Copperas Cove amends EDC bylaws Posted On: Wednesday, Nov. 18 2009 05:25 AM By Alicia Lacy
Killeen Daily Herald

The Copperas Cove City Council approved changes to the Copperas Cove Economic Development Corp. bylaws, with the addition of some last minute changes Tuesday.

The council held a workshop Nov. 3 to review proposed changes to the Copperas Cove EDC bylaws.

At the workshop, Councilman Charlie Youngs wanted accountability from the EDC for all of its expenditures that were not operational related.

Councilman Charles Downard proposed two changes to the bylaws.

The first of Downard's suggestions included the addition of the sentence, "Their attendance shall be for the purpose of ensuring the flow of information occurs to assist project movement" to section 4.14, which applies to the city manager or a designee's attendance at all Copperas Cove EDC board of directors meetings.

Downard's second suggestion was to require the executive director of the Copperas Cove EDC to be a certified economic developer as outlined by the International Economic Development Council, and the director be a resident in the corporate limits of Copperas Cove within six months of employment.

In response to Downard's suggestion, Dan Yancey, chair of the Copperas Cove EDC board, said there are only 80 individuals in the state with the designation as a certified economic developer, with 28 acting as executive directors of economic development corporations.

Yancey suggested the executive director be required to be a graduate of the Economic Development Institute, which is administered by IEDC, because it would limit the pool of candidates to choose from for the position.

Downard amended his motion to remove the certified economic developer designation in exchange for any potential executive director to be a graduate of EDI.

The council unanimously approved all changes to the bylaws.

In other business, the council established and appointed members to a Hotel/Motel Tax committee.

The committee is charged with reviewing and providing recommendations regarding the Hotel Occupancy Tax ordinance, developing a process for the request of HOT funds and standard agreements and reporting formats for entities that receive HOT funds.

Downard motioned for Sarah Kindler, Daniel Loomis, Samuel Banks, Eric Armstrong, James Stockton and Sandy Vegh to join the committee.

Copperas Cove Chamber of Commerce President Marty Smith will serve on the committee as an adviser.