Hobart council adopts unsafe‑buildings ordinance and 2026 budget appropriations, approves TIF report

The Hobart City council on March 18 adopted a series of administrative and budget measures, including a code change to centralize unsafe‑building hearings and the adoption of 2026 budget appropriations.

Council voted 7‑0 to approve Ordinance 2026‑04, which amends the municipal code to separate unsafe‑building hearing authority from the Board of Works and create a designated board to review and act on unsafe or vacant structures. The mayor said the change is intended to improve efficiency and provide a forum that includes community members.

Council also considered and adopted Ordinance 2026‑05, an appropriations ordinance covering portions of the 2026 budget for the general fund and building department. After motions for first and second reading, members approved the ordinance on second reading by roll call (7‑0).

On finance items, staff presented and the council accepted the 2025 TIF annual report — prepared for submission to the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance (DLGS) — so the clerk‑treasurer’s office could upload required documentation. Staff noted an updated fiscal plan from Baker Tilly to reflect a corrected parcel size and reported no material change to assessed values.

The council also reviewed and approved compliance items for Grand Trump Storage and a revised development agreement for PlayStreetDefco LLC (PlaceStreet debt/code compliance), with staff describing construction timeline adjustments and the developer’s progress toward stated employment and assessed‑value estimates.

Mayor and staff said the approvals aim to keep projects on schedule while ensuring required reporting; council members indicated they would continue to monitor plan‑commission follow‑ups as the projects move forward.