New information presented at second Cloverdale public hearing

CLOVERDALE -- Four Cloverdale residents were present when Kristy Jerrell, grant administrator for Jerrell Consulting, explained the Community Block Grant application process in a recent public hearing.

In addition to clarifying the application process, the hearing served as a do-over for the original public hearing on June 14. At that meeting there were 12 residents but no Jerrell as she had a family emergency earlier in the day. The solution had been to bring her voice to the meeting via Clerk-Treasurer Cheryl Galloway's cell phone, but residents complained they couldn't hear her.

But Jerrell came in loud and clear at the July 13 hearing. After emphasizing that the grant was for planning downtown revitalization -- and not construction -- she dove right into the meat of the process.

"A part of (planning) is a strong focus on facade improvements," Jerrell said. "All of the improvements in the downtwon of Greencastle, that's what they did. They did a planning grant first...and then they went into a separate grant for the construction phase."

In addition to facade improvements, the planning study would also suggest other items like gateways into the town and added businesses that would benefit Cloverdale. This was to be the job of Shrewsburry and Associates, but in the first public hearing there was confusion about what to include in the study, and Cloverdale is now seeking another architect.

"Whoever we choose will work individually with each property owner ... around your budget," Jerrell said. "What the planning grant will do is investigate your building -- your roof, your windows, structural issues. Each building would have a schematic drawing ... and itemized cost breakdown of what improvements can be done to the building. It'll be each individual business owner leading what they want to see on the building -- an awning, new hardware, windows, doors. This is strictly voluntary."

In response to a question from Clerk-Treasurer Galloway, Jerrell said that property owners who wanted to make improvements before planning inspections should do it before she submits the application during the second week of August.

"If you were to put those doors and windows in after we submitted the grant," Jerrell said, "then we couldn't even include your building at that point. If you have a broken window while we're in the middle of this (planning) grant, by all means fix it; that's not going to hurt you."

After planning is complete, the process of applying for a construction grant would begin, and property owners could determine what improvements they can afford. Matching grants that require 20 percent of the cost from owners are available from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs to help foot the bill.

"There might be $100,000's worth of improvements on one building," Jerrell said. "If you say, 'I'd love to do $100,000's of work, but I can't come up with 20 percent,' you'll tell the architect your budget and we will prioritize with you the most important items on the building."

Before the town could apply for the grant, property owners would be required to present their entire 20 percent match funds, which would be placed in a town fund dedicated to the revitalization project. If the town doesn't receive the construction grant, these funds would be returned to the property owners.

In response to a question from Kay Gedert, Jerrell said that it was too soon to put dollar amounts on the 20 percent, but that she could send copies of the Greencastle budget to give business owners a reference point.

Jerrell also said property owners would have to agree to a seven-year easement (an agreement granting workers access to the property) and that certain aspects of the design, like windows and color, would have to be done according to Indiana Department of Natural Resources State Historic Preservation standards.

"If you have something (on your facade) that you want to stay there," Jerrell clarified, "by all means it stays there. We're not going to take anything off your building that you want to stay on there."

Copies of the easement agreement are also available.

Meanwhile, the town would be required to present 10 percent of the total cost for the entire project, which would mostly be used for non-construction costs.

In response to a question from Clerk-Treasurer Galloway, Jerrell said that the chances of receiving a construction grant after receiving a planning grant are "pretty good."

"When you go into a construction grant," Jerrell said, "it is highly competitive. It used to be you could only get $400,000; now you can get $500,000. It depends on who applies. This year only one went in, so they're going to get it."

Should the town pursue the grant, the application process would begin in October 2017, which would put the start of construction in spring 2018. She added that the town would have to accept the contractor with the lowest bid "as long as they're not on any debarment list."

As far as planning goes, Jerrell estimates that it will be "mostly done" by this year.

But, for any facades to receive improvement during the construction phase, at least six property owners must participate in the planning phase. Eligible facades are those properties from Columbus Street to Logan Street and from Grant Street to Lafayette, which were listed in the Blight Resolution 2016-7 passed in April.

"We're hoping to get eight (business owners)," Jerrell said. "I think that would make a good impact on the community.

In response to a question from Gary Bennington, she said that there were 20 commercial buildings in that area with eight of them being vacant, which won't affect their ability to receive improvement.

In June, the total estimated cost for planning had been set at $34,000. Jerrell said at the July hearing that the new estimate had changed to $40,000 after IOCRA had granted an additional $6,000. Matching funds in the amount of $4,000 from Cloverdale's cumulative capital improvements fund have remained the same.

"We're jumping well ahead of the game here," Jerrell said of the meeting, "but the more information you can get and understand the better."

Jerrell has been a grant administrator for nine years and worked with Cloverdale for seven of those. For more information, contact Jerrell at 812-878-0826.

Vice President Don Sublett, Attorney Alan Yackey and Larry Fidler were absent from the hearing.