The Crawfordsville City Council met Monday, approving several measures, adopting ordinances and introducing others on first reading.
Under fiscal affairs, council members held a first reading on an ordinance related to improvements to the city’s electric utility system and the issuance of revenue bonds. The proposal would authorize up to $12.7 million in bonds to fund construction of a new substation on Memorial Drive, with an estimated project cost of $10.75 million. City officials said the new substation would help relieve demand on the Kentucky Street substation and support commercial and industrial customers. Because the bonds are revenue-based, they would not be paid through property taxes, though officials said the project could lead to future rate increases for commercial and industrial customers of Crawfordsville Electric Light & Power.
The council also held a first reading on an ordinance to establish a non-reverting Engineering Review Fees Fund. The fund would allow the city to pay engineering costs for projects directly from a dedicated account.
Members approved a resolution declaring certain fund accounts dormant, allowing the city to close accounts that are no longer in use.
In addition, the council adopted an ordinance establishing the Market Street FRA Grant fund. The city will use the account to track revenue and expenses related to a federal grant for the Market Street railroad study and to manage reimbursements through a single fund.
Under traffic, parking and safety, the council considered two ordinances involving disabled parking spaces. One ordinance would add a disabled parking space directly in front of 307 E. Jefferson St. at the request of the property owner. Another ordinance would remove a handicapped parking designation at 515 S. Water St., also at the request of the property’s new owner, who said the designation is no longer needed.
In other business, the council appointed Gwynn Wills as its representative to the Animal Welfare League of Montgomery County.
