OurWeek The Grant County Record in Grant County · Redevelopment Commission, July 7, 2025 · 2025-07-07 · full transcript https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSJQh6BAXys Exported Mon, 14 Sep 2026 20:31:59 GMT Source: Search derivative of the 2026-08-10 proxy capture of YouTube auto-captions (rolling-caption duplication collapsed), mirrored from the county record index. Auto-captions garble names and numbers — verify wording against the recording before quoting. These transcripts are machine-generated. They garble proper nouns badly — company and personal names especially. Watch the recording before repeating any name, number, or quotation. The video is the record. ============================================================================== Indexed at https://ourweek.in/grant-county/reports/grant-county-record 0:04 recording. recording. Good afternoon and welcome to this regular session of the Grant County Redevelopment Commission. The prayer will be led by Mr. Bookout. The pledge of allegiance led by Mr. Lemming. If you would stand. Lord, thank you for this day. Uh thank you to all those who are present. Thank you for allowing us all to do what we do every day, keeping your name in our hearts. Please guide the decisions of this body. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. 0:38 I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, gentlemen. At this time, we'll open the floor for nominations for the seat of the president. president. president. 1:09 Not everybody at once. Well, Shane, you want that position? Do I want it? I'll nominate you whether you want it or not. Are there any other nominations for the office of president? Is there a motion to close nominations? I'll make that motion. Second. Second. Second. I have a motion from Mr. Hicks, a second 1:39 I have a motion from Mr. Hicks, a second from Mr. Lim to close the nominations of president. president. president. Um, do you want to do a You can do signify by saying I or you could do roll call vote. Your choice. You would. Okay. So before us on the floor, we have a motion to nominate myself as president. 2:11 motion to nominate myself as president. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. All oppose, same sign. I'll stayain. I will be the president at the floor. At this time, I'll open the floor for nominations for vice president. I would nominate uh Victoria Herring as vice president. Are there any other nominations on the floor? floor? floor? I'll move to close nominations. 2:43 I'll move to close nominations. I'll second that. I have a motion to close nominations from Mr. Hicks. a second for myself. Uh all those in favor of Victoria Herring being the vice president signify by saying I. I. All oppose. Same sign. At the this time I'll open the floor for nominations for the secretary position. 3:21 I don't need Mark. I I'll Are there any other nominations for the secretary position? If not, it uh is there a motion to close? So move. I'll second that. I have a motion to close. Nominations for the secretary by Mr. Hicks, a second for myself to nominate Mr. Lemming as the 3:52 to nominate Mr. Lemming as the secretary. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. I. All oppose. Same side. Motion carries. One abstension. So officially we have myself as president, vice president is Victoria Herring, secretary is Mark Leming. This time I'll let Mr. Bookout take over. Yeah, thank you very much. Uh, regarding agenda item number three, as you can see, I'm feverishly writing, so I'm taking some scribble note minutes. I'll also refer back to the video and 4:22 also refer back to the video and complete a set of minutes for you at your next meeting. So, I'm happy to do that. And um, yeah, if you see something or note something you'd like me to include or make sure is included a specific point, uh, please reach out. I know all of you have my contact information. Okay, thank you. You want to go to number four? Sounds good. So, I've briefly uh discussed with uh 4:54 discussed with uh Martin about meeting times. Um it's your decision. I recommend at least a monthly meeting of the body. Um if there is no business to be heard, I think we can, you know, you can be informed via email and the meeting can be cancelled. But otherwise, I know Beth would like to ensure that meetings are properly advertised for and and notice is given. And so I would take you all's recommendation as to what is a convenient day time every month. I know this day in particular works good for uh 5:26 this day in particular works good for uh the president now, Mr. Middlesworth, because this is the same day as your commissioner's meeting. So this was a day you'd like, I think that would be good. But if other discussion, I think that's fine, too. At this time, I'll open the floor if there's any discussion regarding, you know, what time works best for everyone. Obviously, I mean, we could do a noon meeting or we could even do it like an 8:00 Monday, which yeah, yeah, yeah, that