The Mahaska County Board interviewed a candidate for a new position Wednesday (6/12).  The Board spent nearly an hour interviewing Tom Flaherty for what would be a new position as County Economic Development Director.  Flaherty most recently worked with the Mahaska County Development Group and has experience in the field in the Quad Cities area.  He told the Board Mahaska County’s top priorities should be developing the potential pool of employees for area businesses, creating housing and creating housing for seniors.  Flaherty also said he’d like to develop the Highway 23 corridor.  Following the interview, County Board Chairman Mark Groenendyk said the County “needs a professional voice” when it comes to economic development.  During the public comments portion of the meeting, Oskaloosa City Manager Michael Schrock said for the County to hire someone for economic development “seems like a duplication of effort and would cause division” between the City of Oskaloosa and Mahaska County.  Groenendyk says there were three applicants for the Economic Development Director job.  The Board will make a decision at its next meeting on June 17.