The Marengo County Economic Development Authority (MCEDA) will begin 2012 under new leadership.

Citing a breakdown in contract negotiations, MCEDA and Debra Fox, who has served as director for the past three years, have parted ways.

“Recently, the contract Ms. Fox was operating under expired,” said Kathryn Friday who serves as chairman for MCEDA. “Despite diligent attempts at negotiation, Ms. Fox and the Marengo County Economic Authority Board could not reach satisfactory renewal contract terms. Over the past several years, Debra Fox has served industriously in her position as Executive Director of the Marengo County Economic Development Authority. We wish Mrs. Fox the best in her future employment.”

Friday said postings for the vacancy were posted yesterday and that the board hoped to have someone in place in the next eight to 10 weeks.

Among the projects the new director will inherit are a host of things in the works for both Demopolis and Linden and one of the largest scale projects in the region: Demopolis’ port project.

“Both (Industrial Development Boards) feel they can handle anything that come up in the transition,” Friday said of any pending projects in the cities of Linden or Demopolis, “and the transition with anything involving the (Alabama Development Office) will be seamless. Any projects involving them, they are the project manager.”