by Emily Canning-Dean
Reporter
Walton Hills -- Instead of hiring a new economic development director, village officials are considering hiring a firm that would assist in keeping the village's income tax base healthy.
Vic Nogalo, fiscal officer and Council clerk, said the village might enter a contract with Economic Development Solutions LLC, for economic development services.
Nogalo said Council put legislation approving the contract on first reading May 6. It was placed on second reading May 13. Council did not indicate May 13 when it would be placed on third reading, at which point it could be approved.
"The company would address economic development as needed," Nogalo said. "It would be paid $3,000 a month for the rest of the year."
Councilor Bill Allen said, "It is much cheaper than hiring someone who we would have to pay benefits for."
Allen said an employee in the village finance department already takes care of tasks such as compiling statistics and data about the village's businesses.
"It would be silly to pay a full-time economic development director to do that when we already have someone doing it," Allen said.
Allen said Economic Development Solutions would stay in contact with the village's businesses and hopefully attract more businesses to the community.
Officials from Economic Development Solutions did not return calls for comment and were not present at the meeting.
E-mail: ecanning@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3166