City council adopts comp. plan update. See what that means for Martinsville's future

MARTINSVILLE — The Martinsville City Council approved an administrative update for the city's comprehensive plan during its meeting on Monday, Oct. 10.

The council's approval marked the final step in the city's efforts to apply an administrative update to its comprehensive plan. The updated plan will reflect the final-built conditions of I-69 as the interstate corridor nears completion in Morgan, Johnson and Marion counties. The plan was last revised in 2017.

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Now that the city has adopted the new comprehensive plan, it is important to note that it is not legally binding. Standards established by the plan are realized by adopting or amending local zoning and subdivision ordinances.

The policy document is intended to serve as a guide the city, elected officials and local businesses can consult when making investment-related decisions in the community. These types of decisions center on land use, infrastructure and community development. The plan also focuses on ways of improving quality of life, adding more housing options and exploring the potential impact of natural resources.

Four out of the seven council members were present during Monday's meeting with councilmembers Suzie Lipps, Josh Ferran and Phil Deckard Sr. absent.

2023 Budget

The council also held a public hearing for the first reading of the city's 2023 budget. Financial Advisor Jeff Peters discussed the city's financial picture as the new year draws closer. Peters said the only deficit on the budget at this time is the sanitation utility expense.

"The operating funds for the city are balanced from revenue to expenditure but for the amount of the sanitation utility expense, which is unfunded in 2023. As we have talked about for the last couple of years with the sanitation expense, you impose the fee toward helping to reduce that subsidy that you currently have for trash service," Peters said. "You move those funds out into their own fund, like a utility similar to water and sewer. That amount is fully budgeted for 2023, but it is still short about $680,000, which is essentially half of what the service costs."

Peters advised that the council will need to include $680,000 in the general fund budget to balance this fee.

While the city does have enough cash reserves, Peters recommended that the city find new ways to offset this sanitation utility fund imbalance.

"You can only do this for a couple of years until you run out of cash. Sometime in the future, you're going to have to choose a different methodology of how you are going to pay for that," he said.

Peters also shared that the 2023 budget accounts for significant capital outlays related to several infrastructure projects that are currently in development around the city. This also includes the city's repayment for outstanding bonds, such as the bonds the redevelopment commission procured for sidewalk and sewer projects around the city. Peters said there is no anticipated tax rate increase.

The assessed value of Martinsville has undergone a 25% increase compared to the previous year.

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"We are seeing this across the state. I don't know that I have exactly seen a 25% increase but we have seen substantial increases all across the state based on the inflated values of real estate," Peters said. "This is good in the fact that it will reduce the overall tax rate for the taxing districts and taxing entities, including the city."

Overall, Peters said the city's budget is in a strong financial position.

"The budget is balanced but the sanitation expense. You've got a lot of capital appropriated for 2023 projects. You still have cash in reserves. All in all, you're in really good shape," Peters said.

No members of the public approached the council to discuss the budget during the public hearing after Peters concluded his presentation.

A second reading of the 2023 budget will take place at the next meeting of the Martinsville City Council at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 24, in council chambers at Martinsville City Hall, 59 S. Jefferson st.

Board of Works

In the first order of business, the Martinsville Board of Works approved a motion permitting the mayor to sign a revised release form with Prince Media Group, LLC.

Mayor Kenny Costin recently sat down for an interview that will be included in a documentary film about the 1968 murder of Carol Jenkins in Martinsville. Prince Media Group, LLC is producing the film. The mayor had been asked to sign a waiver release form due to his participation in the documentary.

City Attorney Dale Coffey presented a revised release form before the board after reviewing the contents of the original.

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"I went through it and had a couple of areas that I had concerns with just because we haven't seen this final, edited version. We don't know what it is going to be. I have real trouble releasing somebody from something where we don't know it is going to say," Coffey said.

The board had to approve the release form since Costin participated in the interview through his role as city mayor.

Coffey asked the board to approve the changes he applied to the release form, which included removing provisions that would have prevented the city from filing any claims or lawsuits against Prince Media Group, LLC.

Police Station Engagement Letters

The board also approved engagement letters with Peters Franklin, Ltd. and Barnes and Thornburg, LLP. These are concerning plans to build a new police station as the city begins the process of acquiring proposed lease rental property tax bonds. The letters provide an overview of the financial advising services both firms are capable of providing to the city.

"These are engagement letters for the bond work that we are going to be doing for the funding of the police station. The first one is from Jeff Peters, Franklin Peters, LTD. for his work in financial advice and assistance in the issuance of bonds," Coffey explained. "The second one is Barnes and Thornburg. This is a similar letter to the previous ones in the past when they have done bond issues for us. They have done our bonds for a number of years."

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The city is exploring the possibility of constructing a new police headquarters on West Morgan Street. The proposed police station would be located on the site of the former Chrysler building at 110 W. Morgan St. That building would be demolished in order to move the project forward and build a station in its place. The Chrysler building previously housed the offices of the Martinsville Clerk-Treasurer and building inspector.

Gary Oakes, the city's planning and engineering director, previously indicated the station is estimated to cost around $4.5 million.

The next meeting of the Martinsville Board of Works is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 24, in council chambers at Martinsville City Hall, 59 S. Jefferson st.

This article originally appeared on The Reporter Times: Martinsville City Council adopts comprehensive plan update