A nonprofit land bank funded by public money received Wayne County government’s go-ahead March 18.
During their combined workshop, council and commissioners both unanimously approved an interlocal agreement with Richmond to form the land bank, which will be governed by a seven-member board. The land bank will accumulate residential properties countywide and search for developers willing to rehabilitate them.
The city and county are being asked to contribute $60,000 a year for three years to start the land bank. Valerie Shaffer, president of the Economic Development Corp. of Wayne County, said Richmond Redevelopment Commission had agreed to provide the city’s funding on March 17. The issue must still go before Richmond Common Council, however.
Ron Cross, the county attorney, said that the skill sets of the seven board members will be important, because the board will carry significant responsibility in building inventory and criteria for development. Shaffer said a matrix of skills valuable for the board could be developed, then checked off as board members are appointed.
Commissioners and council will each appoint one board member, along with the EDC, Richmond mayor, Richmond council and one town, which will initially be Cambridge City. The seventh member will be a joint appointment.
Commissioners and council also approved an interlocal agreement with Cambridge City regarding construction of a new water tower for the Gateway Industrial Park.
Cambridge City has received a $2.8 million grant and will contribute $600,000 toward construction costs. The consolidated economic development income tax fund will contribute $600,000, and another $1.8 million will come from the county’s redevelopment funds and county EDIT fund. The redevelopment funds will contribute up to $1 million of that $1.8 million, with county EDIT covering the balance.
Cambridge City plans to bond any remaining costs after the project is bid and pay the bond debt through water rates.
Jail windows
Commissioners during their meeting voted to recommend to council approval of a $66,400 contract with Delaware Glass of Muncie to replace 34 windows in Wayne County’s jail.
The contract also includes Delaware Glass reconfiguring facade windows visible from the street to make accessing the safety windows easier for future replacements.
Council approved the contract, with the money coming from council’s one-time expenditures line item.
Council actions
During the evening workshop, council:
- Appropriated $35,000 for fiber optic work at the new emergency communications tower along Elliott Road.
- Appropriated $43,000 at Assessor Tim Smith’s request for an assessment contract.
- Approved seasonal hire requests for five summer positions in the highway department and one position in the treasurer’s office during property tax collections.
- Appropriated $217,000 from First Bank’s contributions to the Wayne County Fairgrounds naming rights fund for work on a new parking lot and camping upgrades.
Commissioner actions
After discussion with council during the workshop, the commissioners unanimously approved permitting Richmond Parks and Recreation Department to use the county’s $1.4 million contribution to the Whitewater Gorge Park project as match money for a READI grant application.
The county committed the American Rescue Plan Act dollars through the Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program for Phase 2 of the activation project. Using the contribution as match money does not impact the planned use of the contribution. The city will request money for a performance venue from the $65 million in READI money designated for the arts.
During the commissioners’ weekly meeting March 18, they:
- Approved selling the sheriff’s department’s former mobile command center in an online auction with the proceeds returning to the sheriff’s commissary fund.
- Opted in to receive a share of federal opioid settlements with “remnant defendants” who impacted the opioid crisis.
- Authorized Cross to pursue the county’s allocation of assets from the Wayne County Drug Task Force’s dissolution.
A version of this article appeared in the March 25 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.