Etna Township approves new members of economic development boards in tense meeting
Etna Township Trustees approved new members for its joint economic development districts and zones in a tense meeting Oct. 4.
Township residents Necol Washington and Jeff Haygood were appointed to the joint economic development zone II board along with Etna Township Trustee Rozland McKee for a term from Oct. 20 through Oct. 19, 2024. Chuck Larosa was approved as an alternate for all three members. Washington was also appointed to the joint economic development district boards for JEDD 1, JEDD 2, JEDD 3 and JEDD 4 from now until 2026. McKee was appointed to JEDD 2 and JEDD 3 until 2026 and JEDD 4 and JEDD 7 until 2025.
The appointments, done in two resolutions were approved 2-1 with McKee and Trustee Jeff Johnson voting in favor and Trustee Mark Evans voting against.
Evans said the township had not advertised the positions to community members.
"There's interest to serve from the community. Why would we not seek the best individuals to sit on these boards and advertise?" he said. "This is continuing the past inappropriate practice. It's not transparent."
McKee said after the meeting that Washington, a lawyer, and Haygood, a Columbus pastor, reached out to her about the positions and are more than qualified. Both are African American, and McKee said it's important to her to make sure people of color are more involved in local matters.
"I want to make sure we are represented on every level," she said.
Qualifications for Washington and Haygood were not provided during the meeting. But according to information provided to the Advocate, Washington, an Etna Township resident since 2005, is an attorney with the NRW Law Office. She practices in the areas of business and estate planning, where she has experience with the planning needs of the elderly, farmers and small business owners. She also co-owns a property development business with her spouse. Washington is a former professor for Wilberforce University and Columbus State Community College and she is currently a Franklin County Children Services Board Member. She received her law degree from Ohio State University in 2000 and her Master of Laws degree from Capital University Law School in 2005. She also served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army.
Haygood is a graduate of the Judah Bible Institute in Columbus and he began his ministry in 1987. His work as taken him to Europe and the Middle East. In May 1996, Haygood founded the Living Word Church, located in Columbus. He provides oversight to several churches in the U.S. and abroad, according to his church's website. He resides in Etna Township with his wife, Chelly.
McKee said after the meeting that when Evans tried to remove former Trustee John Carlisle and Fiscal Officer Walter Rogers from two councils in March, he did not advertise for those positions and instead selected the people he wanted to replace Carlisle and Rogers. She said she did not bring that up during the meeting because she didn't want to argue.
"We just want action, vote and get out. That's what our objectives are," she said.
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Etna Township approves new members of economic development boards
