by Anne Scheck
Coverage: City Council
Nov. 14 Meeting
CITY DEBT REACHES
$40 MILLION IN 2017
The City Council approved a loan of $6 million at its last meeting to help upgrade the water-sewer system, bringing the debt owed by Independence to a near-total of $40 million.
The city’s finance director, Gloria Butsch, listed the debt as slightly above $30 million -- but she acknowledged that this amount doesn’t include the more than $3 million spent on infrastructure for Independence Landing nor the recently approved loan for water and sewer improvements to the city. With those additions, the city debt now stands in excess of $40 million.
Ms. Butsch made the announcement as part of her city council report, after Councilor Ken Day requested the debt-level be clarified.
Though Independence Landing is likely to generate significant municipal income once it is fully built, several lots at the site remain unsold and, as a result, are off the tax rolls. The same is true of the former city hall, which currently is being rented to a distillery. Sales of both the old city hall and unsold lots at Independence Landinghave been referred to as a priority by city officials -- along with construction of Independence Station, which was sold a few months ago but remains inactive.
(The next issue of The Independent covers the City Council meeting tomorrow night, Nov 28, which relates to the city revenue issue: Sale of a lot at Independence Landing to a buyer who appears – from the agenda -- to be a local realtor. As a result, the” Q and A issue” planned for December’s The Independent has been postponed till January).
PLANNING COMMISSION SAYS
MORE PARKING INFO NEEDED
The Planning Commission literally sent the city back to the drawing board last Monday after finding that hand-crafted diagrams of parking dimensions failed to match other information in their packets.
The city had asked commissioners to endorse downsizing -- to nine-feet-wide -- as the general minimum for parallel parking spaces, reducing them from the current average standard of ten feet. “There were two hand-drawn diagrams, and the top diagram was especially unclear,” said Trevor Scheck, who presided over the session, due to the absence of the chair.
The diagrams need to be re-done before a presentation on new parking- space size goes to the council, the commissioners decided.
The new parking-space minimum is necessary, said David Clyne, Independence city manager, in a brief interview after commissioners made their recommendation. Without this reduction, planned landscaping won’t be able to be installed by the developer, Tokola Properties, he explained.
The more-narrow minimum for parking stalls was a concern to at least one commissioner. “I have a big family, and I like being able to unload them all – the current size makes that easy,” said Odilon Campos-Santos.
[Disclosure: Trevor Scheck is son of the publisher of The Linking Letter and The Independent].
PIN REPORT
Public Interest News
Not as far off as the Polar Express but quite a train ride. The Santa Train is scheduled to arrive in town early afternoon Saturday after Santa Claus takes it to the Independence Cinema parking lot on Dec. 2. All aboard!
DATE-TO-NOTE: CITY COUNCIL Nov 28, 6:30 PM
The city is slated to consider sale of a portion of Independence Landing that isn’t part of the Tokola Development. The proposed buyer appears to be a local realtor.
Editorial Preview
A guest editorial by Jenn Flores on inclusivity will appear in the coming issue of The Independent, availableDec. 1. The “Question-and-Answer” issue originally scheduled for the Dec.1 of The Independent has been postponed till January, so that the developments at the late December City Council meeting can be covered: This includes the sale of a portion of Independence Landing to a new buyer.
The Independent
December issue arrives Friday: Available at The Golden Horse Restaurant, Elite Cleaners, The Ovenbird Bakery, Brew and Tap House – all downtown. And at The Starduster Restaurant at Independence State Airport. AND NOW also at ROBIN’S ROOST, across from the old city hall building.
IN JANUARY LOOK for the “Q and A” issue in which citizen questions will be answered across the pages of The Independent. That issue will include an editorial by yet another one of Indy’s citizen writers.
FINALE:
The city of independence has received a grant of $50,000 from the Ford Family Foundation. The funds will be used to hire a “Regional Innovation Catalyst,” who will work jointly for the city and for the region’s Strategic Economic Development Corporation (SEDCOR) to “broaden the reach and impact” of the area to attract more technology and agriculture-based companies into Polk County, according to a news release from SEDCOR.
Coverage: City Council
Nov. 14 Meeting
- City Council: City Debt
- Planning: Parking Issue
- PIN Report: Santa Train
- DATE-TO-NOTE: 11-28!
