KENDALLVILLE â A bid opening for Kendallvilleâs proposed solar field has been delayed two weeks as the city researches a potential legal snag with the project specifications.
The delay came after a Rochester-based solar company raised some issues with the cityâs bid specifications, leading to City Attorney Doug Atz to recommend a brief delay.
Kendallville had been hoping to open bids from contractors on the estimated $2.35 million project on Tuesday, then award bids in a special meeting on April 20 in order to get the project rolling as soon as possible.
Kendallville is hoping to build a 1-megawatt solar field on the former McCray Refrigerator factory site off Wayne Street, with the power generated going to reduce the utility costs from the next-door wastewater treatment plant.
KENDALLVILLE â The Kendallville Redevelopment Commission is looking for its next projects to utilize the nearly $500,000 per year income the commission captures, but that revenue stream isnât permanent.
The city will only have four more years of capturing around a half-million dollars before losing some of it, but for now the city can utilize those funds for projects anywhere along the Main Street and U.S. 6 corridors.
If youâre unfamiliar with the cityâs tax increment financing (TIF) districts, weâll explain where that money comes from, where it can be used and how it can be spent.
Where does the money come from?
Well, board members are working to figure that out.
Commission members are currently in a brainstorming mode as they plot out what their next projects will be and how to utilize the funds they capture every year from their three tax increment financing districts.
Those districts capture about $491,000 per year in tax dollars and the redevelopment commission currently controls a balance of $1.35 million. Outside of $500,000 devoted to the upcoming solar field project at the former McCray Refrigerator site, the board has no other major outstanding debt of commitments at hand.
The commission does allocate some of its money every year to fund facade grants â which cover up to 50% of the cost of exterior work on buildings up to $15,000.
KENDALLVILLE â Shari Targgart is proud to live in Kendallville and she hopes you are, too.
And if not, well, she hopes to work on that as the newest member of the Kendallville City Council.
Targgart is joining the council as the new representative for District 2, replacing Steve Clouse who resigned last month citing needing more time for his law practice and family. Sheâll serve out the remainder of his term, which runs through the end of 2023.
She was selected by Kendallville Republicans to fill the vacancy at a caucus on Saturday morning, finishing ahead of other candidates Ron Stanley and Anna Gibson in the contest.
KENDALLVILLE â With some help from other city boards providing $1 million in tax dollars, Kendallville City Council members are more comfortable with borrowing the remainder to fund a new solar field on the site of the former McCray Refrigerator factory.
The city is now looking at a five-year financing plan that shouldnât impact local taxes or wastewater fees, meaning residents wonât need to provide anything extra to afford the green energy development.
City council members received an update about possible financing options for the project during their meeting Tuesday evening.
The proposed solar field would take up most of the 11-acre McCray site off Wayne Street, one block west of Main Street, stretching from the west end of the property all the way to Mill Street.