NOTES FOR DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT MEETING

JULY 1, 2010, 3:30 p.m. at Ewing Uniques

Present: Linda McCormick, Susie Glasgow, Bob Gillespie, Ray Bachmann, Darlene Butt, Dick Rumph

Main Street Program:

Linda explained that members of Indiana Main Street have access to funding, resources, professional help. As a member, we would get extra points when we apply for a Community Focus Fund grant. It was decided to call the downtown development task group, “Brownstown / Ewing Main Street”.

CFF Grant:

Linda met with Leroy Warren (town council president), Bud Walther (Community Foundation), Rick and Linda Brown (owners of the feed mill) on Monday, June 28, to discuss applying for a CFF grant to purchase and demolish their property. Plans would be to create a parking lot with trees and benches. The town should initiate the purchase and would own the property. The Browns were directed to contact Debbie Hackman about how an environmental review might affect their ability to sell the property. Linda assured them that this is a community problem since it affects the whole town. Leroy isn’t afraid of it.

She was told that we need to develop a plan for the entire block which includes talking to all the owners and getting an aerial photo of the block. We need an engineer to create a plan and we want the history center to be involved. If the blue building and corner house/beauty shop were torn down, it would benefit the history center. Purchasing and demolishing Steve Zabel’s building on Main St., the library would be easier to see by people passing through town. A public meeting room could be added onto the library.

Ewing Depot:

Linda talked to CXS in January about the old depot at Ewing. They won’t give it to a private citizen, but might donate it to a not-for-profit organization. Ray said the History Center looked into it earlier and found that the foundation is solid but the wood is rotten. He’ll ask again if they are interested in obtaining it, moving it to the complex and restoring it. Don Morris, the landowner across from where it is now located, might work with the history center to move it to his property.

501C3 Designation:

We need to become 501C3 ourselves or set up a fund through the Community Foundation. Invite Bud Walther to our next meeting. We’d need four or five people willing to be signators and release the money. Then we could organize later.

Next steps:

Move forward with the application. Need date when Brownstown became the county seat, when the courthouse was built and what improvements have been made in the past. Need up-front money for the architect and environmental study. Town could pay the money which would be recovered when the grant is obtained. Application should be ready to submit in a week.

Need planning and zoning in order to keep control over what is built in town and to be eligible for more funding opportunities.

We should do positive things first. The timing is right. First, tear down the feed mill and renovate the depot. Gradually educate the community about the need for planning and zoning. Then apply for a grant to get zoning.

Possible committee members:

Joe Markel as our lawyer

Bessie Stokes, business and downtown building owner

Jim Gillespie as our consultant. He will look at grant applications and has the education and training to help with urban renewal and economic development.

Bill Goffinet is willing to help us develop a partnership with the town to clean-up properties.

Trina Hanner as CPA

Dick Burrell or Sandi Kidwell as insurance person

Jim Wayman or Jason Fee as architect

Adjourned at 5 p.m. Next meeting at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, July 15, at Ewing Uniques.