Brownstown / Ewing Main Street Minutes

July 15, 2010 at Ewing Uniques

Present: Linda McCormick, Dick Rumph, Ray Bachmann, Darlene Butt, Bob Gillespie, Sandi Kidwell and Janet Peters

Meeting was called to order at 3:30 p.m.

Indiana Main Street: Linda reported that she had sent in a final draft to Indiana Main Street and asked for sample by-laws. The next step is to set up a fund with the Community Foundation of Jackson County.

Community Foundation Grant: Linda asked Leroy Warren if the town would help with up-front money for the Community Foundation grant due Aug. 5. The grant will be used for a philanthropic match for the Disaster Relief 2 and/or Community Focus Fund grants we are seeking to purchase and demolish the feed mill by the courthouse. We will get more points for the CFF grant if we have match money.

Linda passed out copies of the CFJC grant. Pre-requisites for the grant are:

• Must be 501C3. Setting up our fund under the community foundation qualifies us temporarily.
• Set up our organization with a board of directors at next meeting. Linda will be chair.
• All board members must contribute to the fund. There is no minimum or limit.

The grant form was discussed and amended. Linda will finalize the grant and send the donations by the board members to the foundation.

The Brownstown / Ewing Main Street Fund: The fund will be a “pass-through” fund which can be built up, taken down to zero and built back up again. Checks should be made out to the Community Foundation of Jackson County for the Brownstown / Ewing Main Street Fund. To release funds, they need three people to sign. Linda, Ray and Janet agreed to be signators. The foundation will develop a brochure for us.

The Feed Mill Project: Linda talked to Kathy Eisele, the owner of the Kathy’s Style and Beauty Salon at 131 E. Walnut St. Kathy said she would be okay with us purchasing her property if we would help her relocate. We can get money from CFF to help the owner relocate.

Phase one would be the Disaster Relief 2 grant to demolish the feed mill.

Phase two would be to acquire other empty lots and buildings except for the beauty shop and create parking lots, green space. The blue building at 125 E. Walnut and Steve Zabel’s building at 127 N. Main St. are both for sale. Lots at 117 and 117-1/2 are for sale.

Phase three would be to purchase Kathy’s property and demolish at least the back portion to open up the view to the History Center.

Tourism Ideas: train stops, tour bus, work with visitor’s center on county-wide programs, bus service for county, connecting trails, etc.

Meeting adjourned at 5:55 p.m. Next meeting will be at 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 5, at Ewing Uniques. The next BCEP meeting is at noon on Thursday, July 8, at the chamber office.