ASPIRE Johnson County and outside consultants told the Bargersville Town Redevelopment Commission on Jan. 9 that efforts to market the town along the I‑69 corridor and to strengthen workforce pipelines are already creating interest from national site selectors, but commissioners warned that road and sewer infrastructure must be upgraded to capture growth.

The presentations and discussion centered on three linked needs: marketing Bargersville to site selectors, building the transportation and utility infrastructure that would support industrial/technology employers, and setting up governance to coordinate planning across the town’s boards. The Waverly wastewater plant memorandum of understanding (MOU) announced in the regional press was highlighted as a key step for expanding sanitary sewer capacity on the town’s western side.

Amanda Maslowski, a representative of ASPIRE Johnson County, said the county’s site‑selector outreach included “98 meetings” last year and stressed workforce connections such as school‑to‑work programs as a selling point. “When I share with companies about our school‑to‑work program, their eyebrows go up,” Maslowski said, describing the county’s effort to link students with career exposure opportunities that could keep workers in Johnson County.

Commission members and staff identified County Road 144 — the highway between I‑69 and Saddle Club and into town — as a major bottleneck. One speaker said a full rehabilitation from the interstate to Saddle Club could cost “probably about $40,000,000 to $50,000,000,” and noted that jurisdiction for portions of the road shifts between state, county and town, complicating delivery and funding.

Joe McGinnis, who identified himself as CEO of Avenue Roads, a division of the Heritage Group, presented a scope that would review existing transportation goals, identify arterial and neighborhood roads affected by growth, and help the town accelerate and deliver priority projects. “We like to bring unique solutions to communities … and take care of those needs,” McGinnis said, describing experience with project delivery, engineering and partnering to expedite work.

Commissioners said they plan a subcommittee drawing members from the Planning Commission, the town council and the redevelopment commission to review consultant proposals, coordinate priorities and consider funding approaches such as road impact fees and redevelopment funding. One commissioner asked staff to set that group up immediately.

On utilities, the town issued a press release, the presenters said, confirming a memorandum of understanding with Morgan County and the Morgan County sewer district to pursue acquisition of the Waverly wastewater treatment plant. Speakers described the plant as small and in need of upgrades, likely paid for with a combination of State Revolving Fund (SRF) financing and other revenue; the commission did not vote on financing but flagged the plant as a likely future capital project requiring coordination across agencies.

Commissioners received project updates connecting the infrastructure discussion to active initiatives: the 135/1404 redevelopment project at the old flea market (described as near final terms), Barter Plaza (an early‑May ribbon cutting was announced, with a railroad crosswalk hoped to be built March–April pending railroad approval), and the Wayward Crossing master plan (architecture and master planning underway, but an IDEM finding remains unresolved). A soccer turf project will be funded through a structure using a bond anticipation note and park impact fees, with town ownership and a target completion in summer (dates discussed as July/August).

Marketing and branding were also addressed. Jeremy Brilliant, a communications consultant and former TV reporter, proposed a strategic branding effort to tell a forward‑looking story about Bargersville as “the gateway to Southern Indiana prosperity,” emphasizing the intersection of tradition and technology to attract high‑value employers.

What’s next: staff said they will form the interboard subcommittee, circulate consultant proposals (including Avenue Roads’ scope and a separate communications proposal), and return with more detailed cost estimates and timelines. Commissioners emphasized the need to coordinate with neighboring jurisdictions, identify realistic funding sources (SRF, impact fees, bonds), and to codify the downtown and corridor master plans so developers know the town’s expectations.

Speakers quoted in this article spoke during the old‑business and project updates portions of the Jan. 9 meeting; the commission did not make any formal funding votes on the items summarized here.