Development office: Time to go it alone?

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

After nearly a decade of being nurtured by the Ohio State University Extension, it appears as if the Van Wert Economic Development Office is ready to fly on its own.

While all those involved were appreciative of what the OSU Extension has done for local economic development efforts over the past nine years, a restructuring of the Extension program by Ohio State has led to the local economic development director being tasked more and more to activities outside Van Wert County.

“Personally, I think it’s time to cut ties,” said Fourth Ward Councilman Pete Weir, who requested that city officials discuss the idea of creating an independent economic development office.

Speaking in favor of Weir’s proposal were Delphos Safety-Service Director Greg Berquist, the president of the Van Wert County Economic Development Advisory Board, and Economic Director Sarah Smith.

Berquist said the City of Delphos “is totally in support of having an economic development representative for the county of Van Wert” and also favored continued discussions to return control of the economic development process to the county.

The Delphos safety-service director noted that an executive session was held by the Economic Development Executive Board several weeks ago to discuss the issue by the parties to the contract and that OSU Extension had been contacted about the possibility, but has not responded to this point.

Smith said the time was particularly favorable for returning control of the economic development since OSU does not currently put much money into her salary, since she is closer to the bottom of the pay scale, where predecessor Nancy Bowen was near the top and received a large portion of her salary from OSU Extension.

She was also bothered by the fact that OSU Extension has the ultimate control over the choosing of an economic development director for the county, noting that Extension officials narrowed the field of candidates when she was hired from six to three without input from local officials, and, even though local officials were able to interview the three finalists and make a recommendation, the final decision was made by the Extension.

Smith noted that, although she is a Van Wert County native, Extension could have hired someone from outside the county, if it had chosen to do so.

The only person who seemed caught unprepared on the idea was Mayor Don Farmer, who said he had not known of the proposal until last Friday, a fact disputed by both Weir and Smith, who said the mayor was contacted some time ago concerning the proposal and had indicated then that he supported such a move.

Also supporting the proposal is the Van Wert County Board of Commissioners, which is also a signatory on the contract with OSU Extension.

Meetings will be set up to further discuss the proposal, but any action taken won’t have an immediate impact, Smith said, because the current contract requires a year’s notice before termination.