By ROB DOWDY, Shelbyville News staff writer
Shelbyville Mayor Scott Furgeson proposed Wednesday that the city loan $400,000 to the Shelbyville Redevelopment Commission to help get the proposed conference center built at Intelliplex Park.
City and county officials gathered at City Hall Wednesday during a joint meeting of the Shelbyville Redevelopment Authority and the Shelbyville Redevelopment Commission to discuss funding for the conference center.
The city recently received a $1.2 million Certified Technology Park Grant from the state to build the center, but the grant doesn’t cover the entire cost of the project. Officials said the funding situation left them with two choices: wait until enough money is collected to finish the project in its entirety or construct the center without some of the state-of-the-art technology planned for the site.
Furgeson decided neither of these options was desirable.
“I don’t think we can skimp on the conference center and say it is our biggest plus to the whole park and have people believe we’re going to do things the right way,” Furgeson said.
The proposal needs to be approved by the redevelopment commission and the city council before becoming official. However, Furgeson said the conference center will be built regardless of whether or not the $400,000 loan is granted.
Some of those in attendance questioned the city’s ability to lend the money to the redevelopment commission, but Furgeson said it was within the city’s authority, because the redevelopment commission is a part of city government.
“It’s legitimate, but I think that those dollars that are generated there will need to get back to the city as quickly as possible,” Warnecke said.
The money will come from Shelbyville Wastewater Treatment Plant money and be repaid from conference center proceeds. Furgeson hopes the interest-free loan can be repaid over the next three years.
He said the city could opt to borrow the money from another source but would risk being charged interest and additional fees.
“I don’t think that’s what we want to do,” Furgeson said.
Furgeson added that the loan would not hinder the city from conducting business, and future projects would not be in jeopardy.
The 4,500-square-foot conference center would be connected to the new building in Intelliplex for the law firm of McNeely, Stephenson, Thopy and Harrold.
The firm’s building will consist of two wings, one on each side of the conference center.
The building will house the law firm as well as some rental office space.
“It’s a big commitment for them,” he said, adding that the law firm paid a fair price for the land and is putting up its own money for the building.
Furgeson, whose father-in-law, Lee McNeely, is a partner in the law firm, believed his family connection could cause upheaval, but assured those gathered at City Hall that the firm wouldn’t benefit from grant money or the city’s potential loan.
“When I first heard this idea a year and a half ago, I thought it was the worst thing I’d ever heard. Politically for me, it doesn’t do good,” Furgeson said, adding, “But is it good for the community? Is it good for Intelliplex? Yeah.”
Furgeson said the project could begin as early as December, depending on whether or not the city council and the redevelopment commission approve the loan.