRACTS AND OBLIGATIONS ARE. I FEEL LIKE IF I WERE TO NOT DO THAT IN MY BUSINESS, I WOULD BE PENALIZED FOR ANY CIRCUMSTANCE, ANY VENDOR, ANY SITUATION. AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN EXTREMELY LENIENT AS A BOARD ON THESE, YOU KNOW, MISSED A DAY OR TWO, YOU KNOW, LIKE WE HAD TALKED ABOUT WITH SOME OF OUR FRIENDS EARLIER, YOU KNOW, BUT THEY'RE BUT THEY'RE SUBMITTING THE COMPLIANCE REPORTS. THIS IS TO ME A BLATANT DISRESPECT FOR LED AND THIS LED STAFF THAT ARE TRYING TO DO THEIR JOBS AND SEEING THE COMPLIANCE. SO THAT'S MY CONCERN, IS THAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT SETTING A PRECEDENCE OVER BEING TOO LENIENT IN SOME PLACES AND NOT STRONG ENOUGH IN OTHERS, I THINK. SO ANYWAY, THAT'S THAT'S HAL'S $0.02, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU. MR. CALLAIS. SINCE WE'RE CONSIDERING THOSE TOGETHER, HAS THERE BEEN ANY COMMUNICATION FROM PK OR ANY RESPONSE FROM REQUESTS? NO, I NEVER HEARD BACK ABOUT THE NOTICE. FOR THE BOTH CASES, WE HAVE NO REASON TO FAVOR LENIENCY BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T SHOWN UP. THEY HAVEN'T GIVEN US ANY INFORMATION OR ANY REASON TO CONSIDER VIOLATION OF THE CONTRACT. I GOT NO RESPONSE WHEN I NOTIFIED THEM OF THE MISSED DEADLINE, AND I GOT NO RESPONSE WHEN I SAID THIS WOULD BE PRESENTED TODAY AT TODAY'S MEETING, BECAUSE WE'RE CONSIDERING THEM TOGETHER, I WANTED TO KNOW THAT WE WERE IN KIND OF THEIR QUESTION. DO WE HAVE ANY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT EITHER OF THESE BUSINESSES ARE NO LONGER IN BUSINESS? DO WE HAVE DO WE HAVE ANY INFORMATION, ANY INFORMATION? JUST DON'T KNOW. WE COULD REACH OUT TO THE ASSESSOR JUST TO RADIO SILENCE HAS A WAY OF GIVING US NO INFORMATION. OKAY. GOT IT. SURE AM I. IS IT REASONABLE THAT BOTH OF THESE ARE RIGHT, EITHER AGAINST OR IN THE RENEWAL PORTION TO THAT? THEY'RE LATE THERE. I'M SORRY. 2019IS A 2019AND 2020 2022. SO MAYBE NOT YET. BUT THE 2019PEAK IS IN THEIR INITIAL FIRST FIVE YEAR TERM. I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK UP. IT'S EITHER AT THE VERY END OF THEIR INITIAL FIVE YEARS OR THE VERY START OF THEIR RENEWAL YEARS. SO THEY'RE NOT LATE ON A RENEWAL AT THIS POINT? NO, NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF. JUST THEIR JUST THEIR COMPLIANCE FILING. THIS IS JUST A COMPLIANCE FILINGS, MR. CHAIR. YES, SIR. MR. MILLER. IS THERE HISTORY ON. SO BECAUSE THE BOARD SEEMS TO HAVE A. BE LEANING TOWARD CANCELING BOTH AS I. THAT WOULD BE LIKE LIKE MINDED THERE AS WELL. BUT MY I DO QUESTION IS, IS THERE A PROCESS OF LET'S JUST SAY THEY FINALLY OPEN UP THAT LETTER. I'M SORRY. LET'S SAY AT ONE POINT THEY GET THE TERMINATION LETTER AND THEN THEY DECIDE TO RESPOND. WHAT IS THAT PROCESS TO. IS THERE A PROCESS WHERE THEY CAN RESPOND AND SAY, HEY GUYS, NO, Y'ALL ARE WRONG. LET ME COME TALK TO YOU NOW. WELL, IS THAT EXIST? DEFER