works, too. Um, so I guess it we need a majority here. 5:57 need a majority here. Yes. Yes. Yes. Any thoughts or comments or suggestions? Music works good for me. It just depends for me. So yeah, it's fine to keep it at noon for me. Okay. Okay. Okay. Or schedule it. You're you're flexible. Yeah. Schedule my time. Okay. So So So something that Beth and I, and this is just coming to me, we talked about earlier, would it behoove this body since if you do it after the commissioner's meeting to move it closer to the commissioner's meeting to move it 6:27 to the commissioner's meeting to move it maybe to 11:00 a.m. instead of noon? Or do we want to leave that hourish? Because sometimes meetings run long, sometimes they don't. But we generally meet afterwards, chat. Maybe it's up to you guys. The noon works for me. I mean, noon's a good time because it's a lunch hour. So you most people can break away and come over. Okay. 6:57 and come over. Okay. Very good. So first Monday first first Monday of the month at noon in this building would be the advertised time. I'd recommend that the body put that in the form of an affirmative vote in the second. Let's have a motion that uh we will meet the first Monday of the month at 12 noon and do you just want to go ahead and have a you know do the the remainder of the months? Yes. 7:27 Yes. Yes. Is there a motion? I would make that motion as you presented. I'll second. I have a motion from Mr. Lemming, a second from Miss Herring to uh make the monthly meetings the first Monday of the month at 12:00 noon right here in this facility. I think that we should go ahead and prepare the the notice to the chronicle and to the Herald or at least you know 7:57 least you know since this is a newly created body they haven't requested those those those and that's what I wanted to do was get it out for the rest of the year it get it out for the rest of the year and then send them both at the beginning of the year. year. year. Perfect. Perfect. Perfect. A motion and a second. All those in favor signify by saying I. I all oppose same sign. Motion carries. Move on to item number five. Okay. So, discussion of temporary 8:28 Okay. So, discussion of temporary director. Uh our firm Augusta Consulting is under contract with the county commissioners at this time to serve in somewhat of a county economic development capacity at the pleasure of the county commissioners. Um included with that work is the ability for our staff to serve as the temporary director of this body. There's no additional costs needed at this time, but that's included with the existing services that are uh currently under under contract with the county. So, I'm happy to serve in that capacity. So, forth, if the board wishes for me to act on their 8:59 board wishes for me to act on their behalf, I will do that. So, do we need that in a form of a motion? motion? motion? It would probably be that way when I call someone and I say I'm calling on behalf of the county redevelopment commission meeting, that way I've got some authority to do that. That would be great. great. great. So, you just want to be titled as the director of the Grant County Redevelopment Commission or Yeah, I I probably um 9:30 I want to yield to Martin's input on this, but I I want to make sure that we we don't open up uh this for something that is going to have some some kind of immediate consequence on the county. Um because I am under contract now. We're not serving in an employee capacity at this time. It's an independent contractor agreement with the county. So Marty, do you recommend that I just serve as uh right now for the county? I serve as director of economic affairs for Augusta 10:01 of economic affairs for Augusta Consulting. So of our private entity. Yes. So we're not creating an employment relationship no matter what we call it. Okay. Okay. Okay. So, the commission members aren't called directors. They're called members. So, okay. So, director's fine. Okay. The employment nature is determined by the written agreement. So, I'm comfortable. comfortable. comfortable. Very good. 10:31 Very good. I'm comfortable serving as director. I'd entertain a motion to approve Mr. book as being the director of the Grant County Redevelopment Commission. Commission. Commission. I have a question. What authority does the director have? That's a good question. What authority do you have? Yeah. In in past uh instances where I've served as a director, I basically don't have the authority to make decisions on 11:01 have the authority to make decisions on behalf of the body. Decisions have to be brought back to the body. What the director basically is in charged with is if you desire in a meeting for me to go meet with a property owner, I go and meet with the property owner, relay information back to you. So I will serve as a surrogate for interactions with entities that this body may be uh engaged with. That may be uh the county administrator, it may be the attorney, it may be an owner of a piece of property. Yeah. 11:36 You okay? