July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.

Commissioners OK EDIT changes (8/8/05)

Changes will allow Portland to use EDIT funds

By By Mike Snyder-

Changes in the way the city of Portland is permitted to spend a local income tax were approved today by Jay County Commissioners.

The commissioners, who have oversight over all economic development income tax generated in the county, OK’d modifications in the county EDIT plan that will allow the purchase of a downtown office building and improvements to a new park.

The changes approved by Commissioners Milo Miller Jr., Gary Theurer and Faron Parr didn’t come without some questioning of Bob Quadrozzi, the executive director of Jay County Development Corporation.

The commissioners, especially Miller and Theurer, were somewhat skeptical about using more than $320,000 of EDIT money to buy the Community Resource Center, which is owned by Jay Pride LLC, headed by local banker Barry Hudson.

“Do you think that’s wise using (EDIT) money to buy the building?” Miller asked Quadrozzi, who oversees a variety of EDIT committees.

“Absolutely ... It’s a nice impression for the city and the county to be in that building,” said Quadrozzi, whose organization occupies a portion of the lobby and two offices in the Community Resource Center, which is located at 118 S. Meridian St.

Last week, the Portland City Council approved the purchase of the building at a price of $326,729, pending modification of the city’s portion of the county’s EDIT capital improvement plan.

Because the county shares a portion of its EDIT proceeds with each of the six incorporated cities and towns in the county, the commissioners have control over the way the funds are spent. When cities or towns want to spend EDIT money in a way not covered under the current plan, the commissioners must give consent.

Quadrozzi noted that between $2,100 and $2,250 in rent is paid monthly by the five public or quasi-public entities occupying the offices in the building. Miller and Theurer said they were not pleased to be using county property tax money to pay rent when the one county entity in the building — Jay/Portland Building and Planning — had an office rent-free in the courthouse prior to moving.

The other modification approved today will allow EDIT funds to be used for development of Hudson Family Park.

In other business, Miller asked Quadrozzi this morning about the search for additional available industrial land since virtually all of Portland Industrial Park has been purchased by XPLEX owner Glynn Barber.

“There’s land available,” said Quadrozzi, who added some searching has been done by officials from the Portland Economic Development Corporation. Quadrozzi said he hoped to keep the search quiet to keep land prices relatively low.[[In-content Ad]]
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