Redevelopment Commission - Regular Meeting

Okay, I want to open up the uh meeting for today's the 911. Yes. Yeah. Congratulations. That's terrible. um for September 11th um for the redevelopment commission of Hancock County. Uh the first item on the agenda is approve the minutes from the last meeting. So I'd obtain a motion for that. A motion to approve the meeting minutes. Second. All those in favor say I. I.

Motion passes. Thank you very much. Mr. Pool, how are you on this fine 911 day? I'm keeping a positive mental attitude as best I can. Um, so Amplify is on schedule and it's on budget. We did some we transferred some of the cost to Bridge. We we transferred some of the drainage pipe to the bridge project at bridge 62. So that's helped keep that okay. So we still got our owner's contingency and contractor's contingencies intact. So everything should be good. I talked to Mr. Parker or sorry Dr. Parker and uh the IvyTech people. Sounds like they're gonna have a lot of kids in there. So,

we're going to get a lot of people using that product. So, we can look forward to that. Cash flow. We already you already know uh M. Shidler and I are working on um getting some additional funds input into it. We'll find out in December about that. If that happens, we'll be pretty stable. We'll be in pretty good shape. If not, we'll be right on the razor's edge. So, um we've got everything everything we've got planned is covered. All our design, all our stuff is covered. So there's no the sky is not falling but we're until December we're at that razor's edge. Now if we get to December and we're able to get I told uh INDOT our primary goal is to take care of county seated first then RDC then cumbridge that's the order of things. So there's one in front of you. I think we'll get them all but uh just so you know the county capital is our primary target followed by the RDC capital followed by I think now the money is somewhat funible similar like we just transferred some cost to bridge um for Amplify um but that is that we'll know in December about that actually they'll let the projects in the beginning of December so it might be more Januaryish but before because you know it's the holidays and stuff but we'll find out. Um,

so far the news is good though,

right? We had an extensive conversation at council meeting yesterday about um the funds and the stuff we're waiting for the state or whatever to to do cuz I I had to reiterate there by its patience at this point um because of that little scenario we're waiting for for December. Um but it would help you or would help us if you when you have conversations with your boss um Commissioner Spalding if you would um start the conversation about the future agreements with Buck Creek Township and things like that and um Cordsville and all those things. So, uh, right now we're on a holding pattern, of course, because of the the millions of dollars that, you know, we're we're expecting. Uh, but, um, everybody is we we're just still getting applications for projects and things like that. We did a bond letting yesterday to pay for some more capital projects. a few of those little ones will go in when we get some of that money. But, uh, yeah, it's a, um, it's a fluent conversation right now with because I think our agreements with Buck Creek in next year and so we got to start that conversation, but also we're I'm uncertain what's what's the 20-year plan for Cordsville at this point.

Okay. Um, obviously Mr. Witzman's here, so he can talk about that to some extent. Obviously, Mr. Whisman and I are both staffers, so we're not elected. So, we're not deciders, but yeah, I I I've I think Mr. Spalding is in contact with the the town council up there and throughout there, and I think they're having conversations. I think they're in the same boat. They're waiting to see how some of the capital funds sort out. Um, obviously, I encourage just all of Mr. Witzman's current projects through 2028, we want to make sure those are covered. Mr. Whitman's been advised that everything post here in the red. I still have it in my plan, but I put a red um as it's not fully obligated, right? Um so that'll need to those conversations need to probably happen probably in the spring, I imagine.

We um on a positive note, we did um agree to start the declaratory, which will have the or to do the declaratory for a project um sugar foods. And um so next month we'll do the hearing and the voting to bring them into the the community. Sugar Foods is they're going to occupy the building at 4 West south of Three North. It the vendor has left that building that was currently there and um it's a what was it 85 million or $135 million project. Um we've agreed to 5 years tax abatement on the personal property. The building's already under tax abatement seventh year, third year, so seven years left. Um and they're agreeing to donate some money to the every year uh during the tax abatement to the fire department and uh

and we're going to get that in writing this term. That'll be kind of like an EDA. You know what I mean? Yeah, but it just be a direct payment. It be I think that's going to be the new norm is the payment l is kind of the payment and loot stuff is going to be considered kind of the EDAs instead of the old EDAs in my opinion that were really intrusive but um it was it was the best tool we could come up with at the time. The laws changed but but that project is wonderful. It's 105 employees, 63,000 average plus full benefits. Full benefits. Uh the other two locations they have, they've been there for 30 years. They're signing a 20-year lease. Wow.

So, and um there's no that that building just sitting there. There's no residential and it's close to our new interchange. Yep. Which do you have an update on that?

