Infrastructure News Summary
For November 07, 2007

BROWNSBURG DISPUTES PARKWAY FUNDING
Indianapolis Star
11-07-07

Hendricks County leaders' plan to pay for future Ronald Reagan Parkway construction with a tax-increment finance district continues to draw objections from Brownsburg officials. County Commissioners on Tuesday looked at two maps showing variations of a possible tax-increment financing district along the parkway. The county has completed about half of the 15-mile parkway, a major north-south corridor that will extend from I-70 in Plainfield to the Hendricks County line north of Brownsburg, but lacks funding to finish it. Both maps showing possible TIF districts included land along each side of the parkway not within a town's corporate limits. The second map added extensions along U.S. 136 and 56th Street to the Marion County line. The TIF district would allow the county to take commercial property tax dollars within a designated area and set them aside to pay for the parkway. Brownsburg officials complain that the TIF district would exclude areas the town had hoped to annex and add to its tax base. Town officials last week sent a letter to the county requesting more time to find other funding options. http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071107/LOCAL05/711070445/1020/LOCAL05

VOTERS VENT ANGER, DEMAND NEW DIRECTION FOR CITY
Indianapolis Star
11-07-07

Editorial. "Incumbents in the Indiana Statehouse need to pay close attention to Tuesday's results. The public is clearly demanding an overhaul of the property tax system. … Yet Tuesday's election wasn't only about taxes. Residents also are worried about the rise in crime … and about crumbling streets and sidewalks. Ballard deserves great credit for running a successful campaign, one that drew little initial support from his own party. But now the very difficult job of governing a large and complex city awaits." http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071107/OPINION/711070439/1002/OPINION

MAIN STREET IN MISHAWAKA TO OPEN AFTER RAIL CROSSING WORK
South Bend Tribune
11-07-07

Mishawaka - North Main Street is scheduled to reopen to traffic Monday. Canadian National Railroad continues work on schedule for the new railroad crossing as part of the Main Street underpass project. Construction began Oct. 22. When Main Street reopens at the railroad crossing, there will two lanes of traffic (one southbound and one northbound) for the duration of the underpass project. http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071107/News01/71107009/1052/News01