Washington County Commissioners approved a contract that could last up to 10 years with the Washington County Chamber of Commerce with a 2-1 vote. At issue is an economic development agreement that has been in existence for more than 20 years and its renewal at a higher rate. The original agreement in 1999 called for a $70,000 payment and that has remained in place to this date. The new agreement calls for a $140,000 payment this year and next with a 3% escalator clause for each of the remaining years of the contract. In all the contract could cost $1.6 million. The county could get out of the contract after 5 years but would have to pay a fee of half of the remaining contract to do so. Commissioner Nick Sherman voted against the measure stating that he is against a no bid contract that binds tax payer monies for a significant number of years. Voting in support of the measure was Commissioner Larry Maggi that praised the work of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce as they led the county through the development of Southpointe, Southpointe II and the emergence of the gas and oil industry. Refuting Sherman’s claim that economic development is a commissioner’s job, Maggi stated that “government doesn’t do economic development well, leave it to the private sector.” After the meeting, Commissioner Chairwoman Diana Irey-Vaughan indicated that this measure was tabled last month and at no time did Commissioner Sherman put forth any alternate entity that would provide the services that are required of this contract.