Yukon EDA schedules follow-ups after city manager outlines new economic development director, Main Street coordination

City Manager Jeff Deckard told the Yukon Economic Development Authority on Oct. 7 that the city has posted a dedicated economic development director position that will work from the city administration office and coordinate daily with city staff and the EDA.

Deckard said the new director will work “hand in hand” with staff he named — Jenna, Christina and Andrea — and with the chamber. He said the city has already received strong interest and that hiring will be selective: “we're gonna be very diligent and very picky on making it the right fit for us.”

The board unanimously approved two procedural motions taken during the meeting: approval of minutes from the Sept. 9 special meeting and a motion that Deckard provide an update at the EDA's next meeting on the economic development director position. A separate motion passed asking Deckard to update the board at the next meeting on the community enhancement/Main Street work.

Why it matters: Yukon is reorganizing how it markets and supports business growth by creating a single, identified economic development director who will also coordinate closely with the city’s community enhancement and Main Street efforts. Deckard framed the work as addressing two distinct commercial corridors — I-40 and historic Route 66/Main Street — and said the role will need versatility to work in both settings.

Details of the director role and day-to-day duties

Deckard described the director as the city’s day-to-day point of contact for economic development matters, from retail and industrial recruitment to incentives and grant programs. He said the person will work with developers and the chamber, bring relevant contacts where possible, and lead initiatives such as a potential Main Street grant program.

Deckard said the position will be housed in his office in city administration and will work closely with the community enhancement staff. He noted the city intends to move the community enhancement office into the former Main Street building at 528 East Main (referred to in the meeting as the “old Main Street building”) after modest improvements are made.

Main Street and community enhancement update

Deckard and Pam Shelton, who spoke during the meeting as the chamber representative, described a closer operating relationship among the city, the chamber and the local Main Street board. Deckard said the state Main Street program supports the city’s changes and that city staff stepped in to ensure a Main Street grant application was completed on schedule.

Pam Shelton said Yukon had multiple nominees at a recent State Main Street awards event and took three awards. She also reported that a grant application has been submitted that, if funded, would support wrapping the city’s mills as an art project; she said the mills are about 128 feet tall and about 28 feet in circumference and that the grant decision will not be known until after Nov. 20.

Public comment and board input

EDA member Justin Ellis asked how the EDA should interact with city staff and emphasized that the board intends to be a proactive partner rather than only a recipient of staff reports. Deckard invited suggestions from board members on how the director and the EDA should work together and said he expects the effort to require broad participation from city staff, the chamber and board members.

Next steps

Both follow-up motions passed on unanimous roll calls. Deckard will report back at the EDA's next meeting with updates on hiring for the economic development director and on Main Street/community enhancement activities. The board also approved the Sept. 9 special meeting minutes.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of Sept. 9, 2025 special meeting minutes — Approved (roll-call votes recorded as: Jeff Wooten: yes; Ryan Crossley: yes; Chase Tippens: yes; Dave Goodwin: yes; Pam Shelton: yes; Justin Ellis: yes). Adam Shriver did not appear in the roll-call for these votes.

- Motion directing City Manager Jeff Deckard to provide an update at the next meeting on the economic development director position — Approved (same roll-call pattern).

- Motion directing City Manager Jeff Deckard to provide an update at the next meeting on community enhancement/Main Street efforts — Approved (same roll-call pattern).

The EDA set no firm hiring deadline; Deckard said the city will be deliberate in selecting an “elite” candidate and will not rush the process.