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EDC opens board doors to the public
By Zachary Markovic, Staff Writer
At the request of the Attorney General of Texas Greg Abbott the Plano Economic Development Board opened itself to the public for the first time Thursday.
The board falls under as it provides a governmental function to the community. The board is responsible for marketing Plano to companies and organizations. The motion passed Thursday to follow rules and regulations of a public forum, with the recommendation of the attorney general.
Sally Bane Executive director said the EDC had been viewed historically as a private organization. Which is why they were concerned when requests for their agendas were requested, she said. Private entities would not normally have to divulge such information. But according to the state attorney general in a letter responding to the board said the board does fall under public domain since it does provide some governmental functions.
The board motioned to follow the recommendations of the attorney general and follow along with public meeting procedures.
The EDC is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to guide their staff in marketing Plano. The mission is to promote Plano for business expansions and extension, and not make an executive decision for the city, she said.
“Our purpose is to help facilitate companies request,” she said. “And the city council makes that decision.”
The board voted on Citizen-at Large members of the board and also officers. The officers motioned in are Jim Boswell as chairman, Thomas Quirk as vice chairman, Gregory Fuller as secretary and Angie Wallander as treasurer.
As Myron Albert was voted in as a member, Mick Mickelson and Doug Boyd who both served on the board since January 2004 stepped down Thursday from their position.
The board voted down the contribution to Collin College using private funds. Instead they will contribute through one of their private fundraisers later in the year.
Bane said the board recently hosted representatives from the city of Chandler in Arizona, “a Plano of Phoenix.” She said the group compared many of the same development issues facing Plano also faced that community. The group was impressed and interested in building a Granite Park, Legacy Park type business area. Bane said that it shows what Plano can mean to businesses and other communities nationwide.
“We are held as a model to other communities nationally,” she said.
And one of those new businesses helping develop that nationally recognized model is Ensembles Studios. It was announced Thursday that the video game designer is moving into space above the shops at Legacy. The company, which created the successful Age of Empires series, will have 120 people located here. David Ellis, director of technology marketing and redevelopment said Ensemble will be involved in creating a digital media center here in Plano.
“This is a really big win for us, and we look forward to working with them,” Ellis said.
The Plano Economic Development Board meets every third Thursday of the month at 7:30, in the Granite Park business area.
To comment on this story, visit www.scntx.com. Contact Zachary Markovic at zmarkovic@acnpapers.com.
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
TAXPAYER wrote on Dec 24, 2007 8:52 AM:
" WHAT SALLY BANE IS SAYING, IS THAT THEY KEPT OR HID INFORMATION FROM THE PUBLIC THAT THEY HAD NO RIGHT TO DO. ALL THESE YEARS, ROM THE SHAPIRO ADMINISTRATION THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON. DID SHE SAY THEY WERE SORRY, NO!!! AND NOW THEY ARE READY TO CHARGE TO THE ROOF COSTS TO OBTAIN BACK MINUTES TO THE PUBLIC. ONE WAY OR ANOTHER THEY DONT WANT ANYONE TO KNOW WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON.
THIS DEPARTMENT IS DUE A HOUSE CLEANING!!! THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT THEIR GOVERNMENT IS DOING!!!! "
The Public wrote on Dec 26, 2007 10:14 AM:
" Why would officials at the Plano Economic Development Board want to change an enormus copy and search
fee for records that are less than
six (6) months old?
Clearly the intent is to keep the public
from knowing what has been going
on!!! "
Another taxpayer wrote on Dec 27, 2007 9:02 AM:
" The public should be more concerned about this Board's activities, and all city and county government. Planoites are far too willing to ignore how their tax dollars are spent in favor of shopping, eating out, considering how to furnish their homes, what car they want to buy, or how to get little Bobby or Susie "Cliff Notes" instead of having them actually read their assignments for school. If this Board's activities have been kept under wraps, the public has itself to blame for not questioning that use of their tax dollars sooner. Plano's citizens should not expect government to run itself without their interest and involvement. "
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