Richard Moody reports for Columbia-Greene Media that Columbia Economic Development Corporation leader Kenneth Flood will get an 87.5 percent raise. Patrice Perry, director of the county Planning and Economic Development Department, requested Jan. 21 that town supervisors renew the contract with Flood. His hourly rate would go from $40 to $75, but not to exceed an annual salary of $30,000, under the proposal to be considered by the full Board of Supervisors at its monthly meeting Feb. 13. Flood left the Columbia Economic Development Corporation in 2015 "before he was named in an investigation report from the state Authorities Budget Office," according to the story. Flood seemed to favor Ginsberg’s Foods during his previous term, with David Ginsberg on the three-person panel that selected his for his position at the agency. “I question why the county continues to pay Ken Flood,” said Louise Roback, of Hudson. “And why it did not go out for bid. And why you are upping his rate.” Some supervisors disagreed. “I have known Ken Flood for a long time,” said Claverack Town Supervisor Clifford “Kippy” Weigelt. “I think he does a very good job helping the county with what we have to do. In my opinion he is worth the money for what he does.” Read the full story at HudsonValley360.com.