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Very good. I'm trying to think in my mind what it would other name would be, but I just don't have anything. Previous capacity to have served as a director. Yeah. Position. Yeah. So, I'm happy to do that. Are there any other questions of the members? If if not, I'd entertain a motion. 12:08 I'd make a motion to uh accept Mr. Brad Lookout as our director for our Grant County application. Second. Second. Second. I have a motion from Mr. Lemming. A second for Mr. Hicks to approve Brad Boow as the director of the Grant County Redevelopment Commission. Are there any other questions of the members? If not, all those in favor signify by saying I. I. All oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. 12:42 Move on to legal council discussion. Mr. Harker. Harker. Harker. Yes. As far as um um representing the re uh the redevelopment commission, I would recommend that uh I serve in that role. I'm also serving as a as county attorney. So that's currently able to be covered under my existing arrangement and I'll make sure it's covered under the new agreement based on today's vote. 13:15 agreement based on today's vote. So, is there a motion to uh approve uh our legal counsel will be Mr. Harker? So, moved. Second. Second. Second. I have a motion from Mr. Lming, a second from Miss Herring to approve the legal council representation to be Mr. Harker for the Grant County Redevelopment Commission. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. I. All oppose. Same sign. Motion 13:45 I. All oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. carries. carries. We'll move on to the financial advisor. Yeah. So, it's important to note too with these previous two motions that you've made that this body has no money. There is no money for services for what the work that will be taking place. So, Mr. Harker and and myself through Augusta Consulting have current contracts with the county commissioners to pay for our services. So um that will take place and you know if at a later time this body wants to move in some 14:15 time this body wants to move in some direction that that's the the goal that is the will of this body. Um but we're here in a capacity to get things rolling get the ball rolling. Um regarding financial advisor this is important once this body creates an entity that is receiving funding and needs financial advice needs an annual report of some sort. Um generally with tax increment financing districts that's usually done by an entity a larger financial entity from some you know a larger city most 14:45 from some you know a larger city most likely would be like a cat sapper miller or a Baker Tilly or some entity like that would provide that advice. So down the road you may engage a financial adviser to advise your your work and what you do. We do have a local um Baker Chili representative that lives in Gas City. His name is Greg Balsana. He works with um uh the schools and also with the city of Mariam. So if and when that time comes, we would be able to have one of 15:16 comes, we would be able to have one of our own local residents serve in the capacity. capacity. capacity. Well, that's definitely the goal is to have, you know, funds in this body. So exactly. It takes time to get to that point. You know, u tax increment financing districts setting those up takes months to do. actually having investments made in those districts that would be eligible to have money that's captured by the redevelopment commission takes years to happen by the time a property is constructed and then it's assessed and then you wait on the taxes 15:46 assessed and then you wait on the taxes to be paid is a long way down the road. So there is it will be a while before this body will recognize significant funding coming in and ability to do things but you have to get the ball rolling at some point and that's what you're doing today. Absolutely. Are there any questions or comments regarding the financial advisor piece? piece? piece? Okay, we'll move on to number six. I'm going to tag team this one with Martin. Um, Indiana Code 36-7-14-11 16:23 relates to what you're able to do and the capacities that this body is able to uh enact business. Um, it details that one of your main tasks at this point is to investigate and study areas of the county that you deem as needing uh assistance with redevelopment work. This would be identifying properties that are defunct, underutilized, brownfield sites um or just any properties that there is something impeding growth and development of that particular location. 