Tipton — The Tipton County Commissioners rejected an offer from Tipton Mayor Dan Delph to try and resolve differences on the future direction of economic development.
Delph in December agreed to pay the salary of Gayle Van Sessen, executive director of the Tipton County Economic Development Corp., through March 15, if the commissioners agreed to start a search for a replacement.
“I agreed to keep her until the encumbered money ran out,” Delph said Wednesday. “Half that money was provided by the city.”
Delph said Commissioner Mike Cline and Phil Heron wanted to retain Van Sessen through May and then renew the contract.
City and county officials signed an agreement to work together on economic development issues and determined in 2009 to end funding for the private Tipton County Economic Development Commission.
Tipton Mayor Delph agreed to provide $65,000 in 2009 and 2010 for a joint economic development effort with Tipton County providing $50,000. That contract terminated on Dec. 31 and Delph has indicated he won’t renew the agreement until Van Sessen is terminated.
Van Sessen is paid $6,833 per month and her contract expires May 1. Since no appropriation for economic development has been approved by the Tipton County Council, the commissioners are using $17,000 in funds carried over from 2010 and have requested $85,000 in Economic Development Income Tax funds for the remainder of the year.
“I won’t be a part of renewing her contract,” Delph said. “I’ll hire someone part-time and move forward.”
Delph said if the county is willing to negotiate a new agreement for economic development services, the two government entities could work together.
“I would sign a new contract with the county if there is a new director,” he said. “It’s a shared responsibility to oversee the director and her job performance by the mayor and commissioners.”
Commissioner Jane Harper confirmed Delph’s offer to pay Van Sessen through March 15 and then search for a new director.
“I thought it was a good compromise,” she said. “The mayor was willing to give some.”
She said the other two commissioners, Cline and Heron, were not interested in the offer from the city.
Brad Nichols, a member of the Tipton County Council, said he was aware of the compromise offer from the mayor.
“I think the commissioners ignored it,” he said.
Cline said the discussions with Delph was to pay Van Sessen through the end of her contract and the mayor said he would meet halfway. He said the county attorney indicated there would be no difference in terminating the contract in March or on Jan. 1.
The issue has split the Tipton City Council with Councilman Brett Curnutt and Councilwoman Shay Dell both publicly voicing support to retain Van Sessen.
An executive session of the city council is set for Feb. 28 when Delph is to present information on how Van Sessen has failed in her job performance.
“I have the proof, I can show where she has failed,” Delph said. “It’s not the council’s decision to renew the contract with Tipton County. They can tell me at that meeting why they want to keep her.”