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Redevelopment Commission bid for Fillmore Road water tower accepted; county commissioners approve moving project forward
Summary
The Redevelopment Commission accepted a single bid from Landmark Structures for an 1,250,000‑gallon water tower and the county commissioners approved the bid award; staff said Amazon is funding the project and the county will incur no direct cost.
The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 25 approved moving forward with a water tower project at the Indiana Enterprise Center after staff reported that the Redevelopment Commission accepted the lone bid.
Bill Shalio, the county’s economic development director, told commissioners the Redevelopment Commission opened bids and received one submission from Landmark Structures for $11,138,000. He said the Redevelopment Commission accepted that bid and asked the county to also accept it.
“This project is being paid for by Amazon, the Amazon service contract or for the infrastructure,” Shalio said, adding the county will have no cost for the project as presented. He described the award as part of a larger investment by private companies in the county.
Commissioners asked about the overall private investment tied to projects in the area; Shalio discussed numbers previously quoted to the board, saying, “we're looking at about a $170,000,000 of investment being made in Saint Joseph County, but using other people's money to do that.” He also said discussions with General Motors could alter the funding split if the tower capacity is upsized and land is transferred as part of the arrangement.
The board approved a motion to accept the bid; the voice vote recorded Commissioner Hazen and Commissioner Morton as “Aye” and Commissioner Baxter as “Aye.” Staff indicated the Redevelopment Commission’s bid tab and award sheet are in the meeting packet.
Project scope and funding Staff said the water tower will be constructed at the Indiana Enterprise Center. Earlier project planning considered a smaller tank; Shalio reported that the tank had been upsized in coordination with Amazon and GM from a planned 775,000‑gallon tank to 1,250,000 gallons. He said oversizing created potential for GM to contribute, but any GM contribution had not been finalized and could take the form of a land transfer rather than direct cash.
No county appropriation Shalio said the project is being paid for by private parties under a redevelopment agreement and that “there's no cost to the county as part of this project.” The transcript does not include full contractual terms or the final financing instruments.
The commissioners approved the bid award and the motion carried by voice vote.
