Mayor Pro-Tem Richard Abraham presided over part of the meeting so a municipal order could be discussed related to the home Harless and her husband, Adam Moyers, own at 421 North 5th Street. They purchased the home for $1 in 2015 - before Harless was elected Mayor - as part of the Lower Town Revitalization Project, and they have spent $30,000 so far on the home. The estimated rehab cost for the building in 2015 was $175,984.
The purchase required rehabilitation to be done by 2017, but the couple asked for a one-year extension. They came Tuesday to ask for another extension, which would give them until July 31, 2020 to complete the work, and they included a timeline for remaining improvements.
Abraham requested data from the city planning department about previous extensions that have been granted in the Lower Town and Fountain Avenue projects, and he learned that several previous participants had received multiple extensions.
"A lot of times we have individuals who take on a project - no one takes on a project to fail - and they need extra time. We haven't been deadlocked on that time, we want the property developed, we want the neighborhood enhanced, and so, with good intentions we have allowed that," Abraham said.
Other commissioners voiced similar opinions, with Sandra Wilson recalling that Harless and Moyers had been simultaneously working on other downtown properties, which are now completed and occupied by renters. Their comments indicated they concurred that since this has been done before on multiple occasions, the mayor was not getting special treatment.
The commission voted 4-0 (with Harless abstaining) to approve the order and extend the deadline.
The McCracken County Sheriff's Department confirmed that property taxes on the building were paid this week and are up-to-date. While property taxes are due by December 31, they are not delinquent until April 15, at which point they are turned over to the County Clerk.
If you wish to watch this discussion, click the link below. This topic is around 7:20 after the meeting begins.
On the Net:
City Commission meeting 3-26-19
