By Dewey Terrill
JC Post
Geary County Commissioners approved a series of motions Monday pertaining to the Chamber of Commerce.
The first motion said that they have no confidence in the EDC Director / Chamber of Commerce President of Operations, Mickey Fornaro-Dean.The motion stated that she "has failed to effectively and responsibly lead the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce to include MAC ( Military Affairs Council ) and the EDC ( Economic Development Commission )."
The second motion declared that Geary County would cease disbursement of all funds not yet distributed to the Chamber with the exception of payroll, contractual agreements and utilities. "All requests for operating funds shall be turned into the County Finance Office bi-weekly. All other requests shall be presented to the respective governing bodies."
Commissioner Trish Giordano expressed appreciation for all the hard work put in on these issues by the City, County and Chamber Chairs. Giordano noted her concerns since the neginning of the year on an $18,000 MAC budget shortfall. "I don't feel that we are getting all of the finances that are truly coming out of each budget and I am looking to a forensic audit that the Chamber had asked for." Giordano added that she thinks it will answer some questions and shed light on where tax money is going.
The third motion dealt with the master agreement with the Chamber. Geary County through its legal counsel will prepare and serve written notice in conformity with the master agreement to negoiate, restructure or terminate their current master agreement covering the Chamber prior to the July 1 deadline.
All the motions were approved unanimously.
Giordano noted that they had held a lot of discussion that a lot of community members do not like the way that this ( Chamber ) is going. " I do think that the City and the County need to have a little more say so over what direction an EDC person is going to take."