WASHINGTON —
The WestGate @ Crane Authority asked the Daviess County Commissioners Monday to help with some less-than-stellar properties around the Tech Park.
Charles Selby, Executive Director of the park, said there are three properties on the entrance to the park — an abandoned gas station, oil storage facility and an abandoned school — that Selby said are not impressing new businesses in the park.
“We’ve made attempts with these people about purchasing the properties,” Selby said. “We’ve not got anywhere with that. It’s an exorbitant amount they want or they do not want to do anything with them.”
Selby asked the commissioners to apply leverage to the owners of the properties to clean them up.
“I think it is going to make a big difference there at the park,” Selby said.
According to Selby, WestGate has over $70 million in private investment, over 850 jobs and $55 million in payroll a year. The tech park is also finishing work on a convention center and a battery innovation center and hotel are getting ready to break ground.
After Selby’s presentation, the commissioners discussed what they could do, including condemning properties. But there were environmental concerns.
“I don’t think we want to take on those properties because of (environmental cleanup),” Commissioner Tony Wichman said.
The commissioners then decided to have County Attorney Grant Swartzentruber to look into their options, including possible condemnation.
Selby said the owners of the properties include Van Hoy Construction of Loogootee for the school, Jones Oil Company for the storage sites and Bill Hartsburg of Scotland for the gas station.
Health Ordinance
The commissioners passed a revised health ordinance that will move funds away from state control and place them locally.
County Health Nurse Kathy Sullender said the ordinance will move money from administrative fees collected at local shot clinics from a “local health maintenance fund,” to a the “county general health fund.”
Sullender said this way, the county and not the state will be in control of what is spent.
“Our goal is to take these dollars and put it into the local vaccination program,” Sullender said. “A lot of middle class Americans who have health insurance cannot afford to vaccinate their children.”
The commissioners approved the first reading of the ordinance.
Bridge Update
Highway Superintendent Phil Cornelius and Swartzentruber gave progress on the overhead railroad bridge on S.E. 15th Street in Washington.
Swartzentruber said CSX Transportation acknowledged they do own the bridge after a notice to sue was sent by the county last month. He said they are willing to deal.
“What we would want to get it out of their hands,” Swartzentruber said.
Cornelius said he has talked with bridge engineers to get some kind of idea how much it will cost to bring the bridge back to acceptable standards. He said there are several options, including applying for federal aid and having CSX pay for the matching funds. The city of Washington, Swartzentruber said, were also ready to help with the bridge.
Swartzentruber said there was an offer 15 years ago for $150,000, but was not answered. Since then, the bridge has deteriorated and was damaged by a CSX train last year.
The commissioners instructed Swartzentruber to start negotiating at $500,000 and include all options, including federal aid.
Local News
WestGate asks county for property help
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Wrestlers for relay
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Washington Catholic High School will hold its commencement exercises at 8 p.m. Friday in the gymnasium. Following the procession and invocation, Karie Craney, principal, will make introductory remarks. The salutatory addresses by Hannah Emmons and Steven Holland will follow a musical selection by the WC Ensemble. The valedictory address will then be given by Andrea Onyett. Daryl Hagan, superintendent of Catholic Schools Diocese of Evansville, and Andrew Wibbeler, dean of students, will present graduate scholarships. Bishop Charles C. Thompson, Diocese of Evansville, Daryl Hagan and Karie Craney will then present the diplomas.
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D2DInc moves to WestGate @ Crane
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