PORT ANGELES — Four individuals from private business were appointed Tuesday to represent Clallam County on the reconfigured Economic Development Council board.
Clallam County, the Port of Port Angeles, Peninsula College, area tribes and the cities of Port Angeles, Sequim and Forks are appointing members to a new-look board that is being downsized from 28 to 17 members.
The private nonprofit EDC contracts with local governments for economic development.
The three Clallam County commissioners unanimously approved the following appointments to the EDC board:
■ Don Butler, co-owner of Carlsborg-based High Energy Metals, to represent commissioner District 1, the eastern third of the county.
■ Ryan Malane, vice president of Black Ball Ferry Line, which operates the MV Coho on the Port Angeles-Victoria route, to represent central District 2.
■ Linda Dillard, a retired Clallam Bay postmaster who works at Olson’s Resort and serves with the Clallam Bay-Sekiu Chamber of Commerce, to represent western District 3 subject to the completion of her paperwork.
■ Larry Hueth, First Federal president and chief executive officer, was appointed to represent county government.
“This is really a reconfiguration, but not a different concept,” said Commissioner Jim McEntire, who has championed an effort to use Clallam County funds to support EDC staff through 2017.
“It’s an organizational concept that looks a little different than times past, but in terms of the ability of a government that funds the EDC to appoint a representative to the board, it’s really no different in concept.”
Line of separation
In response to citizen concerns, County Administrator Jim Jones said the county-appointed EDC board members cannot act on behalf of the county.
“[The EDC] is a private cooperation, but the relationship from the EDC to the county is defined in the contract between the EDC and the county,” McEntire said.
“The board members are just board members, four amongst a total of 17 on the EDC board as a nonprofit.”
Commissioner Bill Peach reiterated that the appointees come from the private sector.
“That was decision criteria in looking for individuals to appoint,” he said.
“It’s consistent with what the EDC is trying to do in terms of have representation from private industry.”
McEntire and Peach originally supported a $500,000 payment from the county’s Opportunity Fund to allow the EDC to hire two full-time staffers who would help recruit and retain businesses.
An ordinance that would have allowed Opportunity Fund spending on EDC staff and dissolved the Opportunity Fund Advisory Board was rescinded Tuesday amid a court challenge and citizens’ petition.
Next Tuesday, commissioners will consider a $150,000 debatable budget emergency to pay for EDC staff with general funds for the remainder of this year.
A public hearing on the budget emergency will begin at 10:30 a.m. in the commissioners’ boardroom at the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.
Also next Tuesday, county commissioners will attend a special meeting of the Port of Port Angeles.
County Commissioner Mike Chapman, who has opposed county spending for EDC personnel, told port commissioners last week that the port should lead Clallam’s economic development effort.
County and port commissioners next week will review “each of our roles in the broader discussion,” Chapman said.
The joint meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. in port headquarters, 138 W. First St., Port Angeles.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.