The Spearman Economic Development Corporation board voted 6-0 on June 25 to end a shared executive director arrangement with the Spearman Chamber of Commerce and the City of Spearman. The arrangement has been in place since 2008. Alderman Brian Gillispie, who serves on the EDC board, made the motion to "separate from the current contract." Board member Jessica Brown seconded it. Six board members were present, and the motion passed unanimously.
According to the meeting minutes, the Chamber pays the EDC $3,937.50 per quarter, about $15,750 a year, toward the director's salary. The director, Bonnie Thompson, currently splits her duties between the two organizations.
Written feedback obtained through an open records request showed competing recommendations before the meeting. Gillispie recommended full separation. Thompson submitted a draft memorandum of understanding and a Chamber proposal to keep the arrangement with a restructured split of roughly 70% economic development and 30% Chamber duties. City Manager Jamey Piper recommended a single agreement under a new, revised memorandum of understanding. A 2015 update to the 2008 agreement was approved, but a signed copy cannot be found.