Saint Joseph council approves airport construction contracts, amends TIF closure and handles multiple grants and withdrawals

The Saint Joseph City Council on Feb. 20 approved a series of measures including construction and management contracts for the Rosecrans Memorial Aviation Complex, took steps to close a tax-increment financing (TIF) district tied to the American Family building sale, approved River Bluff Gateway Project grants, and accepted the withdrawal of a Civic Arena painting contract after the bidder declined to perform.

City Clerk read an ordinance authorizing a lump-sum contract with E.L. Crawford Construction Inc. for $11,088,918 and a lump-sum management contract with Wolford Inc. for $2,323,079.06 for the Rosecrans Memorial Aviation Complex. Council member Trout moved and council member Schomburg seconded attaching the management contract to the ordinance; the amendment and the ordinance passed on voice/roll-call votes recorded as carrying (8 ayes).

The council also addressed an ordinance to terminate the special allocation fund for the Mitchell Avenue corridor TIF plan and end the redevelopment-area designation tied to the American Family building. City Manager explained that outstanding TIF bonds are being paid off as part of the…