From the Johnson County Daily Journal:
How much input the public will have in how a Franklin organization spends $1.2 million originally collected as tax dollars has yet to be decided.
The Franklin Development Corp. is asking for proposals from developers, local governments and local nonprofit agencies for spending $1.2 million set aside for direct investments into projects. The goal is to get more involvement from the community, said Craig Wells, president and chief executive officer.
The money originally came from property taxes collected from certain Franklin businesses and set aside in special taxing district funds typically used for economic development. The Franklin Development Corp. got $5.6 million of that money over three years when it was created by the city in 2008.
The organization wants proposals for how to use the money by Sept. 15 and then plans to decide how to award the money in October. The seven-member board will meet to discuss the proposals but has not yet decided whether the public will be allowed to comment at that meeting, board president Larry Koenes said.
Typically, the board does not allow public comments at its meetings.
The organization likely won’t have a public hearing unless it is needed, Koenes said. The board still is deciding what type of public comment to allow in the process of awarding the money, he said.
If members of the public have an idea for how to spend the money, they can propose it to a local organization, such as Franklin College or Franklin Heritage. That agency then can propose a project to the Franklin Development Corp. for the money, board member Ted Grossnickle said.
Wells said the public also is welcome to drop off comments at the organization’s office in downtown Franklin or to submit comments to the agency’s website, buildfranklin.franklinhost.com.
http://www.dailyjournal.net/view/local_story/Officials-not-sure-if-public-w_1343272020/
