Loudon mayor named new EDA chair

The EDA executive committee and board of directors made changes to the organization’s bylaws regarding meeting frequency and will now annually elect officers at the first meeting held in the fourth quarter.

“The bylaw modifications did not include any major updates that change LCEDA’s operations moving forward,” Jack Qualls, executive director, said in a written statement. “It does align the document with the existing language in the interlocal agreement between the county, Lenoir City and city of Loudon.”

EDA was formed as a joint venture between the county, Lenoir City and Loudon to provide economic and community development programs. The agency also works with local schools to increase engagement with the workforce and local industry.

As a result of the changes, the board elected Loudon Mayor Jeff Harris as the new chairman. Loudon County Mayor Buddy Bradshaw previously held the title and is now vice chairman.

Harris said the changes were made after a letter from Loudon County Commission led to an internal review, including an examination of the EDA bylaws. He said the group was no longer meeting as often as prescribed and not electing officers annually.

Harris said his top goal is to improve communication with the county after commissioners have raised concerns about the EDA in the last year.

“We must have a plan to have better communication with the county commission,” Harris said. “That’s one of their sticking points that they’ve criticized the EDA about and our director as far as giving them feedback, and I understand they feel like as the major funding body they should.

“Even though they don’t have say-so on PILOTS and things like that, it does affect them,” he added. “It affects their budget. So they feel like they should, even though they can’t vote on it, they should at least know what’s coming. I think we must do a better job of communicating that.”

Harris said Qualls, who works for the board, had not been instructed by the group to give an update to commissioners. He said Qualls has not been insubordinate with commissioners but was simply never asked by the EDA board to give a quarterly report.

The board has considered asking the chairman to give commissioners quarterly updates, Harris said. Commissioner questions could then be directed to the chairman of the governing body instead of an employee.

Depending on scheduling, Harris said he would likely give his first report in December.

Commissioners voted Aug. 7 to conduct a committee review of the 2008 interlocal agreement with EDA. A letter dated July 26 from Henry Cullen, commission chairman, indicates commissioners voted June 26 to withdraw from the agreement, which would be effective Aug. 1, 2025.

“We’re hoping county commission reevaluates that and rescinds that letter and agrees to continue funding and participating with the EDA,” Harris said. “But I think there’s been some previous issues and some things that has hindered that relationship and we must try and fix those.”

Regardless of previous intentions, Harris said the EDA will do everything possible to bridge the gap of communication with commissioners.

Quarterly updates would likely include information on industry inquiries, upcoming projects and negotiations. While commissioners couldn’t vote, the updates would give an opportunity to advise the EDA about what the commission would prefer, Harris said.

He said he understands how EDA decisions impact the county budget and believes the two groups must try to improve cooperation.

“I think they’ve felt for a while that they’re not included,” Harris said. “… We’ve got to own it and try to fix it, and I’m committed to doing that. I told them, as chairman of the EDA, I’ll be more than happy to try and do that and take the feedback they give us and I’ll take that back to the board and we’ll take it under advisement.”

Harris said commitment to a working relationship is important to both cities and the county, adding that can happen without personal attacks.