City honing agreement on economic position

The City of Sisters is close to a deal with Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) for the organization to help run local economic development efforts.

Roger Lee, executive director of EDCO, attended the Thursday city council workshop to answer questions and work out the final details of the Memorandum of Understanding between EDCO and the City of Sisters that will allow EDCO to hire and manage an economic development manager for the city.

The city will be providing $30,000 per year to fund this position. There appears to be an agreement in process that will bring $20,000 per year for two years from

the Deschutes County commissioners to EDCO to fund the Sisters position, beginning July 1. The city, county, and EDCO are expecting to raise at least $10,000 from the local private sector to fund the position to at least a three-quarter-time position.

The economic development manager would report to EDCO in Bend but would have a primary office in Sisters. EDCO is current working with the private sector in Sisters to arrange for a no-charge or low-charge office.

The city council will work with EDCO to form a local seven-member advisory board that is expected to provide leadership, guidance, fundraising, and to serve as a "go-to resource" for the economic development manager.

Mayor Brad Boyd pressed the council and EDCO to move up the start date for the position from the planned July 1 start to an April or May start, at least for the recruiting.

The current half-time economic development manager, Patty Cordoni, resigned from the position effective March 31 to focus on her full-time job in real estate. This will provide some salary savings that can be used to offset EDCO's recruiting expenses, and an early hire if possible.

It is expected that the final agreement will be presented at the March 14 council meeting for approval. If approved at that time, EDCO's six-week recruiting/hiring process would start shortly thereafter.