Delaware County Redevelopment Commission approves multiple infrastructure contracts, funds senior center

The Delaware County Redevelopment Commission on Aug. 14 approved multiple construction contracts and funding requests, agreed to pursue valuations or additional information on two land holdings and voted to provide $30,000 to the Muncie Senior Center to cover urgent building repairs.

The actions came during a meeting at the Delaware County Government Center that included presentations from municipal and nonprofit representatives, a report on local industrial expansion and public comment that raised open‑meetings concerns.

Why it matters: The votes commit county redevelopment funds and direct staff follow‑up on parcels held for economic development. Several items (TIF allocations, contract awards and bond consents) affect how increment financing and redevelopment revenues will be used in the near term.

What the commission decided and discussed

Votes at a glance - Yorktown stormwater: The commission approved a request to share half of the construction cost for a stormwater project on the north side of Jackson Street in Yorktown, committing $70,484.84 from redevelopment funds. Chase Bruton, town manager of Yorktown, said the low construction bid was $140,969.69 and total project costs would be a little more than $202,000; the town asked the commission to cover half of the construction portion. Roll call: Kiesling—No; Amber Green (president)—No; Commissioner Brand—Yes; Commissioner Henry—Yes; Mister Wigley—Yes. Outcome: approved, yes 3, no 2.

- Fusion Road (Magna area) bids: The commission approved awarding the Fusion Road contract to E & B Paving, the lowest overall bidder at $795,005. Roll call was unanimous in favor. Outcome: approved, unanimous.

- McTrail / MIC Trail bids: Commissioners approved the low responsive bidder (Yarberry) for the McTrail item at a contract amount discussed in the packet (the engineer’s and bid tab materials were reviewed); roll call was unanimous. Outcome: approved, unanimous.

- MIC Trail / related pay request: The commission approved a motion authorizing $542,082 (payment referenced in the meeting as part of the trail project pay requests). Roll call: unanimous yes. Outcome: approved, unanimous.

- RAI membership dues: Informational only; no action requested at this meeting.

- America's Hometown Band funding request: The commission voted to table a $30,000 funding request from America’s Hometown (a municipal band) and asked the group for a completed budget and documentation of outreach into Delaware County towns before the commission will consider an award. Roll call on the motion to table (with the requested budget and engagement details): Kiesling—Yes; Amber Green—Yes; Commissioner Brand—No; Commissioner Henry—No; Mister Wigley—Yes. Outcome: motion to table passed, yes 3, no 2.

- Muncie Senior Center: The commission approved $30,000 to the Muncie Delaware County Senior Center to address immediate facilities needs, including a water‑leak billing balance and an urgent flat‑roof replacement estimate. Motion passed on a roll call vote with all members present voting yes. Outcome: approved, unanimous.

- 12‑acre subdivision (Muncie premium housing proposal): The commission moved to table the city's request for detailed maps and engineering/utility plans before taking any funding action; the motion to table passed unanimously. Outcome: tabled, unanimous.

- 8.33‑acre site adjacent to the Shell Building (Daleville): Commissioners authorized staff to obtain professional opinion(s) of value for the 8.33‑acre parcel and to report findings; the motion passed unanimously. Outcome: proceed with obtaining value opinions, unanimous.

- Viteknic electrical upgrade (3300 S. Hoyt): The commission referred a $27,320 electrical‑upgrade request to the CREED board for review (motion and roll call approved unanimously). Outcome: referred to CREED board, unanimous.

- Living Greens Farm bond consent documents: The commission approved consent to allow the developer (bond purchaser) to use pledged TIF revenues as collateral in support of a private construction loan; roll call showed a majority approval (four yes, one no). Commissioners received assurances from bond counsel that the action did not create new county obligations beyond existing financing agreements. Outcome: approved, 4–1.

- Gaston sidewalk project: The commission authorized entering a professional services agreement with United Consulting for preliminary engineering and right‑of‑way work on a sidewalk linking Gaston to a nearby retail area (estimated preliminary cost in the packet). Roll call: unanimous yes. Outcome: approved, unanimous.

