San Jacinto News-Times - Local News
Stories Added - January 2010
Copyright 2010 - Polk County Publishing Company |
Shepherd EDC volunteers ousted
San Jacinto News- Times - January 2010
SHEPHERD – Following action by the Shepherd City Council, the Shepherd Economic Development Corporation (EDC) will have a new face lift for the New Year. Most of the all volunteer board was replaced Monday night by a majority vote of the council. “We want new blood on the board,” explained Councilman Derlin Barnhill. “All the board members work hard to do what is right for the city so that’s who you are fi xing to fi re and I strongly object,” said EDC Board President Jay Estes. His objection fell on deaf ears. Three members of the board, Barnhill, Waid Williams and Kevin Thoms, had enough votes to pass the motion to remove everyone on the board with the exception of Mayor Pat Lunsford and EDC board member Jody Cronin. Estes, Rachel Mitchell and David Sparks were booted off the board.
Barnhill, Williams and Thoms voted to replace them with Betty Greenhouse, Ms. Connell, John Harrison and Linda Yates. According to Barnhill, members of the council have spoken to the newly appointed EDC board members and they have indicated they will be willing to serve on the board. One newly appointed board member, John Harrison, was at the council meeting. Pointing to the council members, Harrison said, “This is a joke up here.” Harrison said until council members can unite and work together the city will not prosper. Originally from Cleveland but now residing with his father in Shepherd, Harrison said he is totally for the betterment of the City of Shepherd.
The EDC is funded with a one-half cent city sales tax from the City of Shepherd. It was created to promote economic growth and development in and around the City of Shepherd., assist in the development and retention of business, assist in the creation of incentives to encourage economic development and provide local incite and guidance to businesses interested in locating or expanding in the Shepherd area. In other business, council members voted to give a Conroe engineering fi rm the authority to apply for a low interest loan from the Texas Water Development Board to pay for the cost of relocating city sewer and water lines on the Hwy. 59 project. If Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) moves the lines it will be at a cost of about $1.1 million with a payback of about 10 to 12 years, according to Mayor Lunsford. The Conroe engineering fi rm will assist the city in obtaining the state loan with a payback of 20 to 23 years and for less |
