By Geoff Frank, Bluffton News-Banner
Wells County government formally severed its agreement for economic development services with the Wells County Chamber of Commerce on Monday.
Officials made it clear, however, that the action does not represent a lack of interest in the topic or any long-term plans to cut back on financial support for the Chamber.
The Wells County Board of Commissioners on Monday voted to formally withdraw from the county's agreement with the Chamber.
All three commissioners - Paul Bonham, Randy Plummer and Kevin Woodward - were in favor of the move.
The topic was first raised by Woodward at the commissioners' Nov. 20 meeting.
He suggested that the county follow the lead of City of Bluffton officials in rethinking their economic development agreement with the Chamber.
Bluffton City Council members voted 5-0 on Nov. 14 to rescind an ordinance that spells out the city's agreement with the Chamber on economic development.
They supported a motion by council member Melanie Durr, who called for more oversight by city officials and receipt of more detailed information regarding total jobs lost and new jobs created.
Local governments throughout Wells County currently allocate portions of their County Economic Development Income Tax (CEDIT) funds to the Chamber for economic development.
Ossian town officials also recently asked for more information about benefits the town receives for its CEDIT contributions.
Woodward had asked that County Attorney Trent Patterson prepare legal documents for Monday's meeting that would let the county take another look at the arrangement.
Three members of the Chamber's executive board were present Monday for the discussion.
They came looking for indications from the commissioners as to what additional elements the county wants in a revised agreement.
The Chamber would like to have new agreements in place with the city and county soon so that prospective candidates for the Chamber's top executive position will know what to expect.
Garry Jones, CEO of the Chamber, announced his plans on Friday to retire in 2007.
He will stay on with the Chamber until the organization completes new agreements with the various governmental units and names his successor.
The job description of the CEO position is expected to change as part of an internal reorganization that the Chamber is undertaking, the county officials were told.
Following discussion at Monday's meeting, Woodward agreed to join with Chamber officials and a representative from Bluffton city government in working toward revised agreements.
Chamber and county officials indicated hopes that new agreements, or a least drafts of proposed pacts, could be put together in the next few weeks.
Later in the meeting, the commissioners approved their planned CEDIT allocations for 2007 and again included current funding levels for economic development.
The board was unanimous in continuing the current $65,000 amount in the county's budget for economic development.
The 2007 funds would be held until after a new agreement is reached with the Chamber.
Woodward noted that the funding will be there, but it will be held until "things get squared away."
Chamber vice president Tamra Boucher said the Chamber representatives wanted to hear what types of things the commissioners wanted in a new agreement.
Chamber treasurer Trent Bucher asked about the extent to which the commissioners want to be involved. He noted that the Chamber would like local officials to be as involved in the process as they would like.
Past Chamber president Ray Paxson also tried to obtain a better idea of the county's time frame for identifying a new agreement.
Plummer noted that the Chamber's economic development committee has taken a lot of heat and indicated that some suggestions for extensive openness regarding economic development information are not realistic.
Plummer said it is important that the committee have people with expertise in how big business operates and how they decide where they are going to expand.
Plummer noted the complaint constantly has been that no one knows what is going on, but he said economic development requires confidentiality.
"When you're talking with a business and discussing a business' projections and what companies are planning to do, you must maintain that confidentiality or they will refuse to talk to you and you won't get anywhere," he said.
"Now, how do you solve that problem of extreme confidentiality and still let people know there's a lot going on," Plummer asked.
"Confidentiality is nonexistent in a committee of 40 people," he said.
Bucher noted the Chamber has discussed the possibility of identifying project champions who would help shepherd along individual projects and not wait for monthly meetings.
The Chamber board members noted they have been working on internal structural changes within the Chamber organization.
There are no plans to separate economic development from Chamber membership functions, however.