Other substantive discussion and context

Yorktown stormwater: Chase Bruton, town manager of Yorktown, described a hybrid ditch/stormwater fix for a failing crossing east of County Road 600 near Jackson Street. Bruton said the engineer recommended the hybrid ditch; two bids came in and the low general construction bid was $140,969.69 with total project costs, including bid docs and construction oversight, a little over $202,000. "We are asking the redevelopment commission to consider helping with the construction portion, in an amount half of the cost, which would be $70,484.84," Bruton told commissioners. Members questioned which TIF fund would be used; discussion referenced the Morrison and Park 1 TIFs and the desire to avoid over‑drawing any one TIF.

Road and trail contracts: Staff presented bid tabs for the Fusion Road work (E & B Paving low bid) and for the McTrail/MIC Trail segments (Yarberry identified by engineers as the low responsive bidder despite bids coming in above estimates). Commissioners and staff discussed scope reviews and required coordination with the railroad on the McTrail work; engineers confirmed scope clarifications had been handled and recommended proceeding.

Muncie Senior Center: Julie Meaders, executive director of the Muncie Senior Center (Muncie Delaware County Area Council, Inc.), described a March 2025 outside water leak that had been discharging an estimated "17 gallons a minute" and led to a significant sewage bill and repair costs. The center requested reimbursement of $5,394.12 for the water/sewer charges in their packet; during discussion commissioners broadened the ask and approved $30,000 to cover immediate repairs including a flat roof replacement quoted at roughly $23,000. Meaders described the center's county‑wide client base and programming for seniors who travel from multiple towns.

12‑acre Muncie subdivision proposal: City staff presented a proposal to develop about 12 acres into roughly 42 premium lots (developer: Trademark Construction) and described a gap in financing for lot development and public improvements. The city representative said the land had not produced property taxes for about 16 years and that the city and sanitary district anticipate contributing to the project. Commissioners asked for detailed maps, utility locations, street plans and clearer cost breakdowns; the matter was tabled pending those materials.

8.33‑acre Daleville parcel (I‑69/State Road 67): Staff reported two confidential inquiries from Delaware County–based companies about an 8.33‑acre parcel adjacent to a county spec (Shell) building in Daleville and asked whether the commission wanted to sell or retain the site. Commissioners asked about ingress/egress and easement history (an intended access easement had not been recorded) and directed staff to obtain local valuation opinions before pursuing further steps or a formal RFP.

Living Greens Farm bond consent: Bond counsel Sarah Correll explained that bonds issued in 2022 had been purchased by a new developer who seeks a private construction loan and wants the TIF flow to be pledged as collateral to the lender; counsel said the requested consent does not create new county obligations beyond the financing and bond purchase agreements. Commissioners asked whether the council also needed to sign; staff said the city/council will have related documents to sign and that the item is essentially a customary lender request for comfort.

Industrial update and other informational items: Representatives of Muncie Power Products provided the required annual update on the company’s improvement and expansion activity at Park 1, reporting employment above the maintenance threshold in their agreement and noting expansion work started in 2024. Staff also reported a small historical audit receipt into the Morrison TIF (about $15,993.49) and presented routine invoices and bond‑and‑note payables for approval.

Public comment, bylaws and open meetings question: A member of the public raised a concern about activity during a recess at the July meeting, asking whether a quorum of commissioners met in a separate room during a recess and citing the commission bylaws about open meetings. Commissioners and staff responded that no formal meeting occurred during the recess and that the item in question had been postponed pending additional documents from the auditor’s office.

What’s next: The commission asked for maps and engineering details on the 12‑acre subdivision ask, directed staff to obtain value opinions for the 8.33‑acre Daleville parcel, asked America’s Hometown to provide a detailed 2024 budget plus outreach plans for county towns before further consideration, and scheduled follow‑up actions for awarded contracts and CREED referrals.

Ending: The commission adjourned and set its next meeting for Sept. 11 at 9 a.m. at the same location.