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County backs KEDF
Published November 10, 2009
Kerr County commissioners threw their weight behind the Kerr Economic Development Foundation Monday — the day before city officials are expected to offer proposed changes to how the organization operates.
Kerrville City Council members will take up the KEDF at their regular council meeting tonight at City Hall. Although no action is expected, city officials are expected to discuss the creation of an economic development department that would fall under the city.
Other plans that have been discussed include reducing the current KEDF board of directors from the current 40 members.
However, Kerr County Precinct 2 Commissioner William “Bill” Williams said the KEDF was doing a good job and that the city was going the wrong way about improving local economic development.
“For (KEDF) to be anything other than an independent foundation to do economic work is a mistake,” Williams said.
Although the KEDF receives some public funding, it operates as an independent entity and does not answer directly to the city or the county. The foundation’s total budget this year is $177,500. Of that funding, $25,000 comes from the county, $25,000 from the city, $25,000 from KPUB, $40,000 is contributed from the private sector and the remaining $62,500 is from Kerrville Economic Improvement Corp.
Kerr County Judge Pat Tinley said the foundation should continue to be a non-governmental agency as it has since its inception.
“I think that it is important that the lead effort for economic development in Kerr County not be controlled by any single government agencies be it city or county,” Tinley said.
One reason for that independence is because businesses seeking support from the KEDF often need to be able to keep their plans confidential such as when those plans include purchasing property or expanding facilities, Tinley said.
“People don’t want their business on the street when they are considering development,” he said. “If it is in a public entity that information could be obtained under the public information act.”
Precinct 3 Commissioner Jonathan Letz also said that the city and county should give the economic development strategic plan approved in 2008 more time before heading in a different direction.
“Almost at a whim, a lightning bolt hits down the street and they decide to change direction,” Letz said. “We’re talking about changing course soon after everyone has agreed to go in one direction.”
In other matters commissioners:
• Renewed the usage license for the Kerr County Market Days for 2010. It will be the ninth year for the program.
• Approved an update to the master plan for the Kerrville-Kerr County Municipal Airport.
• Heard a request from Bob Wilson with the Toshiba Corporation seeking an explanation about why the county recently awarded a contract to IKON copier instead of Toshiba, which was the lower bidder.
• Approved a request from Tax Assessor/Collector Diane Bolin to have the tax assessor/collectors office to remain open on Dec. 31, a county holiday, to allow people to make end of year tax payments.
• Approved Kerr County Juvenile Center’s policies and procedures related to abuse and neglect.
• Accepted a fiscal review of the Kerr County Juvenile Detention Center. The year-end report indicated that the facility detained 431 youths in the 12-month period ending Sept. 30, about 25 percent more than during the previous year.
• Received a quarterly investment report from Patterson and Associates.
• Approved an easement for Hill Country Telephone Communications LLC to place an equipment cabinet on the courthouse
property.
• Received bids for a new courthouse telephone system.
• Approved requests for private road names Moorhead Road East and Chico’s Road Southwest.
• Declared a 1998 Ford pickup as surplus.
• Authorized Kerr County Sheriff Rusty Hierholzer to submit an application to Texas Fleet Fuel.
• Authorized the sheriff to contract the Kerr County Jail commissary service to 5 Star Meals.
• Authorized lowering the lake levels in Flat Rock and Ingram lakes in October 2010 for dam repairs and to determine silt depth.
• Cast the county’s vote for Charles Lewis for Kerr Central Appraisal District Board of Directors.
• Declared November Home Care and Hospice month in Kerr County.
• Voted to continue the ban on outdoor burning.
• Authorized the county attorney to pursue open meetings violations by the GMA9.
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