Director gives Industrial Council update
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
LARRY CLARK, executive director of the Presque Isle Industrial Council, providing City Council with his annual update on the PIIC during a Jan. 7 meeting at City Hall.
PRESQUE ISLE — Larry Clark, executive director of the Presque Isle Industrial Council, presented his annual report to City Council during the group’s first meeting of the year, held Jan. 7 at City Hall.
The PIIC employed three full-time, as well as part-time help as needed, in 2012. It is responsible for the management and development of the Industrial Park, which includes over 450 acres and 28 buildings ranging from 1,400 to about 90,000 square feet.
“We also oversee 5.5 miles of railroad assets, are responsible for Fairview Acres and the office park,” said Clark.
Clark praised Councilor Dick Engel’s idea of providing a tour of the park for PIIC directors which was done last year.
“The exercise was well worth doing. Many had never visited the buildings and should be done with City Council as well,” he said.
Clark said efforts will continue to work with agencies like the Northern Maine Development Commission and Aroostook Partnership for Progress to promote economic development in the region.
Clark explained how a property swap was proceeding between the Federal Aviation Administration and the city, which should be completed in the coming year.
He said he was pleased with the city’s first economic summit which brought together various entities, including NMDC, APP, the DEP and city officials.
“I received some positive comments after being a participant of that. There are ongoing discussions with Maine Northern Railway/Irving. As recent as three weeks ago I met with the marketing director and we discussed what could be done to bring more rail service to the area — specifically to the Industrial Park,” Clark said. “We’re sitting here with a lot of underutilized infrastructure.”
He also talked about progress at NMCC with regard to the expanding energy lab.
“To date, what’s been interesting in that project is the cooperative effort (between the PIIC and NMCC). NMCC officials approached us in 2010 wanting to do an energy lab. We provided monies to renovate the former public works building and set up a lease to recover the costs,” he said.
Clark said while some facilities have expanded since setting up shop at the Industrial Park, such as CAM Manufacturing, there have also been lease terminations, including MPG’s fuel storage facility. He also noted Tater Meal will be leaving the park, creating one more vacancy.
He said some departures will be felt more than others.
“County Box and Pallet outgrew their space and moved to a larger space on the Houlton Road. Their former space has been leased to Aroostook Trusses,” said Clark.
Clark said winter storage continues to be a revenue generator for the PIIC, with 120 short-term agreements for seasonal storage of about 236 pieces of equipment, which are stored in three different buildings. He projected 2012 Industrial Council revenue at over $500,000, with expenditures in the $320,000 range.
“Overall, 2012 proved to be another successful and profitable year,” said Clark, thanking the city of allowing his department to do what they do.
Tough economic times continue to be a concern, noted Clark, as he looked to the coming year.
“In looking to 2013, it will be a very challenging year for all of us — the challenge — the economy is what it is,” said Clark.
Among Clark’s concerns were the more than two dozen buildings the PIIC administers.
“We oversee 28 buildings. That’s well in excess of 600,000 square feet and takes substantial dollars to maintain. These are assets that are starting to show some age and I wonder if we can continue to meet capital needs to sustain them,” said Clark, questioning if there might be other ways to assist with maintaining the structures.
“Another one that will be a challenge to us is we’re losing a major tenant in 2013, Tater Meal. They will be decommissioning the facility as we’ve known it since the 1960s — probably by mid-May to early fall. The main part of the building is 40,000 square feet, with an additional 9,000 square feet,” said Clark.
Clark closed with a quote from a favorite author: “No community stands still. It either moves forward or backward.”
“When I look at Presque Isle, it’s had the reputation of moving forward. To move forward, one has to be willing to take risks,” said Clark. “I hope City Council and the board of directors are willing to allow us to take those risks in the coming year. I hope the Council is up to the challenge of moving forward.”
