The Athens Area Chamber of Commerce is backing a move by Athens-Clarke commissioners to dismantle the independent Economic Development Foundation and make recruiting industries a government function.

An economic development task force appointed by Mayor Nancy Denson recommended in October replacing the EDF with a new independent agency and increasing its funding from about $300,000 to $1.5 million. But commissioners Denson appointed to implement the report took a different approach, opting to create a new county department with a $600,000 to $700,000 budget that will be charged with going after major new employers.

They cited two reasons: With additional funding, the new organization should be held accountable to elected officials and, thus, the taxpayers. And the government should be more responsible for economic development, since it provides the land and infrastructure industries often demand to relocate.

The chamber, which counts 700 local businesses as members, took a stance at odds with other business leaders who have criticized the proposal. "Folks should be doing backflips that y'all have taken this on and agreed to do it and agreed to fund it," incoming chairman Mike Morris told commissioners Thursday night.

But others in the business community haven't been doing backflips. EDF Chairman Paul Chambers, Executive Director Peggy Chapman, task force member Alex Patterson, Georgia Power executive Len Chandler and others have been outspoken in criticizing the proposal. They say the government won't be able to pay enough to hire an economic development professional, and state officials and corporate executives want to deal with businesspeople, not a local government.

Morris also defended chamber President Doc Eldridge, who's come under fire for supporting the commission's plan. "When Doc is speaking, he is speaking for the chamber," Morris said. "...It is not the world according to Doc."

The commission is scheduled to vote on the proposal Dec. 4, then move on to other task force recommendations. They want a new structure in place before Chapman's contract expires in June. "We have to get a mechanism and place and get going, because we are already behind," Commissioner Harry Sims said.