Starke Commissioners Table CEDIT Appropriations

Charles Weaver
Charles Weaver

The Starke County Commissioners on Monday morning were forced to table a discussion item until the next meeting because Commissioner Kent Danford was absent, and Commissioner Jennifer Davis could not act on the item due to a possible conflict of interest.

Charles Weaver, executive director of the Starke County Economic Development Foundation, approached the commissioners requesting they authorize the annual CEDIT appropriations to be submitted to the county council. Weaver said half of the CEDIT funds will go toward bridges, one-eighth will go to the commissioners and three-eighths will go to the Economic Development Fund.

Weaver said this appropriation includes rollover of funds from last year, plus new money for this year. The format, he said, is consistent with what the county has done for the last several years. He requested that the commissioners approve the appropriations and submit them to the county council.

However, because Davis and Weaver are married, Davis was uncomfortable acting on the item. If Danford was present, Davis could have recused herself and the matter could have been approved. It will be brought up again at the next meeting.