Morgan County Redevelopment Commission approves reports, hears questions about school road funding

The Morgan County Redevelopment Commission on an August meeting date not specified approved routine minutes, its financial report and claims and heard a public question about funds the commission set aside to help with road work related to a Martinsville-area school.

During public comment, resident Rob Denison asked whether funds the commission set aside in response to a request from the school superintendent were restricted to widening Centennial Road or could be used for other traffic improvements serving the school. "When [the] superintendent, Mister Bolen, requested funds ... he specifically stated that Centennial he's requesting funds for the widening of Centennial Road, as well as the roundabout," Denison said. "My understanding is that those funds ... could be for the ingress into the school facility. Is that correct?"

Chelsea, who provided the economic development update, responded that the project remains in early design and that the redevelopment commission is providing funds but is not the project's owner. "The final design has not been ... it is not in final design," Chelsea said. "We are just gonna provide funds. So it's really the school's project. And our attorneys will be working with the county attorneys, as far as how those funds actually are given to the schools, stipulations that may come with that, and then working with the school's attorneys to do that. So we're still at the very beginning stages of that." Chelsea also said she had contact information for Eric Bolen, identified in the meeting as the superintendent of MMSD Martinsville, and that he "can answer any questions" from the public or commissioners.

On procedural business, the commission approved the minutes from the previous meeting by voice vote. The commission then heard the financial report covering multiple tax-increment financing (TIF) and fund accounts. Highlights the report listed included a Lehi Point TIF balance of $25,005.66, a Waverly allocation area balance of $3,004.25, an Eagle Valley allocation-area July 1 balance of $6,734,004.28 and $19,254.60 in interest revenue. Expenses reported for the period included professional services totaling $5,062, a $350,000 line for the Hugging Hollow lift station and $125 for dues and subscriptions, with an ending balance reported as $6,398,495.78. The state revolving fund accounts were also reported: a construction account balance of $50,868.69, a bond and interest account balance of $6,697.64 and a loan debt service reserve account balance of $907,883.08.

The commission moved to accept the financial report and to approve claims, which the minutes list as payments to Mann's Consulting ($2,730) and Barnes & Thornburg ($3,248), with total August claims of $5,978. Each of those motions passed on voice votes with no roll-call tallies recorded in the transcript.

Commissioners and staff noted that the school's request for funding was recent and that more detailed design information is expected as the school district advances its plans. Commissioners said attorneys for the redevelopment commission and the county will coordinate with the school's attorneys to document how the funds will be delivered and any stipulations. No formal funding agreement or specific spending decision was made at the meeting.

Chelsea also reported continued early-stage economic-development work in the Monrovia area and ongoing coordination with Hendricks County and legal counsel.

The commission set its next meeting for Sept. 9 at 8:30 a.m. and adjourned.