July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
EDIT funds OK'd (09/16/2008)
Portland EDIT Advisory Committee
By By RACHELLE HAUGHN-
Environmental problems at a former sports park have dealt a blow to Portland's budget.
Members of a local board have voted to recommend using city Economic Development Income Tax funds to pay for environmental remediation and other work at the site of the former XPLEX Extreme Competition Park, located along county road 100 North, east of U.S. 27.
Linda Kennedy, city clerk-treasurer and member of the Portland EDIT Advisory Committee, said Monday evening that the cost of wetland and erosion remediation at the park site already totals about $58,000.
The recommendation, OK'd later Monday by the Portland City Council (see related story), means those costs will be paid by economic development funds. The committee also agreed to recommend that up to $25,000 more in EDIT funds could be spent on the former sports park without returning to the EDIT committee and council.
Glynn Barber, the former owner of the park, has filed for bankruptcy and is involved in litigation surrounding the park. The final events at the park were held in 2006.
"The city really hasn't got money budgeted to pay for all this," Kennedy said.
Indiana Department of Environmental Management officials recently informed the city that the park site may have included wetlands. IDEM said the city needed to hire someone to determine if wetlands are at the former park site, and if so, if any have been disturbed. IDEM also ordered the city to fix an erosion problem around a retention pond at the park site.
RW Armstrong, Indianapolis, is being paid $12,881 to do the wetland work. TJ's Concrete Construction, Portland, is being paid $45,780 to grade, seed and place a blanket-like material over the seeding on the land around one of the retention ponds.
During heavy rains, dirt was washing into the pond. Barber originally planned to have remote control boat races in the pond.
Most of the land at the former Portland Industrial Park is owned by the Portland Economic Development Corporation.
Bill Bradley, executive director of Jay County Development Corporation, said if more EDIT funds are needed for the park, committee members could put a cap on the amount that could be spent without returning for a new recommendation from the committee.
"I was thinking anything over $25,000 would come back to the commission," he said.
"... I think that's a very responsible approach to it," Bruce Hosier, the city's mayor, said.
Also Monday, committee member Judy Aker asked if surveys were conducted by Ball State University students during the Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Show.
Bradley said the surveys were completed but results are not yet available. EDIT committee members voted in August to use $10,000 in EDIT funds to conduct a survey to determine what wants and needs of city shoppers.
Three other survey events are planned, he said. A member of the Portland Commercial Development Committee recently was told that BSU wants to be paid $2,500 after each survey, rather than when the survey work is completed, Bradley said. BSU officials initially asked to be paid in March of 2009.
Bradley said a member of the development committee is discussing the matter with BSU officials.[[In-content Ad]]
Members of a local board have voted to recommend using city Economic Development Income Tax funds to pay for environmental remediation and other work at the site of the former XPLEX Extreme Competition Park, located along county road 100 North, east of U.S. 27.
Linda Kennedy, city clerk-treasurer and member of the Portland EDIT Advisory Committee, said Monday evening that the cost of wetland and erosion remediation at the park site already totals about $58,000.
The recommendation, OK'd later Monday by the Portland City Council (see related story), means those costs will be paid by economic development funds. The committee also agreed to recommend that up to $25,000 more in EDIT funds could be spent on the former sports park without returning to the EDIT committee and council.
Glynn Barber, the former owner of the park, has filed for bankruptcy and is involved in litigation surrounding the park. The final events at the park were held in 2006.
"The city really hasn't got money budgeted to pay for all this," Kennedy said.
Indiana Department of Environmental Management officials recently informed the city that the park site may have included wetlands. IDEM said the city needed to hire someone to determine if wetlands are at the former park site, and if so, if any have been disturbed. IDEM also ordered the city to fix an erosion problem around a retention pond at the park site.
RW Armstrong, Indianapolis, is being paid $12,881 to do the wetland work. TJ's Concrete Construction, Portland, is being paid $45,780 to grade, seed and place a blanket-like material over the seeding on the land around one of the retention ponds.
During heavy rains, dirt was washing into the pond. Barber originally planned to have remote control boat races in the pond.
Most of the land at the former Portland Industrial Park is owned by the Portland Economic Development Corporation.
Bill Bradley, executive director of Jay County Development Corporation, said if more EDIT funds are needed for the park, committee members could put a cap on the amount that could be spent without returning for a new recommendation from the committee.
"I was thinking anything over $25,000 would come back to the commission," he said.
"... I think that's a very responsible approach to it," Bruce Hosier, the city's mayor, said.
Also Monday, committee member Judy Aker asked if surveys were conducted by Ball State University students during the Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Show.
Bradley said the surveys were completed but results are not yet available. EDIT committee members voted in August to use $10,000 in EDIT funds to conduct a survey to determine what wants and needs of city shoppers.
Three other survey events are planned, he said. A member of the Portland Commercial Development Committee recently was told that BSU wants to be paid $2,500 after each survey, rather than when the survey work is completed, Bradley said. BSU officials initially asked to be paid in March of 2009.
Bradley said a member of the development committee is discussing the matter with BSU officials.[[In-content Ad]]
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