Provided by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department
March 9
Kristen Amburgey, Combs Lane, Laurel, at 7:38 a.m., was operating a vehicle south on Davison Road when a deer jumped in front of her vehicle. She said she did not have enough time to react before striking the deer. Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Jeremy Noah investigated the accident.
March 10
Cheyenne Collins, U.S. 52, Laurel, at 6:34 a.m., was operating a vehicle eastbound on U.S. 52 East when a deer ran out onto the road. Collins said she did not have time to react before striking the deer. Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy John Roberts investigated the accident.
Frenchesca Bills, U.S. 52, Laurel, at 4:30 p.m., was operating a vehicle eastbound on Sanes Creek Road. Another vehicle operated by Dawson Smith, Indiana 229, Metamora, was traveling westbound on Sanes Creek Road. Bills’ vehicle was left of center and struck the Smith vehicle. Smith tried to swerve off the north side of Sanes Creek Road. Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Kyle Hartman investigated the accident.
March 13
Joseph Moss, Corbin, Kentucky, at 3:18 p.m., was operating a vehicle southbound on Indiana 1 South when his vehicle collided with a deer that ran onto the road in front of Moss’ vehicle. Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Jason Robinson investigated the accident.
Provided by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department
March 9
Jeremiah B. Curtsinger, 36, Fairfield Avenue, Brookville, was arrested at 6:04 p.m., by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy K. Hartman, along Indiana 101 for Driving while Suspended Prior Suspension within 10 Years.
March 10
Harold Bowman, 44, South County Road 375 West, Connersville, was arrested at 10:52 p.m., by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy R. Lackey, in Fayette County, on an arrest warrant.
Kenneth A. Evans, 37, Vine Street Milan, was arrested at 3 p.m., at the Ripley County Jail, by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy R. Gordon on a Probation Violation.
Johnnie R. Hammons Jr., 32, Stipps Hill Road, Laurel, was arrested at 6:02 p.m., by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy K. Hartman at the intersection of Indiana 229 and U.S. 52, on an Arrest Warrant.
March 11
Zachariah J. Lockhart, 35, Fairfield, Ohio, was arrested at 1:10 p.m., at a residence on Oxford Pike, by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy J. Robinson for Unauthorized Entry of a Motor Vehicle and Possession of Marijuana/Hash Oil/Hashish/Salvia.
Shawnya A. Zurborg, 36, S. County Line Road 50 West, Connersville, was arrested at 6:08 p.m., by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy A. Bowers, at Metamora, on two Arrest Warrants.
March 12
Robin D. Howard, 51, Join Road, Bath, was arrested at 6:21 p.m., by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Dusty Hill, at Mixerville, for Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated with a Passenger Less than 18 Years of Age.
Jamie R. Hunter, 43, Iowa Avenue, Connersville, was arrested at 2:22 p.m., at the intersection of Progress and Third streets, by Brookville Police Department Officer Michael Strait, for Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Schedule I, II, III, IV, V, Possession of Marijuana/Hash and Possession of Paraphernalia.
Steven T. Lakes, 44, Iowa Street, Connersville, was arrested at 2:22 p.m., at the intersection of Progress and Third streets, by Brookville Police Department Officer Ryan Geiser, for Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana/Hash Oil/Hashish/Salvia, Possession of Paraphernalia and Dealing in a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death – Cocaine, Narcotic Drug, Meth, Manufacturing Meth, Schedule I, II, III Controlled Substance.
Franklin E. Logan Sr., 47, Old U.S. 52, Laurel, was arrested at a residence on Vanatta Hollow Road, at 6:40 a.m., by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy J. Robinson on an Arrest Warrant.
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Department of Health announced today that Indiana educators up to grade 12 and other school support staff can now sign up for a free COVID-19 vaccine at any Indiana vaccination clinic.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, eligible individuals include teachers and staff in pre-K through high school, childcare centers, Head Start and Early Start programs, along with licensed childcare providers, including center-based and family care providers. Classroom aides, bus drivers, janitors, counselors, administration staff, cafeteria workers and substitute teachers also are eligible.
To schedule a vaccine, visit https://ourshot.in.gov or call 211 if you do not have access to a computer or require assistance.
