Some of county economic development director's duties may be contracted out

By Charlene Sims

info@linncountyjournal.com

MOUND CITY – Linn County Economic Development Committee member Jennifer Leach-Harlow met with the Linn County Commission on Monday, Oct. 6, on behalf of the committee to discuss how grants distributed by that committee would continue. She said she was there to get feedback from the commissioners on how they wanted to proceed, and she would take that back to the economic development committee.

Over the past few weeks, the commission has been discussing whether to continue to fund the economic development director position or to shift the responsibilities of that job onto other employees. Former economic development director Chasity Ware resigned abruptly in August, weeks after filing a grievance against Commissioner Alison Hamilton.

One of the problems with shifting duties to other employees is that for the past few years, the position has been collecting administrative tasks that have had little to do with the traditional economic development director role. 

Instead of expanding existing county businesses and attracting new ones, the post most recently has involved updating the county’s website and logo, dealing with the issues surrounding the county’s underdeveloped airport, and even stepping in to assist the public works administrator when needed.

At the end of Monday’s discussion, the two commissioners present, Jim Johnson and Jason Hightower, seemed to be considering parcelling out the duties of the position on a contract basis.

At the beginning of her discussion with the commission, Harlow asked if the commissioners wanted the committee to continue to meet or whether they wanted to dissolve that committee immediately. 

Harlow explained to the commissioners that her biggest concern was the Youth Entrepreneur Challenge (YEC) grant coming up in March that gives out about $5,000 to local high school students who participate. 

Harlow told the commissioners that there was a lot of work involved with planning that program including writing the grant now, working with the teachers and students from the school districts, setting up the lunch, and getting the venue, guest speaker, and judges for the program.

She said most of the present economic development committee members have full-time jobs and are on other boards also. Several of the committee members have already said that if there was going to be more expected of them as a committee member, they would resign. 

Harlow said she had talked to them and asked them not to resign until the commission provided more information.

Commissioner Jason Hightower said he was not trying push things off on the committee.

Harlow told the commissioners that Janet Miller from Network Kansas, the organization that gives the grant and assists with the project has asked if there was anything they could do to help.

Harlow said that the YEC has continued to grow since it started out several years ago and she did not really want to lose their momentum on that. She said that for some of those kids $1,000 (the first prize) is a big deal. And then, they go on to the state, at K-State to present their ideas there as well. 

Hightower said he also did not want to lose the positive momentum.

“We’ve seen these programs be beneficial,” said Hightower.

Commission Chair Jim Johnson asked if they needed to come up with figure for the position.

County Counselor Jacklyn Paletta reminded the commissioners that any person working for the county, even if contractually, is employed by the county, so the commission would be the hiring and firing agency for that position. She said the commission would have to make a decision about whether the committee would be in charge of hiring.

Hightower said he thought that position should just report to the committee.

Harlow said that she had found someone that would take on the task of the entrepreneur program for approximately $1,300 to $1,500. 

Hightower said he thought the county should move forward with a contract employee to work on the YEC and to help with the summer youth employment programs and other grants and maybe move the economic development committee to quarterly meetings.

Hightower asked if the committee would be overseeing that person,

Harlow said, “We would just be instructing that individual on how to get these things done.”

Harlow also expressed concerns about losing other programs that had been overseen by the economic development director. Those include the summer youth employment grants, daycare grants, home improvement grants and sidewalk grants.

The commissioners said that they would like to see a flat rate agreed upon for each project.

Harlow will develop a job description needed for each project and Paletta will develop a contract. Harlow will get flat rate quotes from the person for the projects. She will start with the YEC program.

Offering a commission for bring in new businesses

The discussion on Monday was a continuation of a previous discussion at the Sept. 29 meeting a week earlier.

Johnson said that Harlow had told him that Network Kansas was already getting the project started. He added that Harlow had gotten someone from the schools that would contract with the county to work with the schools to get this set up.

Hightower asked if the money would be encompassed within the grant.

Johnson said he thought the amount of $1,300 to $1,500 would have to come out of the county’s economic development funds. This offer was just for going to all three schools and getting the entrepreneurship program set up.

Hightower said he would like to see that continue.

Johnson said that Harlow was also talking about a person that would also work with economic development on the summer job grants for youth.

Paletta said that this discussion dovetails with two other positions that pertain to economic development. One is the Southeast Kansas Regional Planning Commission (SEKRPC) member of the executive committee and the other has to do with the airport.

“Those are two vacancies that need to be filled. The airport one is temporarily being filled by Danielle (Souza, County Clerk),” said Paletta. “The SEKRPC one is vacant.”

Johnson said, “It was a thought of mine too, that if we didn’t fill the position, if we reached out to someone and gave them a stipend so much a month to take care of the small stuff. And then if they brought us business of some kind, you know if they were on a commission type deal.”

Hightower said he would volunteer to do the position on the SEKRPC committee but he was reluctant to because his wife, Jessica, works for them.

Johnson said they could think about that one. 

At Paletta’s request Souza told the commissioners that a gentlemen who was contracted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) came and inspected the county’s airport.

Souza said, “There are a few things that could be improved on. It needs mowed. Some lights need replaced. The wind sock needs replaced. We need a couple more decals on the fuel tank. Whether we’re using it or not, it needs to have the decals. Other than that, it’s fine to stay operating as is. We’re advertising it appropriately in the aviation handbook thing. 

“I did contact Clarence Easley, he’s part of the airport board. He was on the phone with me during this informational meeting that we had. Because we don’t have an economic development person sitting in that space, he said that it reverts it to the county clerk to be a person of authority to call the FAA to shut down the airport temporarily if there were an emergency. So as soon as you appoint someone that doesn’t have to be my hat, but until you do.”

Johnson asked if someone on the airport committee could take over that position.

Paletta answered that the airport position and the SEKRPC position could probably be filled by people on the airport and economic development committees.

Hightower asked Walton if in the meantime was the airport getting mowed.

Walton said that he would talk with the road department about mowing at the airport and maintenance could take care of the wind sock and decals.

At the end of the meeting, Mike White, rural Mound City resident, spoke in support of Johnson’s suggestion about hiring a person on commission for economic development. 

White said, “It’s kind of clear that that position (economic development director) had become an administrative right-hand function of the commission, if you will, and really wasn’t focused on economic development. So, I think you’re on to something Jim, honestly. I mean if you draw somebody in that, their main ideas are going to bring development to the county, why not give them a commission based on whatever criteria that you develop on that. I think it’s a, I honestly think you are on to something.”

“Well at least we know that you have Mike’s approval,” said Hightower to Johnson.