IT, MR. HUSSEIN. I'M NOT AWARE OF THAT. OF THAT ABILITY. MY RECOLLECTION, I BELIEVE SOME LATE RENEWALS MAY BE IN THE PAST WERE DENIED BECAUSE NO ONE WAS PRESENT TO SPEAK TO THE LATE FILING. AND THE COMPANY IN THAT INSTANCE DID FILE AN APPEAL WITH THE BOARD AND CAME AS AN APPEAL ON THE AGENDA. THE NEXT AGENDA. SO IF THEY GET IF THEY GET THE IF THEY GET THE LETTER TWO WEEKS FROM NOW AND WANT TO COME BACK TO US AT OUR APRIL, MAY, JUNE MEETING AND APPEAL THERE, THEY. THERE'S NOTHING THAT WOULD PRECLUDE THAT OPPORTUNITY, AT LEAST NO TO BE HEARD, NOT TO MY UNDERSTANDING. AND WE WOULD STILL BE ABLE TO. AND WE WOULD STILL BE ABLE TO CONSIDER PENALTY PHASE AT THAT. IF THEY CAME BACK, CONSIDER A PENALTY. THAT WOULD BE A GREAT THING ABOUT MAKING DECISIONS. YOU CAN REVERSE THOSE DECISIONS, RIGHT? THEN I MAKE A MOTION. WE HAVE ALREADY HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. MR. LEONARD APPARENTLY HAS COME TO THE TABLE TO SPEAK. PART ABOUT THAT IS IF IT ENDS UP ON THE. IF WE CANCEL, IT ENDS UP ON THE. IF IT DOESN'T GET SETTLED BEFORE END OF THE YEAR, IT ENDS UP ON THE TAX ROLLS. THAT IS ALSO OF CONCERN THAT IF THE ASSESSOR WILL GET A NOTICE AFTER TODAY'S MEETING SAYING THE BOARD CHOSE TO CANCEL THE CONTRACTS, THEY COULD PLACE THEM ON THE TAXABLE ROLLS AT THAT POINT. OKAY, MR. LEONARD. MR. CHAIRMAN, JIMMY LEONARD ADVANTIS CONSULTING. JUST TWO POINTS I'D LIKE TO THROW OUT FOR THE BOARD FOR CONSIDERATION. AND ALSO ASK HUD TO CONFIRM WHETHER I'M RIGHT OR WRONG. BUT IS IT IS IT CORRECT THAT THE COMMUNICATIONS PREDOMINANTLY ARE VIA EMAIL AT THIS POINT? YES. SO EMAILS CAN GET CAUGHT IN IN SPAM JUNK FOLDERS. I DO RECOGNIZE THERE'S A FAST LANE SYSTEM THAT THEY COULD BE MONITORING THEMSELVES TO BE ON TOP OF THINGS, BUT REACHING OUT AND COMMUNICATIONS TO ASSUME THAT IT ACTUALLY LANDED WITH EMAIL IS A FORMAT THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY ALWAYS THE CASE. SECONDLY, THE COMPANY HAS BEEN COMPLIANT IN THE PAST, AND IF THERE'S A TERMINATION, THAT IS TYPICALLY THE LOSS OF ALL BENEFITS, INCLUDING INCLUDING PRIOR YEARS. SO MY COMMENT WOULD BE, IF THERE IS A CANCELLATION OR TERMINATION, [00:50:06] THAT IT WOULD BE MORE ON A PROSPECTIVE PROSPECTIVE BASIS, AS OPPOSED TO ALL GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE YEARS IN WHICH THEY WERE COMPLIANT. AND IF THERE IS A CONSIDERATION OF THE BOARD FOR A TERMINATION OR CANCELLATION, I WOULD RECOMMEND FOR Y'ALL'S CONSIDERATION A FORMAL NOTIFICATION VIA CERTIFIED MAIL. HEY, LET'S MAKE SURE THEY GOT IT AND LET'S MAKE SURE THAT IT'S IN THERE. IGNORING THE BOARD. AND IF THEY DO, THEN BY ALL MEANS, THIS IS WITHIN Y'ALL'S REALM OF AUTHORITY AND SO FORTH. I JUST HAVE SOME RESERVATION THAT WE'RE ASSUMING AN EMAIL GOT WHERE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO AND NEED TO TALK TO MY OWN STAFF ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THE