Harris Appointed Full Time Executive Director

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New SRC President Vince Noblet

Photo by Jay Thompson

(posted Jan 21)

Scott Harris should be resigning soon from the Speedway Redevelopment Commission so he can carry out the duties as its full-time executive director. The commission voted 4-0 to allow Harris to be compensated for a 40 hour work week at $55 per hour. The contract has received legal approval.

The pending resignation clears the gray area of Harris serving both as an executive director and commission president that gave him the ability to approve his own claims as executive director.

In the annual election of officers, Vince Noblet was elected president, Benny Grove Vice President and Steve Bishop assumed the secretary's position.

The SRC discussed several of the their multiple road projects. While the 16th Street realignment remains the commission's top priority, Noblet indicated some issues are developing with Gilman Street that is causing a re-examination of plans. The SRC is thinking about an alternative route to avoid a direct extension into the lime pile that extends at the east end. The problem is the expense to move the lime pile that extends north and south of the proposed extension of Gilman to Polco Street. The road extension is to spur development to the east of Polco Street. Noblet said the commission is now contemplating connecting Gilman south to 10th Street.

"It's gonna consume an awful a lot of money to get that road all the way through." The options now include moving just the south end of the pile so Speedway Utilities Management LLC can build the central utilities complex to serve Allison Transmission. Noblet indicated the lime pile is still actively used by Praxair Gas to deposits its calcium carbonate.

Noblet is concerned about future cash flow coming from the TIF district's tax base. Tax distributions are expected to be delayed by months because of the state's reassessment. He did not want to start a project only to run out of money. Part of financing the redevelopment comes from taxes generated from the increase in assessed valuation.

The SRC asked legal counsel to begin the process for vacating Grande Avenue. The road is listed as regionally insignificant.

Commissioner Ron Fisher said the SRC is advocating closing the road because it is at the request of Allison Transmission. Fisher explained Allison has been wanting to vacate Grande Avenue before the SRC existed. Fisher explained the SRC supports Allison's request because the corporation is the top employer in the town, and it recently received a $3.8 million military contract to improve the Abrams tank.

"It's not something we're trying to push through. It is something we are pushing through for Allison." Fisher indicated he would like to see Allison build facilities over the road to add to the tax base. "We love to get taxes, so we want to help them do that."

Fisher also commended Speedway High School students for assisting with the distributions of 6,000 Lions Club Speedway Phone Books. He said they were able to accomplish the task in four hours. The Lions Club made a donation to help fund the high school prom to rewards the students efforts.

Steve Bishop announced the 15 member steering committee for area two. Some of the members include Nancy Lawrence, Spike Gelhausen, Roger Williams, Dean Farmer, the IMS, and a town council member. The steering committee will be open to the public, which differed from the previous steering committee that made recommendations concerning the Speed Zone. A 6:30 pm vision meeting to gather public input is scheduled for Feb 28 in high school cafeteria.