Thanks to some help from State Representative Heath VanNatter and Clinton County Commissioners President Josh Uitts, the Washington Avenue road project got a little bit easier Monday night with the announcement of some railroad tracks that will be coming up.
“It’s something we’ve really been working hard with the state and Norfolk Southern in regards to,” said Mayor Chris McBarnes. “There are two railroad crossings on Washington Avenue that are going to be a part of our Washington Avenue reconstruction. The crossing farthest to the east (near Milky Way) on Washington Avenue is going to be removed completely.”
McBarnes said the track removal will save taxpayers roughly $300,000.
McBarnes also announced that the city is looking into the possibility of a much talked about project from the past — overpasses.
“This is something that county officials, along with city officials, were looking at. Potentially building an overpass or an underpass in our Industrial Park,” said McBarnes. “It’s been something that’s been talked about for a long time. We’ve just never had the money to do it because it is so expensive.”
The possibility of this happening has come to the forefront again because of a roughly $127 million Local Trax program put together by the state and the Indiana Department of Transportation. The city would only be responsible for 20 percent of the cost because the state will fund 80 percent of the project.
In other news, the city council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing a temporary loan or loans within the City of Frankfort.
“This loan is to help get us by until the next (tax) draw, which is coming in a couple of weeks,” said McBarnes. “We needed to perform an inter-loan of $400,000. Once we get our tax draw, we will refund that money back into edit.”
McBarnes added the main reason for the funding issue is the cost of healthcare.
The council also approved four CF-1 requests (NHK Seating, ADM, NTK Precision Axle and Centurion Solutions), but tabled the request by The Tech Group because of the rumored possibility that the company is leaving Frankfort by September.
“We’re a little gray on where they’re at,” said McBarnes. “I don’t have hard evidence at this point and time.”