Debate over countywide economic development continues

Who will benefit from a proposed countywide economic development authority? Who will pay for it?

Many in McLeod County’s township governments fear they’ll pay an unfair share of the EDA’s cost, but not see any of the benefit. EDA advocates say the entity would work on attracting new businesses to the area, retaining existing ones, and creating more opportunity for all.

After a lengthy debate at a Tuesday afternoon County Board workshop, Commissioner Ray Bayerl described the situation as a “stalemate.”

Commissioner Sheldon Nies encouraged the opposing parties to continue working together to explore how an EDA might be structured to satisfy both sides.

“There are a lot of things left to review here,” Nies said. “I don’t think just because there are a lot of things left to review, that we ought to say it wouldn’t work.”

What’s next?
At Commissioner Sheldon Nies’ request, the members of the EDA exploratory committee will continue to research solutions to address concerns of all its members. The committee will return before the County Board after it has prepared the following:
• a draft of a resolution that would allow the County Board to disband the EDA if cities drop out,
• a job description for a countywide EDA director,
• the proposed countywide EDA director’s job priorities,
• the possibility of special legislation allowing farmers to be taxed on their homestead and one acre for a countywide EDA,
• and other unresolved issues.

For more on this story, see the Leader's Oct. 8 print edition.

(Jorge Sosa is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at sosa@hutchinsonleader.com)