Mike Wolanin | The Republic Campaign signs are seen outside NexusPark on the first day of early voting in Columbus, Ind., Tuesday, April 4, 2023.
COLUMBUS, Ind. — The city of Columbus is looking at appropriations for various pieces of NexusPark, although one Columbus City Council member is concerned about funding mechanisms for the project and what its overall cost will be.
The Columbus City Council has approved the first reading of an ordinance appropriating more than $3 million for expenses related to NexusPark. Councilwoman Elaine Hilber, D-District 2, was the sole vote against the action.
Ordinances must be passed on two readings for full approval, and the council’s next meeting is scheduled for June 6.
Hilber had a number of questions about a section of the ordinance that appropriates $2,036,500 from the city’s general fund.
“This is for our pledges that the Parks Foundation has received over the next seven years for the NexusPark project,” explained Parks Associate Director of Business Services Pam Harrell. “We want to be able to do the construction while we have a construction staff on hand, but these pledges are going all the way out to 2028 and 2029 to get reimbursed.”
Per the ordinance, “NexusPark is currently in construction and it would be much more economical and financially prudent to have the projects being paid for by the pledges from the donors to be completed by the contractors while the contractors are currently on site.”
Assuming the appropriation is approved, the parks foundation will pay back the city each January with pledges received during the prior year, said Harrell.
“If, for whatever reason, those pledges do not come through, how does that work?” asked Hilber.
“Well, I mean there’s always a chance of that, but we’re still getting donations, so we think that if any of them do not come through, we’re going to have others that’s going to replace those,” Harrell replied. “So I don’t think it will be a problem.”
Victoria Griffin, the Republican candidate for City Council District 2, was present at the council meeting and noted that market volatility might have an impact on the length of pledges made from stock. Harrell replied that such donors could potentially request extensions.
City Director of Administration and Community Development Mary Ferdon, who recently won the GOP nomination for mayor of Columbus, added that the large naming gifts are from businesses and are not stock gifts.
For the complete story, see Thursday’s Republic.
