David Lee left no doubt he is a strong supporter of economic development, being a principal in LaHarpe Telephone Company. Even so, he has reservations about Allen County using tax money to support private enterprises.
“Are you getting into banking,” Lee asked during Tuesday morning’s Allen County Commission meeting. Commissioner Jerry Daniels assured that wasn’t the case.
“I hope you are taking care of all of Allen County’s needs,” including keeping close track of finances at Allen County Regional Hospital, Lee said. “There are other avenues” for private companies to access revenue, he added.
Lee, who serves on the LaHarpe City Council, also took issue with the two committees appointed for a county economic development effort for having only one member, among 14, without close ties to Iola. Dick Works, the lone outlier, lives west of Humboldt, and is a former long-term commissioner.
One committee of seven will meet initially to develop guidelines for how countywide economic development will operate. The second will field requests for assistance.
“Our goal is to make Allen County a better place to live,” Commissioner Tom Williams said. With a nearly $40 million uptick in assessed valuation and attendant tax revenue brought about by Enbridge Pipeline, commissioners set aside about $2 million in reserve the first year. That number will grow annually.
“We wouldn’t be having this discussion without Enbridge,” Daniels interjected.
“I don’t want to just buy new toys and things we don’t need,” Williams said, in his assessment of how county funds should be spent. Rather, he and Daniels envision dedicating as much as $200,000 a year — perhaps $100,000 later this year — to massage advances by existing businesses and help with creating new enterprise.
The complexion of how the county’s economic development committee will decide recommendations and forward them to commissioners — the final authority in all financial matters — have yet to be decided.
Whatever assistance that may be given won’t be limited to the commercial sector, Williams noted, allowing institutions as Hope Unlimited might be helped.
“We’re trying to do something for the citizens of Allen County,” he added, “and looking 10 years (or more) down the road.”
As the commission meeting neared adjournment, Gary Parker, retired LaHarpe farmer, echoed Lee.
“There are so many concerns in the county,” he said. “We’re not in as good a shape (roads and road-side ditches) as we could be. We have lots of needs as a county, and I think we should take care of those,” before using tax dollars to support private enterprises.
He suggested: “If people are interested in a new grocery store (G&W), let them put up the money and not the taxpayers.”
Jim Talkington, who voted against the economic development initiative, said he agreed with Lee’s and Parker’s concerns.
Daniels countered by saying a new grocery was a selling point for recruiting residents.
Economic development plan criticized