Appointment availability varies by site, so individuals seeking an earlier appointment may need to look at openings in nearby counties. If an individual already has an appointment scheduled but finds an earlier appointment, please call 211 to reschedule.
Vaccines also are available at Kroger and Meijer stores, but those must be scheduled through the retailers’ websites.
In addition to teachers, Hoosiers age 50 and older, along with healthcare workers, long-term care residents and first responders who are regularly called to the scene of an emergency to render medical assistance, are now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Hoosiers with specific conditions, such as sickle cell disease or cancer, that put them at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 also are eligible and will receive a unique link to schedule a vaccine once their healthcare provider submits their information to the Indiana Department of Health. To find a complete list of those who are currently eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, visit https://ourshot.in.gov. Eligibility will be expanded as more vaccine becomes available.
Indiana Department of Transportation press release
Indiana Department of Transportation contractor GeoStabilization International has completed slide repair work on Indiana 252 east of Brookville in Franklin County. The road is now open between the Whitewater River Bridge and Smith Road. Under the closure, crews constructed a soil nail wall to repair and stabilize a 920-foot section of roadway.
Signage indicating rough pavement has been installed near the repair site prior to patching and paving that is expected to take place next month once weather is more consistent. Motorists are reminded to slow down and use caution in the area until this work is complete. Guardrail installation and clean-up work took place last week.
The process of approving a new section to the Franklin County Zoning Code to regulate solar energy farms is like watching a tennis match.
Going back and forth between the Franklin County Commissioners and the Franklin County Area Plan Commission, the ball, which in this case is the proposed additional section, has now been returned to the commissioners’ side of the court. If commissioners, in the next 45 days, further change the proposed new section, the document will go back to the APC for another public hearing and another chance to further change the proposed section.
Since the summer of 2020, commissioners and the APC members have been coming together in separate meetings and public hearings in order to work out a new section, devoted to solar energy farms and wind energy, into the county’s zoning code. Adding a new section to the zoning code is by definition amending the zoning code.
Wednesday night, March 10, the APC met for almost three and a half hours including a small break from the public hearing when the Franklin County Board of Zoning Appeals heard an application for a variance. Also, the APC had a short interlude for a resident to explain a problem he is having with a neighbor before the night’s public hearing got underway.
When the APC members went back to their marathon session after the BZA variance application hearing, they hammered out about a half dozen amendments to the proposed section to the county’s zoning code.
At a January Franklin County Commissioners’ meeting, Franklin County Attorney Grant Reeves handed out a press release concerning the actions of the commissioners up to that date in regard to work on the proposed section to the zoning code. He released it at that time because he said the entire process had resulted in misconceptions by many FC residents.
In order to regulate and for county officials and the public to have a say in proposed solar energy farms, the commissioners created a zoning designation Agriculture-Alternative Energy System (A-AES). Thus, solar energy farms could be sited in only three zoning designations: Industrial-1 (I-1) Industrial-2 (I-2) or the newly formed A-AES.
Any application for a solar energy farm in any zoning designations outside I-1 or I-2 would require the proposed company to come before the APC members and the commissioners to rezone the property or properties in question to the A-AES zoning designation. If the commissioners do not approve the zoning change, the proposed solar energy farm cannot go into existence on the proposed property.
Even if a company wants to site the solar energy farms in areas of I-1 or I-2 zoning designations, a public hearing before the APC would still have to be heard as the zoning code requires a conditional use in those two zoning designations.
“These (conditional use) approvals are not automatic, must meet the conditions in the ordinance at a minimum, and approval is still discretionary,” Reeves said in his January press release. “The commissioners would not have to be involved in this process.”
APC members started the writing of a new section to the zoning code process in September 2020 and subsequently sent the proposed section to the commissioners. The commissioners, in turn, sent amendments to the proposed section back to the APC. A public hearing at the February 10 APC meeting was scheduled. It was postponed due to inclement weather. That led to the March 10 public hearing.
In the March 10 public hearing, the APC members passed the following amendments to the proposed section to the county’s zoning code:
This amendment would make a company use Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) to find utilities, field tiles and other potential unknown structures prior to construction. Also, any construction near cemeteries cannot be done within 100 feet of the cemeteries.
