Redevelopment Commission to look at engineering contract

County officials entered into an interlocal agreement with Jay County Redevelopment Commission in November to use remaining American Rescue Plan Act funds for a housing project in Portland.

The redevelopment commission is already looking into how it will follow through with using those dollars as intended.

Jay County Redevelopment Commission heard plans Wednesday about entering into a contract with Rundell, Ernstberger and Associates (REA) for developing the county’s 68 acres on the western edge of Portland.

Consultant Ed Curtin of CWC Latitudes noted the current contract for planning development of the property is between REA and Jay County Commissioners. County attorney Wes Schemenaur advised the contract moving forward should be between REA and the redevelopment commission.

Jay County officials approved a $395,000 contract with REA in September 2023. The design, planning and architecture firm shared potential plans last year with county officials for the 68-acre project, which at that time included housing and mixed-use development for the land along Indiana 67. 

If completed in full, the estimated $25.5 million project would produce 76 single-family homes, eight duplexes and 154 multi-family units. Some county officials have referred to it as a “legacy project” to be worked on for the next several decades.

The redevelopment commission agreed in July to commit up to $1.5 million in tax increment financing (TIF) dollars toward the project, and commissioners also agreed at the time to commit $1.3 million subject to receiving grant dollars. The first few phases of the project were also included in the county’s request for funding through the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) 2.0.

In November, commissioners and Jay County Council agreed to an interlocal agreement with the redevelopment commission. Per the agreement, redevelopment commission will use the county’s $1.24 million in American Rescue Plan Act dollars for developing the county’s 68 acres. The funding must be spent by the end of 2026, according to federal requirements.

Curtin said REA has revised its contract, which now lays out plans for the firm to complete engineering work and seek requests for proposals and bids for the project. He estimated REA will need six to eight months before a developer can be selected.

“I think the goal is as quickly as possible, get the contract approved so they can start on the construction documents so that we can put ourselves in a position to be able to award the contract by this fall, so that gives the contractor 12 to 15 months to be able to get the thing done,” he explained.

Answering a question from redevelopment commission member Chuck Huffman, Curtin confirmed the project would consist of the first phase in REA’s plans — installing infrastructure. By seeking requests for proposals, added Curtin, the county will be able to gauge what it needs for developers’ projects.

Curtin also pointed to a recent meeting with East Central Indiana Regional Partnership, which he said indicated a desire for county representatives to gather “more definitive letters of interest” from developers in relation to the project.

“I think we’ve got two or three that are in the pipeline,” he said. “Basically, it’s going to give the (Indiana Economic Development Corporation) a greater level of comfort with the project moving forward.”

Indiana Economic Development Corporation announced plans to distribute funding through READI 2.0 across the state in 2023. The East Central region, which includes Jay County, was awarded $35 million through the program in June.

Redevelopment commission president Carl Walker asked how much funding the county will be receiving from READI 2.0 for the project. According to Curtin and Schemenaur, ECIRP has earmarked $1.2 million in READI 2.0 funds as a potential award for Jay County. (As of Wednesday evening, no official announcement has been made regarding the funding.)

Commissioners president Chad Aker added that county representatives are working with the state to get the funding decision formalized and shared hopes to hear an official announcement soon.

Huffman said the redevelopment commission would feel more comfortable if it could see a budget for the project. Curtin said he would connect with Cecil Penland of REA to put something together.

Relatedly, Walker and Huffman volunteered as the redevelopment commission’s representatives for a joint meeting — its date is to be determined — between county and Portland officials to discuss the 68-acre project. Curtin noted he is also gathering volunteers from Portland Redevelopment Commission, Portland City Council, Jay County Council and Jay County Commissioners.

Also Wednesday, Walker announced the redevelopment commission currently has just under $1.4 million in its bank account. (That does not include the approximately $1.24 million allocated for the 68-acre project. Those dollars will likely be kept in the county’s account until the project is farther along, noted auditor Emily Franks.)

In other business, commission members Doug Horn, Harold Towell, Walker and Huffman, absent Ted Champ, who arrived later:

•Paid a $19,230.40 invoice to consulting firm CWC Latitudes for services completed between July and December

•Appointed Walker as president, Huffman as vice president and Champ as secretary