A program to entice remote workers to Crawfordsville gained the support of the full Crawfordsville Common Council.
On Tuesday, the council approved by a 5-0 vote the first reading of an ordinance making an additional appropriation of $75,000 available from the city’s COVID relief funds to pay TMap, doing business as MakeMyMove. The company will help the city develop and execute a remote worker recruiting strategy. They will conduct a one-year program to generate a pool of qualified applicants and recruit those individuals to work and live in Crawfordsville.
The program is a partnership with the Indiana Economic Development Corp. and includes some mathcing grant funding. Mayor Todd Barton said several other communities have already signed on.
As part of the campaign, the city will set the eligibility parameters, which will most likely include a minimum income from the remote job of $100,000 and written verification from an employer that the position is remote.
Barton indicated the goal is to attract 15 high-wage remote workers with a yet to be determined incentive package.
Two additional readings are needed to finalize and adopt the ordinance.
In other business, the council:
• Adopted ordinances for city tax rates; fixing salaries for the appointed officers and employees; and fixing salaries for the mayor, clerk-treasurer and common council.
• Approved a resolution that supports modifying the Local Income Tax rate for the county. The county has proposed raising the existing LIT rate of .60% to .95% to generate funds for the county’s public safety fund. Money generated would help support county law enforcement personnel, the central communications center, etc., said Montgomery County Council President Tom Mellish, who attended the city council meeting.
• Adopted an ordinance setting rates for electric vehicle fast charging stations. The rate will be 58 cents per kilowatt hour when these stations are installed in Crawfordsville. Currently, the city has two regular EV charging stations at the Crawfordsville District Public Library, 205 S. Washington St., and the Dr. Philip Q. Michal Trailhead Park, 510 S. Washington St. Rates for these charging stations will remain at 26 cents per kilowatt hour.
• Approved a resolution awarding two $7,000 facade grants to Jennifer Cullings who is renovating the properties at 122 and 124 W. Main St. These grants were previously approved by the Crawfordsville Historic Preservation Commission. Cullings will perform and pay for the renovation work first and then be reimbursed by the grant funds.
• Approved a resolution for tax abatement for CSI Technology at 2326 S. U.S. 231.
• Approved on first reading subtle boundary changes to the city’s five wards. This realignment is conducted every 10 years to make sure the wards are evenly balancedbased on population. None of the boundary changes will cause any currently elected officials to lose their seat on the council.
It was suggested that the new map be given a higher profile placement on the city’s website to help residents know which ward and precinct they reside in and who represents them on the council.
Two additional readings are needed before this ordinance is adopted.
• Accepted a resolution adopting a revised and amended Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan. The plan is designed to help state and local governments identify hazards and reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property. Communities must adopt a plan to be eligible for natural flood insurance programs. Both the city and the county have adopted the plan.
• Removed a previously proposed ordinance that would regulate the operation of unmanned aircraft systems in the city. Officials now believe the rules and regulations that are in place at the state and federal level will adequately protect local citizens.
