Emergency Borrowing Unnecessary

(posted Jan 15)

The Speedway Town Council did not need to implement emergency borrowing from the sewer and water funds as it anticipated at its December 30th council meeting.

Clerk Treasurer Sharon Zishka said tax disbursements arrived on time to pay back the 2008 temporary loans so the additional internal loans were not needed. She expects the final tax disbursements to arrive in April.

However, she told the council at the January 12 meeting that internal borrowing will be needed to pay for 2009 expenses and she plans to introduce resolutions at the January 26 council meeting. She also said that part of the internal borrowing is needed to fund the fire and police pensions despite the state's obligation to fund the pensions now. The state does not send the pension funds until June and October, so the town is responsible for covering payments, as well as continuing the administrative work. Because the state now pays the pension funds, the town is no longer collecting those funds through property taxes, even though the town initially covered the cost.

Speedway Redevelopment Commissioner Benny Grove said the January 26 commission meeting will be canceled. The cancellation also means delaying the area two acquisition list for the third time. During the November meeting, the SRC announced its intention to add all the properties in areas one and two not already on an acquisition list to the lists. By December, the commission pared down the potential parcel list for area two, and decided against adding any additional parcels to area one.

The SRC is expected to sign a memorandum of understanding with Praxair by February concerning the green space and Main Street parking area. He also said that an MOU has been drafted between the town, SRC and DPW over the roundabout and 16th Street realignment. The SRC expects to have bonds within the next four to six weeks.

He emphasized the Performance Racing Industry trade show in Florida was a great success in marketing the Speed Zone.

Jo Ellen Dotlich asked the council to stop and re-evaluate the plan. "Between the SRC and the SRA, we have borrowed approximately $8 million with $6 million spent, and the only thing to show for it are empty buildings and property on Main Street, and the Einstein bagel boxes left after meetings." Dotlich was referring to a seven month period in 2006 where the SRC spent close to $230 on bagels and coffee for commission meetings.

She questioned how businesses will be able to provide their share of private investment when all are hurting in the economy. She contends the current spending trend could bankrupt the town.

Resident Erin Dotlich listed 23 people and entities affected by the redevelopment, including eighty-one year old Rita Burch, who will be displaced from her mobile home if Georgetown Road is vacated. Burch is worried about her financial situation since she is battling cancer.

Erin Dotlich also had a petition containing 1,000 signatures protesting the closure of Georgetown Road. She said the signatures represented people in and outside of Speedway.

The council is still trying to complete the appointments to the arts and civic councils. These councils, along with the housing and infrastructure councils, were created in October. The council appointed Patrick Bremer; Elizabeth Combs, Jason Ramsey, Joshua Smith, Town Manager Barbara Lawrence and Street Commissioner Wendell Walters to the infrastructure council. The technical resource committee members are Elizabeth Mangold, Donald Katterhenry, and Jay Coffman.

Wastewater Superintendent Norman Berry said draft plans for the long term control plan will be presented to IDEM by September. The EPA is requiring that wastewater treatment plants to stop bypassing the treatment facility during certain heavy rain events. The town must have the plant improvements completed by 2012. He said the draft plan includes looking at alternatives, including the cost of total storm and sewer separation.

Police Chief Jeff Dine thanked the public and Detective Mirantha Wilson and Assistant Chief Joel Rush for raising $1,500 to assist a needy family during Christmas.

The department's annual report will be finished soon and is will show an increase in apprehensions. Fire Chief Curtis Dean will submit an annual report that indicates runs were up by 161 from 2007.

Resident Christie Manion urged residents to get involved with the Relay for Life on June 20 and 21st. The goal is to have 33 teams participate at the 24 hour event to raise funds to fight cancer. The kickoff event is February 19th at Dawson's On Main Street. More information is available at relayforlife.org/speedwayin.