Greensburg City Council met on Monday.
There was a public hearing on tax abatement 2018-3. This was for a property owned by Jeff Whitaker. Whitaker’s attorney found 2 main problems with the council revoking this abatement. The first is that the abatement was granted through a resolution which they read as a contract between Whitaker and the city. The structure is an office building which the abatement was granted for, whether or not there is a liquor store also in the office building. The second issue is the interpretation of the statute being called to question seems ambiguous, which can limit the property owner. The main problem the council has is that it doesn’t follow the resolution and a liquor store is one of the few building types that cannot be abated. There is an annual compliance review that is submitted each year of the abatement to make sure everything is in compliance. One board member made it known that they appreciate Whitaker investing their money into the community and that if they aren’t doing anything illegal they should do the right thing. Another member made the point that abatement have never been granted on just a structure, but the business that intends to be there. Renewals are definitely granted to the business being run.
Mayor Joshua Marsh presented ordinance 2021-16 for City of Greensburg 2022 Budget. This was approved. Ordinance 2021-17 for the Greensburg School Cooperation 2022 Budget was approved.
Street Commissioner Mark Klosterkemper presented ordinance 2021-18 for additional appropriation. This is for a light fixture and a totaled pick up truck to be replaced with insurance reimbursement and no money will be taken from the cash reserves. This was approved.
Utilities Manager Donna Lecher introduced Brooke Shailey to present the water rate. After looking over the books, the rate increase would be 12.44% over 3 phases with a 3% inflationary rate increase. The rate increase will be about $5.13 spanning over the 3 phases. The biggest portion of this will fund the Capital Improvement Plan which is just over $3 million. About $750,000 will be transferred a year to pay for this plan. The sewer rate was also presented. This will be a bit of a higher increase since the last one was in 2016. This will still be in a 3 phase plan and will go towards their Capital Improvement Plan of about $10 million. About $1.5 million will be transferred a year to pay for this plan.
Mayor Joshua Marsh presented his items to the board. Ordinance 2021-19 for 2022 utilities salary was approved. Ordinance 2021-20 for 2022 city employee salaries was approved. Ordinance 2021-21 for 2022 elected officials salary was approved. Ordinance 2021-22 for Greensburg General Obligation Bonds was approved.
Halloween Trick or Treat hours will be Saturday, October 30 from 5pm to 8pm.
Morgan Schofield
WTRE NEWS
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