Changes may well be coming to the Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas Board of Directors as far as membership and board size is concerned — but the original plan looks like it may change as well.
RDA members, including the city of Emporia, Lyon County, Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce and Emporia Enterprises, met Wednesday to discuss a plan to expand the overall board membership from seven members to 11. It would also have three voting members from the city, three from Lyon County and one each from the Chamber, Enterprises, Emporia Main Street, Emporia State University and Flint Hills Technical College.
Wednesday’s conversation actually led to another option to be considered: increasing the board size from seven to nine members, with two representatives each from the city and county instead of three as the big change. The other adjustment, if approved, would adjust the language simply to reflect representatives of the membership agencies as opposed to leadership roles.
Potential bylaw and board structure changes follow a directive by the city to expand city representation on the board at the risk of losing city funding in December, but it also follows a Vision First economic study last summer that had dissolving Emporia Enterprises as one of its recommendations.
RDA members will meet again at 7 am Friday, followed by a meeting by the RDA Board of Directors at 7:30 am. Both meetings are at the Trusler Business Center.
