Leadership and membership change at CCDA

CHRIS BALDUS, Clinton Herald, Iowa
·2 min read

Dec. 20—CLINTON — New members and new leaders were approved at the Clinton County Development Association meeting Wednesday morning at the Bickelhaupt Arboretum.

Three new Board members were brought on to replace members who are retiring because of new term limits. Kathy Klahn, Gary McKenrick and Ryan Veenstra are joining the Board as Brenda Kay, Dave Sivright and Peg Wolf-Kieckmann are retiring.

The Board also approved officer changes. Joel Diekmann is the new CCDA president with Jenny Green as vice-president, Dawn Holesinger as treasurer and Eric Gettes as secretary.

The Board recognized the outgoing members and administrative agent Jennifer Gutierrez, who is also retiring, with plaques and appreciation.

The CCDA is the non-profit sponsor of the license for the Wild Rose Casino and Resort in Clinton. It provides grants to local organizations and charities across the county through educational, social, cultural and environmental programs and initiatives.

SLATER GRANT REINSTATED

In other action at the meeting, after a brief discussion about possibly setting an unwanted precedent, the CCDA Board voted 9-2 to reinstate and extend for six months a $75,000 grant for the Duke Slater memorial project.

Board members for the project attended the CCDA meeting and apologized for missing a deadline for seeking an extension in November. They also explained what happened.

A letter warning that the Slater grant was about to expire was sent to a post office box for Clinton High School's athletic booster club, which was not controlled or monitored by the project, according to Ted Tornow, who chairs the project's board. The project has involved the booster club, but it was not at fault.

"It's not their fault," Tornow said of the booster club. "It's completely our fault."

He also took personal responsibility. "I missed it," he said.

CCDA Directors Stammeyer and Kay voted against the reinstatement and extension.

The CCDA also unanimously approved grant extensions for the Sawmill Museum and Bridgeview.