ow that the Cayuga County Legislature's Planning and Economic Development Committee has OK'd a plan to create a new economic development agency, we hope to see the plan passed by the full Legislature.

This week's vote by the planning committee was preceded by questions about future funding for the agency, how staffing and board membership will be worked out, and whether local labor interests will have a voice as things proceed.

In the end, the committee voted to move ahead, and we believe that was the right choice, even if some questions remain.

A healthy debate on this is a good thing, and we never want to see proposals get rubber-stamped by people too meek to stand up to the majority, but we believe it's important to get this agency going as soon as possible.

Every detail can't possibly be accounted for beforehand. Changes to the way this agency and its board would operate can always be made later if and when people decide the system needs tweaking.

The county needs to be proactive in retaining jobs and working to attract new business to the area. Debating about how to get it done is fine, and we encourage it, but we aren't at all comfortable postponing what we see as a workable plan.

Establishing a private agency to assist existing businesses and give direction to potential employers is necessary for the economic future of the area, and the county needs to move ahead with it as quickly as possible.