Joe Hornaday
Shifting the phasing of the Lincoln Street Reconstruction Project and another update on the enterprise commanded the meeting of the TIF (Tax Incremental Finance) Board on Wednesday night.
City engineer Gary Murray brought the board up to speed on the status of the Lincoln Street Project. He explained that work had been started with the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) to begin a “re-phasing” of the project. Instead of working east to west, the new concept would have construction on Lincoln Street being done in its entirety for a specific length of the road. The idea would have the first phase begin just south of Noble Romans on Lincoln Street and extend to the bypass. That section of the project would likely be completed by the end of the year. Because of several delays, specifically in the handing out of the “notice to proceed,” the scheduled end of the project is set for April of 2011. Utility issues also slowed down the project because they were not handled on time by the utility companies, which were also held up by easements and property acquisition problems. The members of the TIF Board were not pleased to hear about the extension of the project, and TIF president Ken Dornich expressed worry regarding the impact on businesses and merchants along the street. However, the board members did agree that the re-phasing of the project was the best way forward. TIF member Lowell Rethlake made sure to note that the delays were not a result of the city’s actions, but instead were based more on the state level and other problems.
Murray also told the TIF Board that the traffic light was down at the Montgomery Road and Lincoln Street intersection to ease traffic flow through the area. The change was working well, he said. The project also facilitated the temporary shift of the signals at Tenth Street and Barachel Lane. Murray noted that he had met with INDOT on Tuesday to discuss potentially realigning Floral Court and Montgomery Road. The process was taking place for a change of scope in the project.
Furthermore, Murray made the TIF Board aware of three change orders with the INDOT contract, including the temporary traffic signal at Tenth Street, the Kessing Drive water main addition and the storm sewer on Fourth Street. One request had been denied by INDOT. It was for additional money for a temporary signal that was not in the original contract and the contractors had not estimated the price correctly.
The five members of the TIF Board were also privy to three brick samples brought in by Murray. Though it is not happening soon, the bricks will be installed during the Lincoln Street Reconstruction Project in the area of Decatur County Memorial Hospital, centering on the northwest corner of First and Lincoln Street. The board members agreed on a lighter brick color.
Before adjourning, the TIF Board paid bills, including $54,833.10 to RW Armstrong and $1,025 to HNTB. With the new year came elections, and Ken Dornich was kept on as the TIF Board president, Lowell Rethlake was retained as board secretary and John Schmalenburg was voted to the board’s vice president post.
The next scheduled meeting of the TIF Board is set for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 24 with the option for another meeting before then.
