Tipton acquires more land than is needed for transmission plant

TIPTON - A member of the Tipton County Economic Development Corp. has apparently proposed moving the county's planned Ag Technology Park to the intersection of U.S. 31 and Ind. 28.

The Tipton County Economic Development Foundation has taken options to purchase 231 acres at the intersection on speculation that Chrysler and Getrag may construct a transmission production facility at the location.

The Ag Technology Park Board is being formed as a non-profit corporation to encourage research and development companies in Tipton County on 35 acres donated on U.S. 31 by the Kelley family and John Adler.

Bill Keir, executive director of the Tipton County Economic Development Corp., said the unofficially named prospect for the U.S. 31, Ind. 28 site indicated it needed 125 acres for the development.

"To get an option on the 125 acres, we had to acquire more land," he said. "We will either look for another development at the site or not exercise the option on the additional land."

On Thursday, Keir said he was not aware that a member of the organization he chairs had proposed moving the Ag Technology Park to the site.

Keir said he is not surprised that moving the Ag Technology Park would be discussed.

"There is no competition between the two projects," he said. "We would be very interested in talking to [the Ag Technology Park Board] about folding into the Economic Development Corp. That would mean there would be one entity dealing with economic development in the county."

Jane Harper, president of the Ag Technology Park Board, said she was aware of an offer to relocate the Ag Technology Park.

"I was aware that Dave Quigley [a TCEDC board member] had suggested that the Ag Tech Park be moved to the Indiana 28 and U.S. 31 location," she said on Thursday.

Quigley proposed the idea to Mark Raver, a member of the proposed Ag Technology Park Board.

Raver said Quigley did discuss relocating the park, but it was confidential business and that he wouldn't discuss confidential matters.

"I have no comment," Quigley said when contacted by the Kokomo Tribune.

When asked if he believed it was a serious offer, Raver said there are no serious offers except for the donated land from the Kelley's and Adler.

Raver said it doesn't matter where the park is located as long as it brings jobs to the county.

Harper said her reaction to the suggestion was that the park would stay with the original land donation, which is located adjacent to the Kelley Agricultural Historical Museum.

"We're not interested," she said of the offer. "We are going to remain with our plans and go forward with the location unveiled at the October presentation.

"We believe the Ag Technology Park fits in with the theme we're trying to preserve of agriculture past, present and future, the museum and Adler Seed," Harper said.

Harper said if the park was moved, she was not sure the board would continue to exist.

"Because it was Kelley land, the family wanted to have a hand in the governance of land that was theirs," Harper said. "It would change the entire vision. We intended to use the entire complex the house, museum and Adler Seeds to incorporate into the working of the park. The Ag Technology Park was really feeding off the two entities already there."

Commissioner Tom Dolezal, an ex-officio member of the proposed board, said he was not aware of the offer to move the park.

"Certainly something we're not interested in entertaining," Dolezal said of moving the park.