The Economic Development Director in Junction City wants EDC meetings closed to the public.

Greg Miller told a joint City – County Commission meeting Monday that this community has to be smart. He is competing against 20,000 other municipalities.

Miller explained never in his 17 years in that business has he had “certain people” in his committee meetings, and he noted Junction City and Geary County are in a competitive environment.

Miller said officials have to make sure nobody knows what they are doing, they can’t let anything get out. He added not to hide anything, but be more effective in what they do.

Right now the EDC falls under the Kansas Open Meetings and Open Records law requirements.

Junction City Mayor Mick McCallister said there are some people that from an EDC point believe there are negotiations, trade secrets and processes occurring that should not be out in the public, “until the deal is made and then it goes to the City and it goes to the County. That’s how business is done. It’s all done behind closed doors.”

McCallister said the reason there are people against it stems from what occurred several years ago. “There were a lot of deals made that nobody was privy to and when they came out they weren’t such a good deal and we’re paying the price now.” McCallister added, “But those days are gone. There’s enough eyes, there’s enough oversight and there’s enough people looking over people’s shoulders, that’s not going to happen. That will never happen again, what I’m told, because of the checks and balances that we have in those board rooms.”

No final action has been taken at this point.