City seeks economic development plan grant

Clark County

Discussion

January 28, 2010

Ball State University will conduct $50,000 study

By BRADEN LAMMERS The News and Tribune Thu Jan 28, 2010, 09:38 PM EST

In order for the city of Charlestown to receive a $50,000 grant by the end of March, the city council called a special meeting this week.

The meeting was necessary so the council will be able to offer final approval of a grant at its next regular meeting Monday.

The grant is being awarded through the state of Indiana to allow Ball State University to conduct a study in Charlestown that will help the city create a strategic economic development plan.

“[Ball State is] coming in to assess our needs, look at where the trends are in technology and to give us an economic development plan based around that,” said Mayor Bob Hall.

The goal is to address the needs of Charlestown, especially related to advancements in technology.

“They’re going to help us develop a long-term economic development plan with the community, with our existing businesses and with technology and how do we integrate all of it to make sure that we have solid milestones [and] phases,” Hall said.

Hopes are for the study to be completed within six to nine months if it is awarded by the end of March.

There is a local match requirement of up to 10 percent of the total cost of the project that must be paid by the city, which equals $5,556, and is being paid for out of the Economic Development Income Tax fund.

The resolution, 2010-R-01, was unanimously approved on its first reading.

In other business

• An ordinance, which amended Charlestown’s trash ordinance, was approved on both its first and second-and-final readings, bringing the sanitary service costs for the city’s businesses up to date.

• Ordinance 2010-OR-2 outlined the cost for trash pickup for businesses in the city at $15 per month.

• Charlestown officials also said, while the ordinance approved Tuesday was an effort to catch up on paperwork, additional updates on the cost of sanitary services, including the number of cans picked up and the number of pickups made per week at a new rate, are likely.

• Ruthie Jackson, Hall’s assistant, was named to the city’s Redevelopment Commission to replace John Spencer, who has left the commission because he will be taking over as the city’s communications director. Jackson also will be leaving the mayor’s office soon because she is running for Charlestown’s township trustee position.