By HOLLY GASKILL
Wells County Commissioners have approved a resolution giving jurisdiction to create a TIF district in Ossian.
The proposed tax increment financing district encompasses 66.1 acres owned by real estate developer Kevin Biggs on Ossian’s north side.
By creating the district, any property taxes collected in this area would be allocated toward infrastructure and improvements within the designated property. The Town of Ossian Redevelopment Commission, who requested the jurisdiction to create the district, hopes that by doing so, the tax collected can act as matching funds for a Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative grant and the overall development of the area.
The commissioners voted 2-0 in favor of the resolution; Commissioner Jeff Stringer was absent.
“We want to work with you guys and vice versa,” Commissioner Blake Gerber said. “… We want what’s best for the county and I think that’s part of it right there.”
“We’re not in opposition to this at all,” said Mike Vanover, commissioner president.
Vanover also announced to the public that they would be accepting applications for a public information officer for the county.
The position was approved for 2023 during the County Council’s budget planning and formally adopted as part of the budget on Oct. 4.
Vanover had previously described the addition of the position as a part-time trial, under 20 hours per week, where the PIO would act as a point person and coordinator of information relevant to the office. Vanover added that the full job description would soon be available for advertisement.
In closing, Gerber noted that the clerk’s office has included sample ballots for every voting district in the county. These sample ballots are located at wellscounty.org/clerk under “2022 General Election Sample Ballots.”
Election day is Nov. 8, but early voting can be completed at the clerk’s office anytime until then during regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
holly@news-banner.com