- Editorial: Q&A Postponed
- Finale: Ag & Tech Grant
CITY DEBT REACHES
$40 MILLION IN 2017
The City Council approved a loan of $6 million at its last meeting to help upgrade the water-sewer system, bringing the debt owed by Independence to a near-total of $40 million.
The city’s finance director, Gloria Butsch, listed the debt as slightly above $30 million -- but she acknowledged that this amount doesn’t include the more than $3 million spent on infrastructure for Independence Landing nor the recently approved loan for water and sewer improvements to the city. With those additions, the city debt now stands in excess of $40 million.
Ms. Butsch made the announcement as part of her city council report, after Councilor Ken Day requested the debt-level be clarified.
Though Independence Landing is likely to generate significant municipal income once it is fully built, several lots at the site remain unsold and, as a result, are off the tax rolls. The same is true of the former city hall, which currently is being rented to a distillery. Sales of both the old city hall and unsold lots at Independence Landinghave been referred to as a priority by city officials -- along with construction of Independence Station, which was sold a few months ago but remains inactive.
(The next issue of The Independent covers the City Council meeting tomorrow night, Nov 28, which relates to the city revenue issue: Sale of a lot at Independence Landing to a buyer who appears – from the agenda -- to be a local realtor. As a result, the” Q and A issue” planned for December’s The Independent has been postponed till January).
PLANNING COMMISSION SAYS
MORE PARKING INFO NEEDED
The Planning Commission literally sent the city back to the drawing board last Monday after finding that hand-crafted diagrams of parking dimensions failed to match other information in their packets.
The city had asked commissioners to endorse downsizing -- to nine-feet-wide -- as the general minimum for parallel parking spaces, reducing them from the current average standard of ten feet. “There were two hand-drawn diagrams, and the top diagram was especially unclear,” said Trevor Scheck, who presided over the session, due to the absence of the chair.
The diagrams need to be re-done before a presentation on new parking- space size goes to the council, the commissioners decided.
The new parking-space minimum is necessary, said David Clyne, Independence city manager, in a brief interview after commissioners made their recommendation. Without this reduction, planned landscaping won’t be able to be installed by the developer, Tokola Properties, he explained.
The more-narrow minimum for parking stalls was a concern to at least one commissioner. “I have a big family, and I like being able to unload them all – the current size makes that easy,” said Odilon Campos-Santos.
[Disclosure: Trevor Scheck is son of the publisher of The Linking Letter and The Independent].
PIN REPORT
Public Interest News
Not as far off as the Polar Express but quite a train ride. The Santa Train is scheduled to arrive in town early afternoon Saturday after Santa Claus takes it to the Independence Cinema parking lot on Dec. 2. All aboard!
DATE-TO-NOTE: CITY COUNCIL Nov 28, 6:30 PM
The city is slated to consider sale of a portion of Independence Landing that isn’t part of the Tokola Development. The proposed buyer appears to be a local realtor.
Editorial Preview
A guest editorial by Jenn Flores on inclusivity will appear in the coming issue of The Independent, availableDec. 1. The “Question-and-Answer” issue originally scheduled for the Dec.1 of The Independent has been postponed till January, so that the developments at the late December City Council meeting can be covered: This includes the sale of a portion of Independence Landing to a new buyer.
The Independent
December issue arrives Friday: Available at The Golden Horse Restaurant, Elite Cleaners, The Ovenbird Bakery, Brew and Tap House – all downtown. And at The Starduster Restaurant at Independence State Airport. AND NOW also at ROBIN’S ROOST, across from the old city hall building.
IN JANUARY LOOK for the “Q and A” issue in which citizen questions will be answered across the pages of The Independent. That issue will include an editorial by yet another one of Indy’s citizen writers.
FINALE:
The city of independence has received a grant of $50,000 from the Ford Family Foundation. The funds will be used to hire a “Regional Innovation Catalyst,” who will work jointly for the city and for the region’s Strategic Economic Development Corporation (SEDCOR) to “broaden the reach and impact” of the area to attract more technology and agriculture-based companies into Polk County, according to a news release from SEDCOR.
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