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Livingston leaders seek job initiatives
By Tony Sapochetti
tsapochetti@pantagraph.com
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PONTIAC — Livingston County’s government leaders are looking for a way to find and bring new jobs to the county.

“I talked with (Pontiac Mayor) Scott McCoy perhaps first about economic development in the county and somewhere in the conversation he said that this was something that I should discuss with the mayors,” said County Board Chairman Bill Flott. “I was invited to the meeting and this was a topic that they were all very interested in.”

During a recent meeting of the Livingston County Mayors Association, Fairbury Mayor Robert Walter said the Illinois Institute of Rural Affairs mapped and assessed the community a few years ago to better understand how it could be improved.

Since then, Walter said, Fairbury has added businesses and other features.

“I think it is a very good process, and if we are to look at economic development for the whole county, then we need to assess the needs of every community,” he said. “The needs in Fairbury might be similar to the needs in Cornell or Cullom, but they might not be the same in Pontiac. Overall, it was a good process to do some brainstorming for everyone.”

Saunemin Mayor Mike Stoecklin looks forward to the ideas that will come forth.

“It was very apparent that this was the direction that we wanted to take and the fact that what’s good for one town could be good for another,” Stoecklin said. “We still have a lot of work to do and we are just getting to the point where we can start with some substance instead of meeting around a table two or three times a year.”

Walter said Flott and the mayors agreed the focus should be the entire county.

“This is going to be broad-based for all of Livingston County, but it is still in the negotiation phases,” Flott said. “The people that should be a part of this (are) the board and elected officials, but the main movers and shakers should be from the business community as they probably know the most about economic development.”

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Reader comments on this story - 4 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Nil Novi wrote on Aug 25, 2007 10:06 PM:

" There is nothing new under the sun. This, too, shall pass. "

to Pete wrote on Aug 24, 2007 10:41 AM:

" Where does it say that the entire County Board is a part of this or that they are the ones 'doing' it??? You're making an assumption of something that isn't there. "

Hmmmmm.... wrote on Aug 24, 2007 8:04 AM:

" Let's see, Mr. Flott.....You can't come up with a solution on the Nursing Home, had to hire a consultant. You know nothing about wind farms. You can't get the contract with highway workers negotiated, need to bring in a mediator. Now, obviously, you know nothing about economic development. Just exactly what is it that makes you capable of running our County. Absolutely NOTHING. It's time the people of Livingston County DEMANDED your resignation. Why would new business even want to come here with all the turmoil. Think about it. Resign. "

Pete and Repeat wrote on Aug 24, 2007 6:14 AM:

" This isn't a new concept;for years Livingston county's hired hand economic development coordinator and Livingston County Council on Economic Development never accomplished anything but to eat breakfast at Busters.Just another way for Flott to try to spend our money, now. The entire board doesn't need to be a part of this, THAT is not what a County Board is supposed to do.If the Mayors want to get together and come up with a proposal to present to the County Board, that's one thing, but for Flott and the board to be paid by us on a regular basis to plan this whole thing is just a way for them to generate a paycheck for themselves.The board is supposed to vote on appropriations NOT micromanage operations!Pontiac got rid of their economic development person a couple years ago then Livingston County got ride of their economic development guy Mason Hall right after that, at that time it was considered a waste of money but now the county board thinks it needs to be re-kindled.Will the waste ever stop? "
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