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Frustrations apparent with city economic development plans

Staff reporter

Marion City Council approved the job description for the director of economic development Monday with the addition of the director reporting to the city council, city administrator, and Marion Economic Development, Inc., but no definitive direction was taken.

Mayor Mary Olson voted against the approval of the job description. She said she was opposed because "the agreement (between the city and Marion Economic Development, Inc.) was not in place" but added that she supported the development company being involved. Olson serves on the development organization's board.

Later in the meeting, during the public forum, Todd Heitschmidt, chairman of Marion Economic Development, Inc., said the organization was ready at any point to move forward. He wanted to make it "very clear" that the city should take the lead in negotiating any agreement.

Olson said she would like to see a memorandum of understanding between the city and the economic development organization.

City administrator David Mayfield said "If we (the city) are going to hire this person as an employee, then we must be in charge of the budget."

City attorney Dan Baldwin suggested the council begin with the mission statement which was the job description. He said when the council and the organization knows what they want in the agreement, he will draft a document.

Heitschmidt said he thought with the changes in the job description that included the development organization, "I think we're getting half way if not all the way there."

He continued that he was confused after the last planning session because "somebody needs to give some direction" and he is becoming frustrated.

Baldwin offered to put something together for the council to consider but really needed input from the council.

In other business:

— City economic development director Jami Williams reported she had been convinced by local businessman Charles Kannady to change her plans of purchasing newspaper advertising in a Wichita paper and consider television advertising.

Television advertising would cost the city $5,000 for three months of advertising. Williams said co-sponsors have not come forward to share the advertising costs.

Councilman Jerry Kline suggested the Marion Economic Development, Inc. group look at the options and advise the council. When asked where the money would come from, Williams said she didn't have it in her budget and wondered if it could come out of the economic development capital improvement fund. Mayfield responded there was $22,000 available but was to be used for building payments.

No decision was made.

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