Jasper Downtown renovation stalls again; Cultural Center moves foward

By the time Jasper Councilwoman Nancy Eckerle voiced her dissent with proceeding with the Courthouse Square renovation project it was apparent it wasn’t going to move forward anytime soon.

The council had just sat through Councilman John Bell’s speed-reading of the most recent proposal for the project. He had donned his hat as president of the Jasper Redevelopment Commission for the presentation. While the new proposal took into consideration the public’s vocal disdain for paving the entire square with decorative clay pavers, the cost to complete the project in two phases was dissuading for most on the council. Especially in light of the number of projects — The Parklands and Cultural Center — currently underway in the city

In the end, an ordinance creating a $2 million bond for the project was tabled. If the project has moved forward as planned, the $2 million bond would have been added to the $2 million already allocated and according to Councilman Bell, the remaining amount of the project’s estimated cost of between $4.5 and $5 million would have likely come from the Jasper Utilities’ budgets due to the utility work that would be accompanying the project.

The original $2 million allocated for the project is comprised of a million dollar grant from the state’s Community Crossings program and a million dollars in matching funds from the city. In tabling the bond decision the council also tasked the city with providing some options to fit within that $2 million in funding.

However, with those changes, the city could lose the $1 million from the state although the Community Crossings grant will be available again this year and the city could ask for up to another million dollars.

After the presentation, each council member took some time to explain their reluctance moving forward.

The pavers have been criticized for durability and cost. According toRundell Ernstberger Associates of Indianapolis and other engineering firms, the clay pavers are more durable than concrete or asphalt if the application is done correctly. However, the cost is estimated to be considerably more than a concrete or asphalt application.

Councilmen Dave Hurst, Kevin Manley and Earl Schmitt said prior to a couple of recent letters, they had heard nothing but negative comments from their constituents about the pavers.

“If people take the time to understand the application, it’s a no-brainer,” Bell said. “If it was an issue, clearly REA would not be sticking their neck out.”

Hurst said he would like to see the cost to remain around the $2 million to allow the city to concentrate on other areas of the city that need work. “Go a block down from the area you are talking about doing and look at the streets there. Look at the sidewalks, look at the curbs and see what’s going on there too,” he said. “There are a lot of places in this town that need fixed as much as the downtown.”

Councilman John Schroeder said Bell had done a great job on the project.

“I applaud you for the efforts you’ve made presenting the project,” Councilman John Schroeder told Bell. “I am not against it, but I am only for it at the $2 million allocated for it.”

He added that timing was an issue with the Cultural Center project and The Parklands. “The people voted for the library referendum so the support is there,” he said. “With that, it is more of a priority issue. There’s a lot of uncertainties out there, people. If we use in excess of $2 million for this and we need something for something else, we don’t have anything.”

Bell disagreed. “Timing has been a big topic of comments,” he said. “I look at it as perfect timing. We ought to feel very blessed that we are in this situation and have all these projects going on in Jasper.”

Bell said all of the projects were tied together. “We’ve got money in the bank,” he added. “It’s almost a sin not to use it for economic development.”

Schmitt said the pavers were not supported by the public. “The pavers are beautiful. I think they’re beautiful, but the people don’t want them,” said Councilman Earl Schmitt. “I have to stay with what they tell me.”

Councilwoman Nancy Eckerle said that she felt some people supported the pavers and some didn’t. In the end though, she said she wasn’t happy with the design. Bell had demonstrated in his presentation that many Indiana cities had used pavers very successfully but for Eckerle, she didn’t feel Jasper should strive to look like other cities.

“I question how any of these design proposals make Jasper stand out and look unique. So many communities now are using the pavers on their streets, on their sidewalks, on their crosswalks. Do we really want to look like every other city in the United States? I don’t think so,” she said. “Or do we want Jasper to develop a look that makes us fabulous.”

Finally, she recommended the council let some dust settle on the current projects underway and then reassess the downtown renovation.

Bell, clearly upset with the course of the conversation, threw it back to the rest of the council. “I’m doing my due diligence to carry the ball all the way to the finish and bringing the recommendation that was approved (by the redevelopment commission),” he said. “If you want to change the scope, then punt and change the scope.”

The council did. Rather than approve two ordinances for bonds, a $4 million bond for the Cultural Center and a $2 million bond for the downtown project, the council approved a single $6 million bond to cover the expected with the Cultural Center. The Cultural Center is a combined project with the library and the two entities are splitting the cost of the estimated $12 million project.

Along with the $6 million bond, the council also approved appropriated a million dollars to begin the design and engineering of the new building. That money is allocated with the expectation of reimbursement from the Jasper LEADs capital campaign.

They also approved $432,000 to be paid to the library for the city’s portion of the purchase of the property.

In considering the funding for the Cultural Center, Matt Eckerle, principal with H.J. Umbaugh Associates of Indianapolis, explained that the $6 million bond issue would likely be the maximum the city’s economic development income tax funds could handle.

Bell, still on the downtown track, raised concerns about potentially funding the downtown renovation with the debt load of the Cultural Center. Matt Eckerle explained the city would have other options for creating another $2 million bond but it would either be a general obligation bond or require a property tax levy. If it was created as a general obligation bond, the city could use EDIT funds to pay it back but that would likely eat into funds allocated to support departmental budgets for equipment and maintenance.

Matt Eckerle commented on how strong the City of Jasper was standing financially. “There aren’t many cities in the state that can cash flow a $4 million park,” he said about the city’s decision to fund The Parklands.

Upon approval of the bond issue, the representatives from the arts commission, library and businesses that were present in the council chambers applauded.