By John Estridge
Brookville Town Council will hold an executive session about purchasing a property or properties at 7 p.m., Monday, August 23.
Council meets 24 hours later in a public session.
There could be several properties the council members could be talking about in the executive session: the Zimmer property off High Street — $600,000; Brook Hill Golf Club — $1 million; and/or the former State Highway maintenance building and salt dome area at Ninth and Mill streets — $50,000.
Brookville residents were told the Zimmer property was going to be used for a new town hall. Now it is going to be used as a new police station and something for the street department. Apparently, the seller and/or town council members want to act immediately on the purchase.
They are going to fund the Zimmer property much like the new municipal pool was funded, which the town has just started paying off. However, the $600,000 does not include the necessary remodeling and construction that will be needed or any work needed on the empty Main Street storefront the moving of the police force will necessitate.
The golf course is owned by an LLC, which purchased it for $1.1 million. BTC President Curtis Ward said the LLC investors have demanded the town purchase the golf course from them for $1 million immediately. Ward said none of the council members have looked at any of the financials for the golf course, and they do not know how much money it will take to operate the golf course every year.
During the public meeting, a resident attending the meeting claimed the sprinkler system is not working at the golf course, but Ward insisted he was told by the LLC, it is working. A drone photo published on the Brookville paper’s front page this week shows huge patches of brown grass on the part of the golf course that can be seen. In fact, there is more brown than green shown in the photo.
Ward said he had been promised by the LLC members the clubhouse will be finished by the LLC even though the purchase is happening immediately before the clubhouse construction is completed. It was damaged by fire some time ago. He did not explain how that will be funded.
Ward said at the last public meeting, the LLC investors want out because they have had their money tied up for two years without any return on their investments. The LLC had also demanded the town agree in the purchase agreement, the town would keep the property a golf course for 25 years and that the LLC has the right of first refusal if the town ever wants to sell the property.
BTC Attorney Tammy Davis explained to council members it would not be advantageous to the town council members and the town’s taxpayers to sign an agreement limiting one’s options for 25 years on the property they are purchasing. Also, it would be illegal to give a private entity right of first refusal when a government entity tries to sell a property. Indiana Code strictly governs the selling regulations.
Council will float a bond to purchase the golf course. They have not discussed how council will pay whatever the operating costs are for the years in the future or the immediate infrastructure costs that are needed.
With the Indiana Department of Transportation property, the state is going to give Franklin County $135,000 to demolish the maintenance building on the site, $500,000 additionally now and $2.5 million next July. The latter amount is in exchange for the county taking over a two-mile section of Old Indiana 1 near Cedar Grove.
The town is going to pay the county an extra $50,000 to help in the maintenance building demolition.
Franklin County gets an existing salt storage facility for 10 years.
Executive sessions are closed to the public. In an executive session, council members cannot make motions or vote on motions. All of that has to be done in an open meeting.
When the Indiana Public Access Counselor levied a scathing report on recent BTC activity, it stated the council members should discuss a major decision, such as spending a couple million tax dollars, in an open meeting prior to voting. This is to show taxpayers the thought process, which fueled the decisions.
BTC’s public meeting will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, August 24, at the Schilling Center.
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