A Marshall County commissioner made waves Monday when he introduced a motion to end the county's relationship with the Marshall County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) — only to rescind it after fellow commissioners urged a more measured approach.
Commissioner Jesse Bohannon first aired his frustrations publicly on May 27 via his personal Facebook page, writing that he was considering a motion to terminate the county's contract with MCEDC. His chief complaint: that the organization's priorities don't align with those of county residents or elected officials.
"I feel like we are paying a lobbyist $150,000 to lobby against us," Bohannon wrote. "I think we could spend that money better by bringing those functions in-house so that economic development can be accountable to the people."
Bohannon specifically cited MCEDC's continued focus on industrial solar projects and data centers — developments he said the public and county leadership have broadly rejected. He followed through on his concerns at Monday's commissioner meeting, where he laid out a detailed case for ending the relationship.
Marshall County currently funds roughly 40% of MCEDC's budget, Bohannon noted, yet he said he could find no scientific evidence that most economic development corporations around the country produce measurable, provable results. He also raised concerns about how the financial benefits of MCEDC-driven projects are distributed, arguing that revenue generated through Tax Incremental Finance (TIF) Districts flows to the redevelopment commission rather than back to the county to offset its costs.
"I believe it's time to look at another structure that is more accountable to elected officials because currently the decisions being made are made by an unelected board," Bohannon said. He took further issue with county funds supporting what he described as art galleries, industrial solar, and potential data centers — investments he called a poor use of taxpayer dollars.
Bohannon then made a formal motion to give MCEDC notice that the county intended to end its current agreement at the close of 2026.
The motion prompted questions from Commissioner Adam Faulstich, who asked whether Bohannon envisioned a total severance or a restructuring. Bohannon acknowledged the question was open to debate. Faulstich also raised concerns about potential consequences, including the county's involvement in Regional Cities initiatives.
Bohannon suggested that County Plan Director Nick Witwer had expressed willingness to absorb some of the functions currently handled by MCEDC.
Commissioner Stan Klotz urged caution. "When we make a move, I'd like to know what the new structure would look like before we jump off the pier," he said. Klotz also recommended that Bohannon first sit down with MCEDC leadership to air his concerns directly.
County Attorney Sean Surrisi noted he had not yet reviewed the current agreement with MCEDC — which includes an automatic renewal clause — and requested time to do so.
With those considerations on the table, Bohannon rescinded his motion. The issue is expected to remain a topic of discussion as commissioners weigh the county's economic development direction going forward.
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