Brookville Redevelopment Commission met briefly Nov. 21 for some housekeeping items as the calendar rushes headlong toward 2023.  

The long-awaited transfer of 6th Street land from the Blight Elimination Program has been completed pending the payment of a $200 invoice to Barada Law Offices, Rushville, for the deed transfer. The Grimmeissens, business owners to the west of the plot, paid for the legal paperwork as well as $750 for the land. 

Member Aaron Leffingwell moved that the invoice be paid, so long as it’s paid from the same account where the $950 was deposited. Motion passed with four in attendance voting in favor. 

The property is now officially on the town’s tax rolls, though it’s uncertain what will be done there beyond repairing the sidewalk and retainer wall – those were to be addressed first as part of the agreement. BRC’s shared with the new owners some previous designs done by Seig Surveying, West Harrison.  

Further updates on the Main Street district came from Gage Pace, Brookville Main Street’s vice president and interim Economic Revitalization Connector, who hopes to hand off the second title at the start of next year.  

The PreservINg Main Street Program ($2 million awarded) is moving along toward the construction phase as 22 properties were ranked by a scoring committee that included BRC president Todd Thackery and Brookville resident Jennifer Profitt. According to the local PreservINg Main Street’s bimonthly report to Indiana’s Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) dated Nov. 9, the town is considering eight to 12 buildings to be enhanced based on initial cost estimates from RATIO Design, Indianapolis. Owners will have to sign commitment letters.  

Pace has also been working with Ginnie Faller, southeast Indiana adviser for the state’s Small Business Development Center, to find potential new businesses to fill vacant storefronts. Faller had provided a report done by Data Axle on the mile stretch of Main Street, identifying opportunities and leakages (essentially gaps in the local economy). The report pointed out industries that may fare well here.  

Thackery added BRC was once advised to contact Indiana Communities Institute of Ball State University for help in identifying businesses to target.  
Pace said he’s also writing a Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) initiative for the town, citing a statistic that says 70% of new jobs come from a community’s existing businesses.  

Most of the meeting went over items from the BRC’s current comprehensive and strategic investment plans. Thackery requested the board review each of these so in January, more strategic goals can be made for 2023.  

Along with the BSU recommendation, these included: updating the comprehensive plan and prioritizing spending; zoning updates related to PreservINg Main Street; marketing and branding; Sidewalks to School (a section of this near Riverfront Apartments needs replaced); Riverfront Development District and alcohol permit process (for area that includes most of Main Street down to Cobblestone Inn & Suites); parking/walkability study done by HWC Engineering, Indianapolis; Main Street enhancement grants; federal grants for extending walking/bike trails; historic preservation ($50,000 balance of a promised $100,000 is due to Main Street Brookville by June 2023); financial services from Indiana Bond Bank; Brookville Façade Grant Program compliant with Indiana Landmarks; a business incubator implemented by Third Place; a parks and recreation master plan; affordable housing; and a peek at OCRA’s 2023 calendar. 

Beth Foster, nonvoting member, asked if the town has established a parks board. Member Charles Campbell, also on the town board, said it has not. Foster reminded that parks and rec status helps toward getting grant money for improvements; she feels this segment of the town is “up and coming.” 
In other items, phase 2 of the south end storm sewer project still needs completed (and grant pursued). A proposal from ms consultants, inc., Indianapolis is still on the table for $54,300 for preliminary design/surveying work.  

There’s been no movement toward establishing a residential TIF district (Tax Increment Financing). This brought up some discussion of the potential new housing development just north of town off Reservoir Road. Member Darrel Flaspohler said only the southern tip of the project would be within town limits. Thackery confirmed Brookville’s involvement is primarily administration of an extended sewage system, while adding BRC is open to working with developers on a potential residential TIF district. 

The Opportunity Zone census tract of Brookville was again brought up to encourage investment.  

There were minimal changes to the BRC funds from the previous month – Fund 4445 TIF ($246,532.62) and Fund 4500 ($76,231.21).   

The Dec. 19 meeting could be canceled due to lack of actionable items, said Thackery.