"I was told to wait because you wanted to try with the new elections to see if we could get something else," Curlew told the commission, alluding to the 2006 governor's election. "I could not go back until you all authorized me to proceed with that."
Commissioner Bruce Farris asked Curlew who told him to wait, and Curlew said he couldn't recall but had documentation. Gregory said the grant would not have hinged on who became the governor because it was a federal grant. Curlew added that he flew to Atlanta to attempt to save the grant application.
The commission took no action on Curlew's request.
During Monday's meeting, the commission also heard from the "20/20 Vision Team," a committee that Economic Development Director Bruce Carpenter said was a result of last year's Kentucky Association of Economic Development (KAED) city-wide assessment.
The 20/20 Vision Team is a group of local business leaders, community members and community leaders -- including Mayor Willard McBurney and Whitley County Judge-Executive Pat White Jr. -- who have met for the last eight weeks to start to develop a strategic plan for economic development in the area for the next 11 years.
Tim Thompson was the spokesperson for the 20/20 team during Monday's meeting. He started off by challenging the city leaders using a catch phrase from a movie that happens to be very popular currently.
"I'm here to challenge you to boldly go where no leader of Corbin, or really for that matter, probably any leaders in the whole Tri-County area has ever gone before," Thompson said.
Thompson outlined the five goals of the group: to improve economic development, increase tourism in the region, provide high quality education, to create a culture in the region where diversity is highly valued, and finally improve public relations, so the region can effectively tell the world "the story of what we have here."
The name 20/20 Vision Team comes from the "clarity of razor sharp focus" the team has in looking toward to the future of the region and the goal of 2020 as the year for these visions to come to fruition.
"In just 11 short years, our vision is to see the strong community pride of Corbin become linked hand-in-hand with the other strong communities in the Tri-County area," Thompson said. "...Where progressive thinking becomes the new paradigm for Corbin and the area.
The commission also heard from JD Chaney, director of governmental affairs for the Kentucky League of Cities (KLC). Chaney explained that his role in the KLC is to track legislation that affects the state's more than 400 plus cities, and act as a lobbyist for the cities.
As part of his new position, Chaney was traveling the state to discuss the 2009 session with city leaders.
"I certainly knew Corbin was one of the cities I would travel to this year," Chaney said.
