County seeks development partnership

Van Wert independent

The Van Wert County Board of Commissioners is seeking an economic partnership with the City of Van Wert, while also winning a round in an ongoing development dispute with the Ohio State University Extension.

The commissioners have scheduled a special meeting for 5:30 this evening to discuss a future economic development partnership.

Meanwhile, OSU Extension officials have ceded a point to the commissioners regarding the title that local development educator Cindy Leis should hold.

In a letter to the commissioners dated Tuesday, Extension Director Keith L. Smith acknowledged the county’s pre-eminent authority in certain economic development issues and stated that “Van Wert economic director” has been removed from Leis’ title.

“We acknowledge and respect that certain authorities relating to local economic development are designated to the county,” Smith noted in the letter.

Smith added, though, that local Extension development efforts would continue.

“With the full support of OSU Extension, our community development educator and others will remain active and productive in their efforts to promote, advance and support the broader economic development needs of the region,” he noted.

Smith also said OSU Extension intends “to partner with all willing collaborators, especially the City of Van Wert, to support the citizens of Van Wert County and surrounding counties” with Leis’ new title of extension educator, community development.

The dispute between the county and OSU Extension over Leis’ title stems from the Ohio Revised Code section that provides Leis and other Extension educators with the authority to act as economic development directors.

The commissioners had asserted that, since that ORC section is under the authority of the county commissioners, termination of the county’s participation in the Extension development contract also ends Leis’ authority to be called an economic development director.