WILLMAR - For the first time in its 13-year history, the Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission Operations Board has taken a stand regarding one of its own.
In a unanimous vote, the operations board at its meeting Thursday passed a motion of support for Linda Kacher, and of appreciation for her service on the operations board.
"It is a motion of support and encouragement," said operations board member Gary Gilman.
Kacher, who worked in information technology before her retirement, was appointed in 2014 and her term expired Dec. 31. The question of her possible reappointment stirred up a controversy on the Willmar City Council, and the city of Willmar has not forwarded any recommendation to the EDC for a replacement.
Gilman first wanted a motion to recommend the Joint Powers Board reappoint Kacher to the operations board. However, there was some concern about the operations board getting too involved.
ADVERTISEMENT
"I don't know if it's the position of this board to be in the middle of this," said board president Robert Carlson.
The bylaws of the Economic Development Commission say it is the Joint Powers Board that holds the authority to appoint people to the operations board. Recommendations have always come from both the city and county, but the decision lies with the Joint Powers Board.
"It might be more appropriate to just give a vote of confidence, stopping short of a recommendation," said Joint Powers Board liaison Roger Imdieke. Imdieke is a county commissioner and sits on the Joint Powers Board.
Kacher was told by Willmar Mayor Marv Calvin, in a letter and by phone in early December, that he would not be reappointing her to the operations board. It was later clarified that neither he nor the City Council has the power to make an appointment to the operations board - that names put forward are considered a recommendation.
A motion approved by the City Council to recommend Kacher's reappointment was vetoed by Calvin and the veto was upheld at Monday's council meeting.
"We lost a board member by an action that was not explained," Gilman said.
Neither Calvin nor Kacher have said publicly why Calvin decided not to bring Kacher's name back for the operations board.
"This action, pulling her off, is political," Gilman said, adding no one on the operations board has any complaints about Kacher's service.
ADVERTISEMENT
"She was probably better prepared than most of us," Gilman said.
Gilman also has concerns that if the appointments are going to be political, the issues will be ongoing.
"I can bet any one of you that I'm next, if this continues," Gilman said.
There was also talk about when terms end and appointments take place. The operations board was short two members at Thursday's meeting due to terms ending and replacements not being voted in. Aaron Backman, EDC director, said this could be subject brought up at an upcoming EDC retreat.
"There is a bit of a no man's land from the end of the year to the first meeting," Imdieke said.
