Funding could be available for county planning updates

Passed by county officials a decade ago, the Putnam County comprehensive plan has languished in the years since, as officials never passed the updated zoning ordinance to go along with it.

Now the Putnam County Plan Commission and by extension the Putnam County Commissioners find themselves in the unenviable position of having to upgrade both voluminous documents, a 10-year-old comprehensive plan and a nearly 30-year-old zoning ordinance, tasks that come at no small expense to the county.

During their bi-monthly meeting this week, the commissioners learned that there may be funding available to upgrade both plans.

Grant administrator Kristy Jerrell of Jerrell Consulting and Greencastle-Putnam County Development Center Director Kristin Clary informed commissioners that a planning grant could be funded by the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Development (OCRA) that could greatly reduce the cost to the county.

County officials have questioned whether starting from scratch with these plans is a wise move financially.

“The amount of money they paid for the last one is astronomical, so do we want to go through that again?” Commissioner Rick Woodall asked.

Jerrell pointed out, though, that the county could be eligible for $50,000 for a planning grant, of which the county itself would be responsible for $7,500.

Additionally, one reason county officials were frustrated and ultimately did not pass the zoning ordinance was they felt it was not properly tailored to a county such as Putnam.

Jerrell said there is a solution for this as well, since the county could cooperate with her to define the scope of work.

“What’s good about this is you’re not going to get a program that you can’t use,” Jerrell said.

County attorney Jim Ensley also noted the comprehensive plan is not in need of as much of an upgrade as the zoning ordinance.

“I believe a lot of the foundations on that can be utilized. Some of the man hours, the work that went in, I believe a lot of that can be salvaged,” Ensley said. “I don’t think the cost would be as astronomical as it was last time.”

Ensley has also been looking for a way for the county to cooperate with the City of Greencastle on upgrades to the zoning ordinances of both entities. While they would not be identical, they could be written to be more coordinated.

For example, when a zoning question currently comes before the county Board of Zoning Appeals that is within the two-mile fringe of the city, it is up to county officials to apply the city’s standards.

This sort of problem could be alleviated with more consistency between the ordinances.

While the commissioners will have the ultimate decision on whether to move forward with applying for an OCRA grant, Ensley suggested that it be brought before the Putnam County Plan Commission during its next meeting, scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 11.

Jerrell urged the commissioners to act soon, as an income survey will be required since Putnam County does not qualify for such a grant based on census data.

Jerrell was also present to give the commissioners an update on one grant, as well as talk about a potential new grant.

She said the Van Bibber Lake planning grant addressing the water and wastewater needs in the Clinton Township community is 65-70 percent done. The water portion is done and HWC Engineering is working on the wastewater portion.

The commissioners noted this is ahead of schedule. Jerrell said this is because the engineers are hoping to get in on the first round of 2020 grant funding for the actual construction portion of the project.

While the county has no money invested in the Van Bibber project, as a government entity, it is the lead applicant for the grant.

Jerrell also discussed a potential grant opportunity for Reelsville Water Authority. Like the VBL project, the county served as lead applicant for a Reelsville Water project six years ago.

Jerrell is hoping the commissioners will be willing to do so again.

At this point, the plan is in preliminary stages, with an income survey required.

After that, Reelsville Water officials would interview engineering firms to see what scope of work could be accomplished. Officials have a list of possible projects including digging a new well, moving the office to be on the same site as the water plant and demolishing a water tower, among other possibilities.

“Right now it’s a wish list so once they get an engineer they are wanting to hone it down,” Jerrell said.

Applying for such a grant remains nearly a year down the line.

“I want to thank you so much for being a lead applicant over the years,” Jerrell said. “It’s been about $17 million that has been pulled into Putnam County for its entities.”