Boone County officials discuss APC comprehensive plan vendor selection and possible budget increase

County staff told the Boone County Council the Area Planning Commission (APC) has narrowed proposals for a new comprehensive plan to three firms, with estimated costs that may exceed the APC’s current $100,000 line item.

“The top three scoring companies were the ones that we were going to interview,” a staff member said. The price range discussed for the full comprehensive-plan contract runs roughly from about $275,000 to $425,000 depending on the vendor and scope; interviews with finalists are scheduled late this month and the APC expects a firm cost by April.

Council members discussed schedule constraints tied to the county’s moratorium related to wind, solar and carbon-sequestration policies; staff said updating the comprehensive plan — which also includes the county thoroughfare plan — needs to stay on a timeline to meet statutory or moratorium-related deadlines. The council was told that the current APC budget includes $100,000 and that, depending on vendor selection, the APC may come to the council in April to request additional appropriation or to spread costs across fiscal years.

Staff and councilors also reviewed coordination between county thoroughfare planning and municipal plans in Whitestown, Zionsville and Lebanon. Staff said the county intends to be consistent with municipal thoroughfare plans where boundaries abut but will not duplicate work already completed by towns. The county will update roads in unincorporated Boone County and coordinate with municipalities’ studies where possible.

Council members asked whether grant funding from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) might cover part of the cost; staff confirmed an IEDC contribution that had been anticipated is not currently confirmed, though officials said they would resume negotiations with outside parties, including IEDC contacts, and report back.