PHONE CALLS ARE BEING RETURNED AS WELL. I COMPLETELY APPRECIATE THAT. BUT THE GENTLEMAN NEXT TO YOU HAD SAID EARLIER THAT HE TRIED CALLING THEM, AND THEY DIDN'T ANSWER THE CALL FROM THEIR OWN CONSULTANT. AND THAT'S JUST ON ONE OF THE ONES THAT WE KNOW THAT SHOWED UP, YOU KNOW. SO UNDERSTAND, AND THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE FILED, THEY FILED THAT IN THE PAST SAYS THEY HAVE A SYSTEM THAT DOES IT, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT, WITHOUT THOSE NOTIFICATIONS. WE HAVE A MOTION TO DEAL WITH, I GUESS. FIRST OF ALL, I THINK THE POINT ABOUT BEING PROSPECTIVE ONLY IS A VALID POINT, AND I WOULD. MR. AUSTIN, I THINK YOU MADE THE MOTION. WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO ACCEPT AN AMENDMENT TO YOUR MOTION THAT THE PENALTY BE PROSPECTIVE ONLY, NOT RETROACTIVE? SECOND. OKAY. SO IN THE SECOND. SO THE MOTION MAKES ACCEPTS THE AMENDMENT, SO AS SO DOES MR. CALLAIS, WHO SECONDED THE MOTION. ALL RIGHT. SO NOW THE MOTION IS TO TERMINATE THE CONTRACTS FOR BOTH GLASS TECH INDUSTRIES AND PCU, LLC PROSPECTIVELY ONLY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. NOW WE'RE LEFT WITH BANCROFT BAG. AGAIN THEY FILED THEY FILED YESTERDAY. AND IS THERE WHAT IS THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD TO THEM IN 2020 225. IT WAS THE 2020 IT. THIS IS. THERE'S BEEN. IS THERE SOMEONE HERE REPRESENTING BANCROFT? YEAH. AND BEFORE BEFORE WE GO TO YOU, MISS BOATNER. MR. USED TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THIS CORRECTLY. APPARENTLY THEY HAVE. THIS WAS BACK TO A 2020 FILING. IS THAT CORRECT? YEAH. IT'S MULTIPLE YEARS ALL BEING PRESENTED AT ONCE. THE ONE THAT WAS MISSED AND MAYBE WAS OVERLOOKED WAS FOR THE 2020 YEAR THAT WAS DUE IN APRIL OF 2021. BUT THEY HAVE FILED. THEY HAVE FILED. YES. THEIR YEARS SUBSEQUENT YEARS WERE FILED AND RECEIVED. IT WAS JUST THAT ONE YEAR WAS MISSED NOTICES ABOUT THIS. NOT FOR FIVE YEARS. WE DID IT THE FIRST YEAR THAT THEY MISSED IT AND GAVE THEM X AMOUNT OF TIME TO FILE IT, AND IT JUST WASN'T FILED. WHY IS IT JUST NOW COMING ON OUR AGENDA THEN? WE'RE WORKING THROUGH BACKLOGGED WORK OF COMPLIANCE YEARS. GOT IT. OKAY. OKAY. MISS BOATNER, I'M SORRY. RHONDA BOATNER DID A CONSULTANTS. FIRST, LET ME SAY THAT WE MANAGE FOR THIS COMPANY IN ANOTHER CAPACITY. NOT FOR THESE INCENTIVES, BUT THEY'VE GRANTED US PERMISSION TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK BEFORE THE BOARD. THE COMPANY HAS FILED ALL OF THEIR ITEP ON THEIR OWN AND IN SPEAKING WITH THE COMPANY SHE THOUGHT THAT SHE HAD FILED THE 2020, BUT THE NOTICE, THE FACT THAT SHE'S GOTTEN A NOTICE 30 30 DAYS OR SO OR SHORTLY AFTER THE DUE DATE GIVEN 60 ADDITIONAL DAYS. I CAN'T EXPLAIN, BUT I DID STRONGLY ENCOURAGE HER TO GO AHEAD AND FILE 2020. SHE SAID SHE UPLOADED IT IN THE SYSTEM. IT, IT DIDN'T SAVE. AGAIN, WE'RE NOT A PART OF