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By John Hallowell

With three of the seven board members out of town, a quorum of four EDC board members chose not to make any big decisions at Monday night’s meeting. EDC President Rick Tisdale and board members Lanell McKinney, Jim Thomas and Diana Firestone reviewed financial reports and heard a report from Mayor Mike Reagor and Mayor Pro Tem Mike Hazel on the proposed Historic Preservation Ordinance; they approved a draft agreement to continue the previously-approved feasibility study for the planned event center, and discussed briefly an "incentive matrix" by City Manager Finley deGraffenried, which attempts to provide guidelines for what the city will offer business prospects interested in coming to Llano.

Much of the hour-long meeting was taken by Tony Griffith’s presentation of his "Texas Passport to Value" promotion plan, a collection of premiums (mostly buy one, get one free offers) from local businesses to be put into a "passport" format, with stamps to validate participation at each of the locations. Passports would be promoted by internet, magazines, radio and TV, and would sell for approximately $32.00 each; the total value of premiums would be in the thousands of dollars. Griffith asked the EDC board for a one-time contribution of $4,000; the board chose to wait until all members were present before making a decision.

The EDC plans to present an annual report to city council next month, including budget details, goals and strategies for the coming year. The board’s major project, a new multi-purpose event center on Highway 71 East, is on hold, pending the completion of a feasibility study by Ketchum & Co. which will tell the board whether or not sufficient funds will be available.