Better fronts ahead
The Red Oak City Council has finalized an agreement with the Downtown Urban Renewal Board for façade projects.
Discussion regarding the funding took place at the council meeting Monday, June 20. Before the council voted, DUR Chairman Roger Vial asked whether they could continue to think outside the box and seek grant sources for the projects that are currently ongoing.
“We’ve talked briefly about the projects being completed, but we’re not going to be able to do the entire scope of nine buildings with the project, we’ll be able to do about five or six buildings with the $250,000. We’re dead in the water with our grant program right now. Is there any way we can keep that going immediately so we can continue to receive grants and improve buildings?” Vial asked.
City Administrator Brad Wright said currently all the money from the downtown LLC was being recaptured for the $250,000 allotted for the façade project.
Red Oak Mayor Bill Billings said at the prior meeting, they discussed keeping the agreement as-is, with a grant of $60,000 per year allotted to the DUR Board for the existing projects. If the DUR board went to additional property owners to participate in the façade project, the council would then enter into another agreement.
“The option would always be available for the DUR Board to come back to the council for additional funding if they had another project,” Billings said.
Barnett was in agreement with that plan, and that his understanding was that a project needed to be slated in order to secure any funding.
Vial said they did have projects the funding could be used for, citing that several facades were not going to be completed with the existing $250,000. Barnett questioned the projects, saying they were all supposed to be part of the $250,000 plan. Billings said there were several factors causing the shortfall.
“It’s two years behind schedule, and the improvement costs went up. It didn’t get bid with another project which increased the price since it was a separate project cost,” Billings said.
Billings added that any project that feel outside of the existing $250,000 funding would need to be considered as a separate project. Wright agreed.
“The question for the DUR will be, depending on the scope of the project, is it something they can handle within the agreement, or is it above and beyond. If so, they can come back to the council and ask for a separate development agreement for the other project, with specifics spelled out for the building or buildings as part of the project,” Wright said.
The council then discussed the agreement itself. Barnett said if adopted as-is, the DUR board would not be prohibited from asking the council for additional funding.
The council unanimously approved the agreement with the DUR board.
In other business, the council:
Approved an airport lease agreement with Dave McGrew for Hangar 5-F.
Renewed a Cass C liquor license for Johnny’s Steakhouse.
Approved a request to use the vacant lot at 3rd and Reed Streets for a landing zone for the LifeNet helicopter in conjunction with the National Night Out Campaign.