Council appoints new corporation representative
Staff writer
Peabody City Council held a special meeting Monday to appoint a new representative for the Marion County Community Economic Development Corporation after learning that one of the two appointed last week is ineligible.
Morgan Marler, appointed last week along with Hannah Bourbon, cannot serve on the corporation board because employees of any member government body are prohibited. Marler senior water technician for the city of Hillsboro.
After discussing various people who might be willing to serve and the council thought would do a good job, and reviewing criteria set by MCCEDC for board members, council members eventually voted to appoint Mark Whitney, who runs Peabody Hardware and Lumber.
Mayor Larry Larsen said the council learned earlier, when a developer sought a zoning change to bring a Dollar General store to Peabody, that Whitney is not afraid of a competing business coming to the area.
Janice Woodruff sent a text to Whitney during the meeting to ask if he would be willing to serve.
His initial answer was “maybe.” He wanted to know how much time would be involved, Woodruff said.
Rules of eligibility were earlier amended to allow government employees to serve, which permitted Marion City Administrator Roger Holter to be a member of the permanent board. Soon afterward, bylaws reverted to their original version after the corporation’s attorney said the amendment was not made properly.
Last modified Oct. 4, 2017