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Votes at a glance: La Porte UEA approves Dunes waiver, sculpture lease, business grants and program changes
Summary
At its recent meeting, the La Porte UEA board approved a waiver for the Dunes Event Center, leased the 'Petal of Reflection' sculpture for Plaza 618, conditionally approved a $10,000 Dietrich business grant, authorized a $500 Movies in the Park grant, allowed a $5,000 banner reallocation, and added demolition as an eligible business grant expense.
The La Porte UEA board completed a series of procedural and program votes at its meeting.
Key outcomes: - Waiver for Dunes Event Center: The board accepted a waiver of compliance following staff explanation that filing delays were caused by the applicant's accountant's unexpected death; the motion passed by voice vote. (Transcript: notice of public hearing was published in the Herald Dispatch.)
- Petal of Reflection sculpture lease: The board approved a two-year lease to place a moving sculpture titled "Petal of Reflection" in Plaza 618; members discussed storage, naming, and local sourcing. The motion and voice vote approved leasing the piece rather than purchasing it.
- Dietrich Properties (Silver Palace) business grant: Members considered funding toward exterior painting with quotes between $17,500 and $25,200; the board approved a grant up to $10,000 on the condition the applicant provides a third quote or documents why only two quotes were obtained.
- Movies in the Park grant: The board approved a $500 community enhancement grant to support Movies in the Park.
- Banner purchase reallocation: Members approved allowing Jeff Bashar to reallocate $5,000 from the dumpster program to purchase city banners; staff were directed to adjust the budget.
- Add demolition to eligible business grant purposes: The board voted to add demolition assistance (up to $10,000) to the business grant program to facilitate removal of blighted commercial and one residential building in the enterprise zone.
Other routine approvals included minutes from the April 15 meeting, the claims docket (including a first payment to the Bezic Center for the Arts for Muralfest), and financial statements. Several votes were conducted by voice with no roll-call tallies recorded in the transcript.
Procedural note: Where members asked for additional documentation (for the Dietrich grant and transport repairs), the board conditioned approval on receipt of quotes or invoices and asked staff to manage paperwork with Mary Anne.
