The first face-to-face meeting was Feb. 3. The market will start in Winamac, and as that becomes established, may expand into other Pulaski County communities over the course of a few years.

Mrs. Hinkle explained that the goal of the market is to create a clean, visually appealing, and socially engaging place for all residents to purchase locally grown food products. Origer explained that the CDC’s role is to help revive the market, as it fits nicely with current quality-of-life initiatives and the Main Street group’s goals, but that the CDC should not be involved long-term.

The tourism marketing opportunity with a television commercial arose through a video put together by the pulaskionline.org website designers. They are working to trim the tourism video, which was created as a piece of the updated county website, down to 30 seconds so that it’s able to air on television.

Mrs. Hinkle, who has been working with CBS Local Chicago, presented the latest proposal, which includes 38 30-second spots (one being within the Academy of Country Music Awards show) and a 24-hour banner on CBS Chicago’s website. Total households reached would be 1.7 million, with 100,000 viewers being reached via the Website banner.

Discussion ensued regarding the general state of tourism in Pulaski County. Origer requested permission to seek a transfer of funds from the county council and to expend not more than $20,000 on this project. The commission voted its approval.

Origer reported that in addition to the farmers’ market and the tourism advisory committee, the CDC is also partnering with Purdue Extension to offer a leadership academy in Pulaski County. The program, Leadership Pulaski County, will utilize Purdue Extension’s curriculum. Origer stated that the advisory committee hopes to implement the first class this fall. The class will cost $300/person and will hold 15-18 persons, with the focus being on people in existing leadership positions and young people looking to be the next generation of Pulaski County leadership. It is Origer’s hope that the CDC can offer a few scholarships (through the donation fund) and look to those recipients to revive the Young Professional’s Organization

Old Business

Hometown Collaboration Initiative:The commissioners have approved the countywide bike path project as a capstone project for HCI, the application for which the committee is currently completing. Origer reviewed details of the project. 

PC-CARE:Origer reported that the trustees of the land are still planning to sell the land required for the proposed rail-served industrial park. The trustees, however, have been advised by their accountant that they need to purchase roughly 150 acres to avoid a hefty capital gains tax from the sale of the proposed PC-CARE property.

Career and Technical Education curriculum grant: Origer reported that the equipment will be ordered soon and that the program will begin in the fall of this year.

Term renewals/new members:Origer stated that he is still looking for a non-exempt manufacturing representative to fill the only open CDC seat, which is designated for that position. He reiterated that he is still waiting on a legal opinion as to whether the Chamber of Commerce’s proposed representative, Pam Chumley, can serve on the Board of Zoning Appeals and the CDC concurrently. 

2016 Summit/CDC 20th-anniversary celebration:Origer reported that he has several positive responses to the VIP invitations, which included all former directors and staff members, along with anybody who had served a full three-year term on the commission. In the coming weeks, local media and the CDC’s social media platforms will start advertising for the event.

Planning/zoning administration: Following the CDC discussion in January, Origer presented four administration options to the Advisory Plan Commission (APC), one of which included Origer taking on planning and zoning administrator duties, due to his background, education, and familiarity with the newly adopted Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). The APC voted to defer to decision until the February meeting, when they would know who had been hired by the county as the new building inspector.

On the night prior to this meeting, the county commissioners voted, 2-1, to appoint one individual as the new building inspector and plan administrator. Origer reported he protested this appointment on the grounds that, in his opinion, the Indiana Code and the UDO both confer that authority upon the APC. Origer acknowledged discussion between himself and commissioners grew heated at the commissioners’ meeting. Much discussion among CDC members followed this report.

New Business

2015-2016 Achievements report:Origer presented the annual achievements report and asked for any feedback or requests for changes. All approved of the document.

Origer has formed a human resources group that meets bimonthly to discuss local HR related issues and provide learning opportunities to local HR professionals. Origer also stated that he has been involved with Winamac’s endeavor to become a designated Main Street community and will likely be offering any assistance that Francesville may need in their effort to do the same.

2016-17 officers:Origer requested that nominations for the executive board for 2016-17 be sent to him between now and 5 p.m., March 1. Additionally, nominations will be taken from the floor at the March meeting.

Other Business

Airport hangar: Commisisoner Brady suggested that the lease will be ending for the hangar at Arens Field and will likely be available soon. He questioned whether the hospital could use it as a medflight helicopter landing pad/base station. Discussion ensued.

The appointment of Suzanna Wilcoxon as the Town of Medaryville representative to the CDC was approved. Also, the appointment of Pam Chumley as the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce representative to the CDC was approved - pending a legal opinion regarding whether, as a Board of Zoning Appeals member, she would be able to serve, or if this would constitute a form of dual office holding.

Community (CDC Member) Reports (selected)

Gregg Malott: Pulaski Memorial Hospital continues to do well and is working on expansion and obtaining new providers. Malott will be meeting with several area employers to assist with employer-based wellness initiatives. Additionally, the hospital is required to perform a community needs assessment every three years and this will be done in 2016. Malott distributed two assessments to each commission member and requested members encourage residents to complete them.

Darlene Mellon: Francesville has had a few more buildings go into foreclosure. Like Winamac, Francesville is in the beginning stages of becoming an Indiana Main Street community. Mrs. Mellon voiced concern over some local organizations being Winamac-centric and therefore, causing harm to the quality-of-life initiatives that Medaryville and Francesville are working toward, particularly potentially relocating one Head Start classroom to West Central Elementary School.

Discussion ensued. CDC board member/county commissioner Larry Brady suggested Origer contact Rep. Jackie Walorski’s office regarding some of the concerns with the federal funding of the Head Start program.

Additionally, the Community Foundation of Pulaski County has achieved 87% of it’s fundraising goal, leaving $65,000 to be raised by the end of March.

Commissioner Brady: The Anliker Ditch will be cleaned out and a new culvert constructed. The Indiana State Highway Department, along with others, researched the drainage problems near the Patio Drive-In in Francesville. A full report will be presented at the next Drainage Board meeting.

Brady also suggested that this might be a good time for Francesville to replace its tile as well, due to the interlocking nature of it. Brady announced that he had filed to run for a second term and that Kenny Becker also had filed for the same position.

Suzanna Wilcoxon: Medaryville is working clean up the town through enforcement of a trash ordinance. It seems to be going well as reasonably expected.

John Plowman: Link Environmental continues to focus on the parts aspect of the business, in addition to creating a point-of-sale website which is expected to be up and running in May. Regarding the Town of Winamac, the old hotel (on Main and Logan streets) has been demolished, and there is now a fund set up through the Community Foundation for the construction of a town pool. Plowman also noted that Pulaski County now has 14 deficient bridges

Bill Champion: FRATCO has been working with Purdue’s Manufacturing Extension program in order to streamline processes, which they’ve found to be very beneficial.