Leaders to seek state advice

Staff

Published Friday, June 28, 2002

Messenger Publisher

Pike County leaders interested in forming an economic development authority will seek the advice of state experts in July.

Members of an economic development authority research committee will meet with state representatives July 16 to "talk about our options," said Keith Watkins, Troy attorney and committee member.

Those options center on the structure of an economic development authority, an autonomous organization that would be responsible for economic development efforts in Pike County.

"All this committee is doing right now is researching how we will go about forming the authority and how we will structure it," said Marsha Gaylard, president of the Pike County Chamber of Commerce.

The July meeting is designed to seek advice about structures in other communities and to discuss specific challenges or issues facing Pike County.

"It's going to be a learning situation as much as anything," said Troy Mayor Jimmy Lunsford. "We're going to get experts in the field to tell us about what others are doing."

Four municipalities - Troy, Brundidge, Banks and Goshen - all have agreed to be funding partners in some type of economic development authority and will have representatives on the research committee.

The request for increased funding, and a focused effort in economic development, came from the Pike County Chamber of Commerce, which has been working toward a more focused economic development effort for a year.

The Pike County Commission voted not to provide funding for the effort, citing a lack of funds in the county budget. Despite their decision not to be a funding partner at this time, the commissioners will be asked to send a representative to the meeting.

"Everybody's in agreement that we want them to participate in the committee and be kept up to date (on the progress)," Gaylard said."

Neither Karen Berry, chairman of the Pike County commission, nor Harry Sanders, county administrator, could not be reached for comment.

Ultimately, the county could play a key role in the creation of any economic development authority. The authority can be created two ways: either by the county commission or by the Alabama Legislature.

And the governance of the structure - specifically the board which could oversee the authority - is likely to be structured to represent the funding partners in the project. Those variables, along with others, are what need to be explored at the July meeting, Gaylard said.

"I think the committee feels that even if the (county) is not a part of the governance now, that when and if they become a financial partner in this there is a place on the board for them," Gaylard said.  

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