City Councilwoman Stephanie Brinkerhoff-Riley has made a second contribution to the growing discussion in Evansville about its difficulties in achieving successful economic development.
Brinkerhoff-Riley, a Democrat in her first year on the council, likely saved the city millions by doing her homework and discovering that the city's deal with Earthcare Energy was lacking. The company was in line for a $4.8 million city loan to build generators at the old Whirlpool plant. However, it was discovered that Earthcare had not met two conditions of the agreement, and the deal with quashed.
In the aftermath of that debacle, Brinkerhoff-Riley, a lawyer, wrote a Community Comment which appeared on this page on May 23. In it, she said Evansville lacks a community driven comprehensive plan for economic development/redevelopment, and that our current system for fostering growth is too complicated for significant community involvement.
She pointed out there are 20 different boards, commissions, committees, nonprofits, etc., all with a purpose that includes economic growth for Evansville. She said most of the public lacks even a basic understanding of the system.
We didn't know the number of entities, but we have long understood that our system is too complicated and cumbersome for a city and county no larger than Evansville and Vanderburgh County. And that is one of the key reasons why this newspaper, among others in the community, has long supported the consolidation of the city and county.
The taxpayers do not need all of these different entities, all trying to perform the same admirable function. A consolidated government, with one executive branch and one legislative branch, and fewer offices and boards, creates the opportunity for focused leadership and clear-headed economic development.
We hear so often about how the people of the Tri-State want smaller government. That's what consolidation is, and that's what this issue of economic development is about.