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Crowded Hardee County workshop hears strong public pushback on plan to make commissioners voting IDA members
Summary
Hundreds attended a special Aug. 14 workshop where residents, business leaders and IDA officials urged the board not to convert the Industrial Development Authority into a body dominated by county commissioners; no final vote was taken and commissioners said the measure will return next week.
Hardee County commissioners heard more than two hours of public comment and a detailed presentation from the Industrial Development Authority (IDA) on Thursday as they considered a resolution that would make all five commissioners ex officio, voting members of the IDA.
Denise Grimsley, who the board introduced as "Senator Denise Grimsley, CEO of the development group," laid out the IDA's history and recent work and urged commissioners to withdraw the resolution. "I believe that resolution as it's written is inconsistent with how chapter 159 says IDA members must be seated," she said, and asked the board to "please consider withdrawing the resolution." Grimsley said the IDA has secured grant funding, reformed contracting practices and is pursuing projects to spur housing, workforce and downtown redevelopment.
Public comment was overwhelmingly opposed to the board taking direct voting control of the IDA. Local resident Levon Cobb told commissioners, "We trust those folks to manage that money properly," and several former and current IDA board members and economic-development professionals warned that folding the IDA under the commission would deter private investment and politicize confidential recruitment discussions. "This resolution is clearly a disruptive style of change," said Chris Esardi, a current IDA board member.
Commissioners did not vote on the resolution at the workshop. Several members said the meeting surfaced legitimate questions about budget detail and oversight and asked for additional briefings; they scheduled further discussion and indicated the measure will be on the agenda next week. The workshop adjourned with no formal action taken.
