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As we mentioned in an earlier post, the Lake County Board of Supervisors will be asked at tomorrow's Board meeting to approve a consolidation of two departments into one.
The merger of the former Economic Growth & Redevelopment Dept. (EGR) and the Community Services Dept. will result in a new Department called the Economic Development & Community Services Dept (EDCS?).
According to Interim County Manager, Sandy Minkoff, Dottie Keedy, the current EGR Director, Dottie Keedy, will be appointed the Manager of the combined Department. Her position will be filled by...
a new hire, and the County will advertise both internally and externally for the position.
Critics of the County Economic Development progress will probably cheer at this move, because Keedy was known as an administrator and planner, and not the aggressive marketing and sales professional needed to drive Economic Development activities in the County.
The fiscal effect will be to create a NEW position, funded by the General Fund, which will be for the replacement EGR Director. According to the Agenda Request document for tomorrow's meeting, the County will use salary savings from some vacant positions to fund the added position. Using salary savings or budgeted funds for unfilled positions is common in government, if you ignore the fact that the vacant positions were due to a hiring freeze to reduce spending due to the economy.
So, in order to resolve the performance issues of the Economic Development dept, the manager was promoted (instead of a lateral move) and a new position established to hire a person with the needed skills to run the department. Only government would do that.
I won't comment on her promotion, since I don't know her track record in administration, which could actually fit the new position. Keedy was the City Manager for Tavares before coming to the County about 3 years ago and many stories have cropped up about that move.
Thus, the main issue here is that the Board will hopefully hire a much more skilled and dynamic manager for improving Lake County economic development, and hopefully not hire a friend, relative, or other person.
The Board should hire a FEE PAID headhunter to track down and get a very skilled professional in economic development with many contacts and a track record of bringing business to a county or city, as well as creating an environment and programs to encourage local business formation. Don't cheap out and advertise the position or use a government association to "fill" the position. You need someone that understands national markets and industries. And, will they want to work for Keedy? If she does the hiring, I question how assertive the new person will be.
vj
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Attached below is tomorrow's agenda supporting document that explains the department merger in general terms.
Download Tab 02 Agenda Request combine Econ Growth & Comm Svcs
