The Wood County Economic Development Commission (WCEDC) adopted new bylaws after some discussion Thursday, March 5.

Board Chairman Tom Keenan said, “I was prepared to go through a comparison between the old bylaws and the new bylaws, but I did get a directive from the judge (County Judge Lucy Hebron) that changes things.” 

Keenan said the judge’s directive said the current bylaws were not in compliance with Chapter 381 of the local government code and therefore the current bylaws are invalid or null and void. In addition, Chapter 381 of the local government code says the county judge may appoint a county industrial commission.

In the directive from Hebron, Keenan read, “Following the statutory guidelines I have exercised the appointment powers to appoint new board members due to expiring terms and/or resignation of board members in 2019. As such, I request that the entire present membership consider a resolution to approve the newly composed bylaws which have been circulated as of the last meeting.”

Keenan said, “We got a directive and it does have some consequences. We have kind of separated us from the commissioners court, which probably is not a very good thing actually, because we have to work with the commissioners court in order to be successful. I hope we approve them, but what we have to do in this room is make sure we understand that the commissioners court is very important to us. At some point in time and very soon we have got to work with those gentlemen and make sure they buy into what we are trying to do.”

Board member Miste Davis questioned the action. “So there is nothing on here that prohibits us from putting in there the commissioners and the county judge would have to approve it.”

Craig Lindholm said, “It does not grant us the authority to grant commissioners court the authority because the statute is very clear that the county judge has the authority.”

Davis responded, “But that says ‘may.’ That is permissive language. It doesn’t say she is the only one. I’m not saying it doesn’t comply, I’m saying this statute doesn’t prohibit it from having it in there. We just disagree. You don’t think that permission could be added and I do.”

“I don’t think we or the commissioner’s court or the judge has any power to alter the statute,” Keenan said. “The statute is the basis for having the commission. That’s all I’m saying. It says how you can have it.”

Board member Vic Savelli said, “My understanding of the word ‘may’ in the statute is that the statute is not forcing the community to have an industrial commission. This is saying you may have one and yes, it is at the discretion of the judge. The specific term ‘may,’ that is what that means.”

Joanne Wisdom wanted it made clear about decisions the board makes. “On another note, you said this would go to the judge for approval and not the commissioners court, just directly to the judge,” she said. “With things going forward, we are answering directly to the judge and anything we do would be with the approval of the judge, not the commissioners court? In the past everything we did went through commissioners court and now it would go through the judge only.”

Lindholm added everything except the budget would go to the judge because commissioners court has legislative authority on the budget. He also mentioned the judge is a member of the court and has voting power on that court.

The board voted with Davis being the lone dissenter against the new bylaws. Board members Lindholm, Wisdom, Savelli, Tom Callan, Rodney Kieke, Greg Hollen, Allene Doggett and Keenan voted for new bylaws. Board members not in attendance were Neal Duncan, Gwen Winters, Cynthia Stancil and Tommy Brown.

Greg Hollen reported the committee seeking a new executive director for the WCEDC has been busy. “Since our last meeting, we ratified the job description and got it out on Texas Municipal League and several other job boards, a number of colleges and universities, and individuals like mayors, county executives, leadership executive directors and we have active discussions underway with UT Tyler folks, UT Dallas and Texas Tech University,” Hollen remarked. “We want to expand to UT Arlington, they have a pretty good grad program. We are finding we have a lot of people interested. We have 14 resumes that would pass an initial muster. Where I’m really excited is we are getting a number of former big city managers and regional economic development folks who want to help. We have run the gamut. We have people who have done this job in Commerce and Richardson who would like this job. We have people coming out of the master’s program at UT Dallas.”

Wisdom is chair of Health and Human Services. She gave an in-depth report on the goals and action plans for the committee which she is forming. One of her committee’s main goals is to develop a report on the quality of life in Wood County to be used in marketing material aimed at attracting people and businesses to Wood County.

In another matter, the board decided to move its meetings to 5:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month. The next meeting is April 2 in the conference room at UT Health Quitman. 

The board approved a formal agreement to sponsor the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest and 25th annual Kid Fish June 6 and 7 at Lake Fork. They are seeking additional sponsor commitments for the event. There are several levels of sponsorship ranging from $100 to $2,500. 

In another action, the board officially ratified the budget already approved by commissioners court.