By James B. Bartle
It’s been several months since the City of Sullivan began a search for an economic developer and, at this point, no action has been taken on the application received for the position.
The economic developer was budgeted in the 2010 fiscal year at around $100,000 for salary and expenses in this department and, at this date, the fund has only observed expenditures of around $5,000. The $5,000 was spent on advertising for the position and various membership fees to different organizations in which the city is a member.
City administrator Mark Falloon reported that the city received some 12 applicants for the position and a short list of the finalists was selected at about six candidates.
“We did receive 12 applicants and we had several that we interviewed on a short list of about six candidates, but no decisions have been made,” said Falloon. “The decision is going to be up to the city council, but nothing has been done to this point.”
The council has saved about $95,000, thus far, by not filling the position and the fiscal year, according to Falloon, is nearly two-thirds complete.
Falloon reported to the Independent that the city revenues are still lagging at about two percent below projections and city expenditures are being kept in check with these figures.
It is not known when or if the city will fill the economic developer position anytime soon.