City To Conduct Blight Study

The Fairbury City Council voted unanimously to conduct a blight study at a meeting on Tuesday, February 15th. City Administrator Robert Messbarger told councilmembers, “We've been approached by a few possible developers and businesses looking to build and utilize the TIF as a resource. The certain areas they've looked at haven't been in a blighted area, which is required by state statute.”Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is a public funding mechanism that cities use to help pay for public improvements associated with redevelopment projects which in turn revitalize and strengthen their communities. TIF can only be used in designated blighted and substandard areas. Nebraska Community Development Law authorizes communities to designate blighted and substandard areas which qualify under specific statutory requirements. Class two cities may designate up to 50 percent of their total area as substandard and blighted. Currently Fairbury is under their 50 percent cap for designated substandard and blighted areas. To designate additional areas blighted and increase funding opportunities, Fairbury must first perform a study to determine which additional areas meet the statutory requirements. Previously designated areas in Fairbury were studied by Marvin Planning Consultants, Inc., a company based in David City. Marvin Planning Consultants has again submitted a contract for services to analyze areas to determine if they meet the statutory requirements for blight.The contracted cost is a fixed fee of $3,000. The city will provide mapping services for the study to keep down the costs. By Gordon Hopkins

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