Reservoir Hill project receives green light
April 26, 2023 at 1:41 p.m.
With a grin and thumbs-up signal, Bill Schirmer announced to Brookville Town Council Thursday that the sewer extension up Reservoir Road and the resulting planned housing developments are ready for takeoff.
By a split vote March 2, BTC approved the extension of the town’s wastewater system to support what could be as many as 200 new residences from the town limit up to State Road 1. The application through Southeast Indiana Regional Economic and Acceleration Development Initiative (SEI READI) was awaiting final approval by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. This came April 18 via email to Schirmer in his role as president of the SEI READI group.
“IEDC is pleased to inform SEI READI that the sewer extension in Brookville and the Franklin County housing project has been approved,” he read.
“IEDC has obligated $4,464,107 in (federal) READI funds for the purpose of the project. You got it.”
BTC President Bridget Hayes asked Schirmer of the next steps.
SEI’s attorney John Kellerman of Batesville is going to continue discussing with BTC attorney Lynn Fledderman a contract to draw up for the town. That then goes back to the SEI board for reapproval, a technicality Schirmer said came from the state and federal governments. Though submission is not needed until the second week of May, Schirmer was to ask the group for permission to expedite things. The entire project, however, has a deadline of Dec. 31, 2026.
“We have time … let’s do it right,” said Schirmer.
He’s been in contact with Nick Lawrence (econ development consultant for town & county), Hayes and town officials Jessica Hansel and Tim Ripperger about moving forward.
“I think we need to work through this to keep your board abreast of how the process goes,” added Schirmer.
He acknowledged also the need to keep the public – specifically current residents of Reservoir hill – “engaged” in the process or at least finding representation to engage them.
“It’s important to do so because there are a lot of unanswered questions, lot of speculation, and we need to make sure everybody does have correct information,” said Schirmer.
Hayes said that after a slight technical difficulty, surveys to current residents finally were expected to be mailed out Friday. Residents were asked for their email addresses so new information could be dispersed more quickly.
Schirmer also notified the board that a second round of READI funds are about to be approved by the Indiana General Assembly - known as READI 2.0 – that will total $500 million of state funds (vs. federal) available for housing or quality of place projects. The area group (six counties) received $15 million the first round and Schirmer dreamed of receiving as much as $50 million next time.
More discussion of the project was to take place at Tuesday’s FC Redevelopment Commission meeting.
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With a grin and thumbs-up signal, Bill Schirmer announced to Brookville Town Council Thursday that the sewer extension up Reservoir Road and the resulting planned housing developments are ready for takeoff.
By a split vote March 2, BTC approved the extension of the town’s wastewater system to support what could be as many as 200 new residences from the town limit up to State Road 1. The application through Southeast Indiana Regional Economic and Acceleration Development Initiative (SEI READI) was awaiting final approval by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. This came April 18 via email to Schirmer in his role as president of the SEI READI group.
“IEDC is pleased to inform SEI READI that the sewer extension in Brookville and the Franklin County housing project has been approved,” he read.
“IEDC has obligated $4,464,107 in (federal) READI funds for the purpose of the project. You got it.”
BTC President Bridget Hayes asked Schirmer of the next steps.
SEI’s attorney John Kellerman of Batesville is going to continue discussing with BTC attorney Lynn Fledderman a contract to draw up for the town. That then goes back to the SEI board for reapproval, a technicality Schirmer said came from the state and federal governments. Though submission is not needed until the second week of May, Schirmer was to ask the group for permission to expedite things. The entire project, however, has a deadline of Dec. 31, 2026.
“We have time … let’s do it right,” said Schirmer.
He’s been in contact with Nick Lawrence (econ development consultant for town & county), Hayes and town officials Jessica Hansel and Tim Ripperger about moving forward.
“I think we need to work through this to keep your board abreast of how the process goes,” added Schirmer.
He acknowledged also the need to keep the public – specifically current residents of Reservoir hill – “engaged” in the process or at least finding representation to engage them.
“It’s important to do so because there are a lot of unanswered questions, lot of speculation, and we need to make sure everybody does have correct information,” said Schirmer.
Hayes said that after a slight technical difficulty, surveys to current residents finally were expected to be mailed out Friday. Residents were asked for their email addresses so new information could be dispersed more quickly.
Schirmer also notified the board that a second round of READI funds are about to be approved by the Indiana General Assembly - known as READI 2.0 – that will total $500 million of state funds (vs. federal) available for housing or quality of place projects. The area group (six counties) received $15 million the first round and Schirmer dreamed of receiving as much as $50 million next time.
More discussion of the project was to take place at Tuesday’s FC Redevelopment Commission meeting.