July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
EDIT funds may buy building (8/2/05)
City wants to purchase Community Resource Center
By By Rachelle Haughn-
Plans have been set in motion to use $326,729 of Portland’s economic development income tax funds to purchase the Community Resource Center.
The building, which is located at 118 S. Meridian St., currently is owned by a group of investors called Jay Pride LLC, headed by local banker Barry Hudson.
The offices of the Portland Area Chamber of Commerce, Jay County Visitor and Tourism Bureau, Jay/Portland Building and Planning, Jay County Development Corporation and Jay County Community Development moved into the building in May.
Portland Mayor Bruce Hosier said Indiana law requires that any municipal body planning to purchase property must obtain two appraisals. The purchase price cannot exceed the average of those appraisals. The building was appraised two weeks ago and the appraisals averaged at $497,500, he said. The two appraisals cost a total of $1,500.
“(The Community Resource Center is) part of our downtown revitalization and redevelopment program, and it’s a great opportunity for us to have a private and public partnership with Jay Pride,” Hosier said this morning.
Hosier said rent collected from the building’s current tenants would be used to replace the EDIT funds. The money should be recouped over a period of 15 to 20 years, he said.
The council will vote on a resolution to purchase the building at the next meeting, which is Monday, Aug. 22, at 7 p.m.
In a related matter, the council approved a modification to the Portland EDIT capital improvement plan.
The change includes the use of Portland EDIT funds to support:
•Recreational and tourism projects to improve the city’s ability to attract more visitors to the community and improve the quality of life for current residents.
•Property acquisitions that would address the elimination of blight, downtown improvements and improved service delivery for Portland and Jay County governments.
Jay County Development Corporation executive director Robert Quadrozzi said the modification will allow EDIT funds to be used for projects such as the engineering work for phase one of the Hudson Family Park and the city’s required match when grants are awarded for various projects.
The second part of the modification would allow EDIT funds to be used to purchase buildings such as the Community Resource Center, Quadrozzi said.
He said any modifications to the Portland EDIT capital improvement plan require final approval by the Jay County Commissioners.
Quadrozzi said he intends to discuss the proposed plan changes with the commissioners at their weekly meeting on Monday.
In other business, the council approved an ordinance to expand the city’s limits.
The annexation ordinance adds about 140 acres west of the city. The section of land includes the Tyson Foods-Mexican Originals lot, and parcels owned by Portland Economic Development Corporation, including Gym City, and a farm field located east of Tyson owned by Gary Gildersleeve of Cranford, N.J.
The land is bordered on the south by a railroad track.
The ordinance was unanimously approved on first and second readings.
After the meeting, city attorney Bill Hinkle said the annexation should become official in September. Before the annexation is finalized, the ordinance must be published in The Commercial Review. Also, it needs to be recorded in the Jay County Recorder’s Office and filed in the Jay County Clerk’s Office and the Jay County Auditor’s Office, he said.
Also Monday, the council approved the city’s 2006 budget on first reading.
The proposed budget would increase by $213,880 to $3,536,518 from this year’s total council approved funds of $3,322,638, interim city clerk-treasurer Tina Paxson said. After cuts by the Department of Local Finance, the actual funds for 2005 were reduced to $2,356,007.
The budget includes appropriations for city departments, city officials, city court, pension funds, the Portland Planning Commission and Portland Municipal Airport.
Before the first reading was approved, a public hearing was held. No one from the audience commented about the budget.
Council president Glen Bryant asked why $40,000 had been added to the city council’s budget for 2006.
Paxson said city officials have discussed using the funds to change the entrance to city hall by removing the glass foyer. This would make the building more energy efficient, she said.
Bryant also asked Portland Police Chief Bob Sours why extra money had not been budgeted for fuel needed for police cars, since gas prices have increased. Sours said an extra $5,000 was allocated in the 2005 budget to keep up with the rising costs of gasoline. The police department asked for the same amount in the 2006 budget, he said.