The selection is underway. Um so I've submitted uh the county's preferences on it and then there's people from INDOT on it. I have not got word back from them. INDOT's obviously running the selection. Um, uhoh, and INDOT's coming to get me. The um, so I have not got word back on who they've selected for that. Uh, H&TB, Structure Point, they've partnered up with each other different ways. USI, um, Kimberly Kimley Horn and, uh, Fishbach were all applicants. So, there was five applicants. Um, I did speak with some gentlemen that are going to be helping us with 300 North and 700 West DLZ. Yes.

Yeah, that's good deal. That project. Is that our last roundabout that you have started? Oh, no. We've got tons of roundabouts in the queue. Well, I mean that we can fund if we ceiling falls in. Um there'll be future cues going up 200 West that'll have some infrastructure attached to it. Water and sewer. Um we haven't applied for those or won those yet. Those are still outside my window, but those are six, seven, eight years out. So it won't be the last. No.

So I'm meeting with Mr. with Congressman Shrieve. He's already he's already mentioned some of his staffers contacted me about even participating to an extent on the interchange. So that could that could relieve some of our $20 million obligation. That was my question. Is there a a need for me to mention about our interchange to Every little bit helps. Every little bit helps. And you know how the political front is. It's just an all hands- on deck. We're all rowing the same boat. So pull your ore. If you if you got a chance to pull it, pull it. No, I'm I'm really good about telling what they're asking what the responsibilities are in our area.

Uh Mr. Shre's staff was also interested in a uh town center project here in a town center project in New stuff, but what they want is something ribbon cuty like they want to cut some ribbon or something. Interchange looks good. Um so the problem with it is it's in 2031 and they were hoping something more imminent. Could we get him in on Amplify for something? We can cut ribbons up there all day long. We can ask. Hold up. I'll talk to you in a little bit. But we need some stuff. I I spoke with the governor myself and then I shrieve gave you a call. Okay. So, we're on top of something.

All or everything. We don't know which fish will bite. So, fish for all of them. Right. No, I I'm fishing for the president. Yeah. I've told them both. I want national. I want the president to come to Hancock County again for the third time. Well, good. Hopefully comes with a bag of money through a battery factory. This is 10 times better than a battery factory.

So, all right. Um, outlays, like I said, we're on program. We're on schedule and everything. Nothing too scary. I'll feel a lot better when we get a little more cash reserve if we can be successful in December. It'll free your guys' hands up a little bit. Until then, it's like minor stuff. I think we got a little study going on nine. We got amplify stuff. We got I think the word's out that we don't have much money cuz no one comes to these anymore. Well, I mean, it's here. Yeah, I know. You can see here we're up. I mean, it's true. How many no one's come for like 5 months?

So, right here, we're at 91% chance of being successful not having to issue more bonds. Then my mandate from you guys was to keep it above 90%. So we're right there. Okay. So the benefit of having councilmen like Robin and I on the RDC is is this exact education that there's no money yet. Okay. Yeah. I mean there might be. There probably will be, but we don't have it till it's in hand. It's not in the old board was up here. Randy would tell you different, but if the old board was up here, the the the council and that board would be fighting like cats and dogs right now. I like pressure, but don't put me under that much pressure. Don't put that under 90.

Well, yesterday Kent and I both mentioned it that because they just keep saying, "Oh, well, we'll pay that out RDC. We'll pay that out RDC." And said, you know, we're tight unless we get that grant. Yeah, it's a patience thing. I'm working on it. Yeah. But I am a small fish in the big sea of this. No, no, no. You're the You're the number one barracuda we got. So, the biggest fish you got, but I'm the small fish. You're the biggest fish we got. That's right. That's all I got. Thank you. Okay. So, bond payment request sent to that's for information only. Um invoices. So, we're down to the uh invoices

and that you'll see them there for amplify and the total. I think the amplify we don't need a motion for. That's just information that comes out of the bond. I think what we need to approve is I'll make a motion to approve the 160,349 for invoices this month. The motion too. Is that all the invoices that there is this month? It appears. It's right here. Wow. Try to hit the brace a little bit. You're doing a great job. Remember, we don't have any money.

You're doing a great job. And we have a motion and a second to approve the $160,340 of expenses this month, invoices this month. All those in favor say I. I oppose the same. And motion passes. Thank you. Any other further information from the board? Very good. Um I'd obtain a motion to adjurnn. I make the motion we adjourn. You second it. Yes, second. All those in favor? I I Sorry, David. It was so fast. It was a quick It's going to take 45 minutes to get from Portville to Greenfield someday.

All the traffic until the interchange is in