Franklin County Surveyor Rob Seig, who is an APC member by his elected office, proposed the amendment. Earlier in the public hearing, FC farmer Roger Bommer talked to the APC members via Zoom and said a solar energy farm project is slated to go in place in Springfield Township near the Big Cedar Cemetery. Bommer owns property adjacent to the property or properties in question. He is concerned field tiles could be demolished or heavily damaged by the solar energy farm construction process. It may take some time for the negative effects of that damage to be found. He said if something like that occurs, he will no longer own valuable and productive farmland, but would own a lake.
Seig’s amendment was in answer to Bommer’s stated problem. Officials have discussed that possible outcome to field tiles at earlier meetings on the subject.
Also, Seig mentioned no construction could take place within 100 feet of a cemetery. He said that is state law but should be stated in the county’s zoning code regarding solar energy farms, and the other APC members agreed.
Approval process includes a class 3 permit, by hearing, to create the zone.
This was suggested by APC member Ed Derickson and was unanimously passed. APC President Ruthie Mannix said any change in zoning to A-AES guarantees a public hearing. And if the proposed site is in a I-1 or I-2 zoning designation, the company would have to seek a conditional use, which also requires a public hearing. Derickson said he wanted the language added so it makes it clear any action along these lines requires a public hearing.
Liability insurance amounts were increased for companies wanting to construct and operate a solar energy farm project.
Insurance requirements for a company wanting to put in and run a solar energy farm would have to provide proof of insurance of a minimum $10 million per incident and an aggregate to be determined by a board of three insurance agents through a liability assessment study. Also, non-participating landowners will be held harmless by agreement with the proposed applicant. It was unanimously approved.
The insurance amendment was suggested by FC resident Traci Robinson. She and her mother, Tina Jackson, a Union County resident, have been vocal in their opposition to the proposed solar energy farm projects in the area including Preble County, Ohio and Franklin County.
Requirement to provide ground covering, which would be conducive to bees and other pollinators.
Natural vegetative ground cover shall be maintained under and around solar arrays. Only non-invasive species should be used and native species are recommended in the interest of protecting pollinator seed nexus consisting of native meadow grasses and pollinator wildflower and clover species in consultation with a USDA farm field biologist or local Soil and Water Conservation District.
Trisha Agnew, a Bath Township resident, suggested the one about ground cover conducive to pollinators, and Mannix made the motion, which was unanimously approved.
Seig also wanted all the amendments approved Wednesday night that are not solely for solar energy to be placed in the wind energy part of the overall section.
That was also passed unanimously.
APC member Connie Rosenberger made a motion for the only amendment request not to be passed. Her motion died for a lack of a second. She wanted Prime Agriculture (A-1) Zoning designation to not be a zoning designation, which could be rezoned to A-AES.
APC Attorney Tammy Davis and Mannix explained to Rosenberger it would be illegal to put something like that in the zoning code. Someone has the right to request a rezone of any property under any current zoning designation into any other zoning designation that property owner requests. It is then up to the APC members to hear that request and give a favorable, unfavorable or no recommendation to the county commissioners. And then the county commissioners have the final decision. All the steps in the rezoning process are done in public hearings.
After there were no other amendment requests from APC members, the APC formally voted on the proposed section including Wednesday night’s amendments.
To be legally correct, the APC disapproved what the commissioners sent them and then approved their amendments to what was sent them.
Earlier in the meeting, Davis and Reeves discussed the next steps in the long and very technical process.
If the commissioners approve all the changes the APC members made at the Wednesday, March 10, public hearing, then the proposed section would become part of the county’s zoning code. If the commissioners reject the APC’s amendments passed at the March 10 public hearing, then the overall proposed section sent to the APC for the Wednesday night hearing would be the new overall section added to the county zoning code.
However, if the commissioners make more changes to the proposed section, then the proposed section would go back to the APC for the process to continue.
Robert Lewis Oakley, 54, of College Corner, Ohio, passed away Monday, March 8, 2021, at Bethesda North Hospital in Cincinnati.
Robert was born to Virgil H. and Marjorie E. Oakley on April 15, 1966, in Hamilton, Ohio. Over the years he was employed as an electrical lineman for various power companies and was an arborist with Nelson Tree Service. Robert was an outdoorsman and avid hunter, especially raccoon. In addition, he had a true passion for mushroom hunting. He enjoyed walking through the woods and taking care of his canine companions. Above all, he loved spending time with his son, and family.
