The Bremen Town Council members continue to look into funding for both the Jackson Street and the Aquatic Center projects.
The issue the council is facing is the increase in costs for the projects due to inflation. In order to fund both projects, the council has to come up with $1 million.
The county was named a Regional Stellar Community in December 2019. As a result, the Town of Bremen was awarded Stellar grant funds for several projects including the Jackson Street project which involves an outdoor pavilion, stage area, a lot of greenspace, new trees, benches, and lighting to create a downtown community gathering area.
The town was also awarded funds to rehabilitate the pool. A splash pad was added by an outpouring of public support to make it an Aquatic Center.
The Jackson Street project was awarded $1.2 million and the pool project was awarded $1.5 million with local match money provided by TIF Funds.
In a previous work session Bremen Park Superintendent Brian Main stated that he came up with a working funding plan that could resolve the funding shortfall issue. He suggesting using $400,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds, $150,000 from the park’s Non-Reverting Fund, $100,000 from donors or other means, $50,000 from the park’s Capital Improvement Fund, and another $400,000 in TIF Funds, if all funding is approved by the town council, Bremen Park Board and the Redevelopment Commission.
Mike Reese from the Troyer Group has been working on the designs for both projects and said alternates could be worked into the bids to help bring down the cost.
Since that meeting, the Bremen Redevelopment Commission met and agreed to increase the commission’s commitment to $600,000 for both projects. The rest of the suggested funding in the plan presented would need to be approved by the Bremen Park Board and the Bremen Town Council.
The council will soon discuss a plan for funding for the town. The council will also need to amend the town’s American Rescue Plan Act Plan to reflect funding for the Stellar projects.
Park Superintendent Brian Main said he would like to keep this moving forward in a timely manner so these projects can get done before the Stellar deadline at the end of 2024. Council President Bill Daily agreed. Discussions will continue in future meetings.
