Landowners are asking the City of Knox to prepare the way for future growth to the south. Dick Binkley and Jeff Cambe recently told the city council that there’s opportunity for growth along U.S. 35 south of town, but in order for that to happen, the city needs to invest in sewer and water infrastructure.
“The future of our community, if we want it to grow, it’s obvious what we’ve got to do,” Binkley said. “So we either stay the same, or we spend the money and invest it in future growth.”
While city officials said expansion in that direction remains a long-term goal, Mayor Dennis Estok pointed out that there are a lot of hurdles. The water and sewer extensions are estimated to cost more than $414,000, and Estok said taking out additional debt isn’t an option right now. Beyond that, he felt that it wouldn’t make sense for the city unless all of the land would be annexed.
“You will never get a payback if you run city water and sewer out that far without annexing back,” Estok said. “You can’t make it off the water bills. You make it off the growth in assessed value.”
In the meantime, efforts continue to revitalize what Knox already has. Estok is looking to put together a steering committee to help the city get a Main Street designation from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. “Since we lost the Stellar, this is the next step,” the mayor said. “We have to become one. There’s so many advantages to being a designated Main Street for us, and I think to reach our goals for the downtown and all that, we have to.”
Becoming an Indiana Main Street community would open up grant opportunities for downtown revitalization. The city itself wouldn’t apply for the designation. Instead, it’s typically a nonprofit organization made up of downtown business and property owners, as well as other interested individuals.
Estok said a recent informational meeting only drew a few people, but he’s found some more who’d be interested. He stressed that individuals don’t have to own a business to get involved. The mayor plans to hold another meeting after Thanksgiving. The formal application for an Indiana Main Street designation is due by March 5.
