Merrillville community center views mixed
A proposed Merrillville community center received a show of support Tuesday from the business community, while a Town Council candidate voiced his opposition during public hearings on proposed financing mechanisms for the $24 million project.
Sue Reed, president and CEO of the Crossroads Regional Chamber of Commerce, and Leonard White, winner of the Democratic primary for the 7th Ward Council seat in May, were the only individuals commenting during a public hearing on the possible issuance of a $12 million general obligation bond to pay for half of the project’s total cost.
No one spoke during a public hearing on possibly using Merrillville Road tax increment financing money for the remaining $12 million. The hearing was held during the Redevelopment Commission meeting just prior to the Town Council meeting.
“We urge you to approve the community center. It will create a higher quality of life for residents as well as the businesses,” said Reed, who presented a letter of support from the chamber’s board of directors to council members.
She said the chamber represents 650 businesses, 37% of which have Merrillville addresses, and a large majority of whom support the project.
Reed said having a community-run recreation center has been proven to reduce crime and one in Merrillville would help the town’s parks department have adequate programming.
“It would revitalize a section of Broadway that’s in need. It would be an economic driver, as well,” Reed said.
The community center is proposed to be built at the site of the former Y & W Drive-In on Broadway.
White said he represented 800 residents who told him they’d rather see the money used for another purpose, though he didn’t specify what.
“I’m opposed to this until we find out how the money will be paid back,” White said.
“If you feel so strongly about it, why didn’t you have a referendum,” he asked the council.
Robert Swintz, the town’s financial adviser, said the public hearings were the first steps in a long process to determine if the Town Council is in favor of both funding mechanisms.
He said the general obligation bond would be financed over 20 years at a conservative estimate of 5% interest. He said the goal is to structure the debt so that payments for this new bond will replace the payments made on an existing bond that is about to be paid off.
“There won’t be an increase in taxes because of the bonds,” he said.