The county's economic development director reported that public dollars allocated to the Ashbury Fields project pay for public infrastructure only, not the homes themselves, and asked the County Council to provide a local representative to a regional REDI leadership group if reallocation decisions become necessary. The council voted to table the appointment until the next meeting.

Corey, delivering the EDC update, said the Ashbury Fields groundbreaking took place recently and thanked the county for support. He told the council: “the public dollars going into that project were for infrastructure and not the homes themselves,” and added that the county auditor's office would track project funds in a separate account. He said a local leadership group for the REDI program — which he described as including a county commissioner, a county council person, municipal representatives, the Henry Community Health, and the Henry County Community Foundation — would be convened only if funding reallocations or regional decisions were required.

Corey requested the council name one representative to that leadership group at the next meeting; Council members said they preferred to caucus and discuss the pros and cons before deciding. A motion to table that appointment until the council's next meeting carried by voice vote.

Corey also briefed the council on a housing project near Washington Street and Wilbur Bridal, saying the City of Newcastle's procurement for the public-infrastructure portion was expected to conclude the following Monday and that site dirt was anticipated to start moving in September. He said home construction by private builders and sales to buyers would likely begin in spring.

Why it matters: Clarifying which costs are public — infrastructure versus privately built homes — affects how county dollars and oversight are perceived and accounted for. The council's decision to delay naming a REDI representative means regional allocations, should they arise, will be decided later and with broader input from council members.

What was not decided: The council did not appoint a representative to the REDI leadership group at this meeting and did not change any project funding amounts.