THAT, BUT I DID WANT TO, TO SAY THAT UPON MY STRONG ENCOURAGEMENT, SHE DID GO AHEAD AND FILE. AND SO THEY THEY HAVE FILED PRIOR TO THAT, THEY FILED AFTER THAT. SO I FEEL LIKE SHE FELT LIKE SHE HAD FILED IT, BUT WHEN SHE GOT THE NOTICE, SHE SHOULD HAVE GONE BACK AND LOOKED IN THE SYSTEM TO SEE WHY HER DOCUMENTS WERE NOT UPLOADED. OKAY, BUT NOW THE RECORD IS COMPLETE. [00:55:06] YES, IT WAS FILED, RECEIVED AND PAID. WHAT IS THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? HAVE THEY HAD HAVE THEY HAD LATE FILINGS BEFORE? ALWAYS ON TIME. EXCEPT FOR THAT ONE. YES, I BELIEVE SO. WELL, THE YEAR PRIOR WAS LATE. LATE. SO I WAS GOING TO ASK THAT QUESTION. SO IN THE PREVIOUS YEARS OF FILINGS THAT THEY'VE SUBMITTED, WERE THOSE WERE ANY OF THOSE LATE? THE 2020 YEAR APPEARS TO BE LATE. IT WAS DUE AUGUST 23RD OF 2020. IT WAS RECEIVED IN JULY OF THE FOLLOWING YEAR. AND THEN 2020 IS WHAT WAS MISSED. AND THEN 2021 AND 2022 WERE TIMELY FILED. AND WAS THERE A PENALTY THAT THE BOARD IMPLEMENTED ON IT BEING LATE IN THE PAST? NO, BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT'S UP TO THE BOARD FOR THE NONCOMPLIANCE. IT'S JUST ALL THESE YEARS AT ONCE IS BEING PRESENTED. YEAH. THAT'S COMPLICATED. HOW DO WE IMPLEMENT SOME SORT OF LIKE SOME SORT OF BECAUSE THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME SORT OF PENALTY FOR MISSED FILINGS IN THE PAST. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, HOW DO YOU DO IT RETROACTIVELY IN A WAY THAT MAKES SENSE? WELL, OKAY, GUYS, LET'S, LET'S BACK UP. LET'S BACK UP. REMEMBER ALL THOSE THAT WE JUST APPROVED APPROVED IN GLOBO. AND THE REASON WE DID IT IS BECAUSE THE LOCALS DIDN'T CARE. WELL, THE LOCALS DON'T CARE ON BANCROFT EITHER. AND SO IN, IN MY WORLD, THEY'VE, THEY'VE COMPLETED THE RECORD. THEY FILED THEIR DOCUMENTS OUACHITA PARISH APPARENTLY DOESN'T CARE THAT THAT THEY WERE NON-COMPLIANT. I, I DON'T SEE WHY THEY SHOULD BE TREATED ANY DIFFERENTLY THAN THOSE THAT WE HANDLED IN GLOBO. IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE OTHERS, ANVIL ATTACHMENTS HAD TWO LATE FILINGS THAT YOU APPROVED, AS WELL AS PLASTIPAK HAD LATE FILINGS THAT YOU APPROVED. EXACTLY, EXACTLY. NOT MR. MELE, I WOULD ADD TO THIS IS IN THE SUBSEQUENT YEARS THAT THEY WERE LATE FOR 2020. WE'RE JUST ADDRESSING THIS RIGHT NOW. I'M RUNNING MY BUSINESS. I, I SUPPLY 2122. I'M NOT THINKING ABOUT 20. EXACTLY. I'M COVERED, YOU KNOW, AND THEN SOMEBODY COMES BACK TO ME AND SAYS, I'M. MY FIRST THING I'M SAYING IS WHAT. WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME ABOUT. WHY DID YOU ACCEPT 21 AND 22? YEAH. SO THAT'S COMPLICATED. I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE BANCROFT BAG WITHOUT PENALTY. HAVE A MOTION FOR MR. A SECOND FOR MR. AUSTIN WITH A STRONGLY WORDED LETTER TO THEM. GOOD NEWS IS THEY HAVE OPTED OUT FOR FUTURE REPORTING SO WE WON'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM. ANY PROBLEM AGAIN? ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE WITHOUT PENALTY. DO I HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? HEARING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSITION? THERE IS NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. BOARD. MR. CHAIR, I HAD A QUESTION. SURE, MR. CALLAIS. SO IN REGARDING THE LOGISTICS HERE, YOU KNOW, I WOULD ENCOURAGE, YOU KNOW, I GUESS I WOULD ASK IF LED COULD LOOK INTO KIND OF THE PROCEDURES BEHIND NOTIFICATIONS TO THESE INDIVIDUALS AND THESE COMPANIES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE MOST CURRENT AND TECHNOLOGY AND SYSTEMS THAT WILL, THAT PEOPLE WILL RECEIVE AND WORK WELL WITH, AS WELL AS LIKE IF THEY SEND IN THEIR NEXT FILING. IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE THERE SHOULD BE A CHECK PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT PREVIOUS YEARS WERE ALSO CORRECT TO JUST FOR THE SAKE OF COMPLETE FILE. SO I'M JUST ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS IS LIKE JUST SOME THOUGHTS FROM HAL? YEAH. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU KEEP LED FROM GOING IN A SPAM FILTER. I DON'T KNOW OTHER OTHER THAN TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE. I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW ALL THAT WORKS. THERE ARE THOSE OF YOU IN THIS ROOM, PROBABLY WHO DO. I'M NOT ONE OF THEM. BUT IN ANY EVENT, I THINK THAT THAT THIS IS THE, THIS IS THE THING I STRUGGLE WITH IS THAT WE. HOW MANY COMPANIES HAVE WE DEALT WITH ON THE AGENDA TODAY? AND SOMEHOW THEY'RE GETTING ALL THE COMMUNICATIONS THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE GETTING. AND YET SOMEBODY SAYS, WAIT A MINUTE, I'M NOT GETTING MY EMAIL. WELL, MAYBE IT'S YOUR END OF THE. THAT'S HAVING THE PROBLEM, NOT OUR END. SO I, I'M, I CAN'T SOLVE ALL THE WORLD'S PROBLEMS TODAY. AND THERE'S RESPONSIBILITY ON THE COMPANY THAT RECEIVED THE BENEFIT I TO HAVE IT SET UP THEMSELVES LEDS REMINDERS OF I KEEP COMING I KEEP COMING BACK TO. THESE ARE VERY VALUABLE INCENTIVES. IT SEEMS LIKE I WOULD DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO PROTECT IT. SO. ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE? THAT CONCLUDES IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP, SIR. ANY OTHER BUSINESS BEFORE WE GO TO MISS AVILA TO GIVE US AN UPDATE ON WHAT'S GOING ON AT LED. GREAT. AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU, ALL BOARD MEMBERS FOR ATTENDING THIS MORNING. [9. Secretary Remarks – Secretary Susan Bourgeois] I KNOW IT'S A CRAZY TIME OF THE YEAR. THAT'S WHY I'M SEATED UP HERE INSTEAD OF SUSAN. [01:00:04] SECRETARY BOURGEOIS, SHE'S OVER AT THE CAPITOL. WE HAD OUR FEES BILL IN FRONT OF SENATE COMMERCE THIS MORNING, SO HOPEFULLY THAT'S GOING WELL. AND THANK YOU STAFF. I KNOW A LOT GOES INTO ALL THE WORK EVERY DAY IN PRESENTING THE PROJECTS IN FRONT OF THE BOARD. