Culver Town Council to Research Use of Bank Building

A task force will come together to research the possibility of utilizing space inside the First Farmers Bank and Trust building on Main Street in Culver.

The Culver Town Council members, along with officials from the Culver Redevelopment Commission, Marshall County Economic Development Corporation and Utility Superintendent Bob Porter previously toured the building and thought there may be a benefit to using the space.

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Bids for Housing Development Project to be Opened in March

The Culver Town Council members will open bids for the Sand Hill Farms workforce housing development project in March.

Culver Town Manager Jonathan Leist explained to the council members last week that Engineer Mark Sullivan will have design plans ready for bidders on Wednesday, Feb. 28. A notice will be published so bidders have time to get them in by the deadline.

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Culver Town Council Reorganizes, Appoints Members to Commissions

The Culver Town Council reorganized for the year when they met Tuesday night. They were unable to do this action during their first meeting of the year as President Ginny Bess Munroe was unable to attend that meeting.

Munroe was elected to serve another year as the council president and the council members voted to retain Sally Ricciardi as the vice president.

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Culver Town Council Looking to Fill Board and Commission Positions for 2018

The Culver Town Council is looking for volunteers to serve on several boards and commissions that have seats available for service in 2018.

The Culver Redevelopment Commission has five seats on the board and those members are appointed annually. Three candidates are chosen by the town council and two by the town council president. The Culver Redevelopment Commission meets every third Monday of the month. The applicant must be a Culver resident. Continue reading

Culver Officials Break Ground on Housing Project

Culver town officials, county representatives, Housing Developer Kevin Berger, and other dignitaries helped break ground on the Sand Hill Farm workforce housing development in Culver Wednesday afternoon.

The housing development includes 24 apartments that will feature affordable one, two and three bedroom units at 540 W. Jefferson Street with hopes of the project complete in 2018. Elkay, one of Culver’s largest employers, will provide the cabinetry for the units in an extensive project partnership. Continue reading

Culver Economic Development Commission Approves Resolution

Don Fox, Jonathan Leist, Kevin Overmyer, Attorney James Clevenger at the conclusion of the initial meeting

The Culver Economic Development Commission met for the first time Monday night with Jonathan Leist voted as the president, Don Fox as vice president and Kevin Overmyer as secretary.

With the organization of the commission complete, Marshall County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Jerry Chavez explained the purpose of residential tax abatement. If a developer is seeking residential tax abatement, a resolution must be approved by the Culver Economic Development Commission creating the site as an economic revitalization target area. It differs slightly from a commercial tax abatement.

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Culver Redevelopment Commission Approves Resolution for Stellar Commitment

The Culver Redevelopment Commission (CRC) approved a resolution Tuesday night for their commitment toward a project within the Stellar Communities Designation Program.

Town Manager Jonathan Leist said two options were available. One option included the INDOT grant and an in-kind commitment from the Marshall County Commissioners for the proposed walking/biking trail. The trail in this proposal would go through the Culver Town Park on the west end of Washington Street all the way to the Culver Military Academy Leist said there is one section of the trail that would need to be contracted out and that is by the lighthouse up to the beach lodge. He explained that it’s too steep to be done internally.

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Culver Redevelopment Commission Discusses Theater Proposals

The Culver Redevelopment Commission members discussed a proposal from SRKM Architects during their meeting Monday afternoon.

The proposal outlined several actions the company could do to help the commission reach a decision about how to proceed with the theater. A structural assessment would be included along with a business plan, a chance to set up a public hearing to gather comments on potential uses for the building, marketing plan, preliminary budget, and more. The cost would be $8,530.

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Culver Redevelopment Commission to Consider Movie Theater Proposals

The Culver Redevelopment Commission’s meeting this evening will include discussions surrounding the possible purchase of the movie theater.

The town council last week voted to present the redevelopment commission members proposals for the theater from the Troyer Group and SRKM that include plans for a public meeting to gather comments on the uses for the theater, a preliminary project budget for outlaying the capital costs for repairs on the building, a structural engineering assessment of the building, and a basic outline for a business plan with annual expenses versus revenue expenses for whatever concept may occupy the building.

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Culver Movie Theater Proposals Headed to the CRC

The Culver Town Council discussed the purchase of the Culver Movie Theater and received two proposals that will give the council and the Culver Redevelopment Commission a better idea of what to expect in terms of costs.

Town Manager Jonathan Leist presented proposals from the Troyer Group and SRKM that he said include plans for a public meeting to gather comments on the uses for the theater, a preliminary project budget for outlaying the capital costs for repairs on the building, a structural engineering assessment of the building, and a basic outline for a business plan with annual expenses versus revenue expenses for whatever concept may occupy the building.

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Culver Town Council and CRC Forming Mobile Home District Committee

Even though the Sand Hill Farms project is moving forward, the Town of Culver and the Culver Redevelopment Commission (CRC) are keeping housing options open.

The Sand Hill Farms project is a workforce housing development project that will include a proposed 24-unit apartment building on Jefferson Street. The town council and the CRC are funding the infrastructure to the property. If the town wins the Stellar Communities designation, more funding could be available for a low-income based housing development.

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Culver Redevelopment Commission to Meet in Special Session Today

The Culver Redevelopment Commission (CRC) will meet today to discuss the Sand Hill Farms workforce housing.

The Culver Town Council members made their decision on two resolutions this week and the CRC is expected to discuss the same resolutions during their meeting today. The town council members voted 4-1 to approve a resolution to authorize funding of the project. A separate resolution was approved 4-1 to enter into an agreement between the Town of Culver and Sand Hill Farms, Inc. for the development of the project.

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