Hamilton County Development Authority Director Susan Ramsey speaks at a meeting Tuesday, Sept. 20.

JASPER, Fla. —  The Hamilton County Board of County Commissioners discussed the possibility of hiring their own economic development coordinator for the county Tuesday, Sept. 20.

The county’s only economic development organization is the Hamilton County Development Authority (HCDA) that was formed in 1960 by state legislature and consists of eight members appointed by the governor for three-year terms. 

The HCDA’s mandate is to promote the growth of current businesses and attract business to the county. 

The HCDA does not answer to the board.

“I think having one person that’s working for the county and our agency, that would present a front that is not united and will oftentimes put us competing with each other,” said HCDA Director Susan Ramsey.

I realize and will be the first to acknowledge that there has been a history of tension and communication that is not satisfactory to different individuals and boards. What I am here to say to you is let’s move forward. Let’s move past that.”

Ramsey committed to increase communication between the HCDA and the board.

She added that no matter who the board hired it would not make a difference because their first question would be about their strategic plan.

HCDA has just completed a strategic plan.

“It’s kind of ironic that now there is a major push on behalf of the development authority to be proactive on what we are trying to do,” said commissioner Josh Smith.

“You seem like this is an attack on you or the development authority, but it’s not an attack,” Smith said.

He added that in the last six years Ramsey has not come to the board to get on the same page even after the board asked.

“What do you have to lose by trying this for six months?” Ramsey asked. “Try it for six months and if you feel like your voice isn’t being heard or you feel it is still not the route you want to go, then bring it for discussion again.”

“We have asked y’all multiple time after time to cooperate with this board,” said commissioner Buster Oxendine. “We bent over backwards,”

Oxendine added it was ironic after discussing the economic development position at one meeting, the HCDA attended the Sept. 20 meeting and is willing to do everything the board has been asking.

“I think the best option for these two boards to put bygones, start from September 20, 2016 and work together,” Oxendine said.

The commissioners voted to reassess the idea of hiring an economic development coordinator at the Nov. 8 meeting.