At its June meeting Wednesday morning, the Rugby Job Development Authority board voted to grant a leave of absence to the JDA’s executive director.

After the July 20 meeting, JDA Executive Director Joseph T. Pelt will use the rest of his comp and vacation days through July 31, and take a leave of absence from Aug. 1 through Oct. 1, citing family medical reasons.

Pelt said that while on leave he will answer emails, do accounting, create reports and delegate to an employee in the JDA office. He will take a salary of $217.50 a week, allowing him to stay a city employee.

Pelt gave the board the option to terminate his employment as of Aug. 1. Board member Dave Cichos said that it took a long time to get a new executive director in place.

“I’d hate to have that happen again,” Cichos said.

Board president Fr. Tom Graner agreed, saying that the board did not receive many qualified applicants in their search for a director.

“[Pelt] has brought energy to this organization,” Graner said.

OTHER ACTIONS

Pelt gave his director’s report, which included: the JDA sponsoring the Good Samaritan Hospital Association’s golf tournament and the Miss Rugby Scholarship Pageant; a discussion about an Economic Development Association of North Dakota conference he attended last week in Bowman.

The board approved an interest buy-down schedule for Kevin and Hunter Allickson, who will operate a car wash that will be located west of Envision’s convenience store.

The board approved two applications for a new JDA program: the business community enhancement silent loan. The loans are termed for a certain amount of time and at an interest rate comparable to market rates, and if the business that takes out the loan closes, is sold or doesn’t create 50 percent of jobs indicated within a year of receiving funds and each year after the loan will be deemed due and payable. Applicants were Rugby Broadcasters, Inc. and Big Pauly’s.

The board welcomed Heart of America-Johnson Clinic Administrator Jeremiah Lindgren as a new member.

Pelt informed the board that the JDA received a $1,166 grant and rural marketing match agreement from the City of Minot’s MAGIC fund. Grant monies were shared with the Prairie Village Museum and the Rugby

The board discussed Chalmers Addition and that some lots have sewer lines in them that were dug shallow.

The board discussed the natural gas feasibility study. Instead of sending questionnaires out to residents and businesses along with city billing, sheets were made available in multiple local businesses.

The board approved the treasurer’s report, and the minutes of the May meeting and an email meeting to approve a new lot in Chalmers Addition for Zachmeiers due to the original lot being within falling distance of a cell phone tower.