North Manchester Creates Redevelopment Authority
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jordan Fouts-
The North Manchester Redevelopment Authority will be a three-person board overseeing downtown sidewalk repairs, responsible for approving the project and its lease, then leasing it back to the town redevelopment commission. The nonsalaried board directors will be appointed by the council president.
The council also authorized the lease of sidewalks to the board, and passed both measures on first reading.
“We raced through that, but we set in motion the gears to move on the sidewalk, which is pretty exciting,” remarked Council President Chris Garber.
Slated for repair are sidewalks along Main Street from Market to Mill streets, and on Walnut Street from Main to Second streets. Garber said after the meeting that building facades will be part of a different project.
Council members plan to approve contractors in April and hope to see the work begin in May.
They also heard a request from Beverly Ferry with Wabash County Transit for contributing to $8,000 needed for purchasing a new vehicle. The $8,000, representing 20 percent of a matching state grant, would be split among North Manchester and Wabash city and county, and needs to be raised by July 1.
In her report on transit activity in the pasty year, Ferry noted they improved their services but also saw increased costs. Ridership in 2011 went up from just under 35,000 to more than 40,000, but gas costs jumped from about $50,000 to close to $90,000.
Also during the meeting, the council learned North Manchester police officer Derek Baldridge resigned effective Friday to accept a position with Shipshewana police. Members approved Police Chief Jeff Perry finding a replacement, which he said he plans to do in-house.
The council also announced a special meeting to discuss potential railroad crossing closures, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. in the municipal building. The crossing at Beckley Street was recommended for closure in December by representatives of Norfolk-Southern and the state Department of Transportation.[[In-content Ad]]
The North Manchester Redevelopment Authority will be a three-person board overseeing downtown sidewalk repairs, responsible for approving the project and its lease, then leasing it back to the town redevelopment commission. The nonsalaried board directors will be appointed by the council president.
The council also authorized the lease of sidewalks to the board, and passed both measures on first reading.
“We raced through that, but we set in motion the gears to move on the sidewalk, which is pretty exciting,” remarked Council President Chris Garber.
Slated for repair are sidewalks along Main Street from Market to Mill streets, and on Walnut Street from Main to Second streets. Garber said after the meeting that building facades will be part of a different project.
Council members plan to approve contractors in April and hope to see the work begin in May.
They also heard a request from Beverly Ferry with Wabash County Transit for contributing to $8,000 needed for purchasing a new vehicle. The $8,000, representing 20 percent of a matching state grant, would be split among North Manchester and Wabash city and county, and needs to be raised by July 1.
In her report on transit activity in the pasty year, Ferry noted they improved their services but also saw increased costs. Ridership in 2011 went up from just under 35,000 to more than 40,000, but gas costs jumped from about $50,000 to close to $90,000.
Also during the meeting, the council learned North Manchester police officer Derek Baldridge resigned effective Friday to accept a position with Shipshewana police. Members approved Police Chief Jeff Perry finding a replacement, which he said he plans to do in-house.
The council also announced a special meeting to discuss potential railroad crossing closures, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. in the municipal building. The crossing at Beckley Street was recommended for closure in December by representatives of Norfolk-Southern and the state Department of Transportation.[[In-content Ad]]
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