By KEVIN NEVERS

The Chesterton Redevelopment Commission will have to act fast if it wants to establish a second tax increment financing district by July 1, when a new law goes into effect which will significantly complicate the creation of TIF districts.

At their meeting Monday night, members voted 5-0 to authorize staff to begin the process, after Town Council Member Jeff Trout, R-2nd, urged them from the floor to establish another district on the extreme west edge of town, in an area around 100 acres in sized and zoned I-1, sandwiched between Ind. 149 and South Babcock Road, immediately north of Crocker.

“With a little effort,” Trout said, “we might be able to create some opportunity there and bring some jobs to town.”

The idea would be to use TIF revenues from the new district to improve infrastructure on the property needed by a manufacturing or commercial concern interested in re-locating to Chesterton.

Member Sharon Darnell, D-4th, liked the idea and noted that the property has been zoned industrial “for a very long time.”

“It’s kind of a sleeping thing that not many people are aware of,” Trout agreed.

“I think it’s a great idea,” Member Edward Schoenfelt said. “It’s something we ought to pursue.”

South Calumet Business District

In other business, Lukmann advised members that the right-of-way acquisitions for Phase I of the project are going very well, with offers from nearly every property owner accepted. Lukmann did ask for authorization to cut manual checks for the purchases and members voted 5-0 to give it to him.

A total of 16 parcels, from a couple of major ones to mere slivers of land, are needed for right-of-way. Offers totaling $360,475.50 have been made.

Lukmann also advised members that the bond sale for Phase I successfully closed and that a total of $995,000 is now available. Those bonds will be repaid with TIF revenues.

Meanwhile, Mike Jabo of DLZ, the project’s contracted engineer, told the commission that the project has been advertised and that bids are due May 12.

For his part Jabo asked members for two things: first, formally to approve the street- and landscape design drafted by the stakeholders committee last year; second, to authorize staff to begin the acquisition of right-of-way needed to implement that design at the intersections of 1100N and 100E and at 1100N and Ind. 49. By 5-0 votes members did so.

Lukmann noted that he wants to go to bid for Phase II of the project—which will include street- and landscaping—by November 1.

Claims

Members also voted 5-0 to approve this months claims: a total of $8,181.14 to Harris Welsh & Lukmann; $6,734.38 to DLZ; $2,800 to Vale Appraisal Group; and $2,459 to Ticor Title.

Posted 4/30/2008