Jasper Library Board decides to go it alone for now

Rather than wait on the City of Jasper’s timeline on potentially purchasing the Hoosier Desk site, the Jasper Library Board decided to begin negotiations with Ken and Paul Sternberg on its own.

The board is attempting to hit a 2016 referendum with choices for a new library — either renovating and building at the current location or turning the Hoosier Desk site into a new library and potential culture center featuring the arts. To do that, they decided to continue exploring the options on their own for now as the city works through the process.

On Thursday, the Jasper Common Council and Jasper Community Arts Commission held a joint executive meeting to discuss the purchase of the property. According to board President Dean Vonderheide, the city has also requested a joint executive meeting between the library board, common council and arts commission the first week of September.

[box]Executive meetings are not open to the public and can be held to discuss the purchase of real property. Decisions will occur in a public meeting.[/box]

For now, though, the board will work out a price for the property with the Sternbergs. They will also continue to explore the cost to add on to the current library.

The board agreed that the biggest consideration moving forward will be the cost of the project.

One factor impacting the cost of the Hoosier Desk site is the potential for Industrial Recover Tax Credits — or DINO tax credits. The credits are available through the Indiana Economic Development Commission for the rehabilitation or reuse of old industrial buildings.

The board will apply for the credits for the Hoosier Desk site. If awarded, the credits could be equivalent to 25 percent of the cost of the project. The tax credits can be sold to another company who will then use them to offset the company’s tax burden. The recent housing project in Huntingburg — The Lofts of St. Joseph’s — was partially funded by the sale of housing tax credits to Old National Bank.

The board is to have the application to the IEDC next week for consideration for the award of the tax credits by September 8, the next time the commission will consider awarding those credits. The goal is to have the results available to make a decision by the September 12th Jasper Library Board meeting that will be held at the Ferdinand Contractual Library starting at 4 p.m.

“We are taking the lead and taking ownership,” Vonderheide told the board. “We should also take the lead in negotiation to develop options on the purchase [Hoosier Desk site] just like we are doing here. We can be in control of our own destiny and have the facts in front of us. If it is fruitful to go into the ventureHoosier Desk, we can bring them with us later. I think that the frustration that the board and public has is because we have been waiting so much.”

Vonderheide said the could do the site on their own.

In moving forward, the board is considering the possibility of demolishing Hoosier Desk and constructing a new building with aesthetics from the old building.

“There are four and a half acres there. If other groups see how good we are doing there and they want to jump in, let them jump in,” Library Director Christine Golden said.

The largest factor in taking on the Hoosier Desk site is whether it will fit the requirements for the Industrial Rehabilitation Tax Credits (DINO). If it does, the 25 percent tax credit will make the project more feasible for the board to consider as they have agreed the largest factor in passing a referendum will likely be the cost.

“We will be able to get the facts in a quicker time frame,” Vonderheid said. “We will be able to control the negotiations.”

The library will also be able to move forward without having the building appraised, unlike the city which is required to have at least two appraisals completed for a property purchase.

“The site itself is what we are interested in,” Vonderheide said. “The goal is to be able to compare the two sites side-by-side to make a decision quickly. The underlying factor is the total cost of the project.”

Recently, the Jasper America’s Best Community group announced they are considering the proposed Jasper Cultural Center as the recipient of up to $3 million if the group is successful in winning the America’s Best Community contest sponsored by Frontier Communications, NBC Universal, The Weather Channel and CoBank.

They are also considering the revitalization of the downtown courthouse area and the Astra Theatre.

However, after a recent Root Beer Float Social held at Hoosier Desk, the community members attending were asked for their thoughts on both projects. The Hoosier Desk/Jasper Cultural Center was overwhelmingly supported by those attending.

“We have the communities best interest in mind,” Vonderheide said. “It is important that we make the decision as a library board in the best interest of the community.”