Cloverdale seeking improvement to downtown facades

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

CLOVERDALE -- Kristy Jerrell of Jerrell Consulting & Grant Administration Services conducted a public hearing on Cloverdale’s Downtown Facades Improvements Construction Project during the Cloverdale Town Council’s recent regular meeting.

If awarded, the project will be funded in part by the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (IOCRA). The project proposal is due Dec. 1, with the final application due Feb. 9, 2018 and notice of grant award April 5, 2018.

Total cost of the project is estimated at $700,944.50. The town plans to apply for $650,000 in grant dollars (the maximum amount). Local match will require a total of $200,944.50 from the property owners ($117,588.90) and town rainy day funds ($83,355.60).

Jerrell cautioned that the grant is “very competitive,” but if awarded would allow Cloverdale to begin construction in early fall 2018.

The grant is awarded based on several criteria, totaling 600 points:

• Community distress factors (percent households in poverty; median household income; percent vacant housing units; median home value; unemployment; labor force participation): 89.88 of 175 points

• Local match contribution (minimum of 20 percent): 28.66 percent, so 57.32 of 100 points

• Main street score (long-term strategic plan; eligible for Indiana or National Register of Historic Places; sustainability/fundraising plan in place): 20 of 50 points

• Project design factors (description, need, impact): 260-280 of 300 points

• Project sustainability (permanent main street fund): Facades Long-Term Building Fund, 50 of 50 points

• Leveraging philanthropic capital (local donations): 25 of 25 points

Cloverdale is seeking local businesses and organizations willing to donate to the project. If interested, contact Clerk-Treasurer Galloway at 765-795-6033 ext. 1 or Kristy Jerrell at 812-645-1905.

A second public hearing on the Downtown Facades Project and the CDBG is set for Jan 9 at 8 p.m. in the Cloverdale Town Hall at 154 S. Main Street in Cloverdale.

The Downtown Facades Project is one of several projects (Stardust Road Project, Downtown Revitalization, Comprehensive Plan, repairing roads as Community Crossings Grant funds become available) Cloverdale is currently pursuing. All are funded at least in part by grants.

In other news:

-- Absences: Don Sublett was absent.

-- Claims: The council approved claims at a total of $414,739.86, an increase from last month of $91,827.35 and of $3,852.87 from the year’s average.

-- Commercial inspections: Town Manager and Building Inspector Wayne Galloway said he plans to begin annual commercial inspections to prevent fires next year.

-- Ordinance 2017-13: The council tabled consideration of Ordinance 2017-13, which sets licensure requirements for peddling, canvassers and solicitors, in consideration of what fees to charge and what account funds should go in.

Clerk-Treasurer Cheryl Galloway and Attorney Daniel Hoffman said they are drafting a separate ordinance to address panhandling and mobile food trucks.

-- Ordinance 2017-14: The council approved Ordinance 2017-14, which amends Salary Ordinance 2014-14 to allot the building inspector the salary amount set by the state ($13,256 maximum) instead of 75 percent commission on permits and to remove superintendent of public works (Cloverdale has a town manager).

-- Ordinance 2017-15: The council was introduced to Ordinance 2017-15, which considers salaries for the 2018 budget.

-- Ordinance 2017-16: The council was introduced to Ordinance 2017-16, which considers the codification of ordinances.

-- Stardust Road: The council approved two payments and one change order related to the Stardust Road Project.

The two payments were $12,749.71 to Midwestern Engineers and $179,765.02 to United Excavating; these will be paid out of grant funds. The change order was to improve an existing water line for $14,535; this will be paid out of the town water fund.

Town Manager Galloway reported that, with Duke Energy having to respond to hurricane damage earlier this year, the project will not be finished until next year, with paving set to begin in March or April.

The Cloverdale Town Council’s next regular meeting is set for Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. in the Cloverdale Town Hall at 154 S. Main Street in Cloverdale.

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