Sunday, February 8, 2009

Area leaders visit Legislature
By JoAnn Hanstrom
Special to The Monitor
AUSTIN–Approximately 40 area business leaders visited Austin Tuesday for “Cedar Creek Lake Area Day” during the 81st Texas Legislature.
The trip was arranged and sponsored by the Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.
Courtesy Photo/ JoAnn Hanstrom
A delegation from the Cedar Creek Lake area arrives at the State Capitol grounds Tuesday to visit with area legislators and state officials.

The delegation was recognized and honored in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, then met privately with senators Robert Deuell and Robert Nichols and State Rep. Betty Brown, both at lunch and again in their respective offices later in the day.
Former state representative Clyde Alexander (now Chief of Staff to Speaker of the House Joe Straus) and Gov. Rick Perry joined the group for a photo op during the morning.
Courtesy Photo/ JoAnn Hanstrom
Joe Morin, representative from the Office of the Government-Economic Development & Tourism, speaks to a delegation of Cedar Creek Lake area business and political leaders during the delegation's visit to Austin for "Cedar Creek Lake Area Day" Tuesday.

Throughout the afternoon, representatives from state agencies came to and speak with the delegation in the Court of Criminal Appeals building.
Joe Morin of the Office of the Governor-Economic Development & Tourism, Steve Simmons of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDoT) and Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples all brought updates and information pertinent to rural Texas communities.
Morin and Staples reminded the group of the many programs, grants and resources available to rural Texas cities through their agencies.
Staples formerly served the Cedar Creek Lake area as a state senator from 2001-07, and is very familiar with the unique qualities of the region, which includes 13 towns, five school districts, parts of three counties and various districts of state and other governmental agencies.
Courtesy Photo/ JoAnn Hanstrom
Joe Morin of the Office of the Government-Economic Development & Tourism (left) speaks with Mabank Economic Development Corporation executive director and former Tool mayor Scott Confer Tuesday in Austin.

Staples commended the chamber of commerce for the unity of the business community and pointed out that the Cedar Creek Lake area is an economic region unto itself. He strongly recommended that every effort should be made to have the area function as a single region to the extent possible.
Several sessions ago, Alexander recommended to the area’s then-separate chambers of commerce to establish visits to Austin during biennial Regular Sessions to establish and solidify the area’s identity with lawmakers.
Over the years, the tradition has continued with few changes. Six of the 13 towns partnered with the chamber this year to help add a spirit of unification to the delegation and to help underwrite the expenses not covered by the $75 individual participation fee.
Additional expenses have been borne 100 percent by the chamber in the past.
“On behalf of our board of directors and other members, I really want to thank and acknowledge our 2009 Legislative Day partner cities,” Chamber President Jo Ann Hanstrom said.
“The cities of Eustace, Gun Barrel City, Mabank, Malakoff, Tool and Trinidad are all to be commended for their support of this important program,” she added.
“A corporate contributor was TVEC (Trinity Valley Electric Co-op), who sponsored the snacks on the bus,” Hanstrom said.
Hanstrom also noted the contribution of Amy Gould (from Brown’s Athens office), along with personnel from Brown’s Austin office and both of the Senators’ staffs provided invaluable support and assistance in helping her coordinate the day.
The next Cedar Creek Lake Area Legislative Day will be during the 82nd Regular Session in 2011.
 

Comfort Suites to break ground
By Pearl Cantrell
Monitor Staff Writer
MABANK–On Wednesday, Mabank is welcoming the start of good things to come in 2009 with the groundbreaking on a 70-room Comfort Suites Hotel by Choice Hotels.
Mabank Economic Development Corporation executive director Scott Confer sent out 90 invitations and made the announcement during a special council meeting Thursday.
The project has been quietly worked on over the last five months, with the big unveiling set for 1 p.m. at the project site, situated near Solar Turbines, off Farm-to-Market 90.
When built, the three-story hotel, with 2,000 feet of conference facilities, will be visible from the expanded U.S. Highway 175.
In addition, a few years ago, the City of Mabank upgraded its water lines there from six inches to 14 inches. “Water and sewer are ready to go,” Confer said.
The First State Bank of Mabank is financing the $5.5 million project, due to begin work shortly after the groundbreaking ceremony.
The EDC collected information from surrounding businesses and the Mabank ISD on their current needs for hotel rooms, and with that data, presented the opportunity to five major hotel chains.
“Preliminary market research suggests the new hotel will reach 65 percent occupancy in its first year,” Confer told The Monitor.
The principal, Keven Patel with KBC Sienna, LLC out of Mesquite, and Comfort Suites regional manager, sees this as a sound move, Confer said.
“It’s a rational central point,” Confer summarized.
Further, the general contractor and architect, a part of Design Build Contractors, have been pricing out the job using local suppliers and subcontractors, he added.
The projected completion date is this November.