The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/65813
The Press-Dispatch and city councilmen sat and stood in Petersburg Mayor Craig's office last Wednes- day. They arrived a few minutes before 3 p.m. wait- ing on a phone call from the Stellar Communities program to find out if they would receive a $20 million grant. Excitement grew as it turned 3 p.m. and with each phone call, Mayor Craig would breathe deeply and check his phone's call- er ID. Two or three times he would say, "Don't get excit- ed, its an 812 number." As the clock ticked 10 minutes past, then 20 minutes and 30 minutes passed 3 p.m. ten- sion began to mount along with a sense of concern. Those in the room made Numerous supporters By Andy Heuring timing for the city was so good this year," said Craig. "Even though we have been invited to reapply, I'm afraid that so many factors will change between now and next year the timing may not be as good." The INDOT project traf- "It is disappointing. The fic will be flowing on I-69 by Thanksgiving 2012. "We will see that shift in traffic away from the downtown this year," said Craig. Another factor is the In- was the redoing of side- walks, curbs and decora- tive street lighting. This is causing a dilemma as well. Home Building is in the pro- cess of locating a new build- ing on Main St. just south of a block to be refurbished in the Stellar project. Craig said Petersburg submit an application to do a housing project in Novem- ber and they are moving for- ward with a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district in downtown Petersburg. A TIF district allows the small talk with each other tried to keep the mood light, but nearly everyone sensed the longer it went passed 3 p.m. the less likely Peters- burg would get good news. Finally at 3:43 the phone rang. "This could be it," said Craig, looking at the 317 number on his caller ID. "A spokemans for the Indiana Department of Transporta- tion Abbey ----- gave Craig the news. Petersburg wasn't going to be a Stellar Com- munity in 2012. A solemn-faced Craig took the news in stride, but disappointment was obvi- ous. Craig and a team of volun- burg's plans were to raze buildings in the downtown, including the former Silver Dollar Saloon, which has collapsed. I-69 will be open by then. tegra Bank building is being auctioned by the FDIC. Pe- tersburg had hoped to pur- chase that building to house the Stellar Technology Cen- ter. However Craig said without funding from the Stellar Community grant, Petersburg doesn't have the finances to purchase the building. Other parts of Peters- Traffic could away from the downtown by Thanksgiving. Craig said there is a call teers and engineers had put together a plan to transform downtown Petersburg with a series of projects and grants that would have pumped al- most $25 million in grants and private investment in- to downtown Petersburg. It called for a plaza between the courthouse and Integra Bank on Eighth St. a Stel- lar Technology Center busi- ness incubator to be locat- ed in the old Integra Build- ing, a truck bypass around Petersburg's south side, se- nior housing in downtown and an urgent care center were at the core of the Stel- lar plan. for grants on buildings and he and the city council must decide soon not only wheth- er to pursue those grants or to wait on a second try at the Stellar program, or on which buildings to pursue a traditional grant. "We can't do both. We have to pick one or the oth- er, and we have some unsafe buildings. We can't afford to wait 12 months for another opportunity," said Craig. He said one of the great will have to decide if they want to install new curbs, sidewalks and street lights that would match what they wanted to do in the Stellar project. It presents a whole set of challenges. Currently, Duke owns and maintains Peters- burg's street lights. Craig said Duke has a limited se- lection of decorative lights,, none of which really work on Petersburg's extra-wide Main St. Consequently the city will then own the new lights and maintain them. "We don't have a bucket truck," said Craig. Even through their disap- pointment Craig said they have already started moving forward. "You go through a range of emotions. But I'm (five days after the an- nouncement) ready to move forward." "It isn't 'doom and gloom'. Wednesday, May 16, 2012 A-7 Petersburg denied Stellar Community grant WITH THIS RING... city to collect property taxes on the increased assessed value from improvements in that district and use them for other projects. He said the difference will be much less new develop- ment without the Stellar projects. So instead of Pe- tersburg being able to issue a $2 million bond, now they will only be able to issue a $300,000 to $400,000 bond. The Stellar Technology Center will be pursued un- der another name. He said the original idea was to have a new construction building be located near the I-69 in- terchange. Another part of the plan the city will continue purs- ing is a