4/14/1992 - Laserfiche WebLink

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APR 1411TWIL . mor.. 6 1 6L 56 participants which exactly profiles the county. Even if you had it, you could not prove it. The workshop will be the ultimate test. Mr. Wetzig also commented that for the first workshop the greatest challenge is to get 150 seats filled; the second year there are too many applicants. Commissioner Bird believed this project has considerable merit and benefit to the Commission for future planning and to better guide this county in the future. Commissioner Wheeler questioned government funding of this project. He was impressed with the makeup of the steering committee and described them as the movers and shakers of our community who represent various organizations and interests in the county. He felt the workshop could produce some positive things but does not feel government should fund it. Chairman Eggert was aware that the County does many things for economic development which the community does not see or appreciate. However, there are many facets to economic development and it involves much more than bringing industry to Indian River County. We need to know how to approach it. She has concerns about the proposed workshop, including the requested budget, but supports it because no matter how many civic meetings a Commissioner attends there is not a room large enough to include all interested parties. She admitted she wished she had more accurate information about how constituents feel and how the entire county feels. Even though there are a lot of other meetings, she feels this project is worth supporting, one time, with no commitment and no promises for the future, with the hope it accomplishes what the steering committee is looking for. Commissioner Bowman was concerned that this may be an expensive learning process and wished there were more experienced people involved. She asked if we do get a good cross section and a reasonable consensus is reached, what happens with the results, who carries the ball. Chairman Eggert assumed it would be the responsibility of whoever can most effectively carry that ball. Mr. Wetzig confirmed Chairman Eggert's comment and said that unlike a town meeting where citizens take that responsibility, this process is to give information to those representatives who actually make decisions. Whether the Board of County Commissioners hears and believes what the groups says, at least it gives them information and input we might not otherwise have. This process will provide a distilled vehicle which provides honest information to the elected officials who will determine whether that information should be acted upon. 32