By Dewey Terrill
JC Post
The next step in the ongoing Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce saga continued Thursday evening at the Geary County Office Building. The County and City leaders want to follow a structure that keeps the Chamber in place on a trial basis at least through 2027. But the City recently voted 3-2 to have the Chamber Membership operate on a stand alone basis, the EDC be under the City and MAC under the County, The current Chamber Master Agreement expires Dec.31.
County officials noted that they felt that they were blind sided by the City decision.
County Commissioner Trish Giordano posed the questions how can everyone be kept together and how can that be done?
Now the matter will go back to the city commission at their Oct. 6 meeting. City Attorney Britain Stites will prepare information from a previous joint meeting, material ( on proposed structure submitted by the Chamber ), a proposed document of a decision rescinding a previous notice to terminate giving a 12 to 18 month trial period until Dec. 2027. Any action on that would require city and county consideration.
At the Oct. 6 meeting there can also be discussion on the recent 3-2 City decision.
One of the key concerns is the future job fate of four Chamber employees if the organization is not extended beyond Dec. 31 of this year.
Also, any local agreement will require approval from the Kansas Attorney General's Office before it can be final.