KDI Board Mulls Commissioners' Decision
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
The Kosciusko Development Inc.'s board on Wednesday discussed the county commissioners' denying KDI more funds than the usual stipend.
The organization approached the commissioners and council last year about additional funding - up to $100,000 per year for the next four years. With the money, a full-time director and staff would have been hired to promote economic development in the county.
The commissioners said if there are a few extra thousands of dollars about, it should be used for infrastructure and not a salesperson.
Following on the heels of this decision, the commissioners re-established the Kosciusko County Redevelopment Commission. KDI member Max Courtney is a member of the commission along with county councilman Larry Teghtmeyer.
Chairman Jim Tinkey said he had hoped commissioner Ron Truex would have attended meeting to discuss the decision.
"We still have partners and businesses and can keep doing what we're doing," Tinkey said.
Dennis Burch said, "We've been involved in economic development for 20 years and only had token representation by elected officials."
Roger Moynahan, who was chairman last year, said the commissioners have always had a place on the KDI board.
"Either Ron doesn't have a comfort level (with KDI's efforts) or we don't have the right person on the board or we've been sending the wrong message. Obviously, Ron didn't get it."
Moynahan said he spoke with Truex after the commissioner's decision and Truex said he wasn't comfortable with providing economic development funds and neither was the council, "although a majority of the county council members approached me after the meeting and said they were in favor of it.
"If Ron doesn't believe in the message after he sat here during the whole process ... he's not the right person."
Bob Sanders suggested too much emphasis was placed on hiring an employee.
Tinkey said commissioner Avis Gunter visited him and advised the group to keep making funding requests.
Clint Pletcher suggested it would be a good idea to stay abreast of what the redevelopment commission is doing.
Tinkey suggested a reconsideration of KDI's role, that KDI could be to the redevelopment commission as the Convention Visitors Bureau is to the Convention, Recreation and Visitor's Commission.
"I'm happy we've created a lot of discussion," Moynahan said.
The board also:
• Formed a committee of Dennis Burch, Todd Lybarger Clint Pletcher and Wayne Luchenbill to visit with business owners and hear their concerns.
• Heard from KDI president Joy McCarthy-Sessing, who said KDI has been working with the Ivy-Tech Warsaw Campus Advisory Committee's search for a new campus. The preference is to locate on the west side of Warsaw to tie in Marshall County residents, on a parcel of about 40 acres with access to U.S. 30 and sewer and water service.
Jean Perrin of Ivy Tech's South Bend regional office said the main college board of directors in Indianapolis is willing to financially support a building for a machine tool program.
"They recognize the need to have trained people for the local industries," she said.
McCarthy-Sessing said she met with Sherry Rose, business and community development coordinator for the Wabash Valley Power Association, and Steve Rhodes, general manager of Kosciusko REMC, to discuss economic development activities.
She plans to attend a training seminar about the state's building and site data base, which will take place at Ivy Tech in Warsaw Wednesday.
Kim Nance, KDI coordinator, said the Executive Pulse program will have information about local manufacturers.
She said the small business loan committee met Jan. 31 to review the program. KDI has only received one completed application. The committee made suggestions about marketing the program. A new information sheet was developed and changes were made to the application.
• Heard KDI representatives signed final papers with the Indiana Economic Development Corp. for the Community Development Action Grant. Funds should be available Wednesday.
• Heard a business feasibility workshop is scheduled for March 21.
• Will sponsor a Manufacturer's Council Meeting in March with a Purdue University ergonomics professor as featured speaker.
• Presented a plaque of appreciation to Moynahan for his years of service as chairman. [[In-content Ad]]
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The Kosciusko Development Inc.'s board on Wednesday discussed the county commissioners' denying KDI more funds than the usual stipend.
The organization approached the commissioners and council last year about additional funding - up to $100,000 per year for the next four years. With the money, a full-time director and staff would have been hired to promote economic development in the county.
The commissioners said if there are a few extra thousands of dollars about, it should be used for infrastructure and not a salesperson.
Following on the heels of this decision, the commissioners re-established the Kosciusko County Redevelopment Commission. KDI member Max Courtney is a member of the commission along with county councilman Larry Teghtmeyer.
Chairman Jim Tinkey said he had hoped commissioner Ron Truex would have attended meeting to discuss the decision.
"We still have partners and businesses and can keep doing what we're doing," Tinkey said.
Dennis Burch said, "We've been involved in economic development for 20 years and only had token representation by elected officials."
Roger Moynahan, who was chairman last year, said the commissioners have always had a place on the KDI board.
"Either Ron doesn't have a comfort level (with KDI's efforts) or we don't have the right person on the board or we've been sending the wrong message. Obviously, Ron didn't get it."
Moynahan said he spoke with Truex after the commissioner's decision and Truex said he wasn't comfortable with providing economic development funds and neither was the council, "although a majority of the county council members approached me after the meeting and said they were in favor of it.
"If Ron doesn't believe in the message after he sat here during the whole process ... he's not the right person."
Bob Sanders suggested too much emphasis was placed on hiring an employee.
Tinkey said commissioner Avis Gunter visited him and advised the group to keep making funding requests.
Clint Pletcher suggested it would be a good idea to stay abreast of what the redevelopment commission is doing.
Tinkey suggested a reconsideration of KDI's role, that KDI could be to the redevelopment commission as the Convention Visitors Bureau is to the Convention, Recreation and Visitor's Commission.
"I'm happy we've created a lot of discussion," Moynahan said.
The board also:
• Formed a committee of Dennis Burch, Todd Lybarger Clint Pletcher and Wayne Luchenbill to visit with business owners and hear their concerns.
• Heard from KDI president Joy McCarthy-Sessing, who said KDI has been working with the Ivy-Tech Warsaw Campus Advisory Committee's search for a new campus. The preference is to locate on the west side of Warsaw to tie in Marshall County residents, on a parcel of about 40 acres with access to U.S. 30 and sewer and water service.
Jean Perrin of Ivy Tech's South Bend regional office said the main college board of directors in Indianapolis is willing to financially support a building for a machine tool program.
"They recognize the need to have trained people for the local industries," she said.
McCarthy-Sessing said she met with Sherry Rose, business and community development coordinator for the Wabash Valley Power Association, and Steve Rhodes, general manager of Kosciusko REMC, to discuss economic development activities.
She plans to attend a training seminar about the state's building and site data base, which will take place at Ivy Tech in Warsaw Wednesday.
Kim Nance, KDI coordinator, said the Executive Pulse program will have information about local manufacturers.
She said the small business loan committee met Jan. 31 to review the program. KDI has only received one completed application. The committee made suggestions about marketing the program. A new information sheet was developed and changes were made to the application.
• Heard KDI representatives signed final papers with the Indiana Economic Development Corp. for the Community Development Action Grant. Funds should be available Wednesday.
• Heard a business feasibility workshop is scheduled for March 21.
• Will sponsor a Manufacturer's Council Meeting in March with a Purdue University ergonomics professor as featured speaker.
• Presented a plaque of appreciation to Moynahan for his years of service as chairman. [[In-content Ad]]