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR DUE DILIGENCE AND YES. MR. CALLAIS, WE DO LOOK AT OUR PROCEDURES. AND WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AS THE GOVERNOR HAS ASKED, ARE THERE PROCESSES OUT THERE THAT WE'RE DOING THAT WE DON'T NECESSARILY NEED TO DO? AND IT'S JUST BUREAUCRACY AND RED TAPE. AND SO WE ARE LOOKING AT THOSE TO SEE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT PUTTING, YOU KNOW, ANY ADDITIONAL BURDENS OR REQUESTS ONTO THESE APPLICANTS. THAT'S NOT IN STATUTE OR IN RULE. SO WE DO IN OR REVIEWING THAT AS WELL, ESPECIALLY AS WE MOVE FORWARD. WE'VE DONE SO MUCH WITH OUR ITEP PROGRAM UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION, YEOMAN'S WORK ON YOUR YOUR YOU KNOW, THE BOARD'S WORK, OUR OUR WORK AT LED. SO YES, WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. SO I DO HAVE SOME UPDATES FOR YOU ALL. JUST WANT TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT FOR OUR BRE VISITS, WHICH IS OUR BUSINESS RETENTION EXPANSION, I NEVER WANT TO LOSE SIGHT OF OUR EXISTING COMPANIES THAT WE HAVE IN OUR STATE AND THE WORK THAT OUR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TEAM DOES WITH REACHING OUT TO THOSE COMPANIES. AND SO THEY HAVE ALREADY YEAR TO DATE, YEAR TO YEAR TO DATE HAD 733 VISITS FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR, I SHOULD SAY. SO THEY'RE DOING A LOT OF WORK WITH OUR EXISTING BUSINESS. AND WITH THAT ALL OF YOU ARE AWARE OF OUR STORYTELLING STORY STORYTELLER INITIATIVE THAT WE LAUNCHED AT WASHINGTON MARDI GRAS, AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO FOCUS ON THAT LOUISIANA NOW PRESENCE. SO A LOT OF THINGS THAT YOU WILL SEE OUT THERE, YOU'LL SEE IT AS LOUISIANA NOW. AND THE ONE THING THAT WE'RE WORKING ON IN OUR MESSAGING FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL IS THE STORY AROUND INNOVATION AND HOW IT'S TURNING LOUISIANA'S INDUSTRIAL FOUNDATION TRULY INTO A LAUNCHPAD FOR GROWTH. SO WE'VE LONG BEEN DEFINED BY OUR INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH, BUT TODAY THAT STRENGTH IS BEING AMPLIFIED BY THE INNOVATION THAT WE HAVE NOT AS A REPLACEMENT FOR THESE LEGACY INDUSTRIES, BUT AS A FORCE MULTIPLIER FOR THEM. LOUISIANA INNOVATION WHICH IS A VERTICAL WITHIN LED REFLECTS THE STATE'S INTENTION TO BUILD THE NEXT CHAPTER OF OUR ECONOMY STATEWIDE. THIS NEW MOMENTUM IS EMERGING AROUND TECHNOLOGY, APPLIED RESEARCH, AND COMMERCIALIZATION. THROUGH OUR COORDINATED STRATEGY, WE ARE EXPANDING CAPITAL ACCESS AND DEEPER PARTNERSHIPS WITHIN INDUSTRY AND HIGHER EDUCATION. LOUISIANA IS TURNING TALENT AND IDEAS INTO SCALABLE OPPORTUNITY. THE GOAL IS CLEAR. WE WANT TO GROW OUR COMPANIES HERE. WE WANT TO KEEP OUR TALENT HERE, AND WE WANT TO COMPETE NATIONALLY FROM A POSITION OF CONFIDENCE. INNOVATION IN LOUISIANA IS PRACTICAL