City Council Briefs
OEDC takes ownership of the Old City Hall
The City Council on Aug. 12 voted to transfer ownership and the County’s lease of the Young County sub-courthouse on Grand Avenue to the Olney Economic Development Corporation. The City has been wrestling with how to afford to repair the crumbling facade of the old building that once served as Olney City Hall, and to update the aging windows and air conditioning units for at least a year. The Public Works Department has cordoned off the front of the building to prevent plaster material from falling on pedestrians while it looks for funding and someone to do the work. The OEDC proposed a plan to make more extensive renovations to the building as part of an update of Main Street called the Facade program, OEDC executive director Tom Parker told the Council.
The OEDC has hired a design-build firm that will evaluate how the sub-courthouse can fit into the overall plan for revitalizing Main Street, he said.
County officials who rent the first floor “are very much in favor it we’re upgrading and updating,” OEDC board president Johnny Moore told the Council.
Council gathers data on TIRZ
The City Council voted to allow an expert hired by the OEDC to gather information and present a plan to create a tax incremental reinvestment zone [TIRZ] in Olney to attract new businesses to town and upgrade the city’s infrastructure.
The OEDC voted in March to recommend that the City create a TIRZ, and hired two firms to come up with a citywide plan and a footprint.
The Council heard from David Pettit, a consultant in public-private partnerships, about the steps for forming a TIRZ in Olney and how the revenue generated by the tax zone could be collected and spent.
“We want to kick off the process so we can get you the numbers so you can make an informed decision,” Mr. Pettit said.
The OEDC has tentatively designated a section of Main Street and two blocks on either side, as well as the Olney Airport and Olney Lake for inclusion in the TIRZ, Mr. Parker said.
City sells three lots to Southlake developer The City Council approved the sales of three city-owned lots to a Metroplex developer that plans to put manufactured homes on the sites. The Council sold 609 S. Avenue B, 611 S. Avenue B and 605 N. Avenue E to KMRE Investments of Southlake, Texas.
“They’re wanting to buy and then clean up and then put a new manufactured home, a 2023 or 2024 manufactured home on it,” Mayor Rue Rogers said. The same buyer bought a lot adjoining 605 N. Avenue E in a private sale in April and wants to combine the two lots to make a larger home site, City Secretary Tammy Hourigan said.
“They want to put a larger manufactured home on it and be able to have a larger yard and everything for it,” she said.
“What is the typical housing on that street? Are most of the houses on the street trailer houses?” Councilmember Thea Sullivan asked. “Because I just don’t want to ruin the area.”
The Council last year lifted a moratorium that prohibited manufactured housing in certain areas of Olney. The manufactured homes in question would not be on wheels or axles, City Administrator Simon Dwyer said.
“They look good in the neighborhood and they actually bring the neighborhood up,” said Olney Police Chief Dan Birbeck, who also manages code enforcement.
A company representative said he “planned on doing something in three to six months,” Mr. Dwyer told the Council.