Etna Green Town Council Member Susan Klinefelter and Council President Heath Roberts receive their oaths of office during a Jan. 9 council meeting. InkFreeNews photo by Liz Shepherd.

By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

ETNA GREEN — The Etna Green Town Council tabled further discussion on renewing the town’s annual agreement with the Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation during a Jan. 9 meeting.

The agreement pertained to KEDCO’s services fees for 2024. Since 2021, KEDCO has been working with the town on a potential housing development project at an 18-acre residential tax increment financing district.

Council Vice-President Jason Hanes said he wouldn’t sign an agreement at this point in time. Council President Heath Roberts said he wanted additional time to catch up and learn more about KEDCO before signing.

“Most of that money that was going into KEDCO was just being used to keep the purchase agreement open for that property,” said Hanes. “I wasn’t told that and that’s why I stand where I do on it.”

Greg Fitzloff, business development partner at KEDCO, attended the meeting to answer council’s questions while detailing the work KEDCO has done with various Etna Green businesses.

“It’s one step at a time,” said Fitzloff about the housing project. “We certainly understand that the town isn’t prepared to simply jump off a cliff. None of these communities are. Those concerns are legitimate concerns. Anytime there is a commitment, you make the decision. We’re simply bringing that information to you.”

In other business, Town Attorney Nick Jacobs provided the council with an update on civil action against the mother of two children who were responsible for committing acts of vandalism to town property in early 2023. Jacobs said the town obtained a judgment in the amount of $5,124.48.

Clerk-Treasurer Patti Cook she would look and see if the town could collect the judgment through the Tax Refund Exchange and Compliance System instead of taking the mother to court.

The council members and Cook also took their oaths of office, and voted to have Roberts serve as council president and Hanes as vice-president.

Council’s next meeting is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, in Etna Green Town Hall.