Catoosa County economic development funding meeting canceled

Darrel Lynn, who owns several motocross facilities in the area, asks the Catoosa County Commission to approve a special use permit so his newest track, Battle Creek Motocross, can be opened to the public.
Photo by Mike O'Neal
Darrel Lynn, who owns several motocross facilities in the area, asks the Catoosa County Commission to approve a special use permit so his newest track, Battle Creek Motocross, can be opened to the public. Photo by Mike O'Neal

The Catoosa County Commission canceled a meeting Monday in which they were supposed to debate funding an economic development group.

County Manager Jim Walker said the commission has agreed to continue paying the Joint Development Authority about $97,000 per year. Since 2008, the commission has given $730,000 to the JDA.

On Aug. 19, Commission Chairman Keith Greene said the county should stop funding the JDA, telling the other commissioners that they haven't yielded any new businesses from the group. Commissioners Jim Cutler and Jeff Long supported the JDA.

Bobby Winters, one of two commissioners whose votes were up in the air, decided to support the group after talking with its executive director, State Sen. Jeff Mullis.

Winters said that Mullis promised to provide the county with monthly updates about what the JDA is doing for the county.

"That sounds a whole lot better," Winters said. "I never knew what they were doing before."

The commission will vote on whether to approve their final budget Wednesday at 6 p.m.

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