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“Because of the staffing changes, and some of the positions not being renewed, it’s also, I think, we’ve kind of thought that we’re going to let Rodney get our house in order before we were to make any decision about potentially doing a search,� Partnership board chair Karlos Ramirez said at the group’s regular meeting Wednesday. “I think we put our best foot forward a lot better when our house is in order. So, I think that Rodney’s definitely taken the bull by the horns, and I think that everybody feels, at least I believe, my sense is, that everybody’s feeling much more included and much better with his leadership and what we’re doing moving forward.�

Crim took over last month at the economic development agency that was established to represent St. Louis and St. Louis County after its former CEO Sheila Sweeney was forced out. Her three-year tenure was marked with high staff turnover, low morale and political influence from St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger’s office, according to former staffers.

Crim, the former chief of the city’s economic development arm, moved to the Partnership when it was formed in 2013, though his role and responsibilities were mostly behind-the-scenes in recent years.

Since taking the helm, Crim has formed board committees to examine hiring and compensation policies, real estate transactions and other internal controls. He said he has started sending biweekly reports on the Partnership to the board and the County Council.

Crim presented at a County Council committee hearing this month, and on Wednesday, St. Louis County Councilman Mark Harder came to the Partnership’s meeting at the invitation of Crim.

“The leadership of Rodney and what we’re doing now as far as being more transparent with the staff, with the board, with the County Council, I think that’s no accident,� Ramirez said. “Rodney’s put a lot of thought into that.�

Repairing relations with the County Council is critical for the regional economic development organization’s budget, which relies on the county for about $4 million in annual funding. The city’s economic development arm contributes about $1.1 million to the organization’s budget.

The St. Louis County Council, long at odds with Stenger, moved late last year to begin funding the Partnership quarterly, saying it wanted to keep closer tabs on the organization.

The council has also tried to take over the powerful St. Louis County Port Authority, which collects about $5 million in annual rent payments from the River City Casino and pays some $800,000 in fees for the Partnership staff to manage the entity. Stenger’s office and the council are in litigation to determine whether the council’s new port authority is valid.

The Partnership’s $13.3 million budget for the year, adopted Wednesday, is 6 percent below last year’s and still requires the use of about $1.5 million in reserves. The budget assumes the council will grant the Partnership’s quarterly funding allotments.

“In spite of whatever cuts we’re going through, we’re looking to continue at the equal if not better quality of service that we’re doing,� Ramirez said.

Besides Sweeney, other top leaders, including Chief Financial Officer Joyce Steiger, are also set to depart. Communications Vice President Katy Jamboretz is leaving, and former business vice president Jamey Edgerton left last month. Vice President of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ginger Imster confirmed Wednesday she is departing this week.

“We’re not rushing to fill the open positions because we need it for budget reasons as well as the staff has a lot of capabilities, so we want to play to people’s strengths and provide new opportunities for the team,� Crim said. “Focus on the work. That’s been the theme throughout all of this.