Since its inception, the Indiana Enterprise Center, the industrial âmega parkâ being developed near New Carlisle, has been plagued by the communication and public relations missteps of St. Joseph County officials.
Last weekâs news that the county plans to pay two firms a combined $120,000 for work largely focused on pushing the controversial project seems to continue that trend.
The county Redevelopment Commission on Tuesday approved a $55,000 contract with Insight Strategic Concepts, an Elkhart-based âstrategic growthâ firm, and a $66,000 deal with Big Idea Co., a Mishawaka public relations shop.
The vote came after two commission members questioned whether the county needed to pay outside consultants to communicate about economic development work.
I was dismayed to read that Commissioner Andy Kostielney and county economic developmentâs Bill Schalliolâs march to industrialize western St. Joseph County rolls merrily along.
We the people out this way have been waiting for our opportunity to present to our county officials alternative views of what the future that we would like to be working toward could look like.
It appears we could be waiting awhile.
During his campaign for his current position, Commissioner Derek Dieter spoke of understanding how poorly the Indiana Enterprise Center affair has been run thus far â and promised he would go to work to clear the air. Perhaps he could convince Kostielney to speak with our town officials whom he has effectively silenced thus far?