That's what Marion County commissioners said Monday after a discussion with a state official and eight economic development volunteers.

The commissioners also were considering where they might find office space for the new assistant in the already crowded courthouse.

Susan Neu Poth Cadoret, of the Kansas Department of Commerce, was introduced to the commissioners by Tina Groening, chair of the Marion County Economic Development Council.

Cadoret, a former economic director in rural western Kansas who now serves businesses in the Kansas City area, said that in a perfect world, a Marion County office might have three staff persons for functions ranging from recruitment to looking after current businesses to staff work.

But since the world isn't perfect, she suggested the Marion County Commission probably is heading the right direction in seeking a person to oversee a county office that would handle economic communications with much of the outside ground work done by city economic directors and volunteers.

The volunteers attending testified that messages from businesses interested in the possibility of coming to Marion County frequently are lost because they come into random offices around the county.

One message cited was an inquiry that came to the Marion County Treasurer's Office about whether the county is included in Fort Riley expansion plans-but no return name or number was left.

They said no database exists of Marion County businesses already here.

Cadoret said Marion County is missing inquiries that come into state offices because it has no central office to call.

The commissioners met by teleconference with Jim Kaup, Topeka attorney who acts as county consultant, to discuss language changes of solid-waste assessment regulations that would allow them to lower rates for low-income public housing regulations.

Commissioner Randy Dallke said he had talked to a former commissioner about steering around situations where residents join group housing with sufficient funds to buy units.

Dallke said, "Our goal is to help the people who need the help."