Council continues economic development debate

The Hope Town Council continues to wrangle over the appropriate uses for the town's economic development income tax revenue, and how those funds should be distributed. 

For the past several months, the council has been debating several issues surrounding the income tax revenue, including how it should be spent and who should be making the decisions. 

Currently, the money is used as a pool for various community efforts. Local non-profits and other groups can apply for funds for projects or events. For example, money from EDIT goes to fund parts of Hope Heritage Days, Main Street of HOPE and HSJOnline.org.

Requests for EDIT funds are heard by a committee that until recently included two members of the Town Council and three area residents. Approved recommendations from the committee go to the Town Council for final approval. From a "rules of order" standpoint, EDIT committee recommendations are treated by the council as if it had already a motion for approval, along with a second to that motion. 

All that is required for Town Council approval is to hold any discussion on the proposal, changes to the request, and a final vote. 

However, over the past two months several project recommendations from the committee have come into question by the Town Council. Last week, the Council opted not to approve a request for $2,500 to fund the monthly cruise-in on the Hope Town Square. That request arrived before the Council without a recommended approval or denial, because half of the EDiT committee recused themselves, saying that they were involved with organizing the event. Because the committee is short a person, there were only four members in attendance who felt they could vote. That meant a 2-0 recommendation to the council.

Councilman Clyde Compton insisted that counted as a negative recommendation, while town attorney Scott Andrews suggested that it counted as neither positive nor negative. Andrews said it was the will of the council whether to approve or disapprove the non-recommendation. Ultimately, the council asked the organizers to resubmit the application, in the hopes of having a positive committee vote.

Several council members have expressed frustrations with the current uses for the funds, and have suggested turning them to large town projects like replacement of the roof of the shelterhouse. 

Last month, Council President Ohmer Miller took issue with a request from WiLLow LeaVes of Hope to seek money for a new sign at their business on the Town Square. Miller suggested that was not an appropriate use of the funds and only helped a single private business. However, the council approved a grant program last year from the EDIT funds that allows businesses to seek money for signage on the square. The WiLLow Leaves passed last month.

However, the Community Center of Hope was turned down last month for a request to help stage Smoke on the Square. The large barbecue competition draws visitors to the Town Square and is a major fundraiser for the local charity. Organizers of Smoke on the Square were asking for money to pay for the sandwich buns and meat used in the competition, along with musical entertainment. 

That request came with a positive recommendation from the EDIT Committee, but the Council ultimately voted it down. Councilwoman Nellie Meek said she didn't think it was appropriate for the town to be helping fund a money-raising effort by the not-for-profit. The council has similarly questioned requests from the Hope Volunteer Fire Department for help funding supplies for a fish fry.

Meek has also also relayed concerns from town residents who are upset that two members of the EDIT Committee do not live in the town limits: Dave Miller, who is the manager of the Hope branch of the library, and Vickie Tedder, who is co-owner of several businesses on the Town Square. Meek has said she feels that all of the committee members should be from within the town limits. 

Meek has also suggested that the committee be disbanded altogether and that the Town Council members should hear all of the requests directly.

Last year, a debate over the committee makeup led Councilman Clyde Compton to say that he planned to quit the committee. Although he did not actually quit at that time, he has since resigned. 

Town Council members agreed to discuss the EDIT fund issues when they hold a special meeting on April 30th. The original purpose of that meeting was to accept bids for the town street improvement project. 

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