Sellersburg council transfers former school property to redevelopment commission and backs one-year lease guidance for Growing Minds

The Sellersburg Town Council on Jan. 12 approved Resolution 2026-R-001 to transfer ownership of the former Sellersburg Elementary property at 206 North Lawton Street to the Sellersburg Redevelopment Commission (RDC) and recommended that the RDC consider a one-year lease extension for Growing Minds Preschool under specified minimum terms.

Town attorney Jake explained the transfer was intended to give the RDC greater flexibility to lease, issue requests for proposals or pursue development: "The entity that has the most flexibility is the redevelopment commission," he said, describing the transfer as a mechanism to enable leases or development if the RDC adopts a similar resolution.

Councilman Reyes (reading a prepared brief) urged the council to recommend a lease extension for Growing Minds and to set minimum terms for any one-year lease. Reyes asked the RDC to consider an RFP for tenants from June 1, 2026, to May 31, 2027, and stated a one-year lease under $80,000 would not be considered as part of the council's guidance. He also outlined responsibilities he proposed: "The tenant to be responsible for all interior normal use maintenance... The town to pay electric, gas, Internet, trash collection services. The tenant to pay water and sewer services." The motion was seconded and treated as a favorable recommendation to the RDC rather than a direct lease approval by the council.

Town manager Charlie Smith (referred to in discussion) and other staff cautioned that the RDC is an independent, appointing-body-controlled instrument and that appraisals and statutory requirements must be met. Smith suggested the council's figures be used as guidelines contingent on appraisals and Indiana law rather than as binding instructions: "I would recommend utilizing these as guidelines, contingent on meeting Indiana law and the appraisal that comes back."

The council moved the resolution and the favorable recommendation to the RDC by recorded voice vote; the record shows the resolution and the recommendation passed with four votes in favor and one abstention (4–0–1). The council noted that transfer would enable the RDC to handle sales, leases or RFPs and that final transfer would occur by deed after both bodies adopt similar resolutions.

Next steps: The RDC will consider the council's recommendation, review appraisals and applicable legal requirements, and decide whether to extend the existing tenant's lease, issue an RFP, or pursue other redevelopment options. The council did not itself set a new lease; it provided a formal recommendation and minimum guidance for the RDC to consider.

The council's action cites Indiana Code provisions referenced in the resolution for transfers and trade-ins; the transfer will be executed by limited warranty deed if both bodies adopt consistent resolutions.