AND INDUSTRY CONNECTED. MANUFACTURING IS BECOMING MORE TECHNOLOGY ENABLED. ENERGY PRODUCERS ARE FINDING NEW WAYS TO POWER THE GLOBE. LOGISTICS AND INFRASTRUCTURE ARE BEING STRENGTHENED THROUGH SMARTER TOOLS AND BETTER COORDINATION. ENTREPRENEURS ARE GAINING NEW PATHWAYS TO SCALE, WHILE ESTABLISHED EMPLOYERS ARE EXPANDING THEIR CAPACITY TO INNOVATE FROM WITHIN. LOUISIANA. LOUISIANA NOW IS ABOUT EXECUTION. IT'S ABOUT ENSURING THAT INNOVATION TRANSLATES INTO JOBS, INVESTMENT, AND OPPORTUNITY ACROSS EVERY REGION OF OUR STATE. AS OTHER STATES CHASE THE NEXT TREND, LOUISIANA IS BUILDING DURABLE CAPACITY. WE ARE CONNECTING OUR RESEARCH TO INDUSTRY IDEAS, TO CAPITAL AND AMBITION, TO RESULTS. SO JUST A FEW STATES, A FEW STATS FOR YOU TO KNOW. WE ARE IN THE TOP 20 STATES IN NEW BUSINESS FORMATION. WE HAVE 100% INCREASE IN EARLY STAGE CAPITAL DEPLOYMENT THAT'S CURRENTLY UNDERWAY. WE HAVE A $50 MILLION INVESTMENT IN INNOVATION INFRASTRUCTURE. THESE ARE BY WALLETHUB. WE ARE THE TOP 15 STATES TO START A NEW BUSINESS. AND WE'RE THE TOP TEN IN BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT. SO DON'T WANT US TO LOSE SIGHT OF OUR EXISTING BUSINESSES THAT WE HAVE IN OUR STATE AND KNOW THAT WE AT LED ARE WORKING WITH THOSE BUSINESSES EVERY DAY SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE THEIR SUCCESS INTO THE FUTURE. SO I WANTED TO TAKE A MINUTE TO KIND OF ALSO UPDATE YOU ALL ON WHERE WE STAND TO DATE. [01:05:04] WE ARE AT ALMOST $94 BILLION UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION. $94 BILLION. I CAN REMEMBER SITTING ALONGSIDE CHAIRMAN JONES IN THE PAST WHEN WE THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, BRINGING $1 BILLION PROJECT TO THE BOARD WAS TRANSFORMATIVE. TO DATE, THROUGH THIS ADMINISTRATION, WE HAVE DELIVERED ALMOST $94 BILLION IN ANNOUNCED PROJECTS AND OVER 38,000 JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOUISIANA CITIZENS. SO HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THIS TEAM. AS A SECRETARY WOULD SAY, WE DO THIS EACH AND EVERY DAY. WE'RE SO. AND THE ONE THING ABOUT, I THINK LED AND OUR TEAM OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS IS WE'RE TRULY PASSIONATE ABOUT WORKING WITH OUR EXISTING BUSINESS, WORKING ON MARKET, YOU KNOW, ATTRACTING BUSINESSES TO COME TO OUR STATE. YOU ALL KNOW YOU CAN REACH OUT TO US AT ANY TIME OF THE DAY, NIGHT OR WEEKEND. SO PLEASE CONTINUE TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE BEST INTEREST OF YOU, THE STATE, OUR CITIZENS, EVERY DAY THAT WE STEP UP AND DO OUR JOB. THANK YOU, MRS. VILLA. IT IS TRULY AMAZING WHAT IS GOING ON IN LOUISIANA RIGHT NOW. AND I'VE BEEN SITTING ON THIS BOARD FOR, I THINK THIS IS MY 17TH YEAR. AND I REMEMBER WHEN $250 MILLION WAS A BIG PROJECT. AND SO WE'VE COME A LONG WAY. AND IT'S FUN TO WATCH. SO THANK YOU. YEAH. I WAS GOING TO SAY, IN CASE YOU'RE INTERESTED, I