SOUTHERN INDIANA — Harrison County Council became the second county to sign a resolution in support of a regional development initiative Monday night, exactly two weeks after Clark County Council denied the same resolution to join formal discussions.
The resolution asked both county councils to support the creation of a Regional Development Authority, or RDA, which must be formed in order to apply for the $84 million up for grabs from the state. If selected, the money could be used for various development projects throughout Southern Indiana.
At a June 8 meeting, Clark councilmembers debated the resolution for nearly two hours before voting it down 7-0 due to concerns of giving power to an RDA, a nonelected body, and the potential of financially committing the county down the line.
One Southern Indiana President and CEO Wendy Dant Chesser said she went to the Indiana Economic Development Corp. after the Clark County meeting to clear up questions regarding the establishment of an RDA.
“Because we had been through the conversation with Clark County, we were better prepared to answer some of those concerns,” Dant Chesser said.
Dant Chesser said she was able to clear up details regarding eminent domain and funding decisions. The RDA, she said, could restrict eminent domain and keep financial decisions in the hands of the elected officials.
After an hour of discussion, Harrison County Council passed the proposed resolution and designated Council Chairman Gary Davis to continue formal discussions on behalf of the county, Dant Chesser said.
Clark County Councilwoman Kelly Khuri said she watched the Harrison County meeting via video and was disappointed that members voted for the resolution.
“I am concerned that any elected official is willing to hand over representation of the citizens who elected them to an appointed board,” Khuri said in an email.
Khuri added that she requested to review the RDA plan before the Clark County Council meeting but was told that the plan was still under development and would be publicly released in late July.
Since presenting the Clark council, Chesser said she has had “factual-based” conversations with councilmembers and that Clark County could still be a part of the initiative if members reconsidered.
“The criteria on which they are to judge which regions are competitive include the extent of the collaboration of the region,” she said. “They definitely want to see that there are more partners contributing in the collaboration.”
Dant Chesser said the state will choose two regions to receive funding for projects. She expects about 10 regions to apply by the Aug. 31 deadline.
So far, Harrison and Washington counties are the only counties to sign the resolution. Dant Chesser said she plans on presenting the resolution to Floyd, Jefferson and Scott counties in the near future.
An “elected official workshop” is also being organized and will allow officials to learn more about the initiative and ask questions, but the date is still to be determined.