A committee of the Kokomo Downtown Association has voted to go ahead with preliminary plans to beautify the east side of the Howard County Courthouse.

The committee voted Thursday to adopt a proposed beautification plan presented by Mark Hilligoss for the project, which has an estimated cost of $44,000.

There was a lengthy discussion, at times heated, about funding and what impact beautification will have on reviving the downtown area.

Commissioner Dave Trine said the county is facing a financial crisis and didn’t think tax dollars should be spent on flowers and monuments.

“This is not our project, you came to us,” Trine said.

He doubted that landscaping the courthouse square would result in investment and the creation of jobs.

Ron Harper, director of the Howard County Community Foundation, said real estate clients want to see the downtown.

“Beautification in a community is an economic development issue,” he said.

“The urban core is the pulse of your region,” said Debbie Cook, economic development director for Kokomo.

“People want to see an attractive downtown,” she said. “It’s like getting a house ready for company.”

Commissioner Bill Thompson said beautification of the courthouse square was not at the top of the county’s priority list.

“We wanted to see no additional county tax dollars used,” he said of the project.

Thompson said county officials were concerned about on-going maintenance and security costs as a result of the project.

The committee is hoping to raise funds to beautify the courthouse square through a public/private partnership and the work will be done in phases.

Jerry Santeen, president of the Urban Enterprise Association, said the group is receptive to providing funding, but doesn’t want to be the only group involved. He said the UEA is looking at making a $15,000 contribution to the project.

Cook said the city want to a partner if county officials want to go forward with the project.

She said the city could provide in-kind work.

“The mayor liked the idea of eliminating the parking meters and keeping parking on one side of the square,” Cook said.

Cook said one concept could be the construction of a retaining wall around the courthouse that would include benches built into the structure.

Commissioner Tyler Moore said the county’s position is funds are already designated for the downtown association for development. He said if enough private donations are made, the county would provide some funding.

Moore said the commissioners wanted to see a definite cost estimate for the landscaping work.

At one point Trine asked if KDA executive director John Wiles was willing to use funds provided by the county for the project.

Wiles said those funds are used for operating costs of the KDA and the group would be involved in raising funds.

The approved plan locates flower beds on the two street corners, along the sidewalks leading to the courthouse and in front of the entrance.

Hilligoss said two wrought iron structures holding four hanging baskets would be placed on the lawn.

The plan also provides for the replanting of the lawn in front of the courthouse.

Scott Reed, maintenance supervisor for Howard County, said it would cost between $15,000 and $25,000 to install an irrigation system.

“What we talked about was a fountain and gazebo,” Trine said of the beautification proposals. “We’re trying to stay away from plants.”

Committee member Jerry Paul presented a plan to landscape the entire courthouse square with a gazebo and monuments on three corners.

Paul said the landscaping alone would cost approximately $280,000.

“Just putting in some flower beds and pots, I’m not impressed,” Paul said. “When you dream small, you get no results.”

Wiles said Paul’s proposal will be part of a second phase and to give the committee time to raise funds.

“We wanted to get something started,” he said. “Phase 2 is the monuments.”

• 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