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Last updated on Wednesday, October 12, 2011
(BEDFORD) - The Bedford City Council Tuesday night adopted a resolution to support the revitalization plan for Hoosier Uplands to restore the old Stalker School.
The school is located at O and Eighth streets and will be transformed into an apartment complex featuring 21 two-bedroom units.
The plan also includes revitalization of the neighborhood surrounding the school. If Hoosier Uplands, who purchased the building, is approved for a Stellar Grant renovations could begin as early as October 2012.
The council also approved a 10 year real estate tax abatement for the apartment building.
* The council approved the 2012 budget. No raises were included in the budget. All employees, but Mayor Shawna Girgis and Clerk-Treasurer Julie Blackwell Chase, receive a 2 percent raise last year, the first since 2008.
The proposed budget for 2012 is $14,098,689, slightly up from this year's $13,715,836. The maximum estimate of funds to be collected is $8,038,689, up from $7.8 million.
Kyle Brown, community and employee relations director, said spikes in the Public Employee Retirement Fund and higher insurance costs kept the city from offering raises and resulted in slightly elevated numbers in each department.
PERF is a state-sponsored retirement plan designed to provide retirement, disability and survivor benefits for its participants.
The two highest budget increases were in the fire department ($234,283) and police department ($176,390).
In other business:
* The council adopted an ordinance to amend part of the chapter 76 traffic schedule so they can remove a stop sign at 7th Street at the Milwaukee and Seaboard Rail.
* The council adopted an ordinance transferring certain appropriated funds in the motor vehicle highway fund to purchase three new snow plows at a cost of $17,000 and $8,000 to complete some asphalt projects in town and to complete a retaining wall.
*The council adopted an ordinance transferring certain appropriated funds in the general fund to the fire department to buy a new radio system for the fire department. Chief Jon Wagner say the department must by law replace the radios. They have to have that completed by Jan. 1, 2013. The radios at the department are 22-year-old and are not compatible with the police department or other agencies. The radio system will cost the department $29,000.
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