The Frankfort City Council voted 5-1 Monday night to approve the proposed Prairie Creek Park project in downtown Frankfort despite a huge increase in cost.
“It’s a feeling that its taken four years to get to this point,” said Frankfort Mayor Chris McBarnes. “We had dozens of people from the community come together (on a downtown revitalization project) and say this is the vision for downtown. We not only have downtown housing booming with Nickel Plate Flats, but now we’re going to make Prairie Creek Park a reality right across the street.”
McBarnes said the project cost is estimated between $7.4 million and $7.9 million. That cost became an issue since the project began at $3.97 million. However, that was before the cost of repairing the parking garage was figured into the project. The parking garage cost is $1.18 million. Other things that went into the cost increase was the steel tariffs that President Trump has imposed which accounts for at least a 30 percent increase as well as a booming economy which means contractors can be more picky about the projects they take plus can charge more.
The end result was to go ahead and approve a second bond worth $5.8 million over 15 years. The first bond was a not to exceed bond of $4.5 million.
“This project is being funded with the tax allocation dollars, the Historic Downtown (District) and select industries,” said McBarnes. “Other residents in this city, no matter where you live, your property taxes don’t go towards this project. It’s Tax Increment Financing. It’s not a raise in taxes. It’s working within our existing revenue.”
McBarnes pointed out that 10 people signed up to speak publicly in support of the project. Those people included Clinton County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Shan Sheridan, Farmers Bank President and CEO Karen Gregerson, downtown restaurant owner John Virtue, Joe Blake of Iron Men Properties which built Nickel Plate Flats, Frankfort Main Street Executive Director Kim Stevens plus a video from ConAgra Foods and a letter from Frito-Lay.
Frankfort City Councilman Eric Woods cast the lone vote against the project. He said he did so because he believes Prairie Creek Park could be built without the second bond that became necessary to help with the increase costs.
“I personally feel that we haven’t really taken a comprehensive view of all of our projects we’ve got coming up in the next couple of years to assure that this extra bond amount won’t interfere with that in a negative way,” said Woods. “It would take some modifications. I believe in phasing when necessary. This would have been a good opportunity to talk about a Phase II for a few of these amenities on down the road. I respect the other counselors opinion to do it all now. I just want to look forward to make sure that we can afford our economic development projects that are imminent.”
One project that Woods expressed concerned about is the pool at TPA Park, which right now will most likely not open in 2019 due to needed repairs to an aging facility.
“The whole pool industry seems to be changing over to what your seeing with wave pools and lazy rivers,” said Woods. “We all agree with the idea that the added amenities are good. I want to make sure we can do that is an affordable fashion.”
Other city councilmen agreed with Woods. However, all felt they would be sacrificing the main thrust of the project.
“It wouldn’t be what we envisioned and it wouldn’t be a destination,” said Frankfort City Councilman Jim Moyer.
McBarnes said the project would start as soon as possible and weather permits. Another one of the reasons for this is so that next year’s Frankfort Hot Dog Festival, which will be its 25th, would be able to have its performers and concerts held in the park rather than on a stage in the downtown area.
“Frankfort is finally embracing the future,” said McBarnes. “We’re not a dusty, sleepy old town anymore. We are going to become a destination and I think it should be exciting for everyone that calls Frankfort home.”