16:53 development of that particular location. So this is the first charge is to get you thinking about those locations within the county. Specifically, this body is responsible for unincorporated Grant County. So the cities of Marian and Gas City um and the towns in some instances have their own redevelopment commissions and are responsible for their own jurisdiction. So your jurisdiction is uninccorporated in Grant County. So pivot to you. I know you've maybe got some thoughts on this, Martin. Well, yes. Only that um when it comes to 17:27 Well, yes. Only that um when it comes to um redevelopment, the county is going to have to look at real estate. One of the things that we talked about is the way for this organization to acquire and help real estate. There are a number of ways that that can be done and we're going to look at how the county can get property that are at tax sale level and acquire those 17:57 at tax sale level and acquire those through the tax sale process in order to put those back on the market. So, you'll be hearing more from uh uh from Brad and myself about uh some different sites. Uh we also need to look at all of our uh brownfield sites that are in the county. um and see what what can be done for uh for redevelopment. Perfect. I know we uh you mentioned a few of those properties already in the 18:28 few of those properties already in the commissioner's meeting, especially, you know, the the Dana property. Yes. Yes. Yes. I know we have a couple other properties that that that we know um need to go back on the rolls as well and utilizing the RDC to to make those things happen. It would be great. Yeah, the RDC and this kind of bleeds into number seven. If you're all right, you you really set up a good segue for seven. Can I go that direction for seven? Okay. So, there are brownfield properties in the county. One of those we're all very familiar with is the 18:58 we're all very familiar with is the former Dana site. And uh we're all familiar with the uh high delinquent back taxes that are is preventing that site from seeing a a reuse uh unknown brownfield contamination at that site. um just general you know blight at that area that I think the uh the commissioners certainly have expressed interest to me. Um I have done some initial due diligence and reached out to some different parties and said hey you know what what do you think about this site? Is this something that you would maybe want to address? We have had some 19:29 maybe want to address? We have had some positive comments from three different entities that said hey yeah if there was a path forward we would be very interested in that particular property. Um, I've discussed with Martin, you know, through the tax sale, is there a way that this body could uh uh uh receive the tax certificate, not the deed, but actually the certificate, and then work with the legal council to issue a request for proposal for end users to do things like assess the environmental situation to uh have a plan going forward for redevelopment and 20:01 plan going forward for redevelopment and economic development at that site to actually create some sort of new development there that is on the actuals have a responsible end user going forward. So, um I'd like today to get some sort I'd like to hear your feedback first, but I'd like to get some sort of general consensus that you're okay with myself and Martin, Mr. Harker to start exploring those opportunities and bring back to you a path forward to for your input on addressing the data property. 20:33 input on addressing the data property. What I can do is um I can put in writing a memo that explains how uh how the RDC will can go about acquiring it from the county and then how the RDC goes through the process of disposing it. They're separate rules. RDC has um the ability to reject all the proposals I believe. Could you walk walk them through what that process could look like on the acquisition? acquisition? acquisition? Yeah. Yeah. So, um, regarding acquisition on previous properties, 21:03 acquisition on previous properties, we've we've been through this about 30 different times, helping redevelopment commissions repurpose defunct, uh, tax delinquent properties. Um, but after a property has been through the tax sale a couple times and has not sold, it's eligible to have the county commissioners assign the tax certificate. Now, it's important to designate the difference between a tax certificate and a tax deed because a certificate is just the right to to have ability to start working with the property, not taking immediate ownership 21:33 property, not taking immediate ownership of it. During that time, then uh we've wr written a request for proposals that we issue in the community. We advertise them in the local media twice. Uh we make sure neighboring property owners are given a copy of that. any entities from the city government to neighbors to anyone who may be interested, we make sure that they're afforded that opportunity to see that RFP. If they so wish to have an opportunity to um acquire that property, there's a 22:04 to um acquire that property, there's a series of questions included with that RFP. And the questions range from, you know, are have you worked on a redevelopment project prior? Explain your circumstances. Do you have the financial capacity to execute this property? Explain your circumstances and various questions on