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Last updated on Wednesday, March 13, 2013
(BEDFORD) - Tuesday night the Bedford City Council took the first step to possibly purchase the Jenkins storage building, west of Harp Commons.
"I had approached Mr. Jenkins about putting a mural on the building promoting Harp Common," says Mayor Shawna Girgis. "And he agreed to that and then asked if the city would possible be interested in purchasing the building."
Then a few days later, Jenkins called the mayor offering to sell the storage building to the city.
Kyle Brown, who is assisting with the Harps Common project, told the council the purchase of the building would allow the city to increase the green space at the park.
"We would be able to use the building for storage and place the restroom facilities inside the building," Brown added.
The council approved to move forward with the purchase.
City attorney Greg Pittman says, now the board of works will have to approve for two appraisers to appraise the value of the building.
"By law the city cannot pay more than the higher of the two appraisals," Pittman says.
The city now leases Harp Commons to BRI for the purpose of staging downtown events and activities.
In other business:
* Economic Growth Council Director Gene McCracken presented "Exploring The Ins and Outs of TIF, Tax Abatements and Other Incentives" of Indiana Association of Cities and Towns. Mayor Girgis, Councilman Pat Robbins and McCracken attended a program in Valparaiso.
* The council passed an ordinance to make an additional appropriation for the Rainy Day fund of $69,775, the matching funds needed for the grant for the storm water project which would address flooding at Eastern and Western Avenue, the U Street channel and at 6 ½ Street near the credit union. It will also be used for the grant for the demolition of the M Street water treatment place, which is no longer in service.
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