Infrastructure funds set for 82 home sites

Infrastructure costs ground some Wayne County subdivision expansions to a halt, remaining stagnant despite plat approvals.

Helping restart those projects was prioritized during Hoosier Enduring Legacy Planning, with more than a million dollars allocated to infrastructure projects. The Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County has vetted developers and their projects to determine a funding plan that Valerie Shaffer and Sarah Mitchell explained during the April 9 meeting of Wayne County’s commissioners.

The EDC settled on five subdivisions with 82 home sites that would be funded at $10,000 per site for infrastructure development. Of the 82 sites, 41 are in Richmond, 24 in Centerville and 17 north of Cambridge City. Developers plan a $26 million investment to build the homes.

“I’m real pleased with the number,” said Commissioner Brad Dwenger, who is also a real estate appraiser. “My whole goal the whole time was to get as many lots available, buildable lots right away, and spec homes. We want to get some homes on market ready to sell so we can get that churning.”

Builders will be required to have a spec home available or under construction at all times. Commissioner Jeff Plasterer noted that it’s critical to have homes built and ready for sale.

The funding provides another chance to expand housing in Wayne County. Providing more housing for current and possible residents has been a priority for Wayne County communities. 

“In the overall scheme of what we’re trying to do for the county and the housing issue, this is very important,” Dwenger said. “This was a No. 1 issue across the board when we did the planning.”

Mitchell said the developers reflect a variety of price points, planning homes that range from about $280,000 to about $450,000. If buyers of those homes are upgrading from other Wayne County homes, their former homes then also become available for purchase.

The American Rescue Plan Act dollars allocated through HELP needed to be committed by last Dec. 31. As it became obvious the infrastructure project would extend beyond that deadline, $500,000 was left committed to it, and the rest was shifted to other projects. Had the entire allocation remained with this project and only the $820,000 spent, the county would have had to return the rest to the federal government.

To cover the extra $320,000, commissioners will recommend to Wayne County Council that $170,000 for the lots in the unincorporated area north of Cambridge be appropriated from county economic development income tax funds and $150,000 be appropriated from consolidated EDIT funds. Centerville and Richmond both contribute to consolidated EDIT.

Lost pet app

Work is ongoing for a Wayne County online application that would enable mapping of lost and found pets throughout the county. The city and county are working with Dr. Stacy Kostiuk on the project.

Gunty Atkins, the county’s GIS director, said a community in Washington provided an app template. The plan is to have a moderator who would approve posts from those who have lost or found a pet; however, the question remains who the moderator(s) will be.

Commissioners expressed willingness to host a web page with pet-related links, including the app, but they want a local animal shelter to handle the moderation work.

The app work continues from Kostiuk’s 2024 contract with the city and county to help implement animal welfare programs.

Other issues

• Commissioners approved the highway department striping Waterfall Road for Spring Grove, charging the town for materials and labor.
• Three bids for materials needed for half of the county’s Community Crossings road work were opened during the meeting. Terry Asphalt Materials, Asphalt Materials Inc. and U.S. Aggregates submitted bids. Bids for the other half of the Community Crossings work will be opened April 16. 
• As the drainage board, commissioners approved a drainage plan for the expansion of Tri County Special Needs Children facility on Clyde Oler Road in Greens Fork.