The results of a community public survey were presented to the board of the Sealy Economic Development Corporation during its regular meeting March 22 at the W. E. Hill Community Center.

EDC Interim Executive Director Chelsea Humes said she thought it was important to get the results to the board before the upcoming priorities meeting.

“Just so we can see what people are looking at and wanting from the EDC,” Humes said. “The big things that people are looking for out of us is family entertainment, restaurants and retail. Which I think we kind of knew we lacked on some of (those things) in Sealy.”

Humes said residents made sure their voices were heard on the survey.

“The biggest thing they would like to see out of the EDC is for us to create jobs. It’s a little tough when you look at the two things that were at the top because of where we lack right now is the jobs and industries like restaurant and retail,” Humes said. “We have got to figure out a way to juggle and be able to have the supply and demand for jobs on both of these.”

The results from the survey will also have information that the Sealy City Council could use as well, EDC President Sterling Schiller said.

“This is great information, not only for the EDC but also for the city that they would find it interesting too,” Schiller said. “As (Humes) mentioned, we got a lot of great comments from folks so I think this was a good use of our time and good use of our resources.”

Public hearing on 380 Agreement

An EDC public hearing was held to hear comments on a proposal to reimburse Sealy for its obligation under a 380 economic development agreement with Sika and Prasek’s that aimed to promote and expand business development. A maximum of $93,193.03 would be reimbursed.

Humes said this was originally brought to the EDC as an opportunity to help the city.

“They could definitely use the money. They have already paid the money and this is an expense that we covered last year for them as well,” Humes said.

No one from the public came to speak at the public hearing. The EDC opened a discussion regarding approving the expenditure of funds to reimburse the city for payments to Sika and Prasek’s. Humes said she had received comments from members regarding this item.

“One of those questions was, would it be a good idea for us to wait for after we found out the council’s priorities? In order to be able to see the big picture and what they put on the top of their list for what we want to spend our money on,” Humes said.

Board member Bradley Miller said he knows the EDC helped last year and is glad to do it again this year but addressed other ways the money could be spent.

“Personally, I think it could go a long way for the work that the EDC does for the community, just to ensure that we are tying up this $93,000,” Miller said. “If it ends up being Sika and Prasek’s, that is great. But at the same time, if it ends up being something else that is going to help drive more value to the community around tourism, etcetera, that would go a long way to show that we are spending money to promote our community.”

A motion was made to table this item until a future meeting. Visit sealynews.com for an extended version of this story.

“This is great information, not only for the EDC but also for the city that they would find it interesting too.”

— EDC PRESIDENT STERLING SCHILLER