Lamar County resident, Bill Strathern, went to the Lamar County Commissioners Court on Monday, asking that county representatives be put on the Paris Economic Development Corporation (PEDC) board.
Currently, in order to serve on the PEDC board, you must be a Paris resident — living in the city limits of Paris. PEDC board members are appointed by the Paris City Council. The PEDC board approves the annual budget, plan of work and monitors finances of the organization.
Strathern, who does not reside in the city of Paris, asked the Commissioners to send a letter to the Paris City Council requesting that two county residents serve on the PEDC board.
PEDC was established in 1993 to promote and attract economic development in Paris and Lamar County. At that time, the voters of Paris approved the Type A local $00.25 sales tax that provides operating funds for the PEDC.
Theoretically, anyone who comes into the Paris city limits, from anywhere, and makes a purchase that incurs a sales tax, contributes to the PEDC.