Skinner Discusses Draft Report, Other Business at Redevelopment
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
Skinner explained that he handed out a preliminary draft of the Redevelopment Commission and Warsaw Redevelopment Authority report that will be sent to the city council before then going to the state.
“I have to submit this by April 16. The council has to review it before April 16, it has to be presented to the council before April 16. I’m just giving you a chance to look it over,” Skinner told the board. If they had any questions or comments, he said they could let him know.
Skinner said he will have a finished copy for the Commission before its April 4 next meeting. He said he plans to submit it to the city council for its March 21 meeting, and the state has to receive it by April 16.
The report goes through the various city tax increment finance districts, including revenues from last year, expenses paid, fund balances, bond obligations and outstanding debt on those bonds to be paid. With the report, Skinner said there will be “an attachment with all of the parcels.”
Skinner then told the Commission he would present to the city council later Monday a request for an additional appropriation for the Warsaw Technology Park, just moving funds from one account to another.
“The council will be voting on it, but any expenditures will come back to the Redevelopment Commission,” Skinner said. As the Tech Park continues to grow, he said there may be some times when additional appropriations will be required. Every four years the Tech Park has to be recertified, and 2016 is year four so it’s in the process of being recertified right now.
Commission President Tim Meyer asked for an update on the Buffalo Street project.
“We’re still working on the engineering so I’m hoping we’ll get that wrapped up here in the next couple of months,” Skinner responded.
He said the rough draft of the presentation of the project to the Regional Cities is being worked on. Skinner said they’re waiting on an outline for what Regional Cities will be looking at so the presentation can be completed.
Skinner said they also have a rough draft of the development agreement with the Buffalo Street developer, Dave Matthews. He said they still need to go over it with him and make any necessary changes.
As part of the project, the Center Lake boat ramp will be moved. The Board of Public Works and Safety approved that Friday.
Skinner said they’re working with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources on the new location. Construction for the new boat ramp off Ind. 15 hopefully will commence in 2017. The city will lease some ground to the DNR for the boat ramp, which will be handicapped accessible.
The last topic discussed was again the Regional Cities Initiative. Originally, two Regional Cities groups were to get a share of $84 million for development projects, but the committee and Governor Mike Pence decided three regions should get $42 million each. One of those regions was Northeast Indiana, which includes Warsaw and Kosciusko County. While the state has the $84 million, the state legislature hasn’t yet approved the additional $42 million.
Mike Klondaris, city councilman and Redevelopment Commission member, asked Skinner if he heard any updates on the funding.
Skinner said he’s been told the state legislature will approve it as no one wants to deny it, but Indiana’s House of Representatives is holding it hostage to try and tie it to highway funding.
“Whether or not that pans out, I don’t know,” Skinner said with a shrug. “I hope they approve all three, obviously,” because another option would be to split the $84 million three ways, “which isn’t nearly as powerful.”
Skinner later stated, “The sad part is, it’s being held hostage over a totally different issue.”
The claims approved by the Commission Monday included: $21.10 to the Times-Union for advertisement of an additional appropriation; $3,088.50 to Faegre Baker Daniels for legal services provided through Jan. 31; $62,020.85 to Phend & Brown Inc. for Mariners Drive rehabilitation project retainage; $3,600 to Wessler Engineering for the Warsaw Technology Park Phase II lift station design; and $750 in yearly fees to Regions Corp. Trust Operations for the Warsaw Commons tax increment revenue bonds, which Skinner indicated went up this year from $400.
Though the Commission last month approved closing on the purchase of Habitat for Humanity property at 805 E. Market St., Skinner provided the members with an invoice to show them the action was taken. The five lots were purchased for $75,214.50, including fees and any other costs.
The minutes approved were for the Feb. 1 Redevelopment Commission meeting.[[In-content Ad]]
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Skinner explained that he handed out a preliminary draft of the Redevelopment Commission and Warsaw Redevelopment Authority report that will be sent to the city council before then going to the state.
“I have to submit this by April 16. The council has to review it before April 16, it has to be presented to the council before April 16. I’m just giving you a chance to look it over,” Skinner told the board. If they had any questions or comments, he said they could let him know.
Skinner said he will have a finished copy for the Commission before its April 4 next meeting. He said he plans to submit it to the city council for its March 21 meeting, and the state has to receive it by April 16.
The report goes through the various city tax increment finance districts, including revenues from last year, expenses paid, fund balances, bond obligations and outstanding debt on those bonds to be paid. With the report, Skinner said there will be “an attachment with all of the parcels.”
Skinner then told the Commission he would present to the city council later Monday a request for an additional appropriation for the Warsaw Technology Park, just moving funds from one account to another.
“The council will be voting on it, but any expenditures will come back to the Redevelopment Commission,” Skinner said. As the Tech Park continues to grow, he said there may be some times when additional appropriations will be required. Every four years the Tech Park has to be recertified, and 2016 is year four so it’s in the process of being recertified right now.
Commission President Tim Meyer asked for an update on the Buffalo Street project.
“We’re still working on the engineering so I’m hoping we’ll get that wrapped up here in the next couple of months,” Skinner responded.
He said the rough draft of the presentation of the project to the Regional Cities is being worked on. Skinner said they’re waiting on an outline for what Regional Cities will be looking at so the presentation can be completed.
Skinner said they also have a rough draft of the development agreement with the Buffalo Street developer, Dave Matthews. He said they still need to go over it with him and make any necessary changes.
As part of the project, the Center Lake boat ramp will be moved. The Board of Public Works and Safety approved that Friday.
Skinner said they’re working with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources on the new location. Construction for the new boat ramp off Ind. 15 hopefully will commence in 2017. The city will lease some ground to the DNR for the boat ramp, which will be handicapped accessible.
The last topic discussed was again the Regional Cities Initiative. Originally, two Regional Cities groups were to get a share of $84 million for development projects, but the committee and Governor Mike Pence decided three regions should get $42 million each. One of those regions was Northeast Indiana, which includes Warsaw and Kosciusko County. While the state has the $84 million, the state legislature hasn’t yet approved the additional $42 million.
Mike Klondaris, city councilman and Redevelopment Commission member, asked Skinner if he heard any updates on the funding.
Skinner said he’s been told the state legislature will approve it as no one wants to deny it, but Indiana’s House of Representatives is holding it hostage to try and tie it to highway funding.
“Whether or not that pans out, I don’t know,” Skinner said with a shrug. “I hope they approve all three, obviously,” because another option would be to split the $84 million three ways, “which isn’t nearly as powerful.”
Skinner later stated, “The sad part is, it’s being held hostage over a totally different issue.”
The claims approved by the Commission Monday included: $21.10 to the Times-Union for advertisement of an additional appropriation; $3,088.50 to Faegre Baker Daniels for legal services provided through Jan. 31; $62,020.85 to Phend & Brown Inc. for Mariners Drive rehabilitation project retainage; $3,600 to Wessler Engineering for the Warsaw Technology Park Phase II lift station design; and $750 in yearly fees to Regions Corp. Trust Operations for the Warsaw Commons tax increment revenue bonds, which Skinner indicated went up this year from $400.
Though the Commission last month approved closing on the purchase of Habitat for Humanity property at 805 E. Market St., Skinner provided the members with an invoice to show them the action was taken. The five lots were purchased for $75,214.50, including fees and any other costs.
The minutes approved were for the Feb. 1 Redevelopment Commission meeting.[[In-content Ad]]
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