North Manchester Hears Sidewalk Update, Revitalization Plan
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jordan Fouts-
Jeff Rowe, a financial adviser with H.J. Umbaugh & Associates, gave council a breakdown of expected costs and financing. North Manchester has a $220,000 state grant toward the $1.995 million project, and will look at a 20-year bond to finance the rest.
Council President Chris Garber said they will extend the current loan on the town hall/police building and roll it into a new loan for sidewalks, with no change in the tax structure.
Members briefly debated whether or not to keep facade renovation in the project, a cost of $375,000, and how to handle funds used for the mix of private and public property. Garber noted they could strike facades from the project if they need to.
Garber was reappointed council president earlier in the meeting by unanimous vote, and Laura Rager vice president. All council members were sworn in for the year before the meeting.
The council also approved the $34,000 purchase of two police cars to replace eight- and 12-year-old vehicles that Police Chief Jeff Perry described as basically falling apart.
“I could have one of my officers pull off a piece of the frame and bring it in,” he offered to council.
One car has 200,000 miles on it and the other 176,000, and the department spent $12,000 last year to keep the pair on the road, compared to less than $5,000 for the rest of the fleet, he noted.
Perry said he will trade in the cars toward the purchase of two used vehicles with closer to 20,000 miles on them.
Garber observed that this is the first time the department has bought a new vehicle in several years, since both vehicles were purchased under previous chiefs of police. Perry told council he hadn’t budgeted for new vehicles, but Clerk-Treasurer Carrie Mugford had budgeted $12,000 for maintenance for the pair, which can be used toward the purchase.
Members approved $4,500 toward a $14,500 agreement with Morrison Kattman Menze architects as well, with the rest to come from other sources. The company has proposed developing an urban renewal plan for North Manchester, which would in part identify properties suitable for development and workshop with the community on needs and wants.
Zachary Benedict, a senior associate with the company, gave the council a presentation on what they have done in other towns, with the aim of attracting both younger and older residents.
Garber noted it’s been an ongoing process, which he hopes can tie together different projects in North Manchester, and that while the town approved funds toward the initial study, they haven’t signed anything yet.[[In-content Ad]]
Jeff Rowe, a financial adviser with H.J. Umbaugh & Associates, gave council a breakdown of expected costs and financing. North Manchester has a $220,000 state grant toward the $1.995 million project, and will look at a 20-year bond to finance the rest.
Council President Chris Garber said they will extend the current loan on the town hall/police building and roll it into a new loan for sidewalks, with no change in the tax structure.
Members briefly debated whether or not to keep facade renovation in the project, a cost of $375,000, and how to handle funds used for the mix of private and public property. Garber noted they could strike facades from the project if they need to.
Garber was reappointed council president earlier in the meeting by unanimous vote, and Laura Rager vice president. All council members were sworn in for the year before the meeting.
The council also approved the $34,000 purchase of two police cars to replace eight- and 12-year-old vehicles that Police Chief Jeff Perry described as basically falling apart.
“I could have one of my officers pull off a piece of the frame and bring it in,” he offered to council.
One car has 200,000 miles on it and the other 176,000, and the department spent $12,000 last year to keep the pair on the road, compared to less than $5,000 for the rest of the fleet, he noted.
Perry said he will trade in the cars toward the purchase of two used vehicles with closer to 20,000 miles on them.
Garber observed that this is the first time the department has bought a new vehicle in several years, since both vehicles were purchased under previous chiefs of police. Perry told council he hadn’t budgeted for new vehicles, but Clerk-Treasurer Carrie Mugford had budgeted $12,000 for maintenance for the pair, which can be used toward the purchase.
Members approved $4,500 toward a $14,500 agreement with Morrison Kattman Menze architects as well, with the rest to come from other sources. The company has proposed developing an urban renewal plan for North Manchester, which would in part identify properties suitable for development and workshop with the community on needs and wants.
Zachary Benedict, a senior associate with the company, gave the council a presentation on what they have done in other towns, with the aim of attracting both younger and older residents.
Garber noted it’s been an ongoing process, which he hopes can tie together different projects in North Manchester, and that while the town approved funds toward the initial study, they haven’t signed anything yet.[[In-content Ad]]
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