plaza next to the courthouse on Eighth St. "The plaza makes a lot of sense." Craig said that part of the things about the Stellar pro- gram was it allowed the city to have flexibility. Another feature of the program was Good Samar- itan Hospital expanding Dr. Fenol's office into an urgent care center with extend- ed hours by leasing part of a multi-use building that, along with other things, would have including senior housing. Another part of Stellar graduated from Oakland City University on May 5. She earned a Bachelor of Clifton graduates at OCU May 5 Chasity Marie Clifton Arts degree in elementary education and early child- hood education while grad- uating summa cum laude with a 4.0 grade point aver- age. Other activities and hon- ately resubmitted the by- pass project to INDOT," said Craig. Pike County has submit- We have everything today we had yesterday. If any- thing, communication that opened up and the commit- tees that worked together brought excitement and en- ergy to the community, and we want to keep that moving forward," said Craig. "Last week we immedi- project got overwhelming support. He said a lot will depend on future owners of the Integra building. But at the very least, he said they will probably start to close Eighth St. for various events more often. "Since we have created a fire territory, we are going to look at submitting a new fire station as a traditional grant." "We are optimistic. Most ted an application for the Charger Bridge located over Prides Creek on Cher- ry St. across from McDon- alds. The Charger Bridge has been closed for several years. Craig said that proj- ect has already been reject- ed, not on merit, but be- cause the county already has a bridge project under- way on the same grant and only one at a time is allowed. Craig said Petersburg will of the communities last year that were finalists re- ceived some portion of the projects through traditional sources." When he received word tral High School and a 2012 USI graduate with a Master's in Occupational Therapy. The future bridegroom is a 2008 graduate of view the ins and outs of their application to deter- mine how to improve it, so next year's will be stron- ger. Sunset Cemetery Donations may be made at the cemetery on Memorial Day weekend or mailed to: Pattie Barnett 1585 N. Co. Rd. 500 E., Winslow, IN 47598 ors included Dean's List each semester, Who's Who Among Students in Amer- ican Universities and Col- leges for 2011 and 2012, student representative on the Academic Affairs Com- mittee in the spring of 2011, and the ETS Recognition of Excellence. an elementary school teach- er. She is the daughter of David and Tisheena Clifton of Lynnville. Chasity Marie Clifton Clifton plans to become Goeppner participates in 'Share the Fun' member of the Friendly 4- H Club, represented Pike County at the Area 3, 4-H "Share the Fun" Perform- ing Arts contest on Friday, May 11, at North Posey High School. Ten counties including 22 Brandon Goeppner, a acts performed. Each coun- ty had the opportunity to participate in each catego- ry: Curtain Act, Musical; Curtain Act, Non Musical; and Group Act. Goeppner performed the Petersburg had not been se- lected as a Stellar Communi- ty, he was told they would be scheduling a meeting with Petersburg to discuss their proposed projects. He said he hopes to re- A June 2 wedding is being planned and formal invitations have been sent. Marriage license son of Paul R. Barnes and Edna E. Wood Rowe to Thel- ma A. Hembree, 69, of 601 Bloomfield Rd., Loogootee, daughter of William A. Barrett and Matti E. Hartley Barrett. Max Hunter Ike Elliott, 23, of 8750 E. SR 56, of Ot- Roy D. Barnes, 86, of 1800 S. Barnes Lane, Winslow, well, son of Max D. Elliott and Vicki L. Kabrick Smith to Jordan R. Hamilton, 23, of 1610 Hagan Lane South, Owensboro, Kentucky, daughter of Richard A. Hamil- ton and Melody K. Matthews Hamilton. Brannon R. Boger, 26, of 809 N. Collins St., Winslow, son of Ralph A. Boger and Gail R. Spears Henson to Janna E. Montgomery, 27, of 809 N. Collins St., Win- slow, daughter of Larry W. Montgomery and Karen S. Nugent Wood. TRADInG pOST Friday Specials THe ReSTAURANT plate Lunch 11 aM to 3 PM Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Green Beans, Meat Loaf Cole Slaw and Hot Roll $ SPRING COUPON $75 off SUNGLASSESwith or without prescription lenses Expires May 31,2012 We have Ray Ban, Vera Bradley, Guess, Diesel, Nine West, Harley Davidson & more! Stop by our Optical Shop TODAY! No appointment necessary. *Some restrictions apply. 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The bride-elect is a 2007 graduate of Pike Cen- Rick and Ellen Jones of Petersburg announce Jones-Cochren Pike Central High School and will graduate May 26 from Rose Hulman with a Bachelor's in Phys- ics. Dr. Kenneth R. Troutman, DDS Doctor of Dental Surgery 202 East 17th Street Huntingburg, IN 47542 Tel: (812) 683-2006 Fax: (812) 683-5162 Troutmanfamilydentistry@insightbb.com www.troutmanfamilydentistry.com