The Carroll County Redevelopment Commission and Redevelopment Authority met Friday to hear a funding request from Delphi Mayor Randy Strasser.

Members of the commission are Dale Zinn, Raymond Zink, Monty Edging, Kurtis Fouts and Larry Trapp. Members of the authority include Pat Clawson, Ralph Hughes and Jay Bush. Counsel for both groups is Barry Emerson. Only Zink, Trapp and Hughes attended the meeting therefore no decision could be made due to the lack of a quorum.

Strasser, along with Carroll County Economic Development Corporation Director Laura Walls, presented the city’s proposal to those present.

Walls explained that Delphi and the EDC are partnering in the project to develop a plan for future expansion in an area south and west of Delphi. She said EDC is aggressively pursuing food processors to move to Carroll County to compliment the Indiana Packers Corporation (IPC) activity already in the area. IPC is in a Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) district. She said the study was planned to “give a roadmap” to what development should be pursued to locate in the vicinity.

Strasser said that IPC is going to be the catalyst for growth south of Delphi. He said the city council has already given approval for the cost of a study, which is expected to be between $20,000 and $25,000.

Strasser said EDC is willing to pay one-third of that cost.

“What are you wanting from this commission?” questioned redevelopment commission president Trapp.

“What does this commission want from development in this area?” replied Strasser.

A map was distributed during the meeting which indicates that, in addition to the current TIF districts at IPC and the former Gray’s Turkey Farm, significant more land mass could be included in the plan. Strasser said it is feasible to make roughly 100 acres south and west of the Delphi city limits into one or more TIF districts.

Emerson commented that it “should not be a problem to combine” all of the TIF districts if more are established.

According to another handout, the scope of the proposed study includes engineering assistance with utility and transportation planning for the development of the area surrounding the proposed interchange between the new Hoosier Heartland Highway (HHH) and US421 on the south side of Delphi.

The study will review existing Delphi water and sewer facilities and capacities, review zoning and develop a projection of future water and sewer use. A proposed layout will be created as well as sizes for water and sanitary sewer facilities, a plan for the management of traffic will be developed, an opinion of probable construction costs for each solution recommended will be prepared and a report and plan will be developed for the Delphi City Council.

“We have to move forward,” Strasser explained. “We have to be prepared.”

The map of the proposed study area can be found at the city building and at the Delphi Comet office. The Redevelopment Commission and Authority will meet Aug. 5 at 1 p.m. in the commissioners meeting room to discuss the funding request.