Robert is preceded in death by his father: Virgil H. Oakley Jr.
In addition to his mother Marjorie, Robert is survived by his son: Robert Bradley Oakley of Camden, Ohio; daughter: Anna E. Dyck of Clarksville, Tennessee; brothers: Jeffrey Oakley of Liberty, Harold Oakley and his wife Melissa of Mechanicsville, Maryland; uncle: Jim Bill Oakley and his wife Claudean; aunts: Arlene Coffey and Geraldian Walton.
Private services will be conducted following cremation, at the convenience of the family. Showalter Blackwell Long, Fosdick Chapel, Liberty has been entrusted with arrangements.
Early this year, Brookville Town Council President Curtis Ward launched a program for the town, 21 By 21.
Soliciting public input, Ward wants to do somewhat small projects around the town that can be yet accomplished this calendar year. The guiding principles are: Do what we can when we can and eliminate the negative and accentuate the positive.
Ward read the 21 projects during the March 9 BTC meeting. Maybe the most far reaching is establishing a grant program through the Brookville Redevelopment Commission to go 50-50 with town homeowners to put in new sidewalks along their respective properties.
Several of the projects involve the already popular Brookville Town Park. To help in this, Ward and BTC are looking into creating a Parks Board. In that manner, the park system will be eligible for grants.
The 21 programs are:
Benches along Main Street. Install six new benches and relocate some benches to be placed in front of Works of Mercy in the old Brookville Water Works Building. Main Street Group and the Street Department will be in charge of that.
Safe meeting space/marketplace swap. This is for exchanges such as Craig’s List. A dedicated spot will be established near the Brookville Police Station on Main Street. BTC and the Brookville Police Department will be in charge of that.
Schilling Center interior improvement. This includes painting and repairing walls as well as replacing the carpet. BTC is in charge of that project.
Gateway signs. Four or five new “Welcome” signs will be placed near town gateways. Bill Schirmer and the Brookville Street Department are in charge of that project.
Sidewalk Matching Fund. Establish a 50/50 matching fund to help residents/businesses repair/replace sidewalks. The responsible party is the Brookville Redevelopment Commission.
Continue and expand the Façade Improvement Fund. Expand the 2020 initiative to include more façade improvements/updates in addition to allowing alternative civic design projects such as alley enhancements. An example is string lighting in alleys. Brookville Redevelopment Commission is the responsible party.
Complete two to three new mural projects. Identify and support new mural projects within town with one example being the Brookville Police Department wall facing the town parking lot. Franklin County Arts Council and Main Street Group are the responsible parties.
Farmers Market on Main. The farmer’s market would be moved from the south end of town below Oregon Hill to the town lot between the police department and the former Rosenberger’s. Responsible parties are BTC and Bob O’Bryan.
Construction of a fourth softball field. Complete the addition of a fourth softball field in the town park. Responsible parties are the Girls Softball Organization and Brookville Street Department.
Frisbee Golf Course. Install nine-to-18-hole Frisbee Golf Course (ostensibly at the town park). Responsible parties are Adam Moehlman/Curtis Ward and the Brookville Street Department.
Expand electrical access in lower town park. Add additional outlets to support Winter Wonderland and Canoefest. Responsible parties are Cathy Pelsor and Brookville Street Department.
Park after Dark events/bingo nights. Create monthly movie nights and other events during the summer months. Responsible parties are BTC and another yet unidentified organization.
Wifi extension throughout the town park. This is contingent on the Covid Phase III Grant. The application was made on March 11. Responsible parties are BTC and ARa (Note: reporter not sure who or what ARa is).
Pave 8th Street parking lot. Finish the parking lot project across 8th Street from the Eagles. Brookville Town Council and Street Department are the responsible parties.
Complete the 6th Street parking lot. Finish Blight Elimination Project. Brookville Redevelopment Commission is the responsible party.
K9 Officer. Approve fundraising efforts/secure funds for purchase of K9 for BPD. Responsible parties are BPD and BTC.
Enhance Christmas lights on Main Street. Add colorful lights and/or garland during the Christmas season. Responsible parties are BTC, Main Street Group and Brookville Volunteer Fire Department.
