After months of discussion and debate, Warren City Council has committed $100,000 to the Warren Worx initiative.

The general idea behind Warren Worx is the need to develop a central facilitating entity for initiatives and projects in the county. Warren Worx’s first major assignment would be the development of a county brand that can be used by existing organizations to enhance outreach efforts.

Statistics driving the effort are the county’s decades-long population decline, especially among the workforce-aged cohort.

The initiative as envisioned will be led by the Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry.

The WCCBI has asked for $100,000 commitments from both the city and county governments.

Council agreed Monday in a split decision to a memorandum of understanding that outlines, according to City Manager Mike Holtz, the “terms and conditions under which financial support would be provided.”

Mayor David Wortman put on the full court press at the outset of the debate, arguing in support of the investment.

“I am a firm and staunch believer of entering into partnership,” he said of the proposal. “We are having a hard time continuing to keep and attract a young workforce.”

Wortman called Warren Worx an “opportunity to take a bold and innovative action to tackle some of the problems we are facing as a city and as a county” and said the initiative is an extension of the city council and staff and “provides a strategic level arm for our continuing funding and resourcing.

“Warren Worx is an ideal opportunity for us to build out a strategic capability to steer those investments long-term city and county-wide.”

Councilwoman Danielle Flasher then made a motion to table, calling for a public work session on the proposal.

“I don’t see any rush to vote,” she said.

“We’ve had a number of different public work sessions.” Wortman said. “I think, at this point, it’s time to implement.”

“From my standpoint, this is the time to act,” Councilman Maurice Cashman said. “(The vote) should be unanimous. We should be voting 7-0 to support this action. To split the vote doesn’t send quite the right message.”

Councilwoman Wendy McCain claimed that the council agreed to hold a public work session on this issue back in January.

“Warren Worx and the long-term investment in the community is exciting,” she said. “Taking the time to do it right is important. (It) seems we are putting the cart before the horse.”

She argued for paring down the cost of Warren Worx.

“The enemy of progress is an attempt at perfection,” Councilman Jared Villella said. “I think we have to kind of move in some direction.”

“All initiatives have risk,” Councilman John Barbera added. “Everyone here has to decide how much risk they are willing to vote for. We can try to reduce the risk to zero and get a utopian thing…. I think it’s time just to vote. We’ve been talking about this for a long time.”

“No one is talking about perfection,” McCain argued, stating that she’s asked for a measurable goal for Warren Worx.

WCCBI President/CEO Jim Decker acknowledged that the county’s problem “is not one problem, which is the biggest part of the problem. Each one of those issues identified in the city plan and county plan gives you direction on what we should be focusing on.”

Warren Worx as a concept originated with the county’s comprehensive plan.

“We’ve got an opportunity to move,” Decker said. “Everybody is basically sitting here waiting to move.

“It’s an investment in our future. The hard work is yet to come.”

Flasher’s motion to table failed 5-2 with Flasher and McCain supporting it.

A motion to approve the MOU with Warren Worx was approved 5-2 with Flasher and McCain in opposition.