By Dewey Terrill
JC Post
The Economic Development Commission Advisory Committee will send a proposal to the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce Board recommending that the EDC become its own entity. EDC Chairman Mark Powers noted that the current consolidated Chamber which also includes the Military Affairs Council and the Member Relations Division does have some nice synergies. "But what it does is it takes away from completing their mission."
Powers noted it results in everybody trying to help one another for events or activities.
The motion to withdraw the EDC from the Chamber is based on five points submitted by Powers.
--Economic Develoment has grown significantly in complexity and scale
--The current structure created competing priorities and operational friction
--Modern Economic Development requires agility, confidentiality and focused governance
--This discussion is about organizational alignment - not conflict
--Continuity and stability are critical moving forward
The recommendation goes to the Chamber Board for consideration at 3:30 p.m. Thurrsday at the Chamber offices. It follows the recent turmoil over the termination of the MAC director from his job. No action was taken on that topic Wednesday.
Powers explained that they can't talk about employee issues, "But I've always had anguish over Mickey ( Fonaro -Dean ) running both the Chamber and the MAC. He noted that they were trying to keep the pieces together so the coalition was formed to have everyone under one roof.
If the EDC leaves the Chamber they must give notice by July 1. A departure would occur by January 1.
Chamber Board Chair Ashley King said some work will be needed to look at the issue long term, "and if it's the best thing for the community and taxpayers monies to split entities and have different funds going diferent directions, so I think it's a little early to figure out my take on that until we dig in a little bit deeper."