Culver Stellarbration Set for Nov. 8

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The state recognition of the Stellar Communities Designation Program designees is set for today from 10 a.m. to noon ET in Indianapolis. Officials from the Town of Culver and the City of Madison will attend today’s festivities as a Stellarbration of becoming stellar communities.

Culver’s local Stellarbration will be held Wednesday, Nov. 8 at the Culver Beach Lodge. Town Manager Jonathan Leist told the Culver Town Council Tuesday night that Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch will attend the local event that begins at 3 p.m. with an open house from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET. The public is invited to attend.

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Town of Culver Awarded All Requested Community Crossings Funding

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Culver Town Manger Jonathan Leist informed the board last week that the town is one of the few communities in the area who received all the Community Crossings grant funds they requested this year. He said the $206,000 received will go a long way to assist with projects they have in the works.

Leist mentioned that work on College Avenue, parts of Jefferson Street and the entrance at the Sand Hill Farm are the three priority projects. He told council members that in their grant proposal they utilized estimates that came from E&B paving. However, since those numbers were calculated several months ago, Utility Superintendent Bob Porter is looking into quotes. Leist said he is expected to present those quotes at the next town council meeting. Continue reading →

Stellar Update Provided to Culver Town Council

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Town administrators and community members in Culver have been preparing for the upcoming Stellar Communities Designation Program site visit. On Wednesday evening, the Culver Town Council received an update about what has happened so far and what is yet to come.

Culver is one of three finalists in District 2 of the program, competing to be designated as a Stellar Community. In an effort to ensure they are aptly prepared, the Stellar Committee has been meeting on Tuesdays during the month of September. The night before the town council meeting, the committee met and did a practice run for the site visit. Continue reading →

Economic Growth Anticipated As a Result of Culver Town Council’s Resolution Approval

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

An area in Culver known commonly as “Sand Hill Farms” located at 540 W Jefferson Street received economic revitalization area and economic target area status as a result of a resolution passed by the Culver City Council Wednesday night.

Town Manager Jonathan Leist explained that the recently created Culver Economic Development Commission is permitted to grant tax abatement for residential property under state law. Earlier this week, the Culver EDC met for the first time and passed a resolution recommending that the city council classify this entire parcel on Jefferson Street as both an economic revitalization area and an economic target area to allow for future residential tax abatement.

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Newly Formed Culver Economic Development Commission to Meet Tonight

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Culver Economic Development Commission will meet tonight.

The three members, Culver Town Manager Jonathan Leist, Marshall County Commissioner Kevin Overmyer and Don Fox, will organize and consider an ordinance for a residential tax abatement for the Sand Hill Farms workforce development housing project. The proposed format of the tax abatement will also be discussed.

The Culver Economic Development Commission will meet at 6:30 p.m. ET tonight at the Culver Town Hall.

Culver Town Council Accepts Street Deed of Dedication

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

Culver Town Manager Jonathan Leist presented the town council this week with a deed of dedication for the streets for the Sandhill Farm workforce development housing project.

The proposed housing project will be constructed on W. Jefferson Street. The streets in the project may be extended as needed. The housing development will include 24 apartment units. It is part of the town’s Stellar Communities Designation Program application.

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Culver Town Council Establishes Economic Development Commission

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Culver Town Council approved the formation of the Culver Economic Development Commission.

A public hearing on the matter was held Tuesday night where a question about the purpose of the commission was raised. Town Council President Ginny Bess Munroe explained that the commission would be able to deem a residential project eligible for tax abatement. She further explained that a residential tax abatement differs from a commercial tax abatement, but the financial incentive is the same. A recommendation for a residential tax abatement has to be presented by the commission to the town council for approval.

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Lake Maxinkuckee Amphitheater Plans Moving Forward

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

Now that most of the funds for the Lake Maxinkuckee Amphitheater have been gathered, officials can move forward with making the plan a reality.

Culver Town Manager Jonathan Leist told the town council last week that the plans for the construction phase of the project will be presented this week. Construction may begin in October of this year and be complete in April of 2018.

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Stellar Communities Designation Program Finalists Announced

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The finalists for the 2017 Stellar Communities Designation Program were announced early Thursday morning.

The Town of Culver was selected a finalist for the second consecutive year. Finalist communities are divided into two different categories based on population for the designation award. Culver will be placed into Division 2 which is for communities that have a population of 5,999 or less. Culver will compete against the Town of Churubusco in Whitley County and the City of Union City in Randolph County.

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Culver Town Council to Hear Public Input on Housing Project

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Culver Town Council will be opening up a public input session for discussion of the Sand Hill Farms workforce housing development project.

Town Manager Jonathan Leist explained that the project has been in the town’s comprehensive plan since the plan’s adoption in 2014. The lack of housing was identified as one of the main issues in the plan. Leist said a committee was formed to look into the project.

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Communities Scrambling to Maintain Restrictions on Small Cell Towers

Posted on Author Michael Gallenberger
culver town hall
 

Indiana communities are worried cell towers could start popping up without their permission, under a measure recently passed by the state legislature, unless they take action by this Sunday. Now, municipalities around the state are scrambling to meet the deadline. The North Judson Town Council will meet in special session this morning at 7:30, while the Culver Town Council met yesterday afternoon. Continue reading →

Culver Stellar Communities Committee Finalizing Letter of Intent

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Culver Stellar Communities Committee is working hard to complete paperwork necessary to announce the Town of Culver’s intentions to seek this year’s Stellar Community designation.

The purpose of the Stellar Communities Designation Program is to recognize Indiana’s smaller communities that have identified comprehensive community and economic development projects and activities in addition to a plan and key partnerships. Culver was close to winning the designation of a Stellar Community last year, but the honor was awarded to Corydon.

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Progress Moves Forward on Culver Bike and Pedestrian Trail

Posted on Author Anita Goodan
Lake Maxinkuckee beach in Culver

One project that the Culver Town Council and the Stellar Communities Committee is focused on is a bike and pedestrian trail around Lake Maxinkuckee.

Town Manager Jonathan Leist said the project began with creating a master plan last year with consulting firm Troyer Group for the trail to be funded if the town was named a Stellar Community. The idea is to create a scenic trail around the lake with the ability to accommodate walkers, runners and bicyclists as a way for residents to get some exercise and see the town from a different perspective.

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Culver Town Council Keeps Stellar Communities Project Rolling

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Culver Town Council continues to move forward with an application to the Stellar Communities Program.

Town Manager Jonathan Leist reported that he and Council President Ginny Bess Munroe have split up responsibilities to process the letter of intent which is due Friday, April 28. That five page document will be reviewed by the Stellar Communities committee on Tuesday, April 4 at 5:30 p.m. at the Culver Town Hall. The meeting is open to any resident interested in being a part of the committee.

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Culver Town Council and CRC Move Forward with Stellar Communities Application

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Culver Town Council and Culver Redevelopment Commission met in a special joint session on Monday night to discuss the status of the Stellar Communities Program application.

Town Manager Jonathan Leist said the two groups have been meeting regularly since last year’s attempt at the recognition to make improvements to this year’s application. He said a vote was taken Monday night to take the next step in this year’s application process.

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