Committee split on $5,000 Centergy site-readiness funding; DEEDC advances recommendation to full board

Marathon County committees revisited a prior decision on a $5,000 allocation to support Centergy's site-readiness evaluation. Administrator Leonard said a supervisor requested reconsideration and that he could make funds available from the administrationspecial-projects fund if directed by the Board. Centergydirector Angel Laidlaw told the committee she would present to the Board if the county wanted a presentation.

The Extension Education and Economic Development Committee voted to approve reconsideration and to recommend funding; the motion passed unanimously in that committee. At the separate finance committee roll call, votes produced a tie and the motion failed in that committee. County staff said the DEEDC recommendation will nevertheless be advanced to the full County Board for consideration based on the DEEDC vote.

Supervisors discussed whether the county should fund the small investment directly or look to other stakeholders; opponents argued the county often does not fund private nonprofit activities. Supporters cited statutory allowance for county economic-development activities and referenced prior county involvement in business-park projects. Administrator Leonard asked whether the committee wanted the allocation to be contingent on Centergy presenting to the full board and on commitments from other counties; he said that language could be included in any resolution.