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Last updated on Monday, August 20, 2012
(WASHINGTON) - The WestGate @ Crane Authority asked the Daviess County Commissioners last week to help with some less-than-stellar properties around the Tech Park.
Charles Selby, Executive Director of the park, said there are three properties on the entrance to the park - an abandoned gas station, oil storage facility and an abandoned school - that Selby said are not impressing new businesses in the park.
"We've made attempts with these people about purchasing the properties," Selby said. "We've not got anywhere with that. It's an exorbitant amount they want or they do not want to do anything with them."
Selby asked the commissioners to apply leverage to the owners of the properties to clean them up.
"I think it is going to make a big difference there at the park," Selby said.
According to Selby, WestGate has over $70 million in private investment, over 850 jobs and $55 million in payroll a year. The tech park is also finishing work on a convention center and a battery innovation center and hotel are getting ready to break ground.
After Selby's presentation, the commissioners discussed what they could do, including condemning properties. But there were environmental concerns.
"I don't think we want to take on those properties because of (environmental cleanup)," Commissioner Tony Wichman said.
The commissioners then decided to have County Attorney Grant Swartzentruber to look into their options, including possible condemnation.
Selby said the owners of the properties include Van Hoy Construction of Loogootee for the school, Jones Oil Company for the storage sites and Bill Hartsburg of Scotland for the gas station.
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