Limberlost is low bidder for Red Gold project (04/04/07)

GENEVA - Council members here voted Tuesday night and chose the low bid from Limberlost Construction for construction of migrant housing at Red Gold.

Council members Jim Timmons and Lew Wingler awarded a contract for $572,983 to the Geneva company for an 18-unit housing building.

Council member Mike Schwartz abstained from the discussion and vote because he is the owner of Limberlost Construction.

The low bid from Limberlost was just $17 less than that submitted by Valor Field Services Inc., Greenfield ($573,000). Other bids were submitted by Lacy Building Corp., Celina, Ohio, $589,541 and Sterling Construction Corp. of Indiana, Mishawaka, $596,214.

The town is serving as the fiscal agent for the $600,000 grant Red Gold received from Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority to fund the project.

Town clerk-treasurer Doug Milligan serves as the grant administrator. Prince Alexander Partners Inc. of Indianapolis was hired at the February council meeting as the architect for the state-funded construction project.

Steve Austin, a governmental affairs representative for Red Gold, said Tuesday that the company would like to begin construction as soon as a contract with Limberlost is signed.

Also Tuesday, Milligan told the council that more than 630 questionnaires will be sent to the 617 active and 21 inactive registered voters in Geneva.

The questionnaire asks these residents to choose if they prefer to eliminate the town's current three voting districts, keep the districts the same or would prefer two districts, including one district east of U.S. 27, one district west of U.S. 27 and the third district would be elected at-large.

Currently, there are three residency districts. District one is west of U.S. 27 and north of Ind. 116; district two is east of U.S. 27 and north of Line Street and district three is south of Ind. 116 and Line Street both east and west of U.S. 27.

The questionnaires will be sent out Monday and are due to the town hall by April 30.

In other business, council members approved the annual report by Red Gold on the Geneva company's nine current tax abatements pending with the town.

Red Gold Orestes finance manager Carol Hanna told council members that they have met or exceeded the employment and salary estimates on each of the approved abatements.

Also Tuesday, Milligan reported that the town may receive some reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for more than $6,700 for costs of snow removal and town employee overtime costs following the mid February snowfall. FEMA officials contacted the town recently, Milligan said.

Also, council members:

•Heard Milligan report that town hall will be closed on Friday for Good Friday.

•Heard Geneva town marshal Rob Johnson report that Geneva Police Department officers will be taking part in a active shooter response exercises with officers from Adams County Sheriff's Department and police departments from Decatur and Berne.

He also reported that his department has an opening for a reserve officer.

•Heard town attorney Chris Harvey report that the town's bill for a sign damage by a alleged intoxicated driver will be passed onto the Adams County Prosecutor office to seek restitution. The woman was allegedly intoxicated and heavily damaged the sign while driving on U.S. 27.

The town replaced the sign, but the town has not been reimbursed. The driver allegedly was also driving without insurance.

•Asked Geneva town manager Steve Hampshire and Johnson to investigate vacating an alley between Harrison and Butcher streets.

Von Jones, 340 W. Harrison St., asked council members if he could put up a gate on the east side of the stone alley to only allow traffic to enter and leave from the west. There are two other houses that use this alley besides Jones.

Jones said Tuesday that he hopes the gate this will reduce the possibility of another burglary of his garage, which occurred recently.

Johnson and Hampshire were asked to report back to council on whether this would cause problems for fire protection or utility access.

To vacate the alley Jones will be required to have an easement drafted and approved by the council.

•Heard Geneva fire chief John Kleinknight report that Andy Yoder was named a new fire fighter for the department and Jason Wilkie has returned to the department.

•Were asked for suggestions to help keep residents from dumping their trash at the town's brush and leaf collection site.

Town manager Steve Hampshire said town employees have reported finding concrete chunks, bricks, old tires and other trash dumped at the site. Also, residents are bringing their brush and leaves to the site in plastic bags. These residents are asked to empty the plastic bags at the site and take the plastic bags with them.

•Approved the second reading of an ordinance outlining how the town will utilize County Economic Development Income Tax funds.

Council members voted that half of the approximately $60,000 CEDIT funds will go toward the town's commitment to the new Adams Memorial Hospital. Approximately 13 percent will go to the Adams County Economic Development Commission and the remaining funds will be used by the town.

The board will vote for the third and final time on this ordinance at its May 1 regular meeting.

•Approved a request by the Geneva Downtown Merchants to close East Line Street from Decatur Street to Mill Street for a flea market on Saturday, May 27.

•Noted the council's May meeting will be Tuesday, May 1 at 6:30 p.m. A town meeting with Indiana Sen. David Ford and Representative Mike Ripley will be held Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Both meetings will be held in the Geneva Town Hall.[[In-content Ad]]GENEVA - Two Decatur developers are proposing construction of a 26-home subdivision on the town's north side.

Developers Ralph Biggs and Steve Kreigh proposed building the subdivision on 9.008 acres at the northeast corner of Spring Street and Winchester Road. The two presented the project Tuesday to the Geneva Planning Commission.

The project will also include construction of a storm water detention pond.

The project received a preliminary nod from the commission and some opposition from several town residents.

Geneva Planning Commission president Bill Warren said this morning that residents at Tuesday's meeting expressed concerns that the subdivision would become government subsidized housing.

Residents also expressed concerns that the subdivision would increase drainage problems, cause parking problems and questioned whether existing streets are wide enough to handle the additional traffic, Warren said.

The commission asked Biggs to investigate potential legal issues stemming from a 2-foot right-of-way located 2 feet north of Spring Street that was given to the town by the former owner of the property.

Biggs said this morning that issues involved with a connecting street crossing that right-of-way must be resolved for the project to move forward.

Biggs and Kreigh bought the land more than 20 years ago and currently rent it out to an local farmer.

Planning director of Adams County Neil Ogg said this morning that Briggs and Kreigh have filed an application for the project in the Adams County Building and Planning Office. Ogg said this morning that this is the third property in Adams County the two Decatur businessmen have attempted to develop. He added that about three years ago the two withdrew their application after facing opposition.

Briggs said this morning that the next step is to get their surveyor to begin work on the site to identify setback requirements, decide on correct placement of sewer and water lines and the detention pond. The Adams County Surveyor will also have to approve of drainage plans.