It should be an awesome first impression. As Indiana Stellar Communities Pilot Program site visit members ride into downtown Batesville Thursday, Feb. 3, they will see a blur of blue, gold and white – the city’s campaign colors.
Citizens will line the streets, holding aloft 600 blue and gold balloons donated by Batesville Christian Church and 500 metallic stars funded by the city.
Children will wave at the visitors, displaying posters they decorated – with the “human star” photo of area residents snapped Jan. 16 prominently displayed in the middle of each. Others near the Memorial Building will hold large American flags borrowed from the Patriot Guard Riders.
As people smile and cheer, the Batesville High School band will musically welcome the entourage from three Indiana agencies funding the competition – Office of Community and Rural Affairs, Housing and Community Development Authority and Department of Transportation.
The stakes are high. The city could capture up to $4 million over the next three years for a revitalization effort if it is one of two chosen from among a dozen finalists.
If 600 could gather for a human star, is it too much to ask for 2,000 to be a part of this welcoming party?
“We need the community to come out like never before,” wrote outgoing community development director Kathleen Jeffers in a mass e-mail that began circulating Jan. 27. “Let's stun the judges with our numbers and enthusiasm!”
Last week Mayor Rick Fledderman told Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce dinner attendees, “Next Thursday is going to be a really special day in Batesville ... We really want to get everyone downtown. Please consider sending a sizable group from your business to represent you.” Participants are asked to line the streets from the library to the Memorial Building from 9-9:40 a.m.
Jeffers suggests, “Dress festively and identify your Batesville passion, club, business, sport, school, or civic group. Bring signage to welcome judges and let them know your group's name.” Free coffee and hot chocolate stations will be located at the library courtyard, Giesting Financial and the future Amack's Well (formerly Taff Furniture).
Site visit committee members will arrive around 9:15 a.m. and board a Hill-Rom 20-person bus at Hillcrest Country Club. It will be escorted downtown by a Batesville police car.
After Jim Dreyer suggested the city use Burma Shave-style slogans (one or two words placed every so often along a route), Chris Lowery created six rhymes. Street department workers have been producing those signs and will stake them.
Business owners are placing human star posters in their windows and decorating storefronts and doors in a show of unity. Victor Sarringhaus ordered 30 large metallic stars, which he and Melissa Tucker will spray-paint gold. Then Batesville Tool and Die workers will solder metal rods to the stars so they can be staked in downtown pots lining streets. Blue ribbons will trail from their tops.
A hundred T-shirts for core volunteers to wear have been ordered, funded by Margaret Mary Community Hospital and Enhanced Telecommunications Corp. When the Stellar visitors arrive at the Memorial Building, “we'd like to create some excitement" in the foyer, reports incoming community development director Vicki Kellerman. A barbershop group will sing about Batesville’s assets to the tune of “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad.”
Site visit committee members will enjoy coffee and doughnuts in the council chambers before taking a walking tour.
On George Street they will view space for a Safe Passage expansion. On East Pearl Street they will imagine a proposed community gathering spot and traffic and parking reconfigurations. On Depot Street they will hear plans for the future RomWeber Flats, apartments for citizens 55 and up; and a biking and hiking trail from downtown to Liberty Park. Each project site will have a large 4-by-4-foot sign with a blue B (for Batesville), gold stars and the phrase Star Potential.
The two Hoosier cities that nab the sizable grants will be announced around March 1.
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