Plymouth Plan Commission discusses Aquatic Center energy analysis project

Members of the Plymouth Plan Commission had many questions for City Attorney Jeff Houin regarding a resolution that amends the project list in Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) District # 3, which includes the area around U.S. 30 and Pioneer Drive. 

The attorney said the project being considered is an energy analysis at the Aquatic Center, trying to determine ways to reduce its energy costs.  R Squared Solutions has proposed $16,000 for the analysis, but the project can’t even be considered by the Redevelopment Commission until it is included in the TIF District’s list of projects.   

Plan Commission member Fred Webster asked who owns and controls the Aquatic Center, and the attorney replied that it isn’t finalized but is nearly complete, with the creation of a new LLC, Plymouth RDC Center LLC.  That LLC will own title to the real estate.  The Plymouth Redevelopment Commission will wholly own the LLC.   

Houin explained that there is still a master lease with Marshall County Health and Wellness and the three board members, one appointed by the city, one appointed by the school corporation, and the third was formerly appointed by Ancilla, but they will likely not be participating, so the other two entities will select the third member.  The city attorney said the whole thing should come together within the next few weeks. While Redevelopment controls the LLC that owns the property and has the lease, the daily pool operations are handled by the independent non-profit, We Love Swimming, and the facility operators.

Houin tried to simplify it, saying, “The RDC owns the real estate, the We Love Swimming operation will continue to update the city council, school board, and Redevelopment Commission because they are operating the facility, not the RDC.”   

The city attorney said he didn’t think the questions were relevant to determining if the project being considered for the project list in the TIF District was related to the Comprehensive Plan.   

The funds to cover the energy analysis would be covered by the Plymouth Redevelopment Commission if it passed through the Plan Commission, City Council, then a public hearing at the Redevelopment Commission meeting, and the commission approved the expenditure being added to the project list. 

When asked who was financially responsible for the utilities, the attorney said the operators, “We Love Swimming”. The comment was made by a Plan Commission member that the $16,000 will be helping the non-profit and not the city.  Houin said, “The $16,000 is to help them keep operating a public good.”

Member Angie Rupchock-Schafer asked if it would be more sensible to consider the request after the reorganization is complete and agreements are finalized. Houin said realistically, it will be the Redevelopment Commission who decides if they should spend the money and not the Plan Commission or City Council.   

The Plan Commission was tasked with the simple question of, “Does spending money to determine cost-saving efforts for the Plymouth Aquatic Center conform to the city’s Comprehensive Plan?”

Following additional discussion, the Plymouth Plan Commission voted 6 to 3 to add the energy analysis cost to TIF District #3’s project list.

Members Randy Longanecker, Doug Feece, and Linda Secore voted against, while Alex Eads, Shiloh Milner, Angie Rupchock-Schafer, Dan Sellers, Fred Webster, and Paul Wendel voted in favor of amending the project list.