Iola City Council members will gather for a special meeting at 5:15 p.m. Monday to discuss an economic development request.
While the meeting is open to the public, most of the discussion — perhaps all of it — will be in a private session, because of potential trade secrets involving the parties. The meeting is at the New Community Building in Riverside Park.
The conversation will include Iola’s philosophy regarding economic incentives to prospective business enterprises.
In announcing the upcoming meeting, City Administrator Carl Slaugh told Council members at their meeting earlier this week that economic incentives “carry a cost.”
Developing virgin land requires increased city services, Slaugh said, in terms of new infrastructure, and following that line of thought, more territory for police to patrol, trash services to service, etc.
“It may not be a large increase in demand, but there is a cost,” he said. “To me, it’s like you have an empty shell building downtown. You get somebody else to come in and fill that vacancy. You could say ‘well, I didn’t have that revenue before, so I’m just goint to let you occupy this building for no charge.’ I don’t think you’d do that.
“It’s the same way for the city,” he continued. “If the council understands that it wants to give economic development incentive — that’s what councils do in a lot of communities to spur economic growth — I just want to point out there is a cost,” to growing.
Slaugh’s comments failed to connect with one Council member.
“Carl, I disagree with your analogy, but we’re going to have that conversation again Monday,” Councilman Jonathan Wells replied.
Both Russell Stover Candies and Gates Manufacturing were awarded incentives packages to locate in Iola.
