Smoothing the way for a planned 24-unit housing development and concern about the structural integrity of a downtown building were handled by the Crothersville Towns Council when they met April 1.
Jason Miller of C&C Small Town Properties, announced plans in January for a 24-unit small house residential complex on East Walnut Street. He explained to the council that easements found at the rear of the seven lots on the north and south sides of the street were a concern.
“Our plans call for some homes to be constructed in what appears to be platted easements,” he said. “The last thing we want to do is build in an easement.”
Town officials said local utilities are not in the platted easement and to check with 811 to determine if gas or electric are located there.
It was confirmed that no private utilities were in the platted easements.
The council directed town attorney Matt Lorenzo to draft a “Take No Action” letter to allow Miller to begin construction.
Miller told the council that he hopes to be completed with construction sometime next year.
Council vice president Jamy Greathouse encouraged the contractor to begin construction soon, so that “When dirt starts moving we can see progress from these discussions.”
In another building matter, the town Safety Board had sent a letter to John Edrington of Scottsburg, owner of the two-story brick building at the stoplight in downtown Crothersville. The safety board asked for an engineering report on the structural integrity of the 1890’s built structure that appears to have a collapsing front wall.
Edrington was asked to appear before the council with the report but instead, according to clerk-treasurer Danieta Foster, sent the town an email expressing concerns about a the fire hydrant and street light being on his property.
“We just want to make sure the building doesn’t sometime collapse into the street,” said Foster.
Because it is a matter of public safety, the town attorney said the town could have its own engineering inspection done and charge it back to the building owner.
The council approved Lorenzo to send a letter to that effect to Edrington to get assurance on the building’s safety.
The clerk treasurer told the council that a residence at 6497 S 1025 inside the town limits has sewer service but not connected to the town’s water utility.
The property is owned by Southern Indiana Home Properties LLC and according to the Indiana Secretary of State’s business website, that Limited Liability Corporation is owned by Travis and Jessica Jones of Scottsburg.
Foster said the property was bought at tax sale and the landlord has not been paying for sewer service. The flat rate monthly charge for sewer is $76.61 but the landlord claims no one is living there.
“But there are vehicles parked there,” said Foster.
It was determined that the town will begin billing the landlord the flat rate and instructed attorney Lorenzo to send the owner a letter noting the monthly billing and if the charges aren’t paid the town will cap the sewer.
In other matters, the town
•Approved abatement compliance statements from Sims Bark and CerroWire.
•Approved spending a little over $48,800 from the town’s County Economic Development Income Tax for another police department K-9 for narcotics work. The police department has been approved for a grant for the dog and training from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security but the state requires the town to fund the dog and training before the state will reimburse from the grant.
•Appointed Brook Monroe to fill a vacancy on the Crothersville Parks Board.