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St. Joseph County Redevelopment Commission approves first annual spending plan, signs multiple contracts and studies
Summary
The commission approved its new state-required annual spending plan and authorized a suite of professional-service agreements — including grant-writing, financial and legal services — plus appraisals and change orders that staff said will support ongoing water, road and development projects.
The St. Joseph County Redevelopment Commission on Nov. 12 approved its first annual spending plan under a new state requirement and authorized several professional-service contracts and project expenditures to support water, transportation and development work across New Carlisle and the IEC area.
Staff said the spending plan — distinct from an annual budget — lays out how existing redevelopment funds will be allocated among debt service, economic-development and professional services, grants and reimbursements. "This is the first year" the state has required an annual spending plan, staff said, and the document includes a specific reimbursement line for funds received under the AWS water infrastructure agreement, which staff said will be drawn down roughly every 30 days and then appropriated at meetings.
Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt the spending plan and move the line-item buckets into the December budget draft. In the same meeting the commission approved a set of professional-service agreements the staff recommended for 2025: a grants and advocacy contract with Matt Ginsberg/TAI Ginsberg and Associates (not-to-exceed about $67,000, hourly); a continuation of financial consulting with "Senator Dalton" under an included fee schedule; and continued legal services with Thorn Bridal (rate schedule in the proposal). Each motion was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.
The board also approved two appraisals for a parcel at 340 Marble Lane (Marco Michaels & Associates, $625; Franklin Robinson, $500), standard practice before acquiring property for future development and road improvements. Additionally, the commission approved a $26,127 change order tied to the Nesbajani ditch reconstruction that staff said was needed to replace stone over a culvert structure to protect the roadway and ensure structural integrity.
Staff said these routine approvals will allow pending work — including water-treatment, transmission-main and lift-station projects — to continue on schedule. The commission directed staff to file the spending plan with the state by the December submittal deadline and to present a draft budget for formal adoption at the December meeting.
The meeting closed with a vote to adjourn; the commission meets again under the 2025 calendar the board approved earlier in the session.
