Members of Polk County’s Industrial and Economic Development Board (IEDB) failed to remove Buddy Haynes from their board, instead defending him.
Commission Chairman John Pippenger requested Haynes be removed when IEDB members met in Benton Thursday, August 3.
Pippenger had previously sent a letter to Haynes asking him to resign, but Haynes, the owner of Copperhill Industries, refused.
Pippenger told the board, “My phone has rung off the hook,” with complaints about Haynes being on the board.
“There have been many complaints as to his business being counterproductive to this county, which strives on tourism for its economic growth and prosperity,” Pippenger said. “This request is based in part on an apparent rift between residents and Mr. Haynes as related to the ability of the IEDB board being able to operate successfully in all four districts” of Polk County.
Mark Allen was the first to defend Haynes, asking if the commissioners had toured his Copperhill Industries facility. He said he had and they should.
Derrick Sloan responded that everyone on the board was appointed and voted on by the commission, and Haynes was named 9-0.
That ended discussion over Pippenger’s request.