SHELBYVILLE - Despite the fact that it is owed more than $200,000 by the owners of the Eagle Creek Resort on Lake Shelbyville, the Shelby County Board wants the financially troubled resort to keep the doors open.

"We'll work with the state and the banks to make sure this facility stays open," Shelby County Board Chairman George Frazier said Wednesday at the monthly county board meeting.

The owner of the resort, Barry Shipman, still owes the county $214,358.28 and a payment has not been made since October 2004. The resort is also supposed to pay a 5 percent motel tax on rooms rented but has not made a payment since last fall. Money from that tax funds the Shelby County Office of Tourism.

Frazier said that losing the resort could have multiple consequences for Shelby County.

"Obviously the loss of jobs would be important," he said. "Closing would hurt the tourism business in the county, and it would close our office of tourism."

The county agreed to take a more aggressive attitude to economic development, voting to supply $15,000 to the newly created Shelby County Economic Development Committee. The president of that group, Charles Lane, told the board that making opportunities for business and employment was the EDC's main concern.

"We have a declining population and an aging population," Lane said. "We're looking for businesses to benefit the communities and industries that bring jobs to Shelby County."

Rural Partners and the city of Shelbyville also are providing funding for the new group.

The board also approved a motion by Rob Amling to write a letter asking that budget cuts of $599,000 at Lake Shelbyville be restored to the federal budget. Amling said the baseline budget for the facility is $5.2 million a year and the loss of almost $600,000 would reduce services at the lake.

University of Illinois Extension Unit Leader Jim Looft asked the board to support a letter writing campaign to urge Gov. Rod Blagojevich to return $12.5 million to the Extension budget. Shelby County's share of that money is $82,000 and without it, Looft said Extension would not be able to stay open in Shelby County.

"Our future has a lifecycle, and I can tell you it won't be long," he said.

Looft said 4-H families, farmers and members of its HCE program also would be contacted to urge Blagojevich to release the funds.

"The governor has done this sort of thing before and backed down, but we don't know if he'll back down in this case," he said.

The board noted that First Lady Patti Blagojevich has been active in encouraging 4-H participation throughout the state.

"Perhaps we should contact her," Amling said.

"I'm sure it couldn't hurt," Looft agreed. "But without this money you won't see 4-H at the State Fair, something she has taken an active interest in."

Sharon Mosley can be reached at sharonhrnews@yahoo.com.