Members of the Rugby Job Development Authority Board of Directors moved closer to naming a new executive director at their regular meeting held Wednesday, March 10, at the JDA office.

Mayor Sue Steinke told the board she had reviewed resumes submitted by candidates before deciding to pursue one applicant for the position. Steinke reported the candidate “is still definitely interested” in the position.

“I showed him around town and visited with him,” she noted.

The board discussed offering the candidate the same salary they had paid to their previous director, about $55,000 per year.

“He did tell me that he did look at other positions that paid significantly higher,” Steinke added, “but in my conversation with him this morning, (he wondered) if he writes any grants for anyone who would come to the JDA for grant writing (services), if he would be able to supplement the wage the JDA pays by doing the administrative work, if the JDA would have a problem with that?”

Steinke explained the candidate’s grant writing services would be different from those the Rugby city government receives related to engineering and infrastructure projects.

“He understands that he’s with the city,” she said.

“This (grant writing service provided) would be like if someone has a housing project, maybe an apartment building out at Chalmers, he would be able to administer that grant,” Steinke said.

Board member Gary Kraft asked how the work would fit in with other regular duties for the position and how the extra administrative work would be paid.

“It would all be done through the Rugby JDA and the administration work would be through the JDA but there would be an understanding that it would be additional compensation for him,” Steinke said.

JDA Vice President Rob St. Michel asked, “With a typical grant, how much does it normally have (for costs)? We could be talking a lot of dollars or we could be talking not that much.”

“I would just like to have an idea and I’d like to sit down and talk with him about it rather than just phoning and say, ‘How much do you think you’d make in administrative fees?'” St. Michel added.

The board agreed to interview the candidate and discuss the terms of the position further with him.

“He has extensive experience in many areas,” Steinke said. “That was plain. So, I think it’s worth investigating this avenue with him. Because other potential candidates don’t have experience even nearly close to as much experience as he does.”

In other business, the board approved revisions in their student loan application forms with a unanimous vote.

Administrative Assistant Maddy Koenig described the revisions, which now ask applicants to provide information and proof of their certification or degree related to their profession.

The board also reviewed bids for mowing lots owned by the JDA in the Chalmers Addition. On a motion from Kraft, they tabled further discussion on the matter until after they consulted with city employees. The board voted to revisit the matter at their April regular meeting.

The board also considered a letter from the Center of North America Coalition, who partners with rural communities such as Rugby for economic development projects. In the letter, the chair of the coalition expressed their intent to dissolve.

In the letter, Doris Zimmer, director of the coalition, said the money left in the fund would be used to complete the dissolution process.

“Thank you for investing in what we believe was the first equity capital fund in North Dakota,” Zimmer said in the letter.

The board voted unanimously to express no objections to the coalition’s decision.

Members of the board also reviewed a request for $5,000 from the North Dakota Small Business Development Center. St. Michel cited the help the center provided to small business. The board voted unanimously to approve the request.

The Rugby JDA Board next meets Wednesday, April 14, in the JDA office at noon.