Winona Addresses TIF Plan
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
WINONA LAKE - Further discussions on a rental property inspection ordinance and on establishing a Tax Incremental Financing district in Winona Lake will take place in a special meeting Monday.
The Winona Lake Town Council will meet Monday at noon in the community building to review the inspection ordinance and the proposed TIF district. The meeting will be open to the public.
Both subjects were mentioned in previous town council meetings, but council members said Tuesday they preferred to hold a special meeting to discuss them in depth.
Items to be decided in the inspection ordinance include whether the restrictions would apply to all rental housing or only to multi-family housing, and the fee structure for inspections.
Establishing a TIF district in Winona Lake would mean returning property tax money for use in that area of Winona Lake instead of giving it to the county or school district.
Council members had questions on the exact area to be covered in the proposed TIF district, how much it would cost for a consultant to set it up, who would control the revenues, and whether it would be a conflict of interest for the council president.
Brent Wilcoxson, the president of the town council, would appoint the majority of the members of the redevelopment commission, which would direct the TIF district. However, council member Harold Dunn said, since Wilcoxson owns much of the property that would be included in the proposed district, the council should decide if the project would present a conflict for Wilcoxson.
Bob Murphy, the town's financial consultant who has set up TIF districts in other areas, will be on hand to answer questions at Monday's meeting.
In other business:
• Larry Long, engineering consultant for the council, said renovation of the town's public works building has begun. Interior demolition began Monday, and the council approved changes to doors and to the roofing system.
• The council gave preliminary approval to S.G. Smith and Phend & Brown as low bidders for street and sidewalk construction on the island.
• The council approved an additional appropriation of approximately $300 to the Winona Lake Fire Department to repair the tanker.
• The 1997 salary for the town's building commissioner, Dick Leaf, was approved at $10 per hour, 28 hours per week for 48 weeks.
• Salary for the clerk-treasurer, Retha Hicks, for 1997 was set at the 1996 rate, slightly more than $16,000. However, Hicks is paid separately for sewer department work and for managing the town offices. Her total pay is approximately $34,000. The clerk-treasurer's job is a full-time elected position.
• Election of council officers will be at the Dec. 30 meeting since council member Randy Ruppel was absent Tuesday. That meeting will be at 7:30 a.m. in the community building. [[In-content Ad]]
WINONA LAKE - Further discussions on a rental property inspection ordinance and on establishing a Tax Incremental Financing district in Winona Lake will take place in a special meeting Monday.
The Winona Lake Town Council will meet Monday at noon in the community building to review the inspection ordinance and the proposed TIF district. The meeting will be open to the public.
Both subjects were mentioned in previous town council meetings, but council members said Tuesday they preferred to hold a special meeting to discuss them in depth.
Items to be decided in the inspection ordinance include whether the restrictions would apply to all rental housing or only to multi-family housing, and the fee structure for inspections.
Establishing a TIF district in Winona Lake would mean returning property tax money for use in that area of Winona Lake instead of giving it to the county or school district.
Council members had questions on the exact area to be covered in the proposed TIF district, how much it would cost for a consultant to set it up, who would control the revenues, and whether it would be a conflict of interest for the council president.
Brent Wilcoxson, the president of the town council, would appoint the majority of the members of the redevelopment commission, which would direct the TIF district. However, council member Harold Dunn said, since Wilcoxson owns much of the property that would be included in the proposed district, the council should decide if the project would present a conflict for Wilcoxson.
Bob Murphy, the town's financial consultant who has set up TIF districts in other areas, will be on hand to answer questions at Monday's meeting.
In other business:
• Larry Long, engineering consultant for the council, said renovation of the town's public works building has begun. Interior demolition began Monday, and the council approved changes to doors and to the roofing system.
• The council gave preliminary approval to S.G. Smith and Phend & Brown as low bidders for street and sidewalk construction on the island.
• The council approved an additional appropriation of approximately $300 to the Winona Lake Fire Department to repair the tanker.
• The 1997 salary for the town's building commissioner, Dick Leaf, was approved at $10 per hour, 28 hours per week for 48 weeks.
• Salary for the clerk-treasurer, Retha Hicks, for 1997 was set at the 1996 rate, slightly more than $16,000. However, Hicks is paid separately for sewer department work and for managing the town offices. Her total pay is approximately $34,000. The clerk-treasurer's job is a full-time elected position.
• Election of council officers will be at the Dec. 30 meeting since council member Randy Ruppel was absent Tuesday. That meeting will be at 7:30 a.m. in the community building. [[In-content Ad]]