Kroger's Two Year Plan Becomes Reality

(posted Mar 10)

The Speedway Town Council approved Kroger's 30,000 square foot expansion plans at the Speedway Super Center. Town Manager Barbara Lawrence said the approval does not include the fuel center.

The expansion plans will extend through the former CVS and end at the former police training center. The building's south side will accommodate a drive-thru pharmacy. According to Matt Bala of Kroger, the project has been in the works since about 2006. The company expects to start on the $6 million renovation project by the end of March. The grand opening is scheduled for October.

During the council's March 9 meeting, Assistant Police Chief Joel Rush confirmed that the US Department of Justice has allocated $61,000 in stimulus money to the town. The department must submit an application stating how the grant will be spent. Rush said that domestic violence crime prevention is one area authorized by the grant. The grant allocation is based on the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports and population.

Rush also thanked Jackson Harris, son of Speedway Redevelopment Commission Executive Director Scott Harris, for his fund raising efforts at Wheeler Elementary. The student raised $700 for the K-9 program.

The council passed a resolution naming Nancy and Ray Lawrence as ambassadors to Motegi. The couple will be escorting the junior high students to Japan on September 12.

Councilor Lu Hillmer said 29th Place between Patton Drive and Moller Road is suffering from flooding. She said much of the problem started after improvements were made the Shambaugh Park baseball diamonds last year. Hillmer asked Street Commissioner Wendell Walters to take the issue to the next storm water management board meeting.

She said some people on her street have never had water problems until now. "Now I know how some of you feel with water backing up in your basements."

Walters said over time storage buildings, landscaping, and trees have been placed in the drainage easements that are creating the problems.