Chairman of the Industrial Development Board Jenny Nafrada addressed some issues at the County Commission meeting Monday night and proposed a liaison committee. 

During the IDB report at the meeting Monday night, Nafrada took the opportunity to clear up a few misconceptions regarding the IDB. She explained the board works under Tennessee Code Annotated 7-53-101 and encouraged the commissioners to read it to understand how the board functions. 

“Also in that state code you will see that the IDB serves terms of six years and that commissioners and aldermen cannot hold positions on the board because of the conflict of interest that it proposes. We are allowed to negotiate with private companies. The County Commission is not allowed to do that because of conflict of interest,” said Nafrada. 

She suggested creating a liaison committee so commissioners and the city can be informed. 

“We negotiate deals and incentives to private industries and companies and I think it would be a good idea for us to maybe have a liaison committee. This is a proposition that you can think about. It would be between the County Commission and the city aldermen when it involves the city and the IDB so that there can be more transparency in education and information on your end and on our end so that we can understand the challenges that you may have with something we want to propose and you can understand how we do it,” said Nafrada. 

“I spoke to Robert Bratcher about this and one thing I wanted to know was is it possible for there to be County Commissioners or chairmen of certain committees to be representatives on the IDB board? In other words, they’re not members, they’re representatives. Unpaid representatives that basically could be part of the meetings, but they would not be able to vote,” asked Commissioner Blaine Wilcher.

“Well, we’re all unpaid and I don’t know the answer to that question,” answered Nafrada.    

“Commissioners are welcome to attend. There is a conflict that would preclude them from actually being on the board. They would not be able to vote and the board itself could constrict communication if they want to, but there is certainly no reason they couldn’t attend,” said attorney Robert Bratcher.

Wilcher then asked if a chairman of a county committee would be able to come be a representative and go to the meetings so the other people could contact them for questions.

“We have open meetings every third Thursday at 1:15 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce building. I encourage all of you to attend as many of those meetings as you can so you can hear what we are discussing and the procedures that we’re discussing and what we have in the works, who’s called and is interested in our county. The more you know the more you can understand and the more we know about your procedures the more we can understand,” said Nafrada.

Commissioner Scott Kelly asked if any commissioner who attended would be able to speak at these meetings. 

“Well anybody can speak at the meetings. It is a public open forum, so sure. Whether those questions can get answered in a public forum would be just like in your public forum. It may be something that has to be answered not in the public forum, but he could get the answers, yes,” said Nafrada.

Commissioner Christy Ross said she thinks the liaison committee would be a good idea.

“I like the idea of the liaison. I think that this is a wonderful way to show transparency and start building a much needed bridge. I just want to say thank you. I know this has not been an easy transition and I’m grateful for tonight. I’ve learned more probably about the IDB in County Commission than we ever have learned,” said Ross.

“The liaison, how is that going to be selected? Is that strictly selected from the IDB or has there ever been any mention of that?” asked Commissioner Chris Rippy.

“No, I think it would be you all deciding if you want to have a liaison to come to our meetings. I would love to have a whole liaison committee, but that is going to be up to your County Executive and the city mayor. It would be wonderful to have a committee of the chairs of your committees to come together and we could meet and update and talk about what is going on and keep each other in the know and support each other,” said Nafrada.