St. Joseph County OKs New Carlisle EDA expansion, designates AWS parcels and approves bond counsel

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 24 approved Resolution R-9-C-2024 to expand the New Carlisle Economic Development Area, add 34 properties totaling 378 acres and designate parcels associated with Amazon Web Services as "designated taxpayers" eligible to contribute personal property increment to the EDA.

Bill Shelio, the county’s economic development director, told commissioners the amendment would create a new allocation area (number 5) intended to be "town focused," covering properties west of the Nispadjani ditch and along the railroad corridor near U.S. 20. Shelio said the change is designed to support utility projects, property acquisition and demolition needed to advance projects such as a planned bike and pedestrian trail and future economic development in and near New Carlisle. "That's what we're asking for you to do today: approve this resolution," Shelio said, noting maps were included in the meeting packet.

The amendment also seeks to designate AWS parcels north and south of the General Motors site as designated taxpayers — a step Shelio said would allow the EDA to capture personal property increment from those facilities in addition to real property taxes. In addition, the plan amendment would allow for future bonding to support acquisitions and infrastructure. Shelio told the board the county is "anticipating a sale of a $5,000,000 bond to help a property acquisition" at the State Road 2/Larison intersection and for work inside the new allocation area.

Marcy Kaufman, president of the New Carlisle Town Council, spoke in favor of the expansion, saying it would enable east-of-town projects and that the town supports working with the county and township leadership. During public comment, resident Steve Francis urged more transparency about intended uses, questioned whether the change follows the county comprehensive plan, and pressed for clearer public notice about property‑level impacts.

Separately, the board approved a professional services engagement with Barnes & Thornburg to provide bond counsel and related transactional services for the proposed bonding. The packet references estimated bond-service work costs (transcribed in the meeting record as "between $160,070,000 in total"); the board noted that any necessary fee adjustments would be returned to the board for approval and that the county attorney named in the letter had changed since the document was drafted.

The resolution and the Barnes & Thornburg engagement were approved by unanimous recorded vote: Commissioners Dieter, Hazen and Baxmyer each voted "Aye." The board did not adopt additional map or implementation details at the meeting; Shelio said maps and the redevelopment commission’s prior actions are in the packet and that further hearings (including before the county council) will occur as the process continues.

Next steps: the county’s redevelopment commission and county council processes will continue; the bond and any property acquisitions would follow future approvals.