Plymouth BOW Considers Economic Development Agreement For Early Childhood Learning Center and Aquatic Center Project

Plymouth Board of Public Works members considered an economic development agreement for the Aquatics Center and Early Childhood Learning Center project when they met last Monday.

City Attorney Sean Surrisi explained that the agreement sets up the terms of obligation for the Marshall County Economic Development Corporation entities, also referred to as the developers, to build the facilities with the money that’s being provided by all the different sources.

He said the agreement already went before the Redevelopment Commission at their last meeting where it was approved. He also explained the why the agreement needed to come before the board members as well. Continue reading

Plymouth City Council Considers REES Theater Project Addition

The Plymouth City Council members considered a resolution Monday night to add the REES Theater project to the list of Plymouth Redevelopment Commission projects.

By adding the theater to the redevelopment commission’s list, a donation request of $575,000 over the course of two to four years to be funded out of TIF #1 could be financially researched by Umbaugh and Associates. The funding request would need to be approved by the redevelopment commission.

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Plymouth Redevelopment Commission Gets Update on Rees Theater Project

Phase 1 of the Rees Theater project is complete. Randy Danielson gave the Plymouth Redevelopment Commission an update on the work done Tuesday night.

“In two weeks, we will reach our first anniversary of having the building moved over to a not-for-profit,” explained Danielson. “That first phase has allowed us to do the façade work, the masonry work that needed done, a dangerous masonry portion on LaPorte Street was taken care of as well, and the marquee was fixed and repaired so it is part of the community again.”

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Plymouth City Council Members Approve all Appointments as Presented

Plymouth Mayor Mark Senter and City Council members unanimously approved all appointments as presented during Wednesday night’s city council meeting. The council appointed Billy Ellinger and Mike Miley to the Redevelopment Commission. Each of them will serve a 1-year term, ending December 31st 2018.

The Mayor’s report included appointing Ken Houin and Joe Mersch to the Aviation Commissioners, Robert Listenberger to the Park and Recreation Board and Art Jacobs to the Board of Zoning Appeals. Each of those members will serve 4-year terms, ending December 31st 2021. Continue reading

Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety and City Council to Meet Tonight

The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety members will open bids for 2018 fuel and street supplies when they meet tonight at 6 p.m. ET. The City Engineer is scheduled to discuss 2017 Community Crossing Matching Grant Project contracts. Reports will be presented from various department heads, the City Attorney and the Secretary and Finance Officer. Mayor Mark Senter will also provide board members with a report.

Additional business includes a discussion over traffic on Plum Street and accepting November 2017 reports from the Water and Wastewater departments.

At 6:30 p.m., or immediately following the first meeting, Plymouth City Council members will convene. Members will first address any unfinished business including any tabled ordinances, resolutions or other items. Continue reading

Plymouth Redevelopment Commission Agrees to Commit Funds

The Plymouth Redevelopment Commission committed to providing $40,000 worth of funding two different organizations when they met last week.

According to City Attorney Sean Surrisi, commission members agreed to recommit $30,000 to the Marshall County Economic Development Corporation. The same amount of funding was committed to the Marshall County EDC last year. Continue reading

Demolition Starts at River Gate South Apartment Development Site

Demolition has begun on the River Gate South Apartment Development in Plymouth and City Attorney Sean Surrisi said construction will start soon. Surissi was one of the key players in getting this project off the ground by collaborating with members of the community and Regional Cities Initiative, which awarded $1.5 million of funding for the development. Continue reading

New Project Elements Revealed During Plymouth Redevelopment Commission Meeting

The Plymouth Redevelopment Commission provided a financial and structural overview of the Aquatic Center Project that will be built adjacent to the LifePlex when they met earlier this week. City Attorney Sean Surrisi explained that while 2.2 million dollars of grant money received through the Regional Cities Initiative will be used for the Aquatic Center, new funds have become available that will allow for more structures to be constructed with this project. Continue reading

Plymouth Redevelopment Commission to Fund Downstream Study

The Plymouth Redevelopment Commission will fund a downstream study in the TechFarm area that may ultimately result in the replacement of a culvert under Pioneer Drive.

According to David Miller from Vanco Development, a larger culvert needs to be constructed in the area. The current equipment has the potential to cause drainage and flood plain issues when projects develop on the TechFarm site and the surrounding area. A 100-year flood study was recently released which puts that area in a flood prone zone. All of those findings have led up to the needed downstream study to see how that culvert replacement could affect water flow downstream in the case of a flood event. Continue reading

Plymouth Redevelopment Commission Finalizes Paperwork for Renovation Project

Plymouth City Building

Three members of the Plymouth Redevelopment Commission approved a mountain of paperwork Tuesday night to prepare for the renovations of the city building and chamber of commerce building.

The bonds sold for the project on Tuesday and will be closed today. 1st Source Bank will be the bond trustee until the project is done and payments are needed.

The lowest project bid came from Michiana Contracting, Inc. in the amount of $2,198,700. The commission members approved that bid.

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Culvert Issue to be Considered by Plymouth Redevelopment Commission

David Miller from Vanco Development requested help from the Plymouth Redevelopment Commission with funding a $35,000 downstream impact study to ultimately replace a culvert under Pioneer Drive. The culvert has the potential to cause drainage and flood plain issues when the city expands development projects on the Tech Farm site and the surrounding area.

He explained that the culvert adjacent to his property located under the road isn’t maintained by his company. In fact, the city, county and state don’t have rights to maintain the culvert. Essentially, it lies within the drainage board’s property on the state’s right of way.

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Plymouth Redevelopment Commission Opens City Building Renovation Bids

Plymouth City Building

Plymouth City Attorney Sean Surrisi opened three bids for the proposed city renovation project during the Plymouth Redevelopment Commission meeting Tuesday night.

Ziolkowski Construction, Inc. out of South Bend turned in a total base bid of $2,728,000 while Gibson Lewis, LLC out of Mishawaka submitted a bid of $2,654,100. The last bid opened was from Michiana Contracting, Inc. in Plymouth in the amount of $2,198,700.

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Plymouth Redevelopment Commission to Meet Tonight

Plymouth City Building

The Plymouth Redevelopment Commission members are expected to open bids for the city building renovation project when they meet tonight.

The project includes construction of improvements and expansion of the city office at 124 N. Michigan Street including the clerk-treasurer’s office, mayor’s office, city attorney’s office and the council chambers.

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Next Step Approved in Plymouth City Hall Renovation Project

Plymouth City Building

The Plymouth City Council took action Monday night to take another step closer in the city building renovation project.

City Attorney Sean Surrisi presented a resolution that would approve a lease between the Plymouth Redevelopment Authority and the Plymouth Redevelopment Commission and the issuance of lease rental bonds by the Plymouth Redevelopment Authority.

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Plymouth Redevelopment Commission Blesses MCEDC Proposed Project

A proposed building project could entice a manufacturing facility to set up operations in Plymouth.

Marshall County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) Executive Director and CEO Jerry Chavez told the Plymouth Redevelopment Commission Monday night that preliminary plans are set in motion to build a manufacturing center. Chavez said the building would be similar to the facility now occupied by Pretzels, Inc. The structure would be move-in ready for any company to set up their business to best suit the company’s needs.

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Plymouth Redevelopment Commission to Move Forward with Renovation Project

Plymouth City Building

The Plymouth Redevelopment Commission held a public hearing last night to gather opinions on the proposed city building renovation project.

The project includes construction of improvements and expansion of the city office at 124 N. Michigan Street including the clerk-treasurer’s office, mayor’s office, city attorney’s office and the council chambers.

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