As I mentioned in my correction to the last post, one of the cuts approved by the City Council on Tuesday is this:
Eliminate Economic Development Director
The current compensation for this position in $125,329. $25,000 is retained for restructuring the department. Without a full-time director, there will be a serious reduction in efforts, especially in marketing the City to regional and national developers and companies.
The Economic Development Director position is currently held by Craig Hullinger, who recently announced he will be retiring on November 6.
This raises a whole host of questions. Why would they keep an Economic Development Specialist position, but eliminate the Director position? How will decisions be made in the department without a Director? Majority vote? Or will one person act as the de facto leader without the title or the pay? (I don’t see how that could be avoided, frankly.) If the department doesn’t need a Director in order to function efficiently and effectively, then why have we had one all these years? And are there any other departments where the Director is unnecessary and could be cut to save money?
… because developer welfare aka taxpayer dollars needs to be directed by someone?
Ball Stadium — Eagle Cleaners Settlement
Riverplex
One Technology
Gateway Building
Cub Foods – Knoxville
Midtown Plaza
Sears Block
TIFs
……
disclaimer: not necessarily in chronological order …..
CJ-
I’ll take a stab at this-
Eliminating the Economic Director’s position gives the Heartland Partnership the green light to run with the ball.
Perhaps it is to circumvent sunshine laws?
Let’s say, as time goes on, the majority of Peoria’s economic development decisions are hammered out initially through the Heartland Partnership then brought forward to the City Council- the public does not have the right to ask for the details through the FOIA Act correct? This way the deals can be made and we, the tax payers, are left out of the loop and we get what we get.
Taxpayers are left out anyway so what difference does it make…ahhh just less messy for our city council members-
It is ironic that the Heartland Partnership is located in potentially a prime real estate spot on the riverfront- they of all people should understand they are wasting space bringing in ZERO sales tax dollars and ZERO property taxes.
But then again, the riverfront hasn’t exactly been a business magnet. Isn’t that the reason the Heartland Partnership relocated there – no one else was lining up to occupy the space?
Yes, yes,yes I know critics will say just wait until the Museum is built and we will watch the platform strip mall turn from ulgy duckling into a beautiful swan. I sure hope so.
As Borat would say “Right….not”
CJ, connect the dots. There’s a very logical explanation in front of your nose, and you’re already halfway there.