Jasper Council approves Master Plan
The Jasper City Council met for their monthly meeting Wednesday night and passed resolution number 2013-9 that amends the city’s comprehensive plan incorporating the downtown and riverfront master plan – designed and submitted by Barry Alberts with City Visions and David Gamble of Gamble Associates.
The Jasper Plan Commission met on December 4th and approved the plan and sent it on to the council for their approval.
The action by the council represents the end of the idea phase of the plan and begins the implementation phase.
Jasper Mayor Terry Seitz says that the city comprehensive plan that was adopted in 2010 was the precursor to the downtown and riverfront plan. “The plans are not Bibles, but they’re extraordinary public input guidelines,” Mayor Seitz explained. “And specifically they said, ‘look at doing something more formal into the downtown area.’ We did. It was adopted and I’m just delighted with the plan commission and the council’s decision.”
Seitz says that the implementation phase includes items that can easily be accomplished. “There’s no direct timeline – that’s our next step to look at some low hanging fruit…we believe the plan makes a great entry level for a Stellar Community (grant) application with the State of Indiana,” he said.
A component of the plan will begin moving forward when a hydrology study is completed of the area below the dam on Patoka River. The study was commissioned to help planners get a better idea of the flow of water and contour of the river bottom in the area.
Also in the meeting last night,
-Approved an increase in the 2014 Spirit of Jasper Train Fee schedule. The 2014 Spirit of Jasper Train Fee schedule will increase $5 due to some increases in costs to the city, which, according to City Attorney Renee Kabrick, came from the Indiana Railway Museum, and food vendors, along with the addition of the Monon Car. Ordinance 2013-36 was replaced with 2013-39 which added the new fees to the other fees from the Parks & Recreation Department.
– Approved the sale of alcohol at the Jasper Arts Center. Arts Commission Board President Mike Jones was present at the meeting and afterwards said that the passing of the ordinance allows the Arts Center to realize another possible revenue stream. “Some arts centers the sale of alcohol accounts for as much as 15 percent of their revenue. Any time you can generate revenue it’s a plus,” he said.
-Tabled a decision on a request to approve a petition to vacate a portion of a public easement on lot 120 Golden Acres IV.
-Approved licenses for gas applications for Gudorf Supply and Bettag Plumbing and Heating.
-Approved council appointments to other boards including Mike Jones and Sherry Monesmith to the Arts Commission Board. And Ray Howard and John Schroeder to the Jasper Redevelopment Commission. (That list here)
