CLARK COUNTY — After two hours of discussion, including more than 25 public comments in opposition, the Clark County Council passed an ordinance in support of a Regional Cities Initiative on Monday that could attract millions in state funding.
The initiative is part of a statewide program that will designate two regions, composed of counties and cities, to receive money from an allotted $84 million in state funding to put toward development projects.
The vote passed 5-1 with council member Kelly Khuri voting against the ordinance. Scott County is the only other contiguous county to pass the ordinance. The Harrison County Council voted against the ordinance Monday.
In order to apply for the money, a region must develop a Regional Development Authority. The authority would be composed of a total of five members appointed by the participating city or county’s executive bodies. Those members, along with local governments, would be tasked with prioritizing projects to receive funding.
Once the authority is formed, the RDA must submit an application by Aug. 31. The state is expected to choose two regions by the end of the year.
Opponents of forming an RDA say Clark County would be subject to a non-elected, non-representative body and that the county would be forced to commit funding to future projects.
One Southern Indiana President Wendy Dant Chesser addressed those concerns and others Monday night. Dant Chesser said the members of the RDA would be appointed by county commissioners and that commissioners could remove an RDA member with a three-fourths vote.
As far as committed funding, Dant Chesser said the county is not required to promise any funding to possible future projects. The RDA would have to present project funding to the county's fiscal body, the council, for approval. If the council doesn't approve funding, the RDA can seek out other sources of funding.
Several residents also expressed concerns about the RDA's ability to enforce eminent domain. Dant Chesser said the ordinance prohibits eminent domain, but the council attorney, Scott Lewis, said that prohibition would not trump state statute allowing eminent domain.
Sellersburg resident Lisa Morris was one of more than 25 people to speak against the ordinance following Dant Chesser's comments.
"It's an unelected board that will be using taxpayer money to fund their projects and that is taxation without representation," Morris said after the vote. "I'm disappointed tonight."
Morris and others said that the region doesn't need an RDA to spur development. Development is already happening, they said. Others, like Ron Smith of Jeffersonville, said they liked their small town communities as they were. Smith has lived in Jeffersonville for 71 years.
"I don't want to be Louisville," Smith said.
Around 10 people spoke in favor of the ordinance, citing regional competitiveness and economic development. Each time someone finished speaking, opponents waved signs in the air. One sign read, "Do not enslave my children."
After hearing public comments, council members discussed the ordinance. Council president Barbara Hollis was the first member to speak in favor.
"I believe we’re in a spot to allow other communities in our counties to be able to have a chance at some of this," Hollis said.
If Clark County is part of the region designated by the state, all of the cities within the county will be eligible for funding for projects. Without the county's involvement, Jeffersonville would be the only city to qualify to even apply for the designation.
If the region including Clark County is not designated for Regional Cities Initiative funding, Dant Chesser said One Southern Indiana would staff the RDA board at no cost to the county. The RDA would then have to meet quarterly per state statute. Dant Chesser said that would still be an opportunity to have "regional conversations."
"Obviously I'm pleased with how the vote went," Dant Chesser said. "There was a lot of good public discourse on those things in the legislation that may not ever come to fruition [but it] was still a good discourse to have."
The Floyd County Council is scheduled to vote on the ordinance Tuesday, Aug. 11, at 4 p.m. Washington County will reconsider the initiative at a special meeting on Aug. 20 at 1 p.m. Washington County previously passed on the resolution.