The Clinton County Industrial Development Authority held a brief regular meeting Thursday, August 14 at the IDA-Welcome Center with all seven members, as well as legal counsel Terran Helm and former IDA Chairman Rick Mercader, on hand for the less than half-hour session.

After voting to pay claims and bills and approving the CCIDA expenditure report, a motion was made by Board Member Keith McWhorter to enter into closed session to discuss personnel.

After only about 10 minutes in executive session, the board returned to open session but took no action.

Because several members were not going to be available to meet in October, the board’s regular meeting month, they voted to hold a call meeting instead on Wednesday, September 10 at 11 a.m., with the board’s next regular meeting not being slated before December.

Prior to adjourning, some board members as well as Attorney Helm discussed the need to make the public and businesses aware that the IDA does have loan funds to potential borrowers. However, a skepticism of many is the apparent federal regulations that go along with the loan process through the industrial board’s loan programs, such as requiring the IDA to be a “second lender,” limiting some loan amounts and so forth.

Helm suggested possibly having someone from the USDA address the board about the loan restrictions that may be hampering businesses and individuals from applying for the funding that is available.

Anyone wanting more information about the loans available through the Industrial Authority should stop by the IDA office, or see any board member.

Following discussion on the need to make the loan program more public and accessible, the meeting was adjourned.