The Todd County Board of Commissioners reviewed proposals for the Todd County Economic Development Corporation with a representative from the University of Minnesota, at their Feb. 2 board meeting.

Kevin Cooper, from the U of M’s Crookston campus, presented a 32-page study, which included recommendations to appoint a steering committee, hire a full time executive director and a set of extensive short, medium and long range work plans for the Todd County Development Corporation (TCDC).

Cooper, who interviewed the county commissioners and other leaders in Todd County in preparation for writing the study, proposed that the TCDC continue to be separate from county government. He also proposed that the TCDC have regular business hours and an office location easily accessible to the public. To accomplish that, Cooper suggested that the annual budget of the TCDC should grow to $125,000 within the next three years.

Among the priority areas for economic development in Todd County, Cooper suggested a work plan that included alternative energy development, broad band communications, value added agricultural processing and the establishment of a business retention and expansion team. Cooper also suggested establishing an alternative energy work group, which would include representatives from agriculture and the electric utilities.

Anticipating Cooper’s recommendation to establish a steering committee, the county board appointed a steering committee, which includes representatives from local hospitals, banks, and small business as well as representatives from city and county government and education.

Commissioners Kircher and Kneisl also are on the committee.

The committee will hold its first meeting at 9 a.m. on Feb.9 at the Browerville Community Center. The steering committee may recommend changes in the structure or by-laws of the TCDC to the county commissioners. It will also review the work plan proposed by the University of Minnesota study and make recommendations on work priorities for the corporation for the next two years. The steering committee is required to report to the commissioners by June 15. After that a permanent board of directors will likely be chosen for the TCDC.

MPR project

County Administrator Nate Burkett said that Minnesota Public Radio is planning a community journalism effort in Todd County.

By covering the county closely, MPR has said that it hopes to help the community define what’s important to it. The first step in the process is for interested residents to complete a short internet form about what they are currently thinking and talking about among friends and family. The form can be accessed on the internet at http:// bit.ly/chMwxe

In a phone interview Dave Peters, of MPR, said the project is part of the Initiative Foundation’s Healthy Communities Partnership program. He said that MPR hopes to interview a wide cross section of Todd County residents.

Ultimately, the stories will be published in print, on the world wide web, and, perhaps, on the radio.