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| City Council Deals With GREDA Once Again |
FIRST REPORTED 3:00pm 12/4/12 At Monday's Galesburg City Council meeting, Aldermen voted to approve a deal with the Galesburg Regional Economic Development Association.
GREDA aims to retain existing businesses and market the region to companies looking to build facilities.
The City ended their agreement with GREDA three years ago after many aldermen were dissatisfied with GREDA's level of service and transparency.
Sixth Ward Alderman Wayne Allen proposed ending the 75-thousand dollar agreement three years ago, but motioned to approve the new agreement at last night's meeting.
City Manager Todd Thompson says GREDA would be handling slightly different tasks than the City's Economic Development Department.
"The proposed service contract with GREDA would utilize GREDA's networks and resources and eliminate duplication of effort that might exist between the two groups and make the city more efficient in achieving it's goals," says Thompson.
The plan seeks to allocate 25-thousand dollars per year for the next three years starting in the 2013 budget year. Alderman Russell Fleming says there are better ways to do this.
"25-thousand dollars. We have staff on board which I think are very capable of doing this," says Fleming. "We pay good money for this staff. I think they can absorb this work."
With the funds, GREDA plans to provide 200 surveys annually and nearly 100 business visits. GREDA Board of Directors Chairman Mark Blackburn addressed the council during the meeting to call the agreement "fair."
"I believe in this agreement," says Blackburn. "It's been negotiated for a several month period of time with myself, our management, the city management, and the mayor."
The City has an "out clause" which is a point Alderman Wayne Dennis discussed as being more flexible if the city isn't satisfied.
The Council approved the measure by a vote of 6-2 with Aldermen Goad and Fleming voting against it. |
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| 12 04 12 by Newsroom |
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