Debbie Blank
The seven-person Franklin County Economic Development Corp. is being dissolved and its director, René Stivers, will resign, said Brookville attorney Jud McMillin, representing Stivers personally, but not professionally.
McMillin presented a 17-page document entitled “Moving Forward Together for Economic Development” to the county council Feb. 24. It detailed the currently held assets, $5,117 in a checking account at FCN Bank and a certificate of deposit valued at $37,961 on Sept. 17, 2008, at Bath State Bank.
“Every single penny we got (since incorporation on July 24, 2006) is accounted for,” he stressed by phone Feb. 24.
According to the document, FCEDC received some of its funding from local banks. Those bank managers will be asked what should be done with the contributions and the panel will comply with their wishes. All remaining money will be turned over to the council to be used to promote economic development, McMillin said.
The corporation owned a laptop computer, printer, table and other materials, which will be given to the newly-formed three-member Franklin County Economic Development Commission.
Wanting more ties and better communication with the group that will decide the county’s economic future, the council voted Nov. 25, 2008, to establish the commission and later Donald “Butch” Williams and Dennis Kolb, Brookville, and Keith Hall, West Harrison, were named to serve.
Stivers has not been paid since Dec. 31, when the council decided not to continue funding that position, according to member Jeff Koch, Oldenburg.
The attorney said Stivers will tender his resignation at the commissioners meeting Monday, March 2, at 9 a.m.
In a Feb. 24 letter to the three-man panel, Stivers said, “I will not hold the Franklin County Commissioners financially responsible for the lack of funding, nor do I plan any action against them. I only wish the best for Franklin County, and with positive leadership from the commissioners and council, I feel that we can again head in a positive direction.”
Debbie Blank can be contacted at 812-934-4343, Ext. 113; or debbie.blank@ batesvilleheraldtribune.com.