Expand Winter Wonderland with a Christmas Light Contest. Have a town-wide lighting contest in conjunction with Winter Wonderland. Responsible parties are Cathy Pelsor and Winter Wonderland Committee.
Update basketball courts. Update some of the basketball goals in the town park. The responsible party is the Street Department.
Fitness walk in town park. Designate exercise zones/activities. It could be as simple as signs instructing activities or by adding stations. The Street Department is the responsible party.
Add electric car charging station. Designate a spot in the parking lot between the BPD and the former Rosenberger’s for a charging station. Responsible party is BTC.
Provided by the Franklin Circuit Court Clerk’s Office
Civil Court
Judgment
Midland Credit Management, Inc. vs. Brian Pease for the plaintiff in the amount of $845.26 plus costs together with post-judgment interest at the rate of 8 percent from February 22, 2021, until satisfied.
Bank of America, N.A. vs. Cathleen L. Tepe for the plaintiff in the amount of $6,996.86.
Default Judgment
Midland Credit Management, Inc. vs. Sonja Marcum aka Sonja Sorrell for the plaintiff in the amount of $10,807.58 plus post-judgment interest on the total judgment at a rate of 8 percent per annum and post-judgment costs of collection plus costs of $185 for a total of $10,992.58.
Small Claims
Default Judgment
Finance System of Richmond, Inc. vs. Jason R. Denney for the plaintiff in the amount of $1,832.72 plus post-judgment interest and sheriff’s service fee.
Finance System of Richmond, Inc. vs. Jordyn Fedak for the plaintiff in the amount of $938.34 plus post-judgment interest and sheriff’s service fee.
A series of questions was sent by this Fired Editor to the Brookville Town Council concerning funding for the proposed new Brookville Town Hall. They were answered both verbally and in writing by BTC President Curtis Ward at the March 9 BTC meeting.
Let’s start with the last question first and then go to the first question second.
The last question concerned why the Brookville taxpayers and residents were not asked what they wanted in a building the town council was planning to purchase and then extensively remodel. The town council wants to build a new town hall apparently from an existing building.
Note: all Ward’s answers were copied and pasted from the document he emailed to the Fired Editor. They are verbatim except for where I write out what the initials stand for.
Question and answer were:
Question: Why a town hall? Why not open it up to the Brookville residents and see what kind of use they would like for a building and their tax money?
Ward: “The RFPQ (Request for Proposals/Qualifications) process was a direct result from an individual offering the town an opportunity to purchase real estate. Part of the RFPQ process will include a public hearing on the proposal. Due to the nature of the real estate purchase, public participation has been limited as to allow the town the best chance at purchasing the property free of additional competition in the market. The Brookville Town Council will welcome feedback at the appropriate time to make sure all voices are heard.”
Apparently, that means the quick action needed — at the demand of the seller — by the BTC at this point overrides what those paying for the new building — the new town hall — may want instead of or in addition to a new town hall. Or maybe, those paying for the new building do not want anything new and different at all. Again, the seller’s need to do things quickly overrides the constituents/taxpayers, according to the BTC members.
The first question on the list is what is going to be discussed next.
The question involved the funding for the proposed new town hall. In the RFPQ, which Ward read at the February 9 meeting, it states that a public private partnership will be utilized for funding.
“…the town invites any and all qualified parties to submit Proposals and Statements of Qualifications to obtain financing, develop, and construct Town projects in the Town in a public private partnership, the scope of which will be determined in a scoping period with the selected proposer and will include construction of a new town hall.”
Public private partnerships are also called PPP and P3.
The question and answer concerning PPPs were:
In reading about PPPs in Indiana, this country and the world, there is always a way for the private part of a partnership to recoup the investment and make a profit i.e. toll roads. How does the private part of this PPP replenish its investment at a profit when the structure is a town hall?
Ward: “I’m unfamiliar with PPPs. We have used the BOT (Build Operate Transfer) process before to complete the pool project. The benefits of the BOT were presented by the Brookville RDC (Brookville Redevelopment Commission) and FC EDC (Economic Development Commission) consulting firm, the Wheatley Groups, as an alternative to the more traditional approach of Bond financing. Using the pool as an example, the cost for bond financing would have been approximately $250,000 compared to GM financing fee of approximately $25,000 which included oversight of entire project.”
