Monday, January 26, 2009
An interesting (and curious) exchange of e-mails..
between District resident Thomas Greene "Tripp" Casey, III, and District One Commissioner Willis "Chip" Keene:
Here is my original email to Mr.Keene:Mr. Keene,I just want to know why the Board doesn't want much to do with the JDA. The JDA seems to leach my tax money, and has nothing to show for it recently. Meanwhile, surrounding areas continue to grow even under these economically challenging times, and we cant even get a good restaurant to stay in town much less bring good stable jobs to our County. The JDA needs to produce results, or be dismantled and save us valuable tax dollars. If there is a good reason why the JDA is valuable, please share it with me. You know more than me about it. Thank you for your time Mr. Keene, and good luck in your term. Please keep us District 1 voters in mind.Sincerely,Tripp Casey
Mr. Casey,
Thanks for contacting me about the JDA.I agree with you that the JDA must produce in order to continue to receive tax dollars from us. I also agree that if we cannot make it produce then we should not continue to fund its operation and to dismantle it. I agree also that we desperately need not only jobs, but also the investment in business capital that comes with economic development.It is my intent to support an effort to make some changes to the existing JDA that will make it successful. A qualified director that is accountable is a start. Some realistic goals would be another criteria. Finally, I would like to see the cities participate financially. I think that is the intent, given the word "Joint" in the name of the authority.I think it is in the best interest of the citizens to make the JDA work. We will face considerable expense of time and money to dismantle the JDA, and it would be more bad press for our county. I would prefer to read about a success in the paper for a change. At this point, we at least are having some dialogue with the JDA.Ultimately, if we can't get some results, then we will have no choice but to stop funding.I appreciate your input. I invite you to attend the Commissioners meetings often and offer your input not only on this issue, but others as well.Please feel free to contact me with any other concerns.ThanksWillis "Chip" KeeneCommissioner - District 1
Could this possibly be the same Chip Keene who would not even throw Commissioner Berry a bone at last week's county commission meeting when Berry was looking for allies to impress upon the JDA Board of Directors that the status quo ante was not going to cut it anymore? Me thinks that Commissioner Keene has likely heard for more than one disilllusioned constituent on this matter.
"We will face considerable expense of time and money to dismantle the JDA, and it would be more bad press for our county."
Really? What, pray tell, might those considerable expenses be? Show of hands: Who really gives a damn about a little bad press in route to establishing an effective industry recruiting arm of Camden County government?
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4 comments:
IF (a big if at that) the JDA has a director that WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE as Chip has stated can produce some results within a year or two, I see no problem with allowing it to exist. But, I think the JDA needs to answer to someone about how they are spending their allotted funds. I see no problem with that someone being the BOC. We need results, and a limit on time to get them. Maybe this will help motivate the JDA. But, I am not sure how we can collect funding from the cities in this county, when many are broke or near broke already. If the BOC try to impose a tax or allot tax money from other, working project, I will not be happy on that at all. What do you think about the funds coming from the cities in this county Jay? And what about the thousands of people who dont live within city limits?
I think that previous BOCs send an unmistakable message to the JDA that they really did not care whether otr not they produced any tangible results - and may have even preferred that they NOT do so. Remember, it is not in the bset interest of the GOBs who have employees to have to compete for labor with higher paying companies.
Actualy, it would be, but most are too pig headedly short sighted and xenophobic to realize it.
I'm not sure if trhe cities provided funding at the inception of the JDA and became disillusioned or if they never did. I can certainly understand their not wanting to throw money down obvious rat hole. If the cities saw a new JDA board, a new plan of action, a new, truly experienced, agressive, and properly incentivized JDA director, and BOC with the political courage to hold the JDA's feet to the fire, they might be willing to help fund the effort.
As to your last sentence, I'm not sure what your question is.
Jay you have very good instincts. I was talking to the Mayor of one of the cities after I spoke to you the other day and he basically said what you said....
"I can certainly understand their not wanting to throw money down obvious rat hole. If the cities saw a new JDA board, a new plan of action, a new, truly experienced, agressive, and properly incentivized JDA director, and BOC with the political courage to hold the JDA's feet to the fire, they might be willing to help fund the effort."
So the next chess move would be for Mr. Keene to put some action behind his words! Steve Berry should NOT be the lone ranger on this topic. Everyone serving on the BOC should view the current life long members of the JDA as fruitless and ineffective.
The only way to obtain tangible results would be to start over. You will NEVER get fresh ideas or production out of the current antiquated board.
I am very curious as to how much debt the current board has the county in. If the Express Script contract which is their claim to fame is any indication; taxpayers could be in for a rough ride.
the jda submits a budget to boc. it states it's goals. if the boc and the cities held the jda members to their stated goals we might have had something. however, they never did and the jda never did. it is a bad joke because they (the cities and the county) keep appointing the same members. it is all a bad joke.
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