The Crothersville Town Council gave approval last Tuesday night for a 24-unit single family rental housing complex to be built in the 600 block of East Walnut Street.
Jen Pryor, property manager for the proposed complex, told the council that property owner Jason Miller, intends to develop seven lots on the north and south sides of Walnut into 24 single family cottage style rental homes.
Miller currently has rentals in Seymour and Medora, she said.
Pryor said the two bedroom homes would have 640 square feet while three-bedroom units would have 942 square feet. Each would have a loft bedroom.
“It is our aim to provide affordable rental housing and, hopefully, fill a housing demand for senior citizens who want to downsize,” said Pryor.
She said the estimated $1.8 million project would be built in four phases and include a dog park and a small recreational area.
The homes would be conventional stick-built on crawl spaces, she added.
The initial construction is to begin in March with renters hoped to move in by late summer.
The council gave their preliminary approval to the project with utilities to be worked out.
In other business, clerk-treasurer Danieta Foster’s desire to hire and set wages for a 2nd deputy was met with some resistance from the council.
“I think the process and setting pay needs to be discussed in an executive session,” said councilman Jamy Greathouse.
“There’s no need for an executive session,” said Foster. “State law reads that it is the clerk-treasurer who appoints the number of deputies.”
“Deputy clerks are town employees and that should be determined by the council,” replied Greathouse.
“The council has never hired a deputy clerk. (Current town council president)Terry (Richey) hired two deputy clerks,” shot back Foster.
“This is a discussion we need to have amongst ourselves; not in a public meeting,” said Richey.
The council set an executive session to privately discuss the matter for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23.
The council approved spending up to $3,700 to run water and electricity to the newly constructed shelter house at Countryside Park on the town’s west side and to donate $50 to the Crothersville High School after-prom.
In annual appointments and memberships the council named Jackson County EMA Director Toby Ortman as the town’s representative to Homeland Security and re-appointed Curt Kovener and the community’s representative on Jackson County Industrial Development Corporation. The council re-appointed Glen Prince and Steve Plasse to four year terms on the Crothersville Parks Board.
The council approved paying dues and retaining memberships in IACT, ILMCT, ICOP, Rural; Water Alliance, Lexipol, Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, and JCIDC.