Friday, June 6, 2003
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Friday, June 6, 2003 |
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Commissioners argue over where Dev. Auth. should locate By JOHN THOMPSON The latest skirmish in the Coweta County Commission's ongoing philosophy debate over economic development transpired during Tuesday morning's commission meeting. Earlier this year, the Coweta County Commission had given the Coweta County Development Authority $250,000 to act as the county's economic development engine. On Tuesday, the County Commission debated where the authority should locate its office. The county had sent a document to the Development Authority, stating its wish that the agency would not operate out of any local government office or civic organization unless it was agreed by both the county and economic development agency. "If this group is going to be autonomous, I don't think we need to tell them where they can locate," said Commission Chairman Leigh Schlumper. Commissioner Larry DeMoss agreed with the chairman, but Commissioners Robert Wood and Vernon "Mutt" Hunter disagreed. "I'm not going to let somebody locate in the Taj Mahal. That's not good fiduciary responsibility," said Wood. Hunter countered with the argument that the county was not telling the group where to locate. Rather, he said, it would have to be a joint decision on both parties to locate in a government office. Schlumper also had a problem with Development Authority Chairman Mike Barber talking to Wood about the issue. "Why didn't he call all of us?" She said. Wood said he initiated the conversation with Barber and Schlumper could have done the same thing. The commission voted 3-2 to keep the clause requiring a joint agreement between the two entities if he authority located a in a government or quasi-government agency. Wood, Hunter and Commissioner Greg Tarbutton supported the measure while DeMoss and Schlumper voted against it.
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