Muncie council approves bonds after public disagreements and two different votes

Muncie’s city council has approved millions of dollars in bonds for economic development and parks improvements throughout the city.  As IPR’s Stephanie Wiechmann reports, the council and the mayor have sparred for months over whether the bonds were needed.

The $3.5 million in bonds will pay for improvements at Southway Plaza and High Street Square, in front of Muncie Central High School, and upgrades and repairs at a number of parks.

Last month, after a contentious exchange between council members and Mayor Dan Ridenour, the city council voted down the bonds, then rescinded the vote and tabled the ordinance.

That led Ridenour to ask the Muncie Redevelopment Commission to promise to pay for projects from its funds if the bonds weren’t approved in July.  But Ridenour said the MRC didn’t have the cash for everything.

“What the MRC did is they gave up back-up funding for the economic development sites of these.  But there is not enough money, not enough cash, to do the parks.”

Parks Department Superintendent Carl Malone says every park needed a face lift when Ridenour’s administration took office in January 2020.  He also says many city parks departments ask for bonds, including in affluent counties.

Read More: Muncie’s Mayor Is Buying Land For An Urban Nature Park. But Improvements Will Have To Wait

Before voting 7-2 to approve the bonds, Republican councilwoman Ro Selvey says her vote was based on what the bonds could do.

“There’s times we should be tight with money and be careful how we spend it….  We have a responsibility to think about the people and how that’s going to impact their personal life and their families.”

One of the two “no” votes came from council President and Democrat Jeff Robinson.  He has repeatedly said he doesn’t think the city should borrow money for non-necessary projects.