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Note 14 - Employee Benefit Plans
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]
14.  Employee Benefit Plans

The Company has a defined contribution 401(k) salary reduction plan intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “401(k)  Plan”). The 401(k) Plan allows eligible employees, as defined in the plan document, to defer up to the federally allowed limits of their eligible compensation, with the Company contributing an amount determined at the discretion of the board of directors. The Company contributed approximately $120,000, $120,000 and $65,000 to the 401(k) Plan for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

The Company also maintained a Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Plan for certain employees. This plan allowed participants to defer a portion of their salary on a pre-tax basis and accumulate tax-deferred earnings plus interest. These deferrals were in addition to those allowed under the 401(k) Plan. The Company provided a discretionary matching contribution of 25 percent of the employee contribution, subject to a maximum Company contribution of $2,500 per employee. The Company’s matching contribution expense for such plans was $0, $0 and $0 for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  During the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company decided to terminate this plan effective in January 2010. Liabilities totaling $350,000 were paid out to plan participants during 2011 in conjunction with the termination of the plan.

The Company has in place an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”) for all employees. The ESOP allows employer contributions, at the sole discretion of the board of directors. To be eligible to receive contributions, an employee must complete one year of full time service and be employed on the last day of the year. Contributions to the ESOP vest over a five-year period. The following table reflects activity to the Company’s ESOP plan:

 
 
ESOP Shares
Awarded
   
Stock
Valuation
 
Issuance Date
 
Expense
Recognized
 
Outstanding prior to 2005
    6,250       4.80  
3/31/2005
  $ 30,000  
2005
    12,500       2.96  
10/6/2006
    124,000  
2006
    22,500       5.52  
4/10/2007
    101,000  
2007
    22,500       4.48  
12/11/2007
    101,000  
2008
    -       -         2,000  
2009
    -       -         40,000  
2010
    -       -         -  
2011
    645       9.28  
4/25/2011
    -  
   Total
    64,395               $ 398,000