John Willoughby
reporter2@greenepublishing.com
In the Madison City Commission's regular session on Tuesday, June 9, City Manager Jerome Wyche proposed pursuing a contract with Edward Dean to serve as an economic development assistant for the City of Madison. Dean was instrumental in the acquisition of the Greenville Senior/Youth Center and the recent advertisement for bids to begin preparing for the incoming Greenville Grocery Store.
Wyche introduced the proposal to the board by offering up a wish list, citing previous discussions with Dean regarding economic improvements and bringing forth new ideas, including upgrading the old Coggins building at the northwest corner of Range Avenue and Base Street.
The list of desired projects includes a community center for local youth, replacing wrought-iron fence surrounding Oak Ridge Cemetery, establishing a Veterans Memorial Park and developing turn-lanes at Base Street intersections of Washington Avenue and Range Avenue, among other items. According to Wyche, the city has been writing a yearly check of $5,000 for economic development assistant to the Madison County Development Council (MCDC), but, "we have yet to see anything at all."
"The county has also employed Mr. Dean to provide that same service to them. Now his conversation with me is, 'well I need to connect with the city in order to provide you that service because the county is paying me to do there's,'" said Wyche. "Heres our chance to combine forces and really start something that is real based on what we know we need … I took a trip to Greenville the other day, looked at a brand new community center. I was impressed. We could have that. Our children have nowhere to go when school is out, so we need to start working on some long-term things."
Dean is a graduate of Florida A&M University and holds a Master of Arts degree from Ohio State University Dean, the current part-time town manager of the Town of Greenville, operated his own consulting firm prior to his position as Greenville town manager, where he secured over $100 million in grants, contracts and appropriations for his clients.
Since beginning his tenure with Town of Greenville in the fall of 2017, Dean has accomplished many tasks including opening a new multi-million dollar waste water treatment facility. Dean has obtained a $750,000 Florida Department of Transportation grant to repave a number of streets in Greenville, and is preparing to open the unique Greenville Senior/Youth Center which neighbors the municipalities town hall. Additionally, Dean and the Town of Greenville are preparing to begin construction an 8,000 square foot full-service grocery store, funded 100 percent from an array of economic development grants.
Other projects Dean has undertaken include an $11 million phase-by-phase septic-to-sewer project which will initially convert 150 families to the town's sewer system in the first phase. The improvement is said to increase the town's revenue by over $100,000 a year once the improvement is wholly completed.
"As of yesterday [June 8], you'll see that we went to bid … Right now, the grocery is paid in full based on the original estimates that I was given. The Town of Greenville will own the grocery store. They'll own the $450,000 worth of refrigeration that's in the grocery store and they'll also own all nearly $300,000 worth of solar system that is going to actually power the grocery store. What I did was I created a self-sustaining building that wouldn't just be an empty building in five to seven years, but I've actually integrated cost-saving mechanisms in the project from the very beginning … I always believe that the jar is half-full, not half-empty. I also believe that now that I have accomplished the goals in Greenville that I'd like to spread out and be able to share some of the ingenuity that God has blessed me with … I think that Greenville, as well as Madison and Madison County in general have a lot of potential. I just believe that."
Dean said he would like to work with Wyche on a two-prong approach including setting a long-term strategic plan, as well as working on short-term goals. He mentioned that the State of Florida begins it's new fiscal year on Wednesday, July 1, "so in order to start networking and putting some things in the hopper, if Madison is going to proceed with trying to solidify relationship with me, it's something that we kind of need to do now because if we don't move now, then you face a prospect of not getting in the hopper," said Dean. "Particularly with some of the rural economic development funds and having to wait a whole other fiscal cycle, which will begin July of 2021."
Commissioner Judy Townsend inquired about the city's relationship with the North Florida Regional Planning Council (NFRPC), who provides consulting and administration on Community Development Block Grants and comprehensive plans. Wyche informed the board Dean's relationship with the city would not effect the city's relationship with NFRPC.
"One of the things that you get with me, in particular, is when you get direct communication, you get someone who's operating for you and I'm kind of what I call a turn-key approach," Dean stated. "I spent, basically, about 20 years of my life working on Capitol Hill in [Washington] D.C. and then I left the Hill when I left Senator Bill Nelson's office and then I became a lobbyist. So you're kind of getting two or three packages all in one. So it kind of benefits you to be able to call me and to work with me on individual projects as they come and we look at this thing as a holistic perspective. I think that you're getting someone with a proven track record thats right here in your county." Dean added that "we're under a time frame as far as looking for what's out there," because a lot of the funds would be allocated quicker this year.
"You got Greenville, you got the county and the city," said Commissioner Townsend. "That's a lot for one person."
"They contracted me part-time," said Dean, who was moved from independent contract status to part-time employee earlier in the year, backdated to the beginning of 2018. "Although I had been giving them full-time work … It's just like everything else – you have a part-time job and when you leave that part-time job, no one can tell you what you do with your own time." Dean noted he spoke with the Florida Ethics Commission whom he said wrote a legal opinion, "so I'm set as far as being able to pursue whatever I pursue." Dean also informed the board of the recent part-time hours set for Dean to be in office at the Town of Greenville, which was set during a special meeting on Thursday, June 4.
Mayor Rayne Cooks commented, "What do we have to lose?," making reference to the $5,000 spent with the MCDC. The commissioners directed Town Attorney Clay Schnitker and City Manager Wyche to form a contract to obtain Dean's services.
In the contract, which was released to Greene Publishing, Inc. on the morning of Thursday, June 18, it is detailed that "not all of the projects described on the attached list of desired projects will be pursued at the same time. After consultations with Consultant [Dean], the City Manager will direct the Consultant which of the projects shall be pursued at one time, the scope of the individual projects and the scope of the services, and the priority of the projects …" The contract also notes an obligation to keep the city manager informed constantly and at all times on the state of assigned projects.
A special meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 23, at 5:30 p.m., at city hall, to consider and act upon the proposed contract, which states a one-year term and a pay schedule of a flat fee of $1,250 per month. Madison City Hall is located at 321 SW Rutledge St., in Madison.