News in Brief, July 25, 2022
Marching Wildkats on top; Stellantis, Samsung battery plant advances; Lincoln Road townhomes on shaky ground
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Marching Wildkats lead the field
Kokomo High School’s Marching Wildkats took first place honors at the Spirit Of Sound Band Contest hosted by Muncie Central High School Saturday night, July 23, at Muncie.
The Wildkats’ performance, “El Toro Bravo,” took the top spot out of 18 marching band participants in the contest with a final total score of 71.050 over the Spirit of Muncie Band and Guard.
Band Director Brandon Anderson, Assistant Director Justin Ekstrom, and Color Guard Director Deanne Wideman will next take the 82 member band and guard on July 29 to competition at Anderson and July 30 at Winchester.
The Marching Wildkats’ outdoor season will culminate at the Indiana State Fair on Band Day, Aug. 5, at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Hoosier Lottery Grandstand in Indianapolis.
Battery plant project advances
The Kokomo Common Council voted on second reading to annex the property intended for the planned automotive battery plant joint venture between Stellantis and Samsung. The measure passed unanimously at council’s July 25 meeting, completing the annexation.
The council then voted on first reading to rezone the nine parcels of land comprising the battery plant project. The land will be rezoned to High-Intensity Industrial to accommodate the project once the council holds a second reading of the ordinance.
The council followed that with a vote to vacate right of way to a portion of Busby Road, which runs through the proposed location for the new battery plant joint venture between Stellantis and Samsung.
While Councilman Matt Grecu proposed that the measure be passed on first and second readings in the council’s caucus, City Attorney T.J. Rethlake asked that only a single reading be heard in light of the public hearing on the matter which took place prior to the council’s regular meeting.
“Statutorily, some time needs to pass between readings, and we are still working with the joint venture to clarify the vacation,” said Rethlake. “This is one that needs two readings, and we may ask you to table the second reading until the time is right. But we want to get the process started.”
The vacation passed on first reading unanimously.
Lincoln Road townhomes on shaky ground
A proposed townhome project on the city’s southwest side moved forward, but it’s future is as murky as the sparse information surrounding it.
Kokomo Common Councilman Matt Grecu introduced the rezoning of land along West Lincoln Road intended for multi-family townhomes at the council’s July 25 meeting. However, he was reluctant to ask for a vote. As he explained in the council caucus prior to the public meeting, the council would be voting on the rezoning without details of the project.
“The property on Lincoln Road came before the plan commission without much explanation of the project,” said Grecu. “I have talked to Tripp Engineering and asked them to give a better explanation tonight. But if that doesn’t come, I would probably amend my motion to table the matter until more information is available.”
A representative of Tripp Engineering appeared at the public meeting and fielded questions from the council. However, it is still not known how many townhomes will be planned for the parcel, with an estimate of 25-30 given.
Each townhome would be approximately 1,364 square feet, including three bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. The structures would be two stories and would range in price from $230,000-$255,000.
Councilman Tony Stewart expressed his reluctance to pass the ordinance.
“I’m not saying we should deny it; I think we need more information,” said Stewart.
Grecu moved for passage with the caveat that more information be provided before a second reading is given. The council voted in favor of the measure with a vote of 6-3. Councilmen David Capshaw, Tony Stewart, and Tom Miklik were the dissenting votes.