Logansport council approves $3,000 transfer for BZA pay, backs environmental testing and grant research for Memorial Center

The Logansport Common Council on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, approved a $3,000 transfer from the city council miscellaneous fund to the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) and voted to authorize a citizens'group to research grants and to appropriate American Rescue Plan (ARP) fiscal recovery funds for environmental testing at the Logansport Cass County Memorial Center at 706 East Market Street.

The actions follow a 5:45 p.m. finance committee meeting held earlier the same night in which committee members said a clerical error had prevented the BZA line item from being funded in the city's financial gateway. Council members said the transfer will allow the city to pay BZA members the $50 per-meeting stipend the council previously increased.

During the council meeting, Councilman Scott Petey introduced a resolution authorizing the "Friends of the Logansport Cass County Memorial Center" to act as the city's agent in pursuing grants for rehabilitation work. Councilman Cameron Austin introduced a separate resolution to appropriate ARP fiscal recovery funds to pay for environmental testing at the memorial center. Both resolutions passed.

Malcolm Jarrell, a volunteer working with the friends group, told the council the volunteers have screened roughly 20 grant opportunities and are running eligibility checks before any formal applications. "We oftentimes are not sure about the eligibility," Jarrell said. "We wanted to speak with some authority to these folks without making any commitment on the part of the city." He said the volunteers plan to route any grant proposals to the council, the treasurer's office and the city's grant department for approval before the city commits funds or signs grant agreements.

Jarrell and other speakers discussed likely scope for the initial work: an environmental survey to check for asbestos, radon and lead inside the building and to produce estimates for remediation. Jarrell estimated "about $9,000" for the initial work when the city puts the request for proposals out. The transcript also records a possible Indiana Landmarks award listed as "$35100"; the meeting record is unclear on that figure and how it would affect the city's share. Council members said the city's expected cost after any outside grant would be approximately $5,000 to $6,000, as discussed in finance committee materials.

Council members asked that any contractors responding to the RFP be properly certified; Jarrell said he and Matt Llewellyn had compiled a list of qualified firms to solicit proposals. The resolutions do not commit the city to accept any grant or to enter contracts without subsequent council approval.

Separately, the council approved a resolution to authorize an agreement with the Cass County Sheriff's Department concerning Caliber Public Safety records management software and advanced or continued several ordinances on the agenda, including first readings for updates to the parks department code and electric utility rate changes.

Votes at a glance: - Approval of amendments to Dec. 2, 2024 minutes: approved (Yeas: PJ Cox; Chris Howard; Cameron Austin; Hailey Zinsmaster; Scott Petey; Susie Walmsley; Dave Morris). - Approval of Dec. 18, 2024 minutes: approved (Yeas: Chris Howard; BJ Cox; Cameron Austin; Scott Petey; Hailey Zinsmaster; Susie Walmsley; Dave Morris). - Ordinance 2024-33 (petty cash checking account for Parks): passed on second reading (Yeas: Dave Morris; Scott Petey; Chris Howard; Susie Walmsley; Cameron Austin; BJ Cox; Hailey Zinsmaster). - Resolution 2025-101 (Caliber records software agreement): passed on first reading (Yeas: Dave Morris; Scott Petey; Chris Howard; BJ Cox; Cameron Austin; Hailey Zinsmaster; Susie Walmsley). - Resolution 2025-102 (transfer appropriations to BZA): passed (Yeas: Scott Petey; Susie Walmsley; BJ Cox; Chris Howard; Dave Morris; Hailey Zinsmaster; Cameron Austin). - Ordinance 2025-01 (amendment re: Parks and Recreation department): passed on first reading (Yeas: Dave Morris; Cameron Austin; Susie Walmsley; Scott Petey; BJ Cox; Chris Howard; Hailey Zinsmaster). - Resolution 2025-103 (authorize Friends of the Memorial Center to pursue grants): passed (Yeas: Hailey Zinsmaster; BJ Cox; Dave Morris; Scott Petey; Chris Howard; Susie Walmsley; Cameron Austin). - Resolution 2025-104 (appropriate ARP funds for environmental testing at Memorial Center): passed (Yeas: Hailey Zinsmaster; Dave Morris; Cameron Austin; Susie Walmsley; Scott Petey; BJ Cox; Chris Howard). - Ordinance 2025-02 (Logansport Electric Utility rate changes): passed on first reading (Yeas: Hailey Zinsmaster; BJ Cox; Dave Morris; Susie Walmsley; Noes: Scott Petey; Cameron Austin).

What happens next Council staff said, and Jarrell confirmed, that the friends group will present recommended grant opportunities and any proposed matching funds to the council before the city applies or accepts awards. The appropriated ARP funds will be available for staff to issue an RFP for environmental testing; any contract or remediation would require further council action.

Council members and volunteers noted the Memorial Center has been the subject of intermittent efforts for many years and called the current activity "a glimmer of light" toward more sustained rehabilitation work.