$5.9 million appropriated for Jasper Parklands, Hoosier Desk project and trail extension

ByMatthew Crane Reading Time: 3 minutes

The Jasper Common Council appropriated $5,959,800 in Economic Development Income Tax funds (EDIT) during Wednesday’s regular meeting.

The vast majority, $5.2 million, went to The Parklands while over $670,000 went to the trail extension connecting the Riverwalk to St. Charles and $80,000 for a contract with City Properties Group in regards to the Hoosier Desk Arts and Library project.

The appropriations were passed unanimously.

In January, the Park Board revealed plans for the development of The Parklands that were estimated to cost up to $5.6 million to complete. Through grants and donations, the board and Dubois County Community Foundation brought that number down to $4 million to be funded through the city.

Park Board President Roger Seger had estimated he could raise $1.5 million for the project through donations to a fund held by the community foundation. The park board also planned on giving naming rights to large donors. Seger reported last month that efforts on the naming rights were going well, and they had secured about $250,000 in donations.

During the February meeting, the council approved transferring $4 million from EDIT to fund the project but according to Clerk-Treasurer Juanita Boehm, the $5.2 approved Wednesday was necessary for the project to be bid out this fall.

She explained that after the fundraising goals are met by the park board, that money will be returned to the economic development income tax fund.

The $670,300 allotted for the connection being built between the Jasper Riverwalk and the St. Charles walking/running path is for engineering fees. The trail is largely funded through the Indiana Department of Transportation. According to Boehm, INDOT will reimburse 80 percent of the $670,300 bringing the city’s investment down to about $139,000.

In regards to the Hoosier Desk project, the council approved $80,000 to go for contractual services to City Properties Group (CityVisions) for planning and development of the Hoosier Desk project. The $80,000 will be added to $40,000 from the Arts Building and Expansion Fund — a fund created for donations to expand the arts — for a total of $120,000 to cover the contract.

According to City Attorney Renee Kabrick, the Jasper Public Library and Jasper Community Arts Commission agreed to split $73,000 while the city will pay for the balance of the estimated $115,000 in services from the Louisville firm.

Kabrick said City Properties will conduct a study to determine the commercial feasibility of the use of the space for housing, retail space and restaurants. The city will cover the cost of the study to the tune of $40,000 while the library and arts cover the balance.

The library will reimburse the city for their portion of the contractual services.

The $4 million invested into The Parklands reduced the EDIT fund to about $1.8 million, of which, most is spoken for though annual capital expenditures by city departments for equipment upgrades and replacement. The money is also used for road and sidewalk improvements and maintenance.

The city receives about $1.9 million EDIT annually distributed in monthly payments through the county. EDIT is funded through a tax paid by those people employed in the county.

Here is a report showing the general expenses paid from EDIT for 2016.

[gview file=”https://duboiscountyfreepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/EDIT-balance.xlsx.pdf”%5D

The council also took the following actions:

  • Carried over $3,500 budgeted for the Jasper Arts mural project from 2015 to 2016.
  • Carried over $240,000 appropriated to cover planning for The Parklands.
  • Passed five tax abatement compliance statements for Jasper businesses. The five included Braun Family Properties, LLC with Meyer Distributing; Jasper Engine Exchange; Jasper Chair Company; Haddad Properties for Stens Corporation; and 3 PEPLS Properties with Cash Wagner and Associates. The council passed each one individually after hearing from representatives from each company, except for Jasper Chair whose representatives could not attend the meeting.
  • Approved amending the City’s Fair Housing ordinance wording about equal access to housing in HUD programs in order to comply with stipulations for applying for a community focus fund grant. For the Astra Theatre, the city is hoping to obtain a $400,000 historic preservation grant from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. A government entity is required to apply for the grant and the city agreed to do so for Next Act.

Jim O’Neal News Director at WITZ AM/FM contributed to this report

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