Plymouth Board of Public Works approves utility connection MOU for Garden Court Horizons Apartment Complex

The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety this week approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Garden Court Horizons, a new apartment complex at the intersection of State Road 17, Glenn Overmyer Drive, and Olive Trail, allowing the development to connect to city water and sewer despite sitting outside the city limits.

The board voted 4-1 to approve the agreement, with board member Duane Culp casting the lone no vote.

The MOU allows the 32-unit housing project to access city water and sewer without being annexed into the city. Developer Kevin Berger and Rod Ludwig from Bradley and Company, who will manage the property, attended the meeting to answer questions.

The project was granted a 10-year tax abatement from Marshall County to help finance the development. Because of the abatement, the property cannot be annexed into the city until the abatement period is completed — but the development still needs city water and sewer.

City Attorney Jeff Houin noted that the city already provides services to other properties outside the city limits. Under the agreement, the property cannot oppose annexation when requested, and its utility rate will be 14.9% higher than that of in-city customers.

Board member Don Ecker raised questions about the infrastructure design. Utility Superintendent Donnie Davidson explained that the development will have a private lift station and private hydrant, which the developers will pay for themselves.

Davidson said the city will need to bore under State Road 17 to extend city water and sewer to the property. He estimated that cost at $120,000 and said the city will recover that cost from users over time through the 14.9% higher rate.

It was noted that the project was initially intended to be annexed into the city, and the city's assistance had helped secure financing for the project using tax credits.

Culp told GIANT FM WTCA that he voted against the MOU because of concerns over city spending.

"I didn't believe the city should take $120,000 to pay for them wanting to connect to the county sewer," Culp said. "We need to start watching what we spend and give to. We used $4 million of our reserves to make a balanced budget for next year's money."

Culp pointed to other recent city expenditures as part of his concern, noting that $100,000 is being spent to help The REES Theatre, and $100,000 in TIF money was used for that project. He added that the city is still paying off its pledge to the Heartland Arts Center, totaling $500,000.

"We really need to be careful," Culp said.