Referencing a recent Henderson City Council retreat in which members identified the goal of expanding the city’s tax base, City Manager Ray Griffin said at Monday’s meeting that economic development is “key”.
Griffin told members that under the previous arrangement, the city paid a percentage of the budget and “had seats at the table”. He said the 25% of the funding was provided by the city, with the remainder paid by the county.
The total cost was estimated at $30,000 for the remainder of this fiscal year, with a yearly price tag of $60,000.
Member Bernard Alston recalled to the council that the previous economic development arrangement between the two governments ended “in the mid to latter 1990’s”. He later approximated the date as 1996.
Member Garry Daeke asked why the previous economic development relationship ended, but other members seemed reluctant to discuss the matter in open session.
“Just say that it ended and that addresses the question,” Alston said. Member Lonnie Davis advised Daeke to “look at the time line” to answer the question of why the partnership was dissolved.
A resolution to authorize the city manager to develop an agreement with the county with the input of City Attorney John Zollicoffer passed unamimously.