State Street construction work is complete, reasoning behind the Rocky Ford road design controversy, why the Republic Building TIF funding is being questioned, an update on a conference center study and more.
On this week's installment of Ask The Mayor, Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop addresses these issues and more. Listen to the full conversation with Indiana Newsdesk anchor Joe Hren by clicking on the play button above, or read some of the questions and answers below. A portion of this segment airs 6:45 and 8:45 a.m. Wednesday on WFIU.
This conversation has been edited for clarity and conciseness.
Hren: Last time we were here we learned Indiana University would be taking over the Republic Building to house the new architecture program. In the Republic Newspaper here, some residents spoke out that the city can't provide TIF funding, which is tax money, to help renovate that building for a nonprofit. Is this anything to worry about?
Lienhoop: That's part of public life. I mean, there's always somebody who's got a different opinion and in this case the newspaper reported their difference of opinion. And we'll just let it go at that.
There's always somebody who's got a different opinion and in this case the newspaper reported their difference of opinion.
I expect it to be approved. We've talked about this with city council members for a while. They're clearly aware of what's happened at the redevelopment commission. They understand their role is to ratify what the redevelopment commission has already reviewed and approved.
The university has given us a list of items they would like for us to help pay for. They will go through a public bidding process, just like we would if we were to manage the project ourselves. They will identify the lowest and responsive and responsible bidder is, then they will give us the invoice and we'll pay it.
The university's contributions to this far outstrips what the city will put in. They indicated to us that they're thinking about $20 million which covers a broader period and includes salaries, and other philanthropists will match the $1 million. So we're pretty satisfied with the investment that the city is making and we're confident we're going to get more than that in return.
Hren: I hear a study is moving forward on the need for a new conference center here in Columbus. How far along is the study and any new leads on possible proposals?
Lienhoop: The redevelopment commission has received four proposals and I think at its next meeting, the staff hopes to be in a position to recommend one to the commission to retain. The notion will be to try and determine the feasibility and size of a conference center and hotel. The study will take three to six months, and hopefully ready to go maybe by the end of the year.
Hren: We've talked about the government salary study a few times in the past and I understand it will have a second hearing tonight at the city council meeting. Will this start to pay off?
Lienhoop: This is the culmination of a year long process to pay a consultant to have our wages compared to what other communities pay and becomes complicated when job descriptions are not common.
We've incorporated the changes into a revised salary ordinance for 2018 and that's what's on the agenda for city council tonight. This is a second reading, city council has already passed it. The immediate effect will be we have about eight employees salaries below the new minimum so they will receive an adjustment to their compensation July 1. All the rest of the wage positions, those will wait until January 1.
We intend to do the public safety employees first over two years in 2019, all other city employees will take three years to get caught up to where we think they ought to be.
Hren: So the construction and renovations of the State Street Bridge and Corridor Project is now complete?
Lienhoop: In general, the area east of the Haw Creek and maybe south of 10th Street has often felt overlooked. A few years ago the state rerouted S.R. 46 onto State Street so we've had a significant increase in traffic that has resulted in a rebuild of State Street in many places. So it felt very commercialized. So our notion was to try and help build something that the residents out there could look to with pride and that would also welcome people into Columbus.
Phase one was the bridge itself, then phase 2A was from the bridge east down towards Mapleton. Then phase 2B will be to the west from the bridge down 3rd Street. The third phase would be from California and 5th to Mill Race Park. That one will take a little while. We're going to think about that one for a little bit.
A good portion was funded by TIF dollars - what we call the Central TIF, there was a little bit that was federal money.
