County to establish new Protocol Office

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County to establish new Protocol Office

County News

Friday, 19 November 2010 21:15

By Marvin G. Cortner
Editor
The Osceola County Commission Monday in a 4-1 vote approved a resolution establishing a Protocol Office to generate international business leads and tourism.
The county Economic Development Department, under which the Protocol Office would operate, will now develop a plan for the new office and develop a budget to go with it.
According to county staff, the Protocol Office essentially would act as the official host for visiting international dignitaries and guests and would be a liaison between the visitors and the local community. Playing the host would include organizing welcoming ceremonies, meetings and special events for the visitors so they would be introduced to the business community. The commission did not appropriate any funding for the office.
Commission Chairman Fred Hawkins Jr. cast the lone opposition vote on the resolution.
“Is there really a need to add another office and the cost?” Hawkins asked before the vote, also questioning whether the office would be a duplication of service and whether it would be effective. “It might be better to delay this until we do some strategic planning.”
Hawkins said the additional cost would deepen expected budget shortfalls in the next fiscal year.
Maria Toumazos, director of economic development, said that if the county doesn't move forward with the new office now, others “may beat us to the punch.”
“We’re just strategizing now,” Toumazos said.
Commissioner Michael Harford said the commission – in order to foster economic development and to raise the county’s average wage base – needs to focus “beyond Osceola County.”
“We are trying to lay the groundwork before anyone else in Central Florida lays claim to this,” Harford said, adding that as the U.S. economy improves, the county needs to position itself to develop more jobs relating to international trade.
Toumazos said the only protocol office in Florida is in Hillsborough County. She also said that Orlando-based Enterprise Florida, a public-private partnership which serves as the state’s primary organization devoted to statewide economic development, would help the county identify key countries on which to concentrate and what business sectors should be pursued. Two of those sectors Toumazos said, would be sports and medical.
Toumazos is the county representative to Enterprise Florida’s Stakeholders Council.
Commissioner Smith offers farewell
Also at Monday’s meeting, Commissioner Ken Smith said his farewells to county staff, other elected officials and the many friends he has made during his 14 years on the county dais. It was his last meeting; he did not seek re-election in district 4.
Hawkins said that in the future he would be honored to be compared to Smith in terms of the leadership the retiring commissioner offered to the county. He also called Smith the “epitome of a statesman” and someone who used his office to foster awareness about county issues.
Commissioner John Quiñones called Smith a role model and someone who could be counted on to bring a “historical perspective” to the commission. He also acknowledged Smith’s commitment over the years to youth issues.
For his part, Smith said that he wanted to thank all the people he had met over the 45 years he has spent in Osceola County for their trust and friendship and for taking him “into their hearts.”
He also gave special recognition to County Attorney Jo Thacker – saying she was the “daughter he never had” – and to Commission Auditor Kathy Wall, who “always offered sound advice based on common sense.”
Smith also thanked his wife Jenny for helping him “do what he wanted to do” in terms of public office and for entering into the spotlight with him, not always willingly.
“I plan to stay involved in the community I love; I can’t play golf everyday,” he said.