NEW ALBANY — Supporters of Floyd County joining the Our Southern Indiana Regional Development Authority left the Pine View Government Center in a much better mood than they did two years ago.
On Tuesday, the Floyd County Council unanimously approved an ordinance to join the Regional Development Authority. In 2015, a similar measure failed by a 5-2 vote.
So what changed?
One Southern Indiana president and CEO Wendy Dant Chesser said this time, thanks to a bill passed in the recent legislative session, RDAs may no longer exercise eminent domain to acquire property. She also said there are now examples to show what the RDAs in Evansville, South Bend and Fort Wayne have accomplished when it comes to economic development and attracting and retaining a solid workforce.
"You were listened to and heard," Dant Chesser told the council when it came to eminent domain. "And we now have a track record from the seven regions across the state who operate regional development authorities."
She said those seven have used $126 million in taxpayer money on regional projects.
"I think it's time we get in the game," she said.
Others agreed.
A few members on the council, who were against an RDA in 2015, said they now support Floyd County being part of one in order to build regional projects that will benefit citizens in this area.
"Eliminating eminent domain for me was huge," said Council President Brad Striegel. "I think 1si did a tremendous job communicating this to people."
Clark and Scott counties voted in favor of joining an RDA in 2015, but Clark rescinded its voted after the measure failed in other adjoining counties. Now getting others on board to join an RDA with Floyd will be key moving forward. There is still no word yet whether there will be state money available this year to share, but supporters said it will be important for Floyd County and others to be ready if funds become available.
"In 2015 I was against it for various reasons," Councilman Dale Bagshaw said. "But all of my questions have been answered. I think it's exciting."
The Regional Cities Initiative, or RCI, is a state program intended to support “quality of place” projects through regional collaboration.
The RDA will be managed by a board consisting of five members who will serve four-year terms. Floyd County is not obligated to transfer money to the RDA fund or contribute to the debt service, when one is established, according to the ordinance. The RDA, according to the bylaws, is established to "acquire, construct, equip, own, lease, and finance projects and facilities for lease to or for the benefit of eligible political subdivisions." It gives local governments more strength to attract developments and projects when an RDA is representing a larger area, supporters say.
State Rep. Ed Clere said there was a lot of "misinformation our there" in 2015 when the RDA was first introduced and failed. He also said the timeline to get an RDA formed in the area was short.
"We have seen other regions come together and form regional RDAs," he said. "This is one part of the state that has not come together as a region and is missing out on opportunities other parts of the state are seeing. It's better to do this sooner rather than later. We are competing against other regions in the state and we need to assert ourselves as a region."