The Hamlet Town Council is being asked to make a decision on whether or not it will be part of Starke County’s quest to become a Stellar Community. The Starke County Economic Development Foundation has been spearheading the effort, which officials hope will open the door to additional grant opportunities and investment.
During Wednesday’s council meeting, Special Projects Coordinator Ron Gifford noted that Hamlet was the only Starke County community not represented at a recent informational meeting hosted by the foundation. He added that the county commissioners, North Judson Town Council, and Knox Mayor Dennis Estok have already voiced their support. “It would obviously make a better application if we could have Hamlet involved, as well,” Gifford said. “And so I’m giving you information this month, and I’d like to come back next month and see if you have other questions or if you can make a formal vote to be involved in it.”
But joining in the application comes at a cost. Gifford said Hamlet would have to complete a five-year comprehensive plan, which would cost about $50,000. However, 90 percent of that would be covered by grant funding. “For the $5,000 entry to do that, don’t let that stop you from doing it,” Gifford told council members. “We’ll find the money.”
Gifford said the town would also have to prove that more than 51 percent of its residents have low-to-moderate incomes. He believed Hamlet could do that using census data, meaning it wouldn’t have to pay for an income survey.
But Council President Dave Kesvormas wasn’t so sure. “They told us that the last time,” he said, referring to the fire station project a few years ago, “and then they kind of kicked back and said, ‘Well, you know, we do have to have an income survey.’ And then, ‘Now you’re too rich because you’re going to include the township because people in the township make too much money, but the town doesn’t.’ So now if it’s just the town, you’re asking for the world, and we’re not going to get it.”
He noted that the money spent on an income survey could build a lot of roads and sidewalks, especially if multiple surveys turn out to be needed. Gifford assured Kesvormas that Hamlet could join the Stellar application without an income survey, but he couldn’t guarantee that the Stellar Program wouldn’t ask for more information later.
Council members agreed to revisit the issue during their next meeting. They moved it to July 18, to avoid conflicting with the Starke County Fair.
