The Frankfort Redevelopment Commission approved the purchase the downtown building, approved its 2027 Tax Increment Financing (TIF) spending plan, approved about $400,000 for five new police vehicles, and formalized a donation of surplus streetlights to the Eagles Club at the Oct. 29 meeting. Together, these actions show how the commission plans to use the roughly $6.8 million in TIF revenue the city expects to collect in 2026.
Environmental Risk Weighed
Commission members questioned the findings of contamination with the building at 250 N. Main Street. A Phase I environmental assessment recently completed by August Mack Environmental of Indianapolis had identified possible contamination from a nearby dry cleaning business. The concern is that the contaminants could have reached the groundwater beneath the building, although there is no proof of contamination.
Alicia Albertson, City Attorney, listed the commission’s options: get a second opinion, challenge the dry-cleaner findings, order a Phase II study, walk away from the purchase, or “just ignore the phase one and purchase it at your own risk.” She added “I never advise that, but you could do that if you decided that the risk was low.”
The unanimous vote to make the $122,000 purchase will give the City access to the building so that repairs can be made to the mural covering the exterior south wall.
2027 TIF Spending Plan
The commission approved Resolution 26-06, its 2027 TIF spending plan, which will be sent to state tax officials. Reedy Financial representatives Shiv Anand Chhabrie and Gary Smith attended the meeting and explained that the plan includes about $4.15 million in payments on three bonds: the Prairie Creek Park bond, the pool park project bond, and the ConAgra Foods bond. It also lists $4.1 million in capital spending:
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$400,000 for police cars and equipment
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$100,000 for downtown sidewalks
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$100,000 for facade grants
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$3 million set aside for possible future projects
A 15% buffer is built in for unexpected costs.
Frankfort has two TIF districts. The consolidated district was created in 2012 and the ConAgra district in 2014. Both are set to expire in 2040. The consultants estimated that $4.5 million of the $6.8 million collected this year comes from growth driven by the TIF itself. They said only $2.2 million would go to other taxing units if the districts did not exist. Chhabria said “About 67 cents of every dollar collected is generated because of the TIF.”
Police Fleet Replacement
Police Chief Scott Shoemaker asked the commission to fund five Chevrolet Tahoes to replace the department’s aging Ford Explorers. He said the money is in the 2027 budget.
Some of those Explorers are 2015 and 2016 models with 120,000 to 130,000 miles. The expense for repairs is increasing and “just to change a water pump in a Ford Explorer is $4,400,” Scott said. He added that transmission failures have taken vehicles out of service. The commission approved the purchase, which is about $400,000 including equipment.
Scott also reported that “violent crime is down 80% so far this year” in Frankfort.
Other Business
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The commission approved Resolution 26-07, which formally donates surplus streetlights to the Eagles Club, a nonprofit.
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Kristina Campos, of Campos Construction, shared a draft for gazebo improvements, including new concrete and electrical work. The project, for Veterans Park, is expected to wait until spring while the city continues to seek more funding.
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Claims were approved. Officials will follow up on gas bills still being paid at the former police station.
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Commissioner Bud McQuade was absent from the meeting.