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The Grant County Record
in Grant County · Redevelopment Commission, December 1, 2025 · 2025-12-01 · full transcript
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOUVfr_ZMi4
Exported Mon, 14 Sep 2026 20:31:12 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. Captions render one bidder's name as "Who's Your Redevelopment Partners" (introduced by Douglas Warren, with Justin Riddle); phonetically this is likely "Hoosier Redevelopment Partners," but that reading is unverified against any written record. One bidder's name renders in the captions as "Who's Your Redevelopment Partners" (introduced by Douglas Warren, with Justin Riddle); phonetically the likely reading is "Hoosier Redevelopment Partners," but no written record has been found to confirm either spelling.
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.

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Indexed at https://ourweek.in/grant-county/reports/grant-county-record

    0:09  Just like to pray. >> Sure. >> Good afternoon. Welcome to this Grant County Redevelopment Commissioner Me Commission meeting. Uh today's December the 1st, 2025, and we'll have the prayer led by Victoria and the pledge led by myself. If you would stand.
    0:43  >> Lord, we thank you for this day. Thank you for everyone being able to travel here safely. We just ask for your guidance as we make decisions for the betterment of Grant County today. Amen. >> If you would face the flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and
    1:20  Thank you and welcome. Um, we have the minutes for approval from 10 6 and 25. Everybody should have received them electronically. electronically. electronically. Are there any corrections to the minutes? If not, I'd entertain a motion. >> So moved. >> Second. >> I have a motion from Mr. Leming, a second from Miss Harrington. Harrington and um to approve the meeting meeting
    1:51  and um to approve the meeting meeting minutes from 106 to 25. Are there any other questions or comments? Not all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. All oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. carries. carries. We'll move on to item number three. Open uh request for proposals from 400 South and Miller Avenue, the Danish site. These are all the proposals correct. Uh Mr. President, we've received four proposals for that site. Um as I relate
    2:23  proposals for that site. Um as I relate to you, we will work diligently to solicit proposals. It's been about 60 days. So we've had plenty of time and uh we received four proposals. So I guess we'll have Mr. Mr. Harker, open them up and we just got to read the total dollar amount or I recommend reading the name and the dollar amount bid for the property and then uh my next assignment to you all will be to email you each of the proposals separately for you to review independently and I'll
    2:54  you to review independently and I'll also send you a RFP evaluation sheet which has the seven criteria that were included in the RFP. They'll score each one and put your scores at the bottom and send back. So, okay.
    4:41  May I interject there regarding the Lyon? Lyon? Lyon? >> Yes. This is a revenue benefit. See below. uh they proposed the development of a site and uh for a uh remitt remittance of 10% of realized profits to the Grant County redevelopment commission uh for the project. So I will share that with each of you and email so you can review the in totality what the proposal is.
    5:18  The second proposal is from Josh Mesner on behalf of GM Development Companies LLC. Uh and that price is for 10,000 an acre.
    5:59  >>
    6:48  There goes the previous. >> Okay.
    7:21  Thank you.
    7:56  seeking a motion.
