City Still Searching For EDC Director

The panel is now interviewing the next group of candidates for the Canton Economic Development Corporation and Main Street director job after the first round backed out.

City manager Andy McCuistion reported to the CEDC that after the top three candidates were interviewed, "each of the candidates have eliminated themselves."

McCuistion said the top three candidates interviewed had existing experience in the Main Street/EDC field.

There are 22 applicants for the position.

The interview panel made up of McCuistion, Dr. Kris Ingram, and Johnny McDaniel will move on to the second level of candidates and will be doing more interviews in the coming weeks.

In the June meeting McCuistion told the council the salary range would be between $45,000 to $50,000.

The vacancy will fill a position left open by Jim Stephens who left in May to become the city manager for Wills Point.

In other business the CEDC:

-heard an update from McCuistion on a grant with conditions to meet security concerns set forth by the CEDC.

Last month the CEDC gave a $5,000 community enhancement grant to the Canton Trail Riders Inc. with conditions that they address security matters after copper wire was stolen from the rodeo grounds.

Last month board members were reluctant to give the grant, have the wiring replaced, and the wire be stolen again without some kind of security being put in place to insure the wire was not stolen again.

The board requested McCuistion speak to the Trail Riders about the need to secure the wire.

McCuistion said he had spoke to Dr. Tim Eberhart with the Canton Trail Riders, on their intentions with security, and was told locks had been put in place as well as welding of guards on poles.

-held a public hearing and approved economic development agreement with Mill Creek Ranch RV Park & Cottage Resort.

"It was approved before in executive, but we failed to take action on it coming out of executive session so we had to add it back to make sure we go through the process," McCuistion said.

The agreement is to provide $50,000 to Mill Creek build a levee to keep the park from flooding. The labor is provided by Mill Creek.

Board president Jack Etheridge pointed out that the developers of the park have not asked for any incentives, up to this point, from the CEDC.

-approved the June 2008 financial statements.

Financial secretary Julie Seymore explained that sales tax receipts for the month of June were $54,098 and for the year they are up 7.87 percent for the same time as last year.

-heard that board member Beth Whitaker needed to resign her post on the CEDC.

-approved minutes from the June 10 meeting.

-tabled an economic development agreement with Steelway International.