Council members will vote a second and final time on the 2006 budget at the Aug. 22 council meeting.[[In-content Ad]]
The building, which is located at 118 S. Meridian St., currently is owned by a group of investors called Jay Pride LLC, headed by local banker Barry Hudson.
The offices of the Portland Area Chamber of Commerce, Jay County Visitor and Tourism Bureau, Jay/Portland Building and Planning, Jay County Development Corporation and Jay County Community Development moved into the building in May.
Portland Mayor Bruce Hosier said Indiana law requires that any municipal body planning to purchase property must obtain two appraisals. The purchase price cannot exceed the average of those appraisals. The building was appraised two weeks ago and the appraisals averaged at $497,500, he said. The two appraisals cost a total of $1,500.
“(The Community Resource Center is) part of our downtown revitalization and redevelopment program, and it’s a great opportunity for us to have a private and public partnership with Jay Pride,” Hosier said this morning.
Hosier said rent collected from the building’s current tenants would be used to replace the EDIT funds. The money should be recouped over a period of 15 to 20 years, he said.
The council will vote on a resolution to purchase the building at the next meeting, which is Monday, Aug. 22, at 7 p.m.
In a related matter, the council approved a modification to the Portland EDIT capital improvement plan.
The change includes the use of Portland EDIT funds to support:
•Recreational and tourism projects to improve the city’s ability to attract more visitors to the community and improve the quality of life for current residents.
•Property acquisitions that would address the elimination of blight, downtown improvements and improved service delivery for Portland and Jay County governments.
Jay County Development Corporation executive director Robert Quadrozzi said the modification will allow EDIT funds to be used for projects such as the engineering work for phase one of the Hudson Family Park and the city’s required match when grants are awarded for various projects.
The second part of the modification would allow EDIT funds to be used to purchase buildings such as the Community Resource Center, Quadrozzi said.
He said any modifications to the Portland EDIT capital improvement plan require final approval by the Jay County Commissioners.
Quadrozzi said he intends to discuss the proposed plan changes with the commissioners at their weekly meeting on Monday.
In other business, the council approved an ordinance to expand the city’s limits.
The annexation ordinance adds about 140 acres west of the city. The section of land includes the Tyson Foods-Mexican Originals lot, and parcels owned by Portland Economic Development Corporation, including Gym City, and a farm field located east of Tyson owned by Gary Gildersleeve of Cranford, N.J.
The land is bordered on the south by a railroad track.
The ordinance was unanimously approved on first and second readings.
After the meeting, city attorney Bill Hinkle said the annexation should become official in September. Before the annexation is finalized, the ordinance must be published in The Commercial Review. Also, it needs to be recorded in the Jay County Recorder’s Office and filed in the Jay County Clerk’s Office and the Jay County Auditor’s Office, he said.
Also Monday, the council approved the city’s 2006 budget on first reading.
The proposed budget would increase by $213,880 to $3,536,518 from this year’s total council approved funds of $3,322,638, interim city clerk-treasurer Tina Paxson said. After cuts by the Department of Local Finance, the actual funds for 2005 were reduced to $2,356,007.
The budget includes appropriations for city departments, city officials, city court, pension funds, the Portland Planning Commission and Portland Municipal Airport.
Before the first reading was approved, a public hearing was held. No one from the audience commented about the budget.
Council president Glen Bryant asked why $40,000 had been added to the city council’s budget for 2006.
Paxson said city officials have discussed using the funds to change the entrance to city hall by removing the glass foyer. This would make the building more energy efficient, she said.
Bryant also asked Portland Police Chief Bob Sours why extra money had not been budgeted for fuel needed for police cars, since gas prices have increased. Sours said an extra $5,000 was allocated in the 2005 budget to keep up with the rising costs of gasoline. The police department asked for the same amount in the 2006 budget, he said.
Council members will vote a second and final time on the 2006 budget at the Aug. 22 council meeting.[[In-content Ad]]
Top Stories
9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit
Chartwells marketing
September 17, 2024 7:36 a.m.
Events
250 X 250 AD