By Ron Hamilton, Shelbyville News Staff writer
City officials are expected Wednesday evening to give Purdue University $1.15 million to help build a horse clinic near Shelbyville.
That money - which is nearly half of the city's total economic development income tax funds - represents the city's share of the $10 million project, expected to be completed in 2012. The county is expected to contribute the same amount in EDIT money, while the rest is to come from a university endowment and private fundraising efforts.
As part of the agenda for Wednesday night's meeting of the Shelbyville Common Council, members will be asked to vote on an executive order from Mayor Scott Furgeson allocating the money. Since the announcement of the proposed project nearly a month ago, opposition has been either mute or nonexistent. No one has appeared at governmental meetings to question it.
Jeff Sponsel of the 2nd Ward said the horse clinic is a project that he personally has worked on behind the scenes for quite some time.
"I think this represents a wonderful opportunity for our community and could greatly improve the quality of life for people living here," he said. "Obviously, I plan to vote in favor of the mayor's executive order."
John Stieneker, a local Democratic Party leader and longtime labor advocate and union representative, said he's not against the equine clinic. However, he does consider the money to be an expensive investment with no guarantee of a return for the money.
"I hope it pans out," he said. "But they've admitted that it won't be built for three years and only a half-dozen new jobs will be created with this money. They're hoping it generates spin-off development, and of course, I do, too. But we could be spending a lot of money and buying only the prestige associated with Purdue University."
The creation of a world-class regional equine diagnostic and surgical center is an idea promoted the last two years by former state Sen. Robert Jackman, R-Milroy. The project would involve a unique partnership between the city, county, Purdue, local veterinarians and the local and state horse racing industry.
Jackman and Dr. Willie Reed, Purdue's dean of veterinarian medicine, told city and county leaders details about the project at a meeting in the Intelliplex Conference Center on Aug. 10. Reed said about $2.3 million of the total $10 million project would come from the city and county, and $1.5 million would come from a university endowment. The remaining $6.2 million would be raised through private fundraising efforts. Land acquisition is an ongoing process, but it is expected to be located near Indiana Downs, said city officials.
"This is going to be the only university-sponsored equine center in the world," Jackman said at last month's meeting. "It will begin by specializing in horses but could eventually evolve into much more. It could prove to be a boon to the cattle and dairy industries after several years. It should generate spin-off industries like pharmaceuticals, lab testing and equine foraging and feeding."
All seven of the city's council members have expressed positive opinions about the project. Along with Sponsel, 1st Ward Councilman Dick Fero said he also plans to vote for spending the money. He said he is in favor of any new enterprise that will bring new businesses into the community.
"Right now, our economy is in the dirt," he said. "I know this will only create a few jobs in the beginning, but hopefully it will attract other associated businesses to this area in the near future."
Third Ward representative Rob Nolley considers the proposed equine center a good fit for Shelby County and also plans to vote in favor of it Wednesday evening.
"I think this will eventually grow and bring more agri-related businesses into the county, so I think it's a great setup for us," he said.
The council's only Democrat, 4th Ward representative Val Phares, said he preferred not to say how he plans to vote, but admitted that he considered the equine clinic an excellent and unique opportunity for the community.
"It's great that a world-class veterinary school like Purdue University is investing in our community," he said. "That's what EDIT funds are for - economic development opportunities. The horse hospital should add significantly to the community's portfolio and encourage the growth of other businesses."
Kim Owens, council president and 5th Ward representative, believes the proposed center will have local, regional and national ramifications.
"What Purdue plans to do in Shelby County is truly groundbreaking," she said. "It should not only benefit the local horse industry and other Shelby County agri-businesses but also become a high-profile center that could help other large animals, like cattle and swine. Having Purdue associated with this enterprise lends an incredible amount of prestige to this project and to our community."
The two at-large councilmen, Brian Asher and David Phares, have both expressed positive opinions regarding the horse clinic. Asher said he would be out of town Wednesday evening and unable to vote but said that he considered the project a great enterprise.
"I think it represents a wonderful opportunity for the community," he said.
Phares declined to say how he would vote Wednesday, but he had a glowing assessment of the proposed project.
"From everything I've learned so far, I think it's a great project and a huge plus for the county," he said. "I think the community should feel blessed that Purdue University even considered us for this."