The Ellettsville, Indiana, Town Council met
in regular session at
Roll Call
David Sorokoty asked for roll call of the Council Members. Members present were David Sorokoty, President; David Drake, Vice-President; Lisa Combs-Creech, Ray Freetage and Geraldine McIntyre. Also present were Sandra Hash, Clerk-Treasurer; Mike Spencer, Attorney and Rick Coppock, Engineer.
Supervisors Present: Jim Davis, Jim Ragle, Ron McGlocklin, Jeff Farmer and Mike Farmer.
Approval of Minutes of
the regular meeting on June 23rd, 2003
Lisa Creech moved to approve the June 23rd minutes and Ray
Freetage seconded. Motion carried.
Action to pay Accounts
Payable Vouchers
Geraldine McIntyre moved to approve the accounts payable vouchers. Lisa Creech seconded. Motion carried.
Resolutions
Resolution 11-03 to allow payments from the State of
Sandra Hash explained that IRS mandated that cities and towns send
their 941 payroll tax payments by electronic fund transfer. It saves time and postage money. At the June conference Connie Nass requested
to send distributions by electronic fund transfer. Resolution 11-03 grants the Clerk-Treasurer
permission to receive state distributions by electronic fund transfer. David Drake moved to adopt Resolution
11-03. Ray Freetage seconded. Motion carried.
Old Business
Eagles, LLC, purchaser of the former
Michael Carmin,
Attorney for Eagles, LLC requested the Council pass a resolution designating
this site as an Economic Revitalization Area, which is a required preparatory
step toward requesting a ten-year tax abatement. He passed out an example of the tax abatement
figures for a ten-year period. It shows
as the tax abatement decreases each year, the taxes paid by the owner increase
each year. The tax abatement would only
be for the improvements added to the property.
It does not apply to the land or existing structures which are already
on the tax rolls. This project will take
time, so we will have to wait before we know the total invested on improvements to determine the figure for the tax
abatement. There are basically four
units in the old school building. The plans
are to renovate one unit or at least have one basically done then start on the
next one. They hope to have the first
one ready some time shortly after the first of the year. Since it will take several years to complete
the project, they are asking for a ten-year abatement,
allowing the abatement to apply to the investments made in the second, third or
fourth year. He reiterated the request
for approval of the resolution to designate the site as an Economic
Revitalization Area and reminded the Council if they pass it tonight, they
still have one more opportunity to rescind, modify or pass as is at the next
meeting, but after that time frame, it cannot be changed.
Beth Pyclik-Robinson
concurred with Mr. Carmin that the project was to be done in phases. She elaborated that the first phase would be
the
bringing in office and retail businesses.
They want to bring in a health club to the gymnasium area and a
restaurant to the cafeteria area or a small café in the Association wing. This will be a mall area with eight and ten
feet wide hallways, which will be a great community place to meet and
socialize. The exterior of the building,
as well as the other outside areas will have a lot of improvements. Upgrades to the doorways and canopies are planned. The parking lots will all be renovated and
landscaped. She closed by saying they
are a part of this community and have made a commitment to help revitalize and
beautify it.
Comments:
Ed Bitner said when
this property was up for bid, one of the concerns mentioned was if the House of
Prayer Church was awarded the property it wouldn’t be on the tax rolls, but if
the Robinson Family owned the property, the Town would receive tax money. The Town would get fewer taxes than
originally planned if they grant the abatement.
Some citizens have asked him to point out the Town is contradicting
their reason for wishing Robinson to own the property if the Council decide to
give Robinson a tax abatement because the Church was the high bidder. He and other citizens feel that Robinson
shouldn’t get a tax abatement or a very little one, if
at all. There are currently other
buildings in Town that could be leased and are not, so he doesn’t feel that 100
people will be employed in this building.
If the Town does allow this abatement, then when he starts his business
he will be asking for abatement, too. He
also mentioned he did not like the problem with his address being changed.
David Sorokoty
commented this would create new jobs in our community and draw more business to
Ellettsville. If possible, he would like
to keep our children in the community.
