Published: September 23, 2007 11:19 pm            

FLOYD: More reasons than not

CVB should be part of economic development umbrella group

It is encouraging that seven of the eight economic development groups are attempting to organize into an agency that would be more beneficial to the Kokomo-Howard County community. Perhaps if this organization had been in place while Getrag was trying to make a decision on location, Kokomo and Howard County would not be faced with losing 1,400 jobs to Tipton County.

Another questionable undertaking which could have benefited from this group was the bypass, which basically was crammed down the throat of Kokomo by the state, without a whimper from these eight groups or our elected local officials.

There is nothing about the new bypass that benefits Kokomo and Howard County, and it is going to cost the citizens of Indiana $340 million. Some of the present businesses will be forced to close for the lack of business caused by the construction disruption, and subsequent to that will be the loss of business due to lack of traffic after the project is completed. This project could still be halted if enough citizens of our community were alarmed enough with this wasteful spending to put a stop to it.

The only group reluctant to join in the merger talks is the Kokomo Howard County Convention & Visitors Bureau. And why not? The CVB basically operates with little or no oversight. Its board chairman is Allan James, a good and honorable man who has always worked for the good of Howard County. However, he is quoted as saying, “that if the CVB votes to join the organization, it would be surrendering authority to the CEO and board of directors of the umbrella group.” What is wrong with that?

My fifth-grade teacher told our civics class that “bureaucracy breeds bureaucracy.” The CVB is an example of this statement.

There exists a director, an assistant director, a sales manager and, obviously, an executive assistant to take care of this overhead. These people are making salaries that exceed many of our elected officials, but they set their own rate ranges. And to my knowledge there is no way the citizens of Howard County can do anything about it without the CVB’s consent. This is a perfect bureaucracy.

The Kokomo Tribune has done a yeoman’s job in highlighting one reason why there is no interest in any kind of merger between the CVB and the other groups. However, the examination of this agency needs to go further.

1. How do four people spend their time, eight hours a day, five days a week, on conventions and visitors to Howard County?

2. How does the CVB set salary ranges and based on what?

3. What has been the employees’ performance to goals, set by the board, to warrant the salaries that are presently paid and the 3 percent wage increase in 2008?

4. How many conventions have come to Kokomo in the last year based on efforts by the CVB?

5. What are the fringe benefits of the CVB personnel?

6. How many out-of-town conventions do the employees attend?

7. Are any vehicles furnished to employees, and if so, why?

Answers to these questions should be made public because, then and only then, can the citizens of our community make informed determinations as to the relevance of the CVB.

There are more reasons than not for the CVB to be a part of this new Super Economic Development Group.

John Floyd is the former complex manager for Chrysler, Kokomo, and is director of acquisitions at Rex-Hide Inc.

        

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