Again, I just want to emphasize I got my question regarding PPP funding from the document Ward read at a public meeting.
The rest of the questions and the corresponding answers are:
Why did you decide to go PPP for the funding?
Ward: “We have only decided to explore our options using the BOT process. This allows us to vet the project, create designs and feasibility plans before committing or spending any funds. If we choose to cancel moving forward with the project, the town is not out any funds other than the cost to advertise the RFPQ process and public hearing. Additionally, if we move forward with the project, the town will have a guaranteed budget and would not be subject (to) cost increases, change orders, etc…”
Are you going to use TIF (Tax Increment Financing) funds from BRC (Brookville Redevelopment Commission) to pay for the construction cost?
Ward: “We have not approached BRC with any requests pertaining to this project.”
If yes, has the BRC been approached? Will the TIF pay for the whole cost?
Ward: “n/a See above response”
If no, how are you going to pay for the construction?
Ward: “The next phase of the RFPQ process will help answer this for the town. The repayment would be pledged consistent with the Aquatic Center repayment which was pledged from LIT (Local Option Income Tax).”
Will this project complicate the golf course purchase and increased costs from annexation?
Ward: “There isn’t a correlation between the two projects.”
Brookville Town Council members unanimously hired GM Development LLC to design, find financing for and build the proposed new town hall in Brookville.
It was the only company which applied. And it is the company currently building the Brookville Aquatic Center. Another company expressed interest in applying, but BTC President Curtis Ward said the person representing the company wanted more information, and town officials could not supply more information beyond what was included in the Request for Proposals/Qualifications (RFPQ).
Action was taken at BTC’s Tuesday, March 9 meeting, which was exactly one month after Ward announced the council’s plan to look into buying an existing building in Brookville and turn it into a town hall.
Ward said this project is on a fast track because the building’s owner wants to sell it quickly, and BTC does not want any competition in purchasing the property.
“The RFPQ process was a direct result from an individual offering the town an opportunity to purchase real estate,” Ward said in a written response regarding why the council decided on a town hall while public members, in the form of taxpayers, were not asked what they would want done, if anything, in a building purchased and owned by the town. “Part of the RFPQ process will include a public hearing on the proposal. Due to the nature of the real estate purchase, public participation has been limited as to allow the town the best chance at purchasing the property free of additional competition in the market.”
Ward was on a committee to choose a company with BTC member Chuck Campbell. Campbell said he is impressed by GM Development LLC.
He said the company always seems to come in under budget, and he liked the photos the company included of building exteriors they had built or remodeled.
According to IndianaCheck.com, GM Development LLC is as a Domestic Limited Liability Company. This business was created on March 12, 2013. Greg Martz is the current agent of this company. This agent’s office address is 8561 N County Road 175 E, Springport, In. That is in Henry County.
Ward said the company will now enter into the scoping phase.
According to the RFPQ, “Once a building or site is selected, the final project scope will be determined through a scoping period with the selected proposer (GM Development LLC), during which the selected proposer (GM Development LLC) will be required to provide financing terms, site analysis, design and construction analysis to create a final scope and a guaranteed budget. The scoping period is anticipated to be a very intense and fast-paced process with the goal of achieving a guaranteed price and final schematic design in spring 2021 in order to accomplish construction commencement in summer 2021. As part of the scoping process, the selected proposer (GM Development LLC) may be asked to investigate potential improvements needed for structural, public safety, code compliance, accessibility, operational efficiency and energy efficiency purposes.”
According to Ward, a scoping process is much better for the town, because the town will not be charged for any of the scoping processes. With many other projects of this type, the government entity is charged with costs such as surveying and engineering analysis whether the entity decides to move forward with the project or not.
During the March 9 meeting, Ward said GM Development would be notified the next day (Wednesday, March 10) and the scoping period began Thursday, March 11.
This will be a very quick process, Ward said.
The building will be purchased, and BTC will close on financing and finalize design by the end of June with construction beginning in July, he said.
At some point, after the BTC is satisfied with GM Development LLC’s design and financing plan, the public will be told what is going on through a public hearing, Ward said.
“That is when we will disclose all the details, financing option, budget, etc.,” Ward said at the March 9 meeting.
