During its first meeting of the New Year, the Crothersville Town Council continued in its quest to bring five parcels of property into the town limits.
The council began its efforts late last summer to annex property already receiving town services but not inside the town limits and undeveloped land in an effort to bring industry and residential construction to the area.
Five different parcels are being considered to be brought into the town limits.
•One group of properties is along US 31 south of town already have municipal water, sewer and other town services.
•A 150-acre parcel owned by Willis and Michael Wehmiller immediately south of the town’s industrial park would allow for industrial expansion, town officials said.
•A group of homes along Moore Street/600 S as well as a little over 120 acres in two parcels owned by Donald Hargett and Willis, Michael & Bradley Wehmiller are being considered for industry and residential expansion by the council. Many of the homes along Moore/600S already have town sewer services.
•The largest single property along the north side of Moore Street/600 S is owned by Margaret Gasser, and would provide nearly 170 acres for expanded housing if inside the town limits, officials said.
•A fifth parcel considered to be brought inside the town limits is a 56.68 acre property owned by Jackson County Land Company LLC where Sims Bark is located.
Six public hearing were held in October to hear from impacted landowners with little pushback.
Last Tuesday, the council passed five resolutions beginning a process of yet more public hearings to be held sometime in late March.
In another matter the council approved earmarking up to $90,000 as a local match for another Community Crossings Paving grant. The council gave approval for town engineer Brad Bender of FPBH to apply for the paving grant before the Jan. 28 deadline.
The council heard a concern from business owner Chris Hunley whose wife owns a building along US 31 at the edge of Hominy Ditch.
Hunley expressed concern about the building’s stability along the town’s main east-west drainage. He asked the council to consider clearing trees from the ditch bank and reinforcing the drainage way banks with rip-rap.
In other business, the council:
•Agreed to split the cost of a sewer line from the west side of Bethany Road to his soon-to-be completed new home on the east side.
•After delaying archiving social media public records, the council agreed to not take any action on purchasing software and the service after learning larger communities were not subscribing to the service opting to not delete any town agency posts.
•Approved spending up to $7,000 for a storage building for the Parks Board at Countryside Park and contributing $500 to Leadership Jackson County’s to sponsor the organizations Valentine’s 5K.
•Elected Jason Hillenburg council president and Jamy Greathouse vice president.
•Re-appointed Curt Kovener to represent to community on Jackson County Industrial Development Corporation.