By JONATHAN SNYDER
The Bluffton Common Council addressed some apprehension Tuesday as they continued their discussion about expanding a Tax Increment Funding District.
The council heard from Roger Thornton, who said he was in favor of the expansion, but cautioned that there could be unprecedented tax bill increases for homeowners.
Thornton urged the board to examine developer payback agreements when future properties are developed and leased in the TIF district, noting that this is a common practice in other areas. Thornton asked the council to get any future tax-abated properties and TIF district properties on tax rolls as soon as possible.
Thornton also requested that accrued TIF balances and excess TIF funds should support equipment needs for the Bluffton Fire Territory, which may ease the increasing property taxes on homeowners.
Council Member Scott Mentzer noted that the addition of properties to the TIF district does not mean that the city will force negotiations between parties. The city will only seek to acquire property when the owner is willing to sell it and there is a need for the city to be a middleman in negotiations with developers.
“The TIF district geography is not expanding,” Mentzer said. “We’re adding parcels to our plan, so that if there is ever a situation where an owner and the city may want to enter into a purchase agreement, that it’s already in the plan and we can do without any more legislative effort.”
“In order for the Redevelopment Commission to use TIF dollars to either purchase real estate or support development of a particular real estate, the property that would be acquired has to be on a list,” City Attorney Tony Crowell advised. “To be efficient in our process, like (Mentzer) said, and not have to come back every time… we just ask the question ‘What other properties in that area might we ever consider developing or purchasing for the TIF area?’ and add those to the list now so that we don’t have to do it later. It doesn’t mean anything except (that) they’re on the list.”
The council also approved an economic development consulting contract between Chad Kline, former Wells County Economic Development executive director, and the city of Bluffton. Kline will assist with the Northeast Indiana Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative program. Council Member Rick Elwell noted that Kline is the most knowledgeable about READI program money and is the most qualified guy to help get grants for the city.
“This READI 2.0 (program) is a big deal,” Council member Chandler Gerber said. “As we’ve undertaken this effort to rejuvenate Bluffton, a lot of it hinges on grant money. It’s a little unfortunate with the timing of where everything landed here at the moment… but at this point we’ve gotta get this ball across the goal line.”
Kline will be paid $50 per hour and is contracted through April 29 of next year.
The board later approved a petition on second reading to vacate an alley west of Jersey Street going west to the railroad right-of-way, between South and Cherry Streets. The petition was first read on April 16, but too few members of the council were physically present. An additional $11,000 appropriation for opioid funding was also approved on second reading by the council.
The council also approved four CF-1 tax abatement forms for Randy Harnish. The forms state that the property improvements include a projection for five out of six storage buildings, with the total size of the buildings at 26,700 square feet.
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