This property has been off the tax rolls for 30 years and now it is on
the tax rolls. The Town will get 100%
tax money on the property now and according to what term the abatement is
granted for, the Town will get a percentage of the taxes on improvements. When it expires the Town will start getting
100% of the tax money. He added whether
this site employs 50 or 100 people it would be worth it to keep employment in
Ellettsville. He closed by saying the
Council would extend the same courtesy to other businesses because they are
looking for the growth of this Town.
David Drake said if
we don’t grant the abatement, then they may not have the money to make the
improvements and the Town wouldn’t receive those additional tax dollars or get
the associated benefits of growth. We
don’t want this property to set vacant and he wants to give the ten-year
abatement.
Chuck Radke, who
lives in Deer Run Subdivision, stated he is in favor of growth and the tax
abatement, but with conditions. His
class toured the old school building during their reunion and there are
terrible asbestos problems. He stated as
a resident who would be agreeing to an abatement, he wants assurance from
Robinson that the asbestos problem will be properly addressed. He suggested the Council add to the proposal
with Robinson that they are required to meet performance standards throughout
the duration and the Council reviews the project status periodically. Another issue he suggested the Council
consider is that Robison may ask for more concessions as the project
progresses, which in the long run will cost the Town and tax payers more.
Geraldine McIntyre
asked about the mold in the building.
Ray Freetage stated
he is concerned about extending the abatement for so long.
Beth Pyclik-Robinson stated the asbestos had been reviewed and it
is stable and will be maintained. She
also added they are not asking the Town for money or other concessions but just
to have a break on the taxes for the improvements during the remodeling
stage. She explained the percentage per
year they will be paying for improvements they make:
* First year 100% abatement *
Sixth year 40% abatement
* Second year 95% abatement *
Seventh year 30% abatement
* Third year 80% abatement *
Eighth year 20% abatement
* Fourth year 65% abatement *
Ninth year 10% abatement
* Fifth year 50% abatement *
Tenth year 5% abatement
It is a sliding scale, which is designated by the State. If they don’t invest any money and make any
improvements, then they don’t get the tax abatement. The school previously improved the mold
situation by changing the air conditioning and Robinson intends to correct the
drainage problem on the site, which should also improve the mold problem. She added since the issue of jobs was
mentioned earlier that there is 98,000 square feet in the building with over 60
rooms that can be used for office and retail space. If you have 2 individuals per room, a goal of
120 employees would be easily attainable.
She predicted it would take five years to fill all of the space.
Lisa Creech said she
and David Sorokoty had researched the information on asbestos and to keep it
contained was the best choice, which Robinson will be doing. It is a worthwhile project to pursue if it
helps out the economy.
Jeana Kapczynski,
Chamber of Commerce part-time Administrative Assistant, has taken several
inquires about the school and she feels there will be several businesses
interested in the building. She added
the tax abatement is a tool that a lot of communities use and Ellettsville
shouldn’t be afraid to grant it.
Rick Coppock
commented granting tax abatements are in the state law to encourage economic
development. A lot of projects in
David Sorokoty
closed the discussion by calling for a motion.
David Drake moved to adopt resolution 12-03 to designate an Economic
Revitalization Area for the Eagles, LLC property in the 100 block of
New Business
Downtown Gateway Project Grant request for Town’s matching
Jeana Kapczynski, President of Ellettsville Main Street Inc., passed out
a chart about the grant with cost figures and explained this project was
started a couple of years ago when the road construction began on State Road
46. In November 2001, she came before
the Town Council with an idea to beautify Downtown Ellettsville by requesting
the Town apply for a grant from INDOT called a transportation enhancement
grant. The grant would be to beautify
the one-way pairs in Downtown Ellettsville with landscaping, special light
fixtures as well as welcoming stone signs to emphasize the historic area of the
Town. The Council approved her request
and the Town agreed to provide water, electricity and maintenance to the
area. The application was submitted to INDOT
in December 2001, and last summer Mrs. Judy O’Bannon announced the Town would
receive the grant for $27,000. Barry
Fisher, landscape architect who designed the project and Jeana spoke to INDOT
to see where to begin. They were given
information on what needed to be done and were informed they need a permit to
start the project, since it will be State property. In April, District Officials met with
toward in-kind services. He closed by
stating that Green3 will be available for public input on the landscaping. They will have an open forum prior to
beginning the project because they want the public to be pleased with the end
result.