    8:26  the criteria criteria. >> Yes. >> That we've laid out. So that'll be the next process. Correct. That is correct. So when I email these to you each individually, you'll have four PDFs containing each one of these that will be labeled who it is from as was read today. Then I'll also give you u an RFP scoring sheet. And the seven different uh categories to score upon and this is well laid out in the RFP are the redevelopment vision and in use of the property, the economic impact of the
    8:56  property, the economic impact of the proposal, the environmental responsibility of the respondent, the capacity and experience of the respondent, the local commitment of the respondent, the financial strength of the uh of the proposal, and the project timeline. Those are the seven topics that you'll be grading them on. Okay. Once I have all those received back, then I'll communicate with uh Commissioner Middlesworth on reconvening this body. I'm anticipating with the Christmas holiday coming up on us quick and all of us have a lot to do. It may
    9:26  and all of us have a lot to do. It may be after the first of the year. So, but uh there also has to be time given to the current property owner, a redemption period, which we've discussed. The county will have to re undertake that redemption period. Um and all of the biders, I believe, are are versed in that. They all understand how that process works. So, are there any other questions or comments from the members? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. All opposed. Same sign. Motion
    9:57  >> I. All opposed. Same sign. Motion carries. We'll move on to item number four, declaratory resolution 001-2025, an economic development plan for I69 and state road 26 EDA. Good afternoon, commissioners. Dustin Meeks with Barnes and Thornberg. Um, this item is uh the first of four steps in the approval process for the establishment of economic development area uh which is an
   10:28  economic development area uh which is an area um targeted in the county for this body. the redevelopment commission to undertake uh improvements to facilitate uh economic and economic development and redevelopment projects. The resolution does a handful of things. It identifies um the I69 and State Road 26 economic development area um which as the name
   10:58  establishes what is called an allocation area um which identifies and that allocation area notably is is uh co- terminus with the economic development area. So all of the area in the EDA is also in the allocation area. in that allocation area. Um incremental property tax revenue so um increases in the value of property in inside of that area um from the value of that property as of January 1st, 2025 uh would become in part revenues of the redevelopment commission um which can be used to finance those infrastructure
   11:28  used to finance those infrastructure improvements in this area um to benefit economic development and and redevelopment projects. The resolution also approves an economic development plan for the area which identifies the need for infrastructure improvement to allow this area to be developed um and which identifies um within the bounds of Indiana code 36714 which is the statute that governs the redevelopment commission those projects which you can undertake. Um the plan is um in intentionally broad um because this area
   11:59  intentionally broad um because this area is is almost entirely undeveloped. Um there will be a bit of a need to identify um what infrastructure and what improvements will be most advantageous to spur development. Um so that the plan is is um almost as broad as as the statute allows it to be. um giving you the flexibility as um you look at sites in this area to make the improvements that will be necessary to get development going. Um after this body considers this resolution um if
   12:29  body considers this resolution um if it's adopted uh the next steps is that um it would go before uh the county's plan commission uh for an evaluation of the um concordance between the plan in this document and the the comprehensive plan for the county. and then it would go to the uh board of commissioners of the county for their approval. And then finally, it would return to this body for a public hearing and a final resolution. Um after which point we
   12:59  of Local Government Finance and the County Auditor's Office. Um because we're adopting this resolution um here at the end of 2025, your base assessment date will be January 1st, 2025. And that is true even though we likely will not get through the four-step process until the beginning of 2026. So, um, today is today's date is what drives which year is going to be our our base year for Tiff purposes. Um, I'm
   13:29  the map or the plan um or the resolution um and what what it does.
   14:05  If there are none, I'd entertain a motion. >> I I'd make a motion to accept as presented. >> Second. >> I have a motion from Mr. Leming, a second from Mr. Hicks to uh accept resolution 001 2025. That's a resolution resolution resolution um establishing an economic development plan plan plan for the I69 26. Is there any other information that we
   14:37  Is there any other information that we include? include? include? >> No, I uh upon your approval, I will work with Dustin. We'll begin the process to uh start uh meeting with the various boards to begin the process and then we'll come back to you as he described. >> Are there any other questions or comments from the members? Do we need public input for this? >> There is a public hearing at the end of the process, end of the at the end of the process, but no no statutoily required hearing today. today. today. >> Okay, there's no other questions or comments. Uh, all those in favor signify
   15:07  comments. Uh, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> All oppose, same sign. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you. We'll move on to item number five, uh, a declaratory resolution 002205, 002205, 002205, an economic development plan for the west side EDA. >> Good afternoon, commissioners. Dustin Means Thornberg again. Um, so this resolution um is is the same kickoff to the four-step process to the establishment of an economic development area. So I won't belabor uh the that
   15:39  area. So I won't belabor uh the that again. Um but um if you this this resolution um provides a map for the westside economic development area um which is just to the west of the um the city of Marian um and in in between the city of Marian and um the town of Sweetzer. Um this uh resolution in in addition approves an allocation area um for the collection of of tax increment revenues which is co- terminus with that economic development area the same as the I69 and SR26 EDA. Um and it approves an economic development plan uh for the
   16:10  an economic development plan uh for the development of infrastructure and other related projects in this area to facilitate um the development of this area which is otherwise not developed.
