Mayor Don Ness unveiled today who he wants to sit on DEDA. The citizens he selected include Don Monaco, John Heino and Brian Hanson. He also named the three councilors who will make up DEDA. They are Todd Fedora, Tony Cuneo and Jeff Anderson.

I couldn't help but notice Jim Stauber didn't make the cut. He has been DEDA's president for four years and is the organization's loudest voice and advocate. But Stauber also opposed the mayor's efforts to gain more control and authority of the group, which he believes is the reason Ness didn't pick him.

"I'm sure it was, I'm sure it was that," Stauber said. "His plan was not my vision and it is better for him to not have me on."

Stauber said he didn't try to be on DEDA after the council voted 5-4 to change its structure. He says now that the mayor has more power, he didn't care whether he was part of DEDA.

I asked Mayor Ness how he selected the three councilors. "Several councilors expressed interest in serving and these three councilors will do an outstanding job," he said through email. "Councilor Stauber did not indicate his interest. Jim has served deda well and we thank him for that."

I asked Stauber what he thought of the mayor's choices. He said he thought it was peculiar that Ness chose chairs of the Public Safety (Cuneo) and Parks and Rec (Anderson) committees to deal with economic development. But he said he takes comfort knowing that any expenditure of $50,000 needs council approval.