No new information was available regarding the current state of the county's relationship with Aviation Repair Technologies (ART) Tuesday night for the Mississippi County Quorum Court.
ART has apparently been unable to keep up its end of the economic development it made with the county several years ago.
Mississippi County Judge Randy Carney asked Economic Developer Clif Chitwood if he could give an update, to which Chitwood replied that there was nothing he could share at this time, and said he would likely be able to give a report at the Court's June meeting.
Justice Robert Earl Davis said the Court had been promised a full report on the situation at ART by the end of last year.
"Sometimes with big business, things go on behind the scenes and just can't be publicized," said Carney. "That's just all we can say tonight. It can't be helped at this time. But there are some things going on."
"People are wondering why we can't answer their questions about this," said Davis. "And we can't hide from it. This Court needs to know what's going on."
Carney and Justice Barry Ball reaffirmed the county's economic development funds are no longer being used to pay rent for ART, but that no other information can be shared about the company.
In other business, the Moore Center, which is undergoing a grant-funded renovation and will soon house multiple county offices as well as election equipment, is being completed on schedule. Justice Bill Nelson said that carpet is being laid and work will be finished near to the end of June deadline originally set.
The court also adopted a resolution which appropriated an additional $27,500 to complete the project and $6,800 for furniture. Also included in the appropriation was $30,000 for the county's senior center program, which is in dire financial straits and needed the infusion to make it to the end of the year without cutting back on services or personnel.
sharris@blythevillecourier.com