During the RDA Board’s most recent meeting last week, there was some clear dispute about the Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas’s next direction.
The dispute was as to whether or not the Economic Advancement Committee had followed the mission laid out by the board in terms of a report as to how to strengthen the agency’s reach and impact. Some members had argued the report focused far too much on altering the board’s structure rather than what each voting entity’s role should be.
During the monthly Q&A With Trey segment on KVOE’s Airwaves Tuesday, City Manager Trey Cocking stated that he felt the report covered a lot of ground especially when it comes to a culture of “warm handoffs” between agencies.
Audio PlayerWhen asked if he felt the board’s structure was the right place to focus attention, Cocking stated he believes a larger board, 11 voting members instead of 7, would be beneficial for attracting a new president, a search that’s been on hold for some time now. Cocking also believes an updated structure would resolve the concerns of some that the current board is “somewhat exclusionary.”
That said, Cocking told listeners that while there is some obvious dispute as to the best direction forward for the RDA, there is no dispute among membership as to the ultimate destination.
Audio PlayerAfter reviewing the report for the first time last Thursday, the RDA membership requested additional time to discuss the matter with their respective boards before deciding on the next steps. Member Corey Haag had requested 30 days to do so, while RDA Chair Jeff Williams asked if the membership would like a special meeting before that time.
No official decision was made to that end, however, Cocking says conversations among membership are continuing. The RDA Board’s next scheduled meeting is Friday, May 9, inside of the Trusler Business Center.