through. So, uh, we would give that a 30 or 40day deadline to receive those back. This body would then be able to review those and make sure that that there's one that you know they feel comfortable with. If you do feel comfortable with, you can 22:35 feel comfortable with, you can approve that RFP. It then goes uh uh to Marty to do the the paperwork of actually doing the transfer the deed transfer that property to be come to the redevelopment commission and then simultaneously be assigned over to that new entity. Of course, there would be an economic development agreement that would have to be executed as well once you approve that. Uh committing to their investment, job creation numbers, uh timelines, all of those would have to be detailed. But that's real high level, Marty. A lot of legal ease that I 23:06 Marty. A lot of legal ease that I brushed over there. Yeah. the uh with the county has to usually when it acquires property has to go through an appraisal process and the uh the RDC has the ability to bypass that and to streamline not just um they still have to get the appraisals they can just reject the prices. Yeah. If if they purchase a property, they have to get appraisals. But if they're assigned a tax 23:36 But if they're assigned a tax certificate by the county commissioners, uh this is this you're they're using the same uh employee identification number this body is as the county. So it's the county just assigning it to a subsidiary within its its uh tax ID number. Correct. Correct. Correct. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, but if you go buy a property, which is another one I know uh commissioners have talked to me, I want to talk about it next. It would be an actual acquisition and it would go through the process of getting two appraisals. So 24:06 process of getting two appraisals. So the Dana site would only be an issuance of tax deed to this body. The second process is and I I've been discussions with the county commissioners regarding 415 South Branson Street. It's a property that the county is interested in acquiring. Um there's a willing seller on that property. If this body wanted to acquire that for the county commissioners, they would procure two commercial appraisals of that property 24:37 commercial appraisals of that property and can offer the average of the two appraisals for that particular property. So that's the way an acquisition would go. Thoughts, questions? That's a lot of information to digest very quickly. And yeah, we'll once again we'll put all this in writing and give you guys better guidance on off the steps that get followed. 25:09 Are there any other questions of the board for the Dana site? Is this just are we just talking about like the remediation of the site right now or like actual development? I I think we'd open up the proposal for all to respond to. It's critical though. Really good point you've made. I think the environmental side of it, anybody that responds is going to have to address that in their proposal. proposal. proposal. Yeah. Yeah. 25:39 Yeah. Yeah. I I would just be um I think that we need to be careful about what type of development happens there with, you know, with it being along the Cardinal Greenway. There is quite a bit of residential there. You know, Lincoln Field is across the street. I think we would want to target specific type of development there. I agree. Yeah. What else can I answer for you? Any other questions? 26:11 Any other questions? I I know this is high level also, but um seeing as how you guys are employed or contractually with the commissioners outside of that, where do where does all the the money come from to get all these things going? So, uh the work that we do is un under the contract that the county commissioners have approved with us. I believe that's Shane your our contract. I'm not sure what funds are procured to pay for Augusta Consulting. Yeah, right now it's just out of uh some of the line 26:41 now it's just out of uh some of the line items within the commissioner's budget contractual service. Yeah, we'll just have to Yeah. So, in order to go farther with these properties or looking at those developments out there that there is no hourly rate for Augusta Consulting. It's a flat monthly fee for Augusta Consulting to do our work. So, we do this work. This is work entailed under that current agreement. Yes. Yeah. So the the RDC will have operating capital capital capital um if and when there are tiff districts 27:12 um if and when there are tiff districts that that then bring in at that point it will become an entity. So we're will it will become an entity. So we're a little bit away from we got to get to that point. That's the goal. goal. goal. It's just going to take questions. Any other questions? the property out there behind Lowe's, not Lowe's J. Is that incorporated area? That's in Marian, isn't it? 27:42 area? That's in Marian, isn't it? I think it's I think Marian has a half a mile site of 18. 18. 