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Council discusses EDC formation, Retail Coach contract, building sale and VA center; personnel committee to reconvene
Summary
At the Oct. 6 meeting the Leitchfield City Council and staff discussed plans for an Economic Development Committee (EDC), options after the Retail Coach contract, a recent industrial-property sale, and confirmation that a new VA medical center will be located in Leitchfield. No formal council vote was recorded on these items.
Leitchfield — During new-business discussion on Oct. 6 the Leitchfield City Council and staff reviewed progress on economic development planning and several facility and service updates, but took no formal votes on those matters during the meeting.
Council members discussed the city’s Economic Development Committee (EDC) formation and candidate selection. Staff reported the county has identified preferred county appointees and the city will present names at a meeting before the next council session; the council said it will discuss job-description details for any economic-development director once the full board is assembled. The council’s personnel committee (Billy, Terry and Toody) was asked to meet before the next council meeting to review Board of Adjustments candidates and EDC membership.
Council members also revisited the city’s relationship with Retail Coach, a private vendor the city contracted with in the past for retail recruitment. Council members said Retail Coach largely has been phased out and that staff are exploring alternate vendors that provide market information and location analytics rather than full-service recruitment. No new contract was approved at this meeting; council members asked staff to delay any additional funding decisions until the city’s EDC is further organized and the ABC (a local board/initiative referenced at the meeting) is in operation.
On local development and facilities, a council member announced the sale of the Belle Chi building; the new owner plans to use part of the building for distribution operations, and the remainder will be subject to future business plans the owner will present to city staff. Separately, the council reported it has received confirmation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that a new, larger VA medical center will be located in Leitchfield; site and contractor selection remain to be determined.
Other operational updates included staff work at the transfer station/solid-waste area (clearing and building improvements) and planned enhancements to Veterans Park (lighting and reorganization of memorial features). These items were presented as status reports; council members expressed support and thanked city staff.
