Economic Development was the main theme of Wednesday’s Daviess County Council meeting.
After reviewing the County’s financial condition and agreeing to an early buy-back of bonds issued in 2011 for the Westgate project. The Council agreed to assist the City of Washington with the City’s local match for the Business 50 project. County Highway Superintendent Phil Cornelius told the Council members that Business 50 through Washington is the most heavily traveled roadway in Daviess County, carrying over 10,000 vehicles per day. Cornelius also commented on the horrible condition of the current road and said he believes the City of Washington will maintain the road in much better condition than the State has done.
Councilman Pat Dant complimented Washington Mayor Joe Wellman for working out a good deal with the state. Under the agreement, INDOT will cover 87% of the rebuilding costs for the road.
Pointing to the 80 businesses on the road, several Councilmen said the project held the same economic impact as the current 900E project in eastern Daviess County. The Council agreed to proved the City with $250,000 per year over the next four years to assist Washington in meeting the local match money needed for the project.
The Council also discussed a tax abatement request for a proposed Hampton Inn on Washington’s south side. Kush Patel representing the company that plans to build the hotel, requested a traditional 10-year tax abatement for the planned Hampton Inn which will be built across from Wal-Mart. Speaking in favor of the abatement was Daviess County Economic Development Executive Director, Bryant Niehoff, Daviess County Chamber of Commerce Director Samantha Bobbitt, and former DCED director Ron Arnold. The Council will make their decision at next month’s meeting. And looking forward, Neihoff said the Economic Development Corporation has at least five project he hopes to bring before the Council in the near future.
In other business, Daviess County Prosecutor Dan Murrie asked the County Council to approve restrictions on forfeitures. Murrie said the restrictions would funnel forfeited cash into drug enforcement programs and would make the process more transparent to the public.
At the end of the meeting, Councilman Dave Smith asked if the Commissioners had signed the claim for the appropriation to pay off the Daviess County Museum elevator debt. No one present could answer Smith’s question.
