By Nate Smith, Staff Writer
May 12, 2008 10:30 pm
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The Washington City Council on Monday heard plans to start its own redevelopment commission.
Introduced was an ordinance that would create a city Redevelopment Department and a Redevelopment Commission. Currently, there is a redevelopment commission for Daviess County but not for the city.
The council heard from Gabriel Bender, an attorney for Baker and Daniels, on the provisions of the new commission. The commission would have five members, all serving one-year terms. Three members would be appointed by the mayor and two would be appointed by the council.
Bender also said because of the property tax reform package passed this year in the state legislature, a Washington Community School Board member would have to sit on the commission as a non-voting member.
The purpose of the commission is to help finance economic development projects through tax increment financing, or TIF, districts in the city. In the county, projects like the West Gate @ Crane Tech Park and Grain Processing Corp. have been helped with TIF funding.
“You take an area that you have chosen for redevelopment and property taxes are set at a base level,” Bender said. “As taxes increase, that additional property tax revenue above that base level within that district will go to the redevelopment commission.”
Those proceeds would then be used to fund further projects, such as infrastructure or buildings for more projects.
“If there is a company that wants to put some kind of manufacturing facility in town and you want to provide some kind of incentives for them, if you establish a TIF area, you could issue bonds that would be paid by future revenues from property taxes,” Bender said.
Council member Joe Fleck said TIF districts have helped in Gibson County and in Princeton. Fleck works at Toyota.
“Gibson County really benefited from TIFs,” Fleck said. “One fellow started with one warehouse (when the district was created). He’s already built seven and he’s working on another warehouse.”
After the meeting, Mayor Larry Haag said the city’s redevelopment commission would work with the county’s redevelopment commission to improve utilities and infrastructure.
“We would like to partner with the county as things continue to grow,” Haag said. “For instance, on SR 57S towards Wal-Mart. We can only TIF out to a certain area but if the county and city work together, we could stretch that area.”
Haag said the idea came partly from Daviess County Economic Development Executive Director Ron Arnold. Haag said he has worked with Arnold to get the commission going.
“He thought this was a very good idea,” Haag said. “He encouraged us to do this.”
The council will vote on the ordinance at its next meeting on May 20. If the council votes for the commission, the members would have to be appointed and a redevelopment plan would have to be formed.
In other business:
POOL MONEY
Haag announced that private donations have raised more than $150,000 for the city pool. Details of the funds were not available after the meeting, but Haag said an announcement is forthcoming.
The council unanimously voted to start the design process by allowing City Attorney Jeff Norris and City Engineer Ed Barnett to draw up a request for proposals.
PURCHASING ORDINANCE
The council unanimously approved changes to the city’s purchasing ordinance, creating further regulations for the city transit authority.
The regulations are in part because transit workers handle both state and federal money. A consultant with the state Department of Transportation found the oversight last year.
BLOCKADE STREET
Representatives from Dustbusters, Inc. asked the council to vacate the unpaved portion of Blockade Street in order for the yet to be built car wash to use that street for an entrance and exit. There was no one present to object.
The council said they will vote on the petition at the next meeting.
CONCESSION STAND
Parks Superintendent Daniel Neely said the city has reached an agreement with Scoops to run the concession stands at Eastside Park. The ice cream store will be open at the park from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
The city is still looking for engineers to run the train at the park. During a motorcycle show this weekend, Neely and Haag will serve as engineers.
OLD BUILDING
Due to falling bricks at the old Senior and Family Services building on E. VanTrees Street, the council asked Building Inspector Chris Wimmenauer to have a environmental study done prior to the building being torn down.
Wimmenauer was also asked to field quotes for building demolition. Haag said he and Street Commissioner Ernie Evans closed off the sidewalk next to the building due to the falling bricks.
STOP SIGN
The council recommended and the Board of Public Works and Safety approved the addition of a three-way stop at Ninth and Lincoln streets.
Board members and Police Chief Steve Riney said the intersection needed one due to high speeds on Ninth Street.
SIDEWALKS
The council unanimously voted to reapply for a Safe Routes to School grant to create sidewalks near Lena Dunn Elementary. The grant would pay $250,000 for the creation of sidewalks and curbs near the school.
Later in the meeting the issue of sidewalks came up again. Haag asked Wimmenauer on research of sidewalk improvement in the city. Wimmenauer said there are a few ideas other cities have, including one that the city and a homeowner would split the costs of a new sidewalk by half if the owners wanted it.
The council asked for a draft sidewalk improvement plan.
SCHOOL BUS SAFETY
Roger Cox, a Washington Schools bus driver, asked the city for continued help with drivers who run school bus signs. He said drivers continue to run his stop signal while dropping off students on E. Nat’l Highway. Riney has sent police cruisers in the area and said he would continue to send police cars.
Cox and public works member John Gray said continued awareness is needed by drivers.
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