KNOW THE SECRETARY ALWAYS LIKES TO POINT THIS OUT TOO. OUR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TEAM IS CURRENTLY TRACKING 175 ACTIVE PROJECTS. THAT'S MORE THAN 44,355 POTENTIAL NEW JOBS CREATED. AND THE MORE THAN 27,205 JOBS RETAINED. AND THEN OUR TOTAL CAPITAL EXPENDITURES ON THOSE ACTIVE PROJECTS ARE $242 BILLION. AND AN ACTIVE PROJECT MEANS THAT THEY ARE TOUCHING THAT AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. IS THAT CORRECT? I'M LOOKING AT MY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PEOPLE IN THE ROOM. I THINK THAT MEANS THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY ACTIVELY WORKING THAT PROJECT. SO KUDOS TO THAT TEAM. THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES BEHIND THE SCENES. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT ARE IN THE ROOM AND THE INVESTMENTS THAT YOU ARE MAKING IN. EXCUSE ME. IN LOUISIANA. WE APPRECIATE IT MORE THAN YOU CAN POSSIBLY KNOW. ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER TODAY? MR. CHAIRMAN? YES, SIR. IF YOU HAVE NOT ORDERED THE LOUISIANA STORYTELLER PACKET, YOU SHOULD DO SO. IT IS PROFESSIONALLY DONE. IT'S AN INCREDIBLE PIECE ABOUT LOUISIANA AND. A LOT OF GOOD DATA. YEAH. A LOT OF GOOD DATA AND GOOD. VERY GREAT JOB TELLING THE LOUISIANA STORY IN THAT PACKET. SO IT'S BEEN HELPFUL. HOW DOES ONE SIGN UP FOR THAT? THE STORYTELLER INITIATIVE? OH GOODNESS. I'LL SEND YOU THE LINK. IT'S ON OUR WEBSITE. YOU CAN GO TO LOUISIANA.COM. WE'VE GOT. YEAH. YOU HAVE THE CARD THAT WE CAN SCAN TO SEND YOU THE STORYTELLER INITIATIVE. YOU COMPLETE THE INFORMATION AND THEN WE WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU. YOU'LL HAVE ACCESS TO ALL OF OUR TALKING POINTS, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE DISCUSSED IN OUR POWERPOINT DECKS THAT YOU CAN HAVE AND USE AS A REFERENCE. AND THAT'S FOR, YOU KNOW, OTHERS WITHIN THE STATE TO SIGN UP AS A STORYTELLER INITIATIVE, GO TO LOUISIANAOPPORTUNITY.COM OR REACH OUT TO OUR ENGAGEMENT TEAM, RACHEL.SCHOLZ@LA.GOV. WE CAN SEND YOU THAT INFORMATION AS WELL. BUT IF YOU. ESPECIALLY AS BOARD MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY HAVE SIGNED UP FOR YOUR STORYTELLING INITIATIVE. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU. EVERY TOWN YOU COME FROM, EVERY ROTARY CLUB IS LOOKING FOR A SPEAKER EVERY WEEK. AND LED BASICALLY GIVES YOU THE SPEECH. YES. AND YOU CAN GO AND GIVE THAT SPEECH AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD AND BE PART OF THE STORYTELLER. SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE BOARD MEMBERS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT. GREAT. THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION, MR. WHEELIS. GOOD POINT. ANYTHING ELSE? GREAT. I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. MOVED. HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.