Council OKs land purchase for fire station

Local News

Discussion

February 9, 2010

Police, firefighters support annexation

By Ken de la Bastide The Kokomo Tribune Tue Feb 09, 2010, 08:30 AM EST

The Kokomo Common Council passed a resolution authorizing the administration of Mayor Greg Goodnight to purchase land for construction of a new fire station.

The resolution to purchase the land at the northeast corner of Center and Cartwright roads was approved unanimously Monday.

Councilman Mike Karickhoff, R-at large, said the two appraisals for the property came in at $170,000 and $175,000.

“We are acquiring the property for substantially less than the appraisals,” he said.

City controller Jim Brannon said the land is being purchased for $110,000 with funds from the Cumulative Capital Improvement Fund. He said $210,000 has been appropriated for the design of the new station.

Brannon said the city has $750,000 in the fund.

During a discussion on the second reading of an ordinance to appropriate $2,635,536 in Economic Development Income Tax revenues, spokesmen for Kokomo Firefighters Local 396 and the Fraternal Order of Police voiced support for the city’s efforts to annex 6,800 acres to the east and west of the current city limits.

It was the first time either organization had thrown its support behind the proposal.

“Our union supports annexation,” Rich Daily, president of Firefighters Local 396, told council members. “It’s a way for the city to grow.”

The police officers union representative said annexation could be good for the city and bring services to areas outside the Kokomo city limits.

Councilman Bob Cameron said he supported everything in the EDIT funding request – but not the $100,000 for legal fees for the annexation battle.

Councilman Ralph Baer, R-6th District, said the legal fees made up a small portion of the administration’s funding request.

“You can spin a no vote anyway you want,” Baer said, “but it is still a no vote.”

Councilman Kevin Summers, R-at large, said he is opposed to the annexation and that there are no current legal bills due. He said he supported the remainder of the voting requests.

Brannon said the city anticipates more legal bills and it has no choice but to defend the annexation lawsuits.

Summers said the three council members opposed to annexation attempted to have the legal fees voted on as a separate measure.

“That’s a trick bag,” he said. “Piggyback the fees onto the ordinance like in Washington and Indianapolis. We’re not opposed to the rest of it.”

Brannon said the $2.6 million is for economic development projects in 2010 and there is still $1.1 million not appropriated in EDIT funds.

As on the first reading of the ordinance, Cameron, Summers and Councilwoman Cindy Saunders, R-5th District, voted against passage. The ordinance will be considered for final passage Feb. 22.

The funding request includes the final bond payment on Kokomo Beach, $687,537 for the new fire station, $300,000 for the Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance and $400,000 for other economic development incentive programs.

• Ken de la Bastide is the Kokomo Tribune enterprise editor. He can be reached at 765-454-8580 or via e-mail at ken.delabastide@ kokomotribune.com

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Local News

Remains may be grandmother of abducted girl
Noblesville police are trying to determine if the remains of a woman found Thursday along the Mississinewa River near Marion are those of missing Noblesville woman Dorothy Heard.

February 10, 2012
Students kick off Black History Month at IU Kokomo
“Hey, black child, be what you can be. Learn what you can learn. Do what you can do. And tomorrow, your nation will be what you want it to be.”

February 10, 2012 1 Photo
Council taking heat for proposal
The Miami County Council on Thursday got to hear from county employees who are disgruntled about proposed budget cuts that would reduce the county general fund by nearly $900,000.

February 10, 2012
County looks at health care options
With the city of Kokomo ending its relationship with Novia Health Care, Howard County officials are now discussing what move they will make.

February 10, 2012
KHS to implement new technology program
Starting next school year, the more than 500 freshmen enrolled at Kokomo High School will receive either a laptop computer or tablet device as part of a new technology program that school officials say will improve learning in the classroom.

February 10, 2012
Measles patient was at NFL event
East Coast fans who left the Super Bowl host city feeling good about Hoosier hospitality may have been exposed to something less welcome: The measles.

February 9, 2012
Outreach provides housing to the down-and-out
Dale Bliss tells the story of a man with no money, no job and two kids.

Without any way to pay for a hotel or rent an apartment, the man was living in a tent with his children at a reservoir near Kokomo. He told them it was a family camping trip.

February 9, 2012 1 Photo
Green tech lab opens in Kokomo
A California green technology company has opened a research and development lab in Kokomo and plans to hire as many as 35 people over the next few years, the business announced this week.

February 9, 2012
Main Street conference coming to Kokomo
Following up on its Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s 2011 Community of the Year award, Kokomo received another accolade this week.

February 9, 2012
Howard Co. jail reconfiguration a ‘short-term solution’
With the ever-increasing number of female prisoners at the Howard County jail, local officials are looking to implement a short-term solution instead of expanding the existing facility.

February 8, 2012
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Discussion

Council OKs land purchase for fire station

Police, firefighters support annexation

Site Map

Contact Us