The city of Warrenton has agreed to pay $10,000 to renew its membership in the Greater Warren County Economic Development Council (EDC).

The EDC is a public-private partnership that aims to spur economic development by bringing more employers to the area.

The board of aldermen voted 5-0 to renew the city’s membership during a Sept. 5 public meeting. Ward 3 Alderman John Miller was absent.

Membership in the EDC is renewed annually. The board of aldermen opted out of rejoining the group last year, but reconsidered and voted to rejoin in January.

However, some of the concerns that led to that split last September remained.

“One of the things we talked about is having more knowledge of what’s going on, how our dollars are being spent,” said Ward 2 Alderman Gary Auch. “I thought there was going to be a little more information forthcoming.”

Auch said aldermen had received a couple of informational emails after rejoining in January, but none recently. He also reiterated a previous complaint, that the EDC is not focused on bringing more retail development to the area.

Retail stores produce sales taxes that make up a major portion of the city’s revenue.

Representatives of the EDC have previously stated that the group’s focus is on spurring industrial or manufacturing growth, rather than retail, as a way of bringing more money into the area.

Auch acknowledged that mentality, but said retail and industrial development go hand in hand, and that should be reflected in the relationship between Warrenton and the EDC.

Ward 1 Alderman Greg Costello asked that annual financial reports be added to the original agreement between the city and the EDC, quoting President Ronald Reagan’s famous maxim, “Trust, but verify.”

Since the EDC’s activities aren’t contained to Warrenton, Costello said he wants reassurance that the city’s $10,000 is benefiting Warrenton taxpayers. He cited CertainTeed, a major regional employer the EDC helped bring to Jonesburg, as a good example of a project that benefited people in Warrenton.

Ward 1 Alderman Mike Shilharvey, who is the board of aldermen’s liaison to the EDC, said the economic group has multiple projects under development.

For example, he said the group wants to help establish a port in Warren County that could be used to move grain and other materials via barge. A fund to help entrepreneurs start their own businesses is another idea Shilharvey said the group is considering.