HUMBOLDT — Humboldt City Council members authorized a change Monday in its neighborhood revitalization plan, provided other taxing agencies in the county agree.
Humboldt plans to offer tax rebates for improved properties in its downtown business district and any area west of Ninth Street.
Up to now, anybody who lived south of Bridge Street had been eligible to participate. The new boundaries mean that those south of Bridge and east of Ninth are no longer eligible to apply, although the rebates will continue for those already approved. The change would be for new applications only.
The plan would feature tax rebates for all residential improvements valued at greater than $3,000 and commercial and industrial properties at more than $5,000. The plan calls for 100 percent rebates for the greater valuation figures for the first six years, before rolling back up through the 10th year.
City Administrator Larry Tucker noted that the rebates are an incentive for Humboldt home and business owners to improve their properties.
The city is seeking participation by the county, Allen County Community College and USD 258 as part of an interlocal agreement. From there, final approval by the state is necessary, Tucker said.
COUNCIL MEMBERS expressed an interest in upgrading the city’s storm siren. Currently, Humboldt has a single siren at its city square, which is difficult to hear in the south part of town, Tucker said, a potentially dangerous situation in the spring and summer when hundreds of residents flock to local ball diamonds and parks in that part of town.
Adding a second siren, perhaps near the swimming pool, would ensure full coverage throughout the city.
Pam Beasley, Allen County director of emergency management, told council members that the system could be upgraded by adding a second siren at a cost of about $15,000 to $17,000.
Humboldt will apply for a state grant that would rebate 75 percent of the project’s cost, leaving Humboldt’s responsibility at $3,750 to $4,250. The city’s contribution also could be provided through labor, Beasley said.
Council members approved the city’s intent to apply for the grant, but asked if the new system should place the more powerful of the two sirens in the north part of town. The original plan carried plans for the more powerful siren to be to the south.
THE COUNCIL also approved change orders totaling $10,692 to the city’s water line improvement project in order to install 2-inch lines in three parts of town where water pressure was too low. The city still has about $80,000 in its contingency fund to cover such change orders in the future, Tucker said.
Council members also approved a resolution to increase the bond authority to pay for the $1.67 million project as well as more temporary financing to help fund the initial phase.
The city already has used $680,000 in temporary financing to fund the initial phase. Another $590,000 is being authorized to fund the second phase, to ensure work continues until the city receives a $1.27 million, long-term loan from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development office. Humboldt also received a $400,000 Community Development Block Grant for the project.
THE CITY WILL advertise for a part-time court clerk’s position. The city had instituted a hiring freeze, which requires council approval to fill any vacancies. A full-time clerk and Humboldt Police Department office manager position will soon come open, Tucker said.
Council members agreed to drop the police department office duties from the position to ensure it remains part time.
