Hearing about housing dollars set for May 7

Wayne County Council plans to conduct a public hearing May 7 about appropriating $320,000 for a housing accelerator program launched by the Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County.

The additional money from county economic development income tax funds and consolidated EDIT funds would help five developers build houses on 82 sites in three county communities. The sites are in existing subdivisions, but the cost of extending infrastructure has stalled the development. Valerie Shaffer proposed the additional appropriations to council during its April 16 workshop with commissioners.

The 82 lots identified include 41 in Richmond, 24 in Centerville and 17 in Cambridge City’s Meer’s Estates subdivision, which is north of town and west of Indiana 1. The funding would be $10,000 per home, and if a home is not built by the 2029 deadline, the developer would return the $10,000.

Council member Gary Saunders said it’s important to create additional housing throughout the county and not just in Richmond. Shaffer said all of the EDC’s housing projects could provide 721 new county housing units, including 332 single-family homes.

The EDC already has $500,000 committed to the project through the consolidated EDIT fund, which receives contributions from participating county communities to fund the EDC’s operating budget and economic development projects. The remaining $320,000 would be split, with $170,000 from county EDIT for the 17 Cambridge City lots in an unincorporated portion of the county and $150,000 from consolidated EDIT.

Council agreed in principle to the funding plan; however, members will not vote until after the public hearing. The May 7 meeting will begin at 8 a.m. in council chambers in the Wayne County administration building.

Jail health care

Sheriff Randy Retter recommended the county continue contracting with Quality Correctional Care to provide health care for jail inmates. Proposals were opened from QCC and Comprehensive Correctional Care.

Retter said QCC’s proposal was about $60,000 less than Comprehensive’s; however, it’s about $100,000 more than the cost for the year ending at the end of the month. QCC and the county entered a contract beginning May 1, 2023, that paid QCC $813,042 the first year.

Commissioners and council members committed to funding the continuation of QCC’s inmate care. Ron Cross, the county attorney, and Retter said they would finalize a two-year contract for QCC that will begin May 1.

Plaza change

Construction has begun on the plaza outside the courthouse. The sidewalk ramp from the south side of the courthouse entrance was being constructed first to maintain continuous access to the entrance throughout the project.

Steve Higinbotham, the county administrator, presented commissioners and council members with a change order for the project. Upon seeing the ramp and accessible parking spaces, the need for a second access ramp from the parking to the sidewalk was discovered. Without the second access area, residents would need to move around their vehicles into traffic to reach the only planned ramp.

The change was readily accepted because of the increased safety. Commissioners approved the project change order, and council appropriated from its one-time fund the $7,572.75.

Commissioners issues

• Mt. Auburn has requested the county assist with its unsafe structures procedures. Higinbotham told commissioners during their morning meeting that he planned to meet with the town’s council to discuss the request.
• Mike Sharp, the highway supervisor, is analyzing bids for materials needed for roadwork planned with Community Crossings grant money. Two sets of bids were received, so one bid could be awarded for projects in the eastern part of the county and another for projects in the western part.
• The county has received 20 electronic speed signs and is deciding where those signs should be located. An Indiana Department of Transportation permit is necessary to install the signs along state highways.