18. I believe Marian has part of that property. Yes. Yeah. I now I think it's only so far back off the the road. I don't think it I think it maybe goes beyond what the ability is. So, yeah. But that is a property. Yes, that is could be addressed. We incorporated it was a mile wide, half 28:12 We incorporated it was a mile wide, half a mile on each side. Would you like me to look into that and report back to this body at the next meeting? meeting? meeting? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. We should do something with it. I mean, there's areas, correct me if I'm wrong, that we can declare within our rights, right, that uh we could go ahead and declare them or take them on to keep another municipality from Yeah, you can't operate in anything that they have a current jurisdiction over um 28:44 they have a current jurisdiction over um unless it is a tax sale uh property that you have, you know, you have the deed to because it's not sold in the tax sale in that entity. You could assign a property within their jurisdiction. Um but yes, you cannot capture revenue from those properties. properties. properties. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, but this body is a good entity set up with the county in order because the county is the recipient recipient of tax delinquent properties. Um and so this 29:15 delinquent properties. Um and so this body can in effect help get them back on the tax roles which in effect helps the city if they have a tiff district over that overlay. It helps them out to do that. So yeah, but this body can capture revenue in projects that are outside of the uh jurisdictions in unincorporated areas. which that comes into like the revitalization areas. 29:46 revitalization areas. Yes. Exactly. Exactly. So I think the task uh between now and I I there are three things I would like to address between now and the next meeting. Um I would like to look into the Flying J property and the jurisdictional boundaries of that property for you because that is under under under um um um under item six. That's what you're supposed to do, investigate and study properties of concern. So, I will do some investigation on that between now 30:16 some investigation on that between now and then. Um, I'd like to be able to look further into the Dana property and work with Marty on a brief that can explain the the procedures on that. And then uh uh and that will also cover the 415 South Branson, the two different ways to that this body can uh purchase property or take tax deeds. Anything else you'd like me to do before the next meeting? meeting? meeting? Byaw. Byaw. Byaw. Bylaws. Bylaws. Bylaws. We have to address bylaws. So, next 30:46 We have to address bylaws. So, next meeting I believe we should have a set of bylaws. I know that there was there were a lot of restriction. I think the ordinance may have addressed most of them, but I think this body should probably adopt bylaws that are consistent with that ordinance. Don't you think, Brad? Yeah, I concur. Yes. bring us back to the next meeting. Yeah, that's a good idea. 31:19 Okay, we have to walk before we run. So, we've talked about a lot here today. Um, I think this will get more clear as we come to the next meeting. We actually have a couple things in front of us that we can look at, get your feedback and assess and then, uh, Martin and I will take your direction. I would just, you know, reiterate that uh this is something that, you know, the county's never had before and so we're leading the charge and yes, yes, yes, and just uh be patient, just be thinking about, you know, any idea that uh could 31:51 about, you know, any idea that uh could put us and the whole county further ahead as far as development. I mean, we're open to anything. I think we should be. Okay. Uh final thing I'd like to leave with is um I guess the homework for the commission members is to be thinking about uh areas where you would like to see something put into effect. So um other locations. So between now and the next meeting, if there's something you 32:21 next meeting, if there's something you want to sign me to study, I will be happy to do that on your behalf. Are there any other questions or comments of the members? I'll just briefly address we didn't discuss too much in number four but commission is uh is a body subject to the open door laws. So uh this these are public meetings they have to be posted agendas everything and public is allowed to attend. So and documents generated are subject to open records request. So, 32:55 are subject to open records request. So, thank you. If not, we'll open it up for public comment. Please come to the podium and state your name and your address and allow two minutes per person. Not seeing anybody coming. coming. coming. We adjourn these meetings. Yes. Motion to Is there a motion to adjurnn? 33:27 Is there a motion to adjurnn? Motion to adjurnn. Second. Second. Second. I have a motion. I have a second. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. We'll be in a German.