   16:41  Uh we did make some adjustments, but I think we're I mean, this is step one. I mean, obviously, there's three other bodies essentially that have to make the same approval. So, I think this is we're on the right track and so if there's no other questions or comments, I'd entertain a motion. >> A quick question. The
   17:11  >> Commissioner Middlesworth uh worked cooperatively with the mayor to identify areas that Yeah. that were most agreeable for the county to uh establish the EDA on the west side in. So
   17:41  >> I entertain a motion. >> Uh, Mr. President, I make a motion to uh to accept resolution number two, I guess it is, as presented.
   18:11  If not, uh, all those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> I. All oppose. Same sign. >> Motion carries. We'll move on to item number six, table items 415 and 417 South Branson Street property appraisals. Yeah, let me uh share with you that I had conversations with the property owner. Um he is not a willing seller at the average of two appraisals uh by this body. So it's my recommendation that you uh uh motion to
   18:42  recommendation that you uh uh motion to remove this from the table and let it die from there. We do not have a willing seller that is agreeable to the the terms that this body is allowed to purchase the property from. >> Is there a motion? it. it. >> That is correct. Motion second to remove it from the table and then I won't have to have it on the agenda for you next uh
   19:12  to have it on the agenda for you next uh next month. Is there a second? >> Second.
   19:43  You've seen that one on the agenda for 6 months now. >> It's one of those properties that the commissioners would like to obtain. I mean, it would help us tremendously with the parking. >> Yes. >> So, I don't know uh you know how that looks in the future, but
   20:13  the public comment period about their proposals. So, just when you open up the floor for public comment, I know we have people speak. Mr. Harker, do you have anything else? >> I do not. >> Does any of the members? We'll
   20:45  Lyon Machine. We recently installed a factory at the old Tulocks Plastics building on Miller Avenue and we also submitted a application for your RFP. I've been a life longtime member of Grant County, lived here all my life and I represent uh Lyon Machine and
   21:17  >> Afternoon, commission. As somebody who served in local government for um many years myself, I'm glad for your guys' sake that you have a lot of interest in this property. Hopefully, it'll be an exciting outcome no matter um the solution. Uh my name is Josh Mesmer. I live in Boring County, Indiana. I'm here to represent GM Development and Search Development. Um these are two entities with a long history of development and redevelopment both of Greenfield and Brownfield opportunities. um strong financial um capital uh behind them and
   21:49  financial um capital uh behind them and our focus is really going to be to clean up um the environmental contamination uh to remove the blight and put this um site back into productive and economic use for the community. So we're excited about the proposal. We wish you guys best of luck evaluating it. Thanks.
   22:19  Hello commissioners. My name is Doug Warren. I'm a Grant County resident. I reside at 2402 North Wash Road. I represent Who's Your Redevelopment Partners, myself, Douglas Warren, and Justin Riddle, both of Grant County. I bring project management expertise to this. and Justin brings equipment, skilled labor, and local knowhow. Uh we have spoken with Josh Keller, the state project manager over this site, and we've shared our proposal and he feels that it would align with with our
   22:50  feels that it would align with with our usage for the property once the file has been closed. >> Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. >> So, congratulations. You have good proposals that have responded to this site. This site has been uh in a state of need of redevelopment for a long time and I'm I'm happy that we have parties here today that are willing to undertake that project on behalf of Grant County. >> Yeah. No, that's awesome. I hope this is the beginning of something fruitful for for this
   23:21  something fruitful for for this commission commission commission and thanks for your work and time, Mr. >> Glad to make this happen. >> Is there are there any other public comments? comments? comments? Uh, when is our next meeting to tenatively? tenatively? tenatively? >> That' be December 5th would be the first Monday. I'm sorry. January 5th. >> January the 5th. >> Yes. Noon on January 5th. The next regularly scheduled meeting.
   23:53  The next regularly scheduled meeting.
   24:37  Hey, how are you running? >> Good to see you. They go to see