Fillmore to see large influx of CEDIT funds

FILLMORE -- In a town and an era where bad news in state funding has been the norm, Fillmore is on a hot streak.

On the heels of the late 2012 announcement of a substantial grant to install storm sewers along Main Street, Fillmore will soon be receiving more than $20,000 for County Economic Development Income Tax (CEDIT) due to the town.

The council passed a CEDIT resolution in July 2011, but the payments did not start at that time.

Councilor Tami Van Rensselaer told the Banner Graphic the timing of discovering the oversight is good for the town, which can use it for leverage as part of the storm sewer grant.

Additionally, the town will receive a little more than $500 in CEDIT each month through 2020.

More good news for the town came in news that Liberty Industries will be adding 2,400 square feet to its facility on the town's east side.

Owner Kurt Clearwaters and Putnam County Economic Development Director Bill Dory explained that the proposed loading area involves an investment of $140,000 to $180,000.

Liberty requested and was granted the declaration of an economic revitalization area on its property, a step in making the investment eligible for tax abatement.

Dory explained to the council and audience that the property taxes on the investment will be phased in over the life of the abatement.

The council praised Clearwaters for the progress the company is making.

"He (Clearwaters) is expanding, doing a good job and hiring people," councilman Curt Leonard said. "We can't ask any more than that."

Leonard also brought up the possibility of the town officially adopting a zoning ordinance, saying it would help address some issues the council faces month after month.

"If we don't do something, it's going to get worse," Leonard said.

Town Clerk Wanda Seidler said any plan would require two additional boards be formed in the town, a planning commission and a board of zoning appeals.

From the audience, Dory explained that the town would need to develop a comprehensive plan, a zoning ordinance and a zoning map as part of its plan.

Town officials will discuss a possible plan with town attorney Mary Russell, as well as seek input from any interested residence, particularly those who might want to serve on the plan commission or BZA.

"I really feel we could find seven people in the town who would be devoted to this," Leonard said.

In other business:

* Approved the addition of a stopsign at the intersection of Westwood Road, Putnam Street and County Road 475 East.

The additional stop would make the intersection a three-way stop.

Van Rensselaer brought the concern forward, and she found agreement from council president Alan Jones.

"You can't see very well coming that way," Jones said. "It wouldn't hurt."

For his part, Leonard thought the intersection was dangerous enough that he always stopped anyway, simply assuming there was a stop.

The plan received tentative approval, but it will have to be advertised and passed as an official ordinance.

* Council members will be compiling lists of junk cars in their wards so that Marshal Darrel Bunten can begin addressing the issue around town.

* A town clean-up day was discussed for the spring, but no date set. The date is likely to coincide with the West Central Solid Waste District-sponsored Tox-Away Day.