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More accustomed to stinging criticism, the agency receives back slaps, encouragement and a little cash from local leaders.
By BRIDGET HALL GRUMET
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 14, 2001
INVERNESS -- For once, the number of people speaking in favor of the Economic Development Council outnumbered the critics. And, for once, the county commissioners who support the EDC had something to smile about.
"Today's presentation has been a refreshing experience for me," commission Chairman Roger Batchelor said Tuesday. "I have hope again."
Nearing the end of its six-month "restructuring" period, the EDC made a presentation to the County Commission showing the local support for economic development and the success of public-private partnerships elsewhere.
The group was not asking for funding this time -- just comments and support as it tries to morph into something that will enjoy better public backing.
"Don't dwell on the failures or inconsistencies of the past," EDC president-elect Paul Danner said. "Let's look forward to the opportunities of the future."
A dozen local leaders representing the chambers of commerce, the Realtors association and the builders association, among others, endorsed the current EDC structure, which includes local government officials and businessmen.
"Look at the individuals involved and the amount of commitment these individuals are making to this effort," said Crystal River City Manager David Sallee.
Property Appraiser Ron Schultz spelled out the need for economic growth, saying Citrus County has experienced a 2.3 percent decrease in the average amount of taxable property per person over the past decade. Take Florida Power out of the equation, and the rest of the taxable property values per person dropped 7 percent over the past decade, he said.
To show their support of the EDC, two groups came with checks in hand. Florida Power gave the group $5,000 "as a token of our ongoing support for this very, very important effort," community relations manager Kathy Small said.
Switching hats to his role as chairman of the Citrus-Levy-Marion Regional Workforce Development Board, known as CLM Works, Danner handed a $4,000 check to the EDC. From now on, Danner said, CLM Works will increase its contributions to the EDC from $1,000 to $5,000 a year.
Only one resident, Chris Lloyd, spoke in opposition to the group.
"There comes a point at which the Board of County Commissioners should admit that a project has failed, and I submit that with the EDC, this point has now passed by some margin," Lloyd said.
On the whole, however, most of the county commissioners said they were impressed with the EDC's efforts to revamp itself.
"I've been somewhat skeptical, as some of you know," said Commissioner Josh Wooten. "But this is a pretty good presentation you have put together."
Several commissioners said the county's contract with the EDC needs to spell out more specific, measurable goals, so the EDC could show its progress to the public. While Commissioner Vicki Phillips agreed with the idea, she said the board has talked many times about the need for performance-based standards.
"I heard a lot of things discussed today that have been discussed many times before," said Phillips, who has traditionally opposed the EDC because she believes the county should handle those efforts.
The county provides matching funds to the EDC twice a year for every dollar it raises in private cash and in-kind donations. Batchelor suggested doing away with the matching funds approach, and giving the EDC a regular amount out of the county budget each year.
The EDC likely will make its funding request for the next six months in May, after putting together a restructuring plan based on discussions from several workshops.