One of Gene Valentino’s experts was Jim Devine, president/CEO of Lee’s Summit (MO) Economic Development Council. It is a public-private partnership with the business community providing significant dollars….sounds like the Chamber concept.
Its public and utility members include:
• City of Lee’s Summit
• Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce
• Lee’s Summit R-7 and Blue Springs R-4 School Districts
• Kansas City Power & Light
• Missouri Gas Energy
• More than 150 private companies and individuals throughout the community and metro area
….Valentino doesn’t have these type of companies in his plan.
Board of Directors aren’t appointed by the City Council, but, according to their website, are elected by their peers – which I take to mean the paid members of the EDC—-which is similar to what the Chamber is proposing.
There is a pattern here. Valentino shows us a EDC as an example —only we later find out that the way they actually operate is closer to the Chamber proposal than his PEDA concept.
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No more staged interviews with “experts” who haven’t really talked to any of the community leaders. No more misdirection. No more presentations.
Let’s vote on the PEDA concept on Thursday. Time to move on.