Board chairman David Simmons said that represented a policy change. "The division can enter into a contract for another company to do that, but it sounds to me like this has been done without any review or discussion of this board."

Having EDCU doing national business recruitment later also is an option, Roybal said. "And if there's a very good reason why we shouldn't do that, I would be happy to hear why we should continue with a duplication of resources there," he said.

Board member Richard Nelson, also a member of the EDCU board, asked for patience. "I think Chris andthe governor are just trying to come up with the best solution, and I think we ought to give them some slack, with a little bit of time, with the support that's needed in this particular area," Nelson said.

Other board members worried that day-to-day activities would fall through the cracks, with board chairman David Simmons wondering "who's running the show around here."

Roybal explained how the divisions are operating. "I think it's a bit of an overstatement to say that we don't have a strategy or a plan," Roybal said.

Still, Hansen chafed at the idea that the board might have to react to whatever Roybal does.

"It is really sad for me to think that we are going to be kind of a kowtowing group or board, saying, 'Gee, let's just kind of raise our hand and say whatever Chris does, that's what we're going to go along with,' " Hansen said. "I don't think that's the nature of this board."

Simmons reiterated to Roybal that the board wants to promote, encourage and expand economic development in the state. "We may have ruffled feathers over procedural issues that were followed, but we have the same agenda," he said.

Roybal, meanwhile, said he wants board input. "We think we should all get on the same ship together and go make it happen," he said.

Board members finished the meeting by adopting resolutions to commend Harmer and Gochnour and others who resigned for their work on behalf of the state. Board member Jerry Oldroyd called them "enormously qualified and capable people who worked very hard" and had done "an enormous service for the state of Utah."

---

Comments from meeting of Utah economic board

"Do you see where we might have a little lack of faith in that comment?" Dell Loy Hansen, vice chairman of the state Board of Business and Economic Development, after Chris Roybal said there are no plans to eliminate the board.

"I think what I want to drive home is that you have a very committed group of people, but there's an arrogance of power that needs to be corrected," Hansen said.

"I think it's a bit of an overstatement to say that we don't have a strategy or a plan." — Roybal

"It is really sad for me to think that we are going to be kind of a kowtowing group or board, saying, 'Gee, let's just kind of raise our hand and say whatever Chris does, that's what we're going to go along with.' I don't think that's the nature of this board." — Hansen, referring to Roybal

---

E-mail: bwallace@desnews.com

• Page:
• < Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3