Bombers approved for $25,000 loan, new city position approved and update on money from state mistake

The Huntingburg Common Council met yesterday evening minus Councilwoman Amy Lehr. It was a short meeting but three important items were addressed.

Mayor Denny Spinner began the meeting with a call for a moment of silence in honor of Jack Amos. Amos passed away this week and was a member of the council and an asset to the community. (Obituary here)

Spinner then informed the council and the audience about a recent Indiana Associations of Cities and Towns webinar he had attended in reference to the most recent error the state made in not distributing over $206 million tax funds to the counties of the state. The county is expected to receive over $2.3 million from the state and Huntingburg will receive a portion of those funds.

Spinner explained at this time they don’t know how much Huntingburg will get but the IACT webinar recommended putting the County Option Income Tax (COIT) money into a non-property tax fund or a rainy day fund and the Economic Development Income Tax (EDIT) money should go into the EDIT fund.

The mayor explained that although their was no current plan for the use of the money, the city could use the funds for the purchase of new police vehicles. Spinner stated Chief Art Parks needed to replace two vehicles this year, but with the unexpected retirement of two police department employees, the department didn’t have the money in the budget for two new vehicles. “It will have to be approved by the Board of Public Works and then appropriated by the City Council,” he said.

The next item on the agenda was the approval of the assistant utilities superintendent position, the job description for the new position and an amendment to the salary ordinance for the city in regards to this position. All passed unanimously.

The Huntingburg Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Nick Stevens asked for approval of a $25,000 loan from the city’s revolving loan fund for the Dubois County Bombers. He explained the funds would be used for the repairs and updating of the Dubois County Bombers bus. The bus was purchased and is being decorated to appear similar to the bus used in the movie A League of Their Own.

Stevens stated the Revolving Loan Committee has reviewed the application and have approved the revolving loan. The Bombers have used the revolving loan in the past. “We have the personal guarantees of the owners of the Bombers,” Stevens explained, “and there will be a lien on the vehicle.”

Stevens also stated the bus would be in the Kiwanis Car Show this Saturday. The mayor quickly quipped the bus was a shoe-in to win the bus division at the show.

The council approved the request from the Dubois County Bombers.

Stevens also informed the council the Car Show has more registrants than they have ever had in the past. He also mentioned the Jazz, Wine, and Craft Beer fest coming up next weekend.

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