by Kevin Lilly
After refusing to write a $5,000 check for renovations on the former Greensfelder building in downtown Logansport, the city’s clerk treasurer has been ordered to pay the remaining portion of a $10,000 grant to Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana.
With a vote on Wednesday, members of the Board of Public Works and Safety settled the dispute between clerk treasurer Ellen Bland and the foundation over the payment of an additional $5,000.
Bland argued that the grant had been paid in full and she would not issue the check until someone proved to her why one business and/or nonprofit organization should receive two grants for one property when limitations on the city’s corridor enhancement program only permit $5,000.
“It did not meet the criteria set out by the corridor enhancement program application,” Bland said of the foundation’s request.
Todd Zeiger of the Historic Landmarks Foundation countered by saying that creating two storefronts with different addresses had been their intention from the time they applied for the corridor enhancement grant in 2007. And, since that time money has been spent to renovate the historic building.
Zeiger said there are now two storefronts with two entrances with the addresses of 313 E. Market St. and 315 E. Market St. There are also two upstairs apartments.
“We did honor our commitment to the project and performed as expected,” Zeiger said.
Bland said that nowhere in the application for the property at 315 E. Market St. does it state there will be two separate addresses.
“Why would a person have an application if the expectation is that you’re going to ignore it?” Bland asked.
Plan director Stan Williams said that the application presented to the board on Dec. 3, 2007, stated the foundation would be constructing two separate storefronts. Zeiger submitted a copy of the minutes and Mayor Mike Fincher read them aloud Wednesday.
According to the minutes, the board, which consisted of Fincher, deputy mayor Linda Klinck and Joe Casalini, voted 2-0 to allow $10,000 to the Landmarks Foundation. Klinck abstained because she is a member of the foundation.
“If we only gave him $5,000, we owe him five more,” Fincher said.
Fincher pointed out they could not have torn down the building for $10,000. If they would have, the demolition would have created another empty lot.
“We have enough of those downtown,” Fincher said.
Bland said after the meeting she should would release the $5,000 to the Historic Landmarks Foundation.
• Kevin Lilly is news editor of the Pharos-Tribune. He can be reached at 574-732-5117 or kevin.lilly@pharostribune.com.
