Tipton — The future direction of economic development efforts in Tipton County could include the formation of a new committee to direct the city and county efforts.
Two years ago, Tipton County and the city of Tipton voted not to provide funding to the private not-for-profit Tipton County Economic Development Corp., because there was not enough government oversight on how tax dollars were being spent.
At the time, city and county officials agreed to work together when it came to economic development, with the mayor and three commissioners having oversight of the efforts of an economic director.
As part of that agreement, Tipton was to provide $65,000 for the joint economic development effort with Tipton County providing $50,000.
That agreement came to an end on Dec. 31 when Tipton Mayor Dan Delph said he would not renew the contract with the county unless Gayle Van Sessen, executive director of the Tipton County Economic Development Department, was replaced. The city has not agreed to provide its $65,000 toward the joint venture.
Commissioner Mike Cline said Friday it’s his intention to have a new committee or advisory board created to oversee economic development. The board would work will the mayor and commissioners, he said.
“I want to take it one step at a time,” he said.
Cline said the committee would operate in a similar fashion as the Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance, which was created in 2009 through a public/private partnership. Kokomo and Howard County provide approximately $400,000 per year in funding.
To find out more about the organization, Cline and Commissioner Phil Heron recently met with Jeb Conrad, executive director of the Alliance.
Cline said a committee in Tipton County to oversee such an effort would consist of representatives from throughout Tipton County.
Commissioner Jane Harper said she was opposed to forming a committee for economic development oversight, adding it would be a return to the private economic development corporation used in the past.
“How would you decide who serves?” she asked. “Businessmen would have a potential conflict of interest and there is the potential for more leaks of information. Our concept will work, we just need the right person with the right oversight.”
Harper said by the commissioners requesting an $85,000 appropriation from EDIT funds, it’s obvious that Cline and Heron are making sure the county has the funds to pay Van Sessen for the remainder of the year.
“I think it’s a mistake,” she said.
Brad Nichols, a member of the Tipton County Council, said it would be foolish for the county to pick up the cost of operating the economic development department for the remainder of the year without the support of the city.
At last week’s city council meeting, councilwoman Shay Dell said members of the Goodwill Committee came to an agreement during a meeting on Jan. 21, that both sides would work together.
Dell said the committee was going to look at the structure of oversight for economic development.
“The idea was to have her report to a committee and not just the mayor and commissioners,” she said. “The mayor is making decisions for the whole community.”
Nichols said the idea of forming a new economic development committee was tossed around at the Goodwill Committee meeting Jan. 21.
“There was some support for getting the public more involved,” he said.
Cline said he got as sense at the Goodwill Committee meeting that the commissioners could work with members of the Tipton City Council.
“I didn’t sense that from Dan [Delph],” he said.
Councilman Marty Bond, running against Delph in the Democrat Party primary, said he doesn’t expect anything to happen in terms of economic development if the two sides can’t reach an agreement.
He said a part of the problem is a personality conflict among the people involved in the decision-making process, which is keeping the two sides apart.
“If there are issues with her work, the mayor said they are substantial,” Bond said of Van Session, “we won’t know until Feb. 28.”
He said any contract with Van Sessen and between the city and county should spell out all the terms.
“She seems to be trying,” Bond said of Van Sessen.