Commissioners Approve County Incentives Handbook
May 11, 2021 at 8:04 p.m.
Commissioners Approve County Incentives Handbook
By David [email protected]
Suzie Light, on behalf of Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation CEO Alan Tio, who is deployed overseas until August, presented the Commissioners with the Kosciusko County Economic Development and Redevelopment Incentives Policy and Procedure Handbook.
“You’ve received an executive summary. The handbook, we believe, is important because it will help – you have a process, but this will make sure that the process is managed, hopefully more effective. And offers all businesses information about the incentives,” Light said. “KEDCO is going to work with the applicants to gather information about their job creation and investment projects, analyse available local incentive tools to evaluate what tools are appropriate for each case that is brought forward.”
She said that KEDCO will provide a cost-benefits analysis and recommendations to local units of government; work with legal counsel to draft resolutions, incentive agreements and other documents; and coordinate all meetings between the parties and presentations at public meetings.
The Kosciusko Redevelopment Commission has adopted the handbook, she said, and after the Commissioners approved it Tuesday, it will go to the County Council on Thursday.
Commissioner Cary Groninger said he read through it and, “I think this is a great idea to be able to have that single point of contact that these companies can go to, to have at least some idea of what’s been done in the past and what the guidelines are for us to attract new businesses. It’s not a rubber stamp that everything is going to be approved by any stretch of the imagination, but it does at least give them a person to kind of walk with them side-by-side, hand-by-hand to go through that process because it is confusing.”
Light agreed the process can be confusing and said, “We want to shepherd folks along for the success of businesses applying, as well as the success of local units of governments.”
Commissioner Brad Jackson said county attorney Ed Ormsby looked the handbook over and was comfortable with it. Groninger made the motion to approve it, Jackson seconded it and it was approved 3-0.
Kosciusko Area Bus Service General Manager Tony Peterson began his presentation by noting KABS has been providing public transportation in Kosciusko County for 40 years. It was established in 1981.
“Even through the pandemic, we’ve provided over 32,000 rides, which is a good success story considering that most of our ridership was down at one point. It was down large last year,” he said.
It was down to as low as 900 rides a month, but KABS typically provides over 4,500 rides a month.
On Tuesday, Peterson presented the Commissioners with a packet of the 2022 Indiana Department of Transportation Operating and Capital grant application. He said KABS was requesting $485,995 in federal funds for 2022 and an estimated $137,204 in state funds.
Peterson said the figures could be subject to change. In August through October, he said the state will review the grant request and let KABS know if there’s any issue.
“In addition to the application, it represents two medium transit replacement buses, totaling $60,750 each – 80% federal expense and 20% local match,” he said.
Groninger made the motion to approve, Jackson seconded and it was approved 3-0.
In a last piece of business, the Commissioners approved the reappointment of Christopher Merrill to the Warsaw Public Library Board.
The next Commissioners meeting is at 9 a.m. May 25.
Suzie Light, on behalf of Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation CEO Alan Tio, who is deployed overseas until August, presented the Commissioners with the Kosciusko County Economic Development and Redevelopment Incentives Policy and Procedure Handbook.
“You’ve received an executive summary. The handbook, we believe, is important because it will help – you have a process, but this will make sure that the process is managed, hopefully more effective. And offers all businesses information about the incentives,” Light said. “KEDCO is going to work with the applicants to gather information about their job creation and investment projects, analyse available local incentive tools to evaluate what tools are appropriate for each case that is brought forward.”
She said that KEDCO will provide a cost-benefits analysis and recommendations to local units of government; work with legal counsel to draft resolutions, incentive agreements and other documents; and coordinate all meetings between the parties and presentations at public meetings.
The Kosciusko Redevelopment Commission has adopted the handbook, she said, and after the Commissioners approved it Tuesday, it will go to the County Council on Thursday.
Commissioner Cary Groninger said he read through it and, “I think this is a great idea to be able to have that single point of contact that these companies can go to, to have at least some idea of what’s been done in the past and what the guidelines are for us to attract new businesses. It’s not a rubber stamp that everything is going to be approved by any stretch of the imagination, but it does at least give them a person to kind of walk with them side-by-side, hand-by-hand to go through that process because it is confusing.”
Light agreed the process can be confusing and said, “We want to shepherd folks along for the success of businesses applying, as well as the success of local units of governments.”
Commissioner Brad Jackson said county attorney Ed Ormsby looked the handbook over and was comfortable with it. Groninger made the motion to approve it, Jackson seconded it and it was approved 3-0.
Kosciusko Area Bus Service General Manager Tony Peterson began his presentation by noting KABS has been providing public transportation in Kosciusko County for 40 years. It was established in 1981.
“Even through the pandemic, we’ve provided over 32,000 rides, which is a good success story considering that most of our ridership was down at one point. It was down large last year,” he said.
It was down to as low as 900 rides a month, but KABS typically provides over 4,500 rides a month.
On Tuesday, Peterson presented the Commissioners with a packet of the 2022 Indiana Department of Transportation Operating and Capital grant application. He said KABS was requesting $485,995 in federal funds for 2022 and an estimated $137,204 in state funds.
Peterson said the figures could be subject to change. In August through October, he said the state will review the grant request and let KABS know if there’s any issue.
“In addition to the application, it represents two medium transit replacement buses, totaling $60,750 each – 80% federal expense and 20% local match,” he said.
Groninger made the motion to approve, Jackson seconded and it was approved 3-0.
In a last piece of business, the Commissioners approved the reappointment of Christopher Merrill to the Warsaw Public Library Board.
The next Commissioners meeting is at 9 a.m. May 25.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092