By ADAM STEWART

Staff writer

Renovating the current Midway Motors building into USD 410’s new district office after the company moves to its new location will cost the district about $210,000.

USD 410 Board of Education approved bids for the renovation in a special meeting Monday. Jantz Construction will be the construction manager for the project, working with subcontractors.

The board approved the base bid of $155,006, as well as three alternate bids: a conference room for $24,596, a bathroom in the shop for $2,617, and a west vestibule for $4,382, bringing the total bid to $187,167. An additional 8.5 percent — $15,909 — will be paid to Jantz Construction as construction manager.

The board approved a guaranteed maximum price of $210,000, to allow for unexpected costs. Any amount above $210,000 would require a change order from the board.

Funds for the project will be taken from capital outlay. Superintendent Steve Noble recommended using capital outlay funds rather than $150,000 remaining from bonds, because using the bond money would require raising property taxes.

Board wants more info on city TIF plan

The board instructed Noble to attend the next Hillsboro City Council meeting which was Tuesday to get more information about a tax increment financing plan proposed by the city.

The plan would pay for infrastructure improvements in Hillsboro Business Park by diverting increased property taxes caused by development of the area. The district would miss out on about $7,600 annually in increased tax revenue for the duration of the plan, projected at 16 years.

Board member Rod Koons said he was opposed to the plan.

“I think people forget, Midway is not a new business,” he said.

Koons, owner of Rod’s Tire & Service, said his opinion of the plan might be colored by his experience as a businessman. He said maybe he felt the city didn’t cater to him the same way.

“Maybe I’m not seeing the forest for the trees,” Koons said.

Board member Mark Rooker said that by missing out on increased tax revenue, the school district and county would effectively be financing the improvements. Marion County commissioners Randy Dallke and Dan Holub and commissioner-elect Roger Fleming attended the meeting.

If the project would bring in families with school-age children, it would be a great benefit to the district, but that isn’t expected, board member Gary Andrews said.

Board president Eddie Weber reminded the board that there was no opposition to the plan when it was first discussed in 2008. However, the district’s financial situation has become more tenuous since then.

Andrews said there were still several questions unanswered, including whether the TIF district will cease when the improvements are paid for, what will happen if more development occurs in the area, and whether the board can opt out of the plan.

Noble said he would attend the city’s public hearing Tuesday to get those answers.