Economic development in question in Washburn
By Michael Johnson, Editor
Members of the Washburn Area Economic Development Association and the Washburn City Commission are looking for the future and what it might bring in terms of economic development in the city. While some felt that now is the right time to have someone leading the development effort, others were concerned if it was worth it. The discussion comes after the recent resignation from economic developer Karen Hansen, who left in order to pursue full-time work. She was working part-time for the city. “Economic Development is at a crossroads,” WAEDA president Newly Voigt said at the last regular city commission meeting. He came to the city commission meeting with fellow board members with a discussion of what the future economic developer position might look like. He hoped that it might be a position more closely linked with the city. He suggested it could be development/city planner position. Many were in agreement that for the economic development to work, it needed to flow through a city position that could also offer other duties to make the position full-time, thus more attractive to more people that needed full-time work.
