As part of approving distributions for the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, the Warrenton Board of Alderman spent some time discussing the proposed distribution to the Greater Warren County Economic Development Council before finally approving the measure by a 4-1 vote.
The amount proposed to be contributed by the city to GWCEDC is $22,500, which is the same amount provided in the past fiscal year, according to City Administrator Brandie Walters.
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As part of approving distributions for the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, the Warrenton Board of Alderman spent some time discussing the proposed distribution to the Greater Warren County Economic Development Council before finally approving the measure by a 4-1 vote.
The amount proposed to be contributed by the city to GWCEDC is $22,500, which is the same amount provided in the past fiscal year, according to City Administrator Brandie Walters.
Alderman Brandon Lang asked Walters for a list of businesses GWCEDC has brought to Warrenton.
Mayor Eric Schleuter said that the city had previously employed staff previously in-house, but that set up wasn’t working well. He noted that since the city has been going through GWCEDC the city has had more interest from businesses locating in the city.
Alderman Christine Wait then asked whether or not the city has explored other avenues for consultants, but Walters and Schleuter said the city had not.
Wait continued to asked additional questions about reaching out to other economic development consultants, suggesting that the city reach out to other firms for consulting services.
Lang said putting the item out for bids would take some time to research to ascertain the costs adding that he didn’t think it would be something to consider for the FY 2026 budget, but perhaps a future budget. Wait said she felt like the city needed to keep open the discussion about alternate economic development consultants, saying the city is “stuck” with the current arrangement.
Following the discussion, the board voted 4-1 to approve the distribution of $22,500 to GWCEDC with Wait casting the lone no vote.
The aldermen also unanimously approved $25,000 for AGAPE as part of an annual arrangement with the entity for FY 2026.
AGAPE Immediate Past President Franci Schwartz said the nonprofit organization AGAPE has experienced record breaking demand for its services in 2025, with 400 new people signing up for services each month and over 6,000 visits and half a million pounds of food distributed. She said housing instability is growing in the area and the entity helped 150 families avoid eviction and power shutoffs in 2025. She also touted the work of the Emergency Weather Response network, which provides shelter for those in need when temperatures drop below 20 degrees.
