SEDC receives unmodified audit opinion; approves Joe Esch as economic development consultant

Stafford — Directors of the Stafford Economic Development Corporation accepted an unmodified audit opinion from auditors Patillo, Brown & Hill and approved a contract to engage Joe Esch as an economic development consultant at a special-called SEDC meeting Tuesday.

Chris Pruitt of Patillo, Brown & Hill told the SEDC directors that the financial statements received an unmodified opinion, the firm’s highest level of assurance. "There are unmodified opinions. That's what you receive. That means these financials are free of any modification to my opinion," Pruitt said at the meeting.

The directors then approved the audit, which the transcript records as being unanimously approved. The corporation also approved a contract with Joe Esch to serve as an economic development consultant; the transcript states the directors approved the contract but does not record a numeric vote tally for that contract.

At the meeting, Joe Esch described his background in economic development, saying he began in North Dakota in 1992 and later worked in Sugar Land and other local government roles. "I started in economic development in North Dakota, in 1992 ... I started the Sugar Land department," Esch said, summarizing his experience. The transcript does not include the contract’s dollar value or the term length.

The SEDC has been searching for an economic development director for several months, and the approved consultant contract is presented as an interim step in staffing the corporation. The meeting record does not specify whether the consultant role is full- or part-time, the compensation, or an expected transition plan to a permanent director.