McHenry Co. will fund development office -- if meetings go public

Taxpayers will continue to be the main financial backers of the McHenry County Economic Development Corporation, but at least now they'll get to see how their money is being spent.

The county board Thursday voted 17-6 in favor of a measure pledging the MCEDC more than $600,000 over the next four years, continuing its role as the agency's chief funding source.

Under the deal, the county will provide the agency with $152,018 next year, followed by 3-percent increase for each of the next three tears. The funding gives the MCEDC more than a third of its annual budget, officials said.

"Especially now, we do need this kind of activity to encourage corporations to come to the county and bring jobs here," said board member Daniel Ryan.

But the vote came only after county leaders amended the deal to require the MCEDC to make its board meetings open to the public.

Founded in 1993, the organization is a public-private partnership that works to attract new business to the county while retaining those already here.

Opponents called the decision to make MCEDC meetings public inappropriate, likening the agency to a publicly traded corporation in which only shareholders can attend board meetings.

"Just like AT&T wouldn't open its meetings to anyone, the EDC shouldn't be required to do it," said Marc Munaretto, the board's liaison to the organization.

"I would say that if we're going to give them more than $150,000, then the public are stockholders," board member Virginia Peschke responded.

Peschke was one of six board members to oppose the deal even after the amendment, saying the funding would better be spent on efforts to teach workers new skills.

The vote comes exactly one week after the MCEDC announced Christopher Manheim was stepping down after two years as its president.

The announcement came two days after members of the county board's Finance and Audit Review Committee criticized the agency, and Manheim in particular, for its efforts. However, corporation officials said Manheim had tendered his resignation before the public criticism.

MCEDC Board Chairman Walter Packard said Tuesday he expects positive results later this month from an ongoing study of the agency's long-term viability.

"The consultants are pretty optimistic," he told county board members. "They were getting positive responses and right now think we'll be able to move forward."