Jeana Kapczynski requested
$5,980 funding to start the project.
Geraldine McIntyre made a motion to give
Police Reserves request approval of the following for Reserve Deputy
Marshals: Charles Jacobs, James Thomas
and Thomas Wright
Mike Hendrix, Deputy Commander of the Reserves, explained they want to approve three
additional reserve marshals. All three
have met the background check, the 40 hour pre-basic training and want to
volunteer. Charles Jacobs recently moved
to
Supervisor’s Comments
Jeff Farmer explained the
bad storm we had Wednesday night, July 9th did a lot of lightning
damage at the Waste Water Treatment Plant.
Two years ago during a storm, the plant had $25,000 plus in lightning
damage and this time was worse. He
doesn’t have the extent of the damage or cost yet. A lot of the computer system was
damaged. He will have a complete list of
the damage at the next meeting. He
thanked Cassady Electric for their help during the storm by getting the pumps
running manually. He also thanked Haufman Engineering.
Mr. Haufman, who designed the plant in 1995
and Mike Kohlman, who works on the computers for the
Utilities both came out and helped during the storm. He’s looking into a lightning protection
system.
Geraldine McIntyre read a letter
inviting everyone to attend a meeting on July 21st at Crane on
terrorism and disasters. Ron McGlocklin
stated he would like to attend. She also
informed the Council that local resident Bob “B.J.” Smith was involved in a
serious car accident and is badly burned if anyone wanted to send cards.
Sandra Hash explained that
American Legal Publishing had sent a draft of the code for review along with
questions. Mike Spencer has responded
and everyone needs to look over the changes and Mike’s answers. The Code update should be completed by the
end of July.
Lisa Creech commended Jim
Ragle and his crew for their work on yards and encouraged everyone to please
mow their yards. She thanked Jim Davis
for having the fire station blue prints redrawn to enlarge the meeting
room.
Violet Court, Mr. Hayes’ property, is a
problem with high grass and standing water.
She and Mike Spencer have researched the issues with this property that
are public health hazards. Mr. Hayes has
had two building permits, which have both expired. Jim Davis has even extended his time and the
project is still not complete. There are
only two options left now: send him a
letter asking permission to sod that area and improve it, then bill him for the
Town’s labor and if it is not paid, file a lien against his property; or file a
lawsuit to force him to finish the property.
She has already written a letter asking him to allow the Town to improve
his property and wants to request permission to send it to Mr. Hayes. Lisa Creech moved to send the letter to Mr.
Hayes. David Drake seconded. Motion carried.
The Carwash between Vine and Temperance
Streets is also a health concern with all of the pigeon waste, as well as a
safety issue. Lisa Creech moved to
pursue the Unsafe Building Law against the Carwash property on Temperance. Geraldine McIntyre seconded. Motion carried.
The Parking Ordinance needs to be discussed
and worked on. Parking ticket fees need
updated. She added that she could not
enforce the ordinance because the wording stated the zoning administrator had
to enforce the fines, so she requested to either be appointed as the zoning
administrator or reword it to allow the health officer to enforce the
fines.
Ron McGlocklin said currently
tickets start at $6.00 and suggested raising it to $15.00. He added after the ticket is written, if it
is not paid within the time frame allotted then action needs to be taken.
David Sorokoty asked Ron to
research fines and come up with a reasonable fee for parking tickets. He added that a work session is needed. He reminded everyone again to shop in
Ellettsville and thanked the
David Drake congratulated Arron Wever for receiving
Firefighter of the Year from the Exchange Club and congratulations to the
Police Reserves from the Exchange Club.
Adjournment
David
Sorokoty asked for a motion to adjourn.
Lisa Creech moved to adjourn. Ray
Freetage seconded, motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at
_____________________________ __________________________
David Sorokoty, President David Drake, Vice President
_____________________________ __________________________
Lisa Combs-Creech Ray Freetage
____________________________ __________________________
Geraldine McIntyre Sandra C. Hash, Clerk-Treasurer