The Frankfort City Council unanimously approved three separate resolution Monday night in downtown buildings that are currently being renovated by Dr. Jill Snyder.
“This is just unbelievable,” said McBarnes. “Well over a million dollars.”
McBarnes said Snyder is turned the old United Way building at 51 W. Clinton St. into a facility with hotel space, apartment space and a world-class event in center in downtown Frankfort. He added this is going along with all the revitalization that is happening.
Snyder is also renovation buildings at 6-8 S. Main St. and 2 S. Main St.
McBarnes said there is one very important item to remember about the abatements.
“She (Snyder) will still pay the current tax that she’s paying now,” said McBarnes. “The only that is abated over the seven years are the improvements, which will be going from 100 percent to 40 percent over the seven years.”
McBarnes talks about what will happen after the abatements are gone.
“The investments going into these building will nearly double the tax revenue the city is receiving now,” he said. “In essence, we are incentivizing a major investment to occur in downtown Frankfort which after seven years is going to pay huge dividends.”
In other news, the City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance dealing with panhandling by a 5-1 vote.
McBarnes added anyone cited for panhandling will be charged with a civil offense and not a criminal offense in addition to being fined $50 for each offense. Frankfort Police Chief Troy Bacon said they have had problems with aggressiveness in the downtown area, particularly towards women. Bacon added this is a similar ordinance to what Indianapolis currently has.
Councilman Lewis Wheeler voted against the proposal.
The Council also heard an update on the Frankfort Commons Golf Course from its Oliphant Golf Management group. McBarnes says Oliphant has been instrumental in turning the golf course around. McBarnes added the golf course is now in better condition that it has been over the past 20 years and is now a product that the city can be proud of. Oliphant is coming into its third year of running the golf course.
At the recommendation of McBarnes, the City Council reaffirmed the three current members of the Historic Preservation Board. Those board members are Jason Wilhite, Kevin Evans and Tom Morrison. McBarnes added he is actively seeking two other individuals to make that a five-person board.