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Hannon pushes economic strike force By JILL BRISKEY Mail Tribune State Sen. Lenn Hannon told Jackson County commissioners Thursday that he wants to form a strike force that would revamp economic development in Southern Oregon. "I support your efforts in economic development but feel that we can change our direction a little bit," Hannon, R-Ashland, said during the commissioner's regular staff meeting. "Certainly there's feel-good projects and there are projects that create jobs." Hannon said the proposed strike force would address economic development in Jackson and Josephine counties. With a strike force in place, he added, the proposed living wage ordinance for Medford would not be needed. "How can you have a living wage ordinance if you don't have living wage jobs being created?" he asked. "If you create the jobs you don't need a living wage ordinance." However, further discussion has been tabled until Kelly Madding begins work as the county's new economic and special development director. Madding, who served as Talent's city administrator, is slated to begin Nov. 26. Hannon said a strike force would be a way to encourage new businesses to open in Southern Oregon while ensuring that existing employers stay. "We need to know, what is it going to take to keep your business here or get your business here," he added. "Let's not make this the Appalachia of the West." Hannon said state and county government ought to work together, citing the failing timber and high-tech industries. "Our economy is going down pretty rapidly," he said. Commissioner Jack Walker said a lot of good ideas are often left by the wayside thanks to state and federal regulations. Walker added that the proposed strike force could present the county with an opportunity to pursue various projects. "We just can't close a mill down and make it something else now," Walker said. "We're in a world of hurt ... to meet those requirements." Hannon told the commissioners that the proposed strike force should focus on larger projects instead of spreading funding over a variety of smaller projects. "Sometimes there's such a thing as too much democracy," Hannon said. Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.