City Council passed ordinance 12-2024 which reestablishes Upland’s Department of Redevelopment; they reviewed city annexation and utility water main breaks on Sept. 17.
The primary use of a Department of Redevelopment (or redevelopment commission) is to identify and find property within a town (or city) that is abandoned or “blighted,” Michael Harbin, professor emeritus of biblical studies and town council member, said. After identifying such property, the city or town finds new use for the land, finding new commercial enterprises to redevelop the property and make it an economic asset to the community.
Jonathan Perez, Upland town manager, said redevelopment commissions are something that Indiana state statute allows for local municipalities to create to serve multiple purposes from establishing certain development districts, reassigning funds or creating special purpose funds. Upland would use the redevelopment commission primarily to pursue additional grants, opening up possibilities for the city.
“Yes, for the redevelopment commission, it takes five members,” Shawn Sizemore, Upland Town Council president, said. “Those members are myself, councilman Slain, councilwoman McCrea, community member Charity Bailey and community member Sally Griner for the redevelopment commission.”
Mary Fletcher, Upland clerk treasurer, proposed resolution 3.2024 which established a park’s grant, donation and event’s fund. The main reason, she said, for creating the fund would be to finance the disc golf tournaments that the Park Department hosts.
Instead of using money from the Upland budget, the grant and event’s fund would provide for future park projects, Fletcher said.
Perez said the administration signed a new residential construction housing permit for a property along South Street.
Additionally, throughout the month of September, there had been several utility water main breaks - which all have been rectified, Perez said.
The City Council meeting closed with council members commending the city employees and their hard work in making the Labor Day parade and festivities happen. During the preparation there was a water main break and the city employees were working to fix the issue till the morning hours, Sizeman said.
The city employees were out there, fixing the water main break till early morning Sizeman said.
“They never skipped a beat, they never complained, they never faltered - they just kept going at it and going at it to be able to get that [water main break] fixed and get the town back up and running,” Sizeman said. “And I can't commend them enough.”
The next City Council meeting is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, on Oct. 1.
