Brookville Redevelopment Commission seeks planning grant
April 19, 2023 at 1:07 p.m.
A rather large grant opportunity is sought by Brookville Redevelopment Commission following a yay vote at Monday evening’s monthly meeting.
It’s recommended the board update its comprehensive/strategic investment plan every five years. The next round of community development block grants-planning grant offered by Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) has an application deadline of May 19. President Todd Thackery said it would be up to a $20,000 commitment from his commission to receive $80,000 in grant funds.
“It’s part of the second quarter round of the Covid-19 economic recovery plan,”he read, adding that it intends to fund comprehensive plans, water infrastructure plans, broadband readiness plans, economic development plans, environmental assessments, public facility feasibility studies, historic preservation plans and downtown revitalization.
Member John Estridge asked whether John Palmer or the town was handling this process; Palmer serves as community coordinator for the Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program (HELP) that the town is invested in.
“I contacted John asking for advice on how the two could coordinate and I don’t know the answer yet,”said Thackery. “That would be I think the ideal thing …coordinating with HELP and updating a Brookville-specific comprehensive plan.”
Estridge also asked if Franklin County was updating its comprehensive plan.
Thackery said he wasn’t sure but since the announcement came out Friday, he assumed everyone is peeking at the opportunity.
“What I propose is a motion to apply for a planning grant, whether it be comprehensive or any other plan in this round –to coordinate with the town and potentially the county,”said the president.
Estridge made a motion, which passed unanimously.
Member Victoria Meyer wanted to know more about the process.
Thackery replied there will likely be a grant writing consultant hired to put together the OCRA application. In speaking with Jessica Hansel, town special projects director, she indicated that a new company may be coming on board to handle this.
The sidewalk on Fairfield Avenue in front of Riverfront Apartments has been replaced, with guardrail installation scheduled for this week. Estridge said it came up at a town board meeting that there was a problem with the entrance to the county highway garage off Fairfield and it was caused by the sidewalk project.
Thackery had spoken with HWC Engineering, the project design firm, who told him there were Americans with Disabilities Act requirements that prevented that section from being changed. Thackery thought it had more to do with drainage.
Estridge also had a problem with hearing or reading that the town was responsible for the cost of redoing the portion of the walk that had subgrade settlement issues. Thackery had read the same thing. Both members agreed it wasn’t the town’s fault. But Thackery said it may not have been the contractor’s fault either (Paul Rohe).
He said a geotechnical firm did testing on the fill before construction and approved it. Thackery added in a case like this where no one is “at fault,”the owner (town) may have to settle the difference. The board said it was good the amount is not excessive.
In other news, Nick Lawrence/The Wheatley Group forwarded a new contract to the board for his consulting services. He’s moving away from fee-based to hourly charges as needed, allowing BRC’s tab to split in two from $20,000/year to a maximum of $10,000. After some discussion on the services the group offers, member Rita Seig moved to accept the consulting proposal for 2023; motion passed.
There was a reminder that BRC has committed an additional $50,000 to Main Street’s Revolving Loan Fund held by the FC Community Foundation; this comes due in June. Meyer asked who determines how that’s used.
Thackery said it’s not under the BRC auspices. The revolving loan fund was one of the requirements for the town receiving the PreservINg Main Street grant, for which the town acts as local administrator.
There was little change in fund amounts from March. The riverboat fund sits at $76,231.21 while the TIF (Tax Increment Financing) fund is at $355,903.22.
Estridge mentioned a car wash is planned for property in the 9000 block of State Road 101.
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A rather large grant opportunity is sought by Brookville Redevelopment Commission following a yay vote at Monday evening’s monthly meeting.
It’s recommended the board update its comprehensive/strategic investment plan every five years. The next round of community development block grants-planning grant offered by Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) has an application deadline of May 19. President Todd Thackery said it would be up to a $20,000 commitment from his commission to receive $80,000 in grant funds.
“It’s part of the second quarter round of the Covid-19 economic recovery plan,”he read, adding that it intends to fund comprehensive plans, water infrastructure plans, broadband readiness plans, economic development plans, environmental assessments, public facility feasibility studies, historic preservation plans and downtown revitalization.
Member John Estridge asked whether John Palmer or the town was handling this process; Palmer serves as community coordinator for the Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program (HELP) that the town is invested in.
“I contacted John asking for advice on how the two could coordinate and I don’t know the answer yet,”said Thackery. “That would be I think the ideal thing …coordinating with HELP and updating a Brookville-specific comprehensive plan.”
Estridge also asked if Franklin County was updating its comprehensive plan.
Thackery said he wasn’t sure but since the announcement came out Friday, he assumed everyone is peeking at the opportunity.
“What I propose is a motion to apply for a planning grant, whether it be comprehensive or any other plan in this round –to coordinate with the town and potentially the county,”said the president.
Estridge made a motion, which passed unanimously.
Member Victoria Meyer wanted to know more about the process.
Thackery replied there will likely be a grant writing consultant hired to put together the OCRA application. In speaking with Jessica Hansel, town special projects director, she indicated that a new company may be coming on board to handle this.
The sidewalk on Fairfield Avenue in front of Riverfront Apartments has been replaced, with guardrail installation scheduled for this week. Estridge said it came up at a town board meeting that there was a problem with the entrance to the county highway garage off Fairfield and it was caused by the sidewalk project.
Thackery had spoken with HWC Engineering, the project design firm, who told him there were Americans with Disabilities Act requirements that prevented that section from being changed. Thackery thought it had more to do with drainage.
Estridge also had a problem with hearing or reading that the town was responsible for the cost of redoing the portion of the walk that had subgrade settlement issues. Thackery had read the same thing. Both members agreed it wasn’t the town’s fault. But Thackery said it may not have been the contractor’s fault either (Paul Rohe).
He said a geotechnical firm did testing on the fill before construction and approved it. Thackery added in a case like this where no one is “at fault,”the owner (town) may have to settle the difference. The board said it was good the amount is not excessive.
In other news, Nick Lawrence/The Wheatley Group forwarded a new contract to the board for his consulting services. He’s moving away from fee-based to hourly charges as needed, allowing BRC’s tab to split in two from $20,000/year to a maximum of $10,000. After some discussion on the services the group offers, member Rita Seig moved to accept the consulting proposal for 2023; motion passed.
There was a reminder that BRC has committed an additional $50,000 to Main Street’s Revolving Loan Fund held by the FC Community Foundation; this comes due in June. Meyer asked who determines how that’s used.
Thackery said it’s not under the BRC auspices. The revolving loan fund was one of the requirements for the town receiving the PreservINg Main Street grant, for which the town acts as local administrator.
There was little change in fund amounts from March. The riverboat fund sits at $76,231.21 while the TIF (Tax Increment Financing) fund is at $355,903.22.
Estridge mentioned a car wash is planned for property in the 9000 block of State Road 101.