Carey Holbrook
The Berea City Council unanimously passed an ad valorem tax ordinance — lowering the property taxes for the Berea citizens.
In 2021, the council voted to set the ad valorem tax rate at 9.9 cents per $100 of assessed property.
Under the new rate in this ad valorem ordinance, taxpayers are to be assessed at a lower rate of 9.7 cents per $100. However, because more money is being collected due to increased property values, the city will collect an additional $91,000 in revenue over last year.
Finance Director, Susan Meeks, said (at prior city council meeting) that since property values soared in 2021, the city can afford to reduce the ad valorem tax rate on actual properties, while still continuing to draw an increase in revenue.
“Berea topped $1 billion in taxable property. That’s a milestone for Berea,” Meeks said. She added that the value of property increased by $78 million, including a $26 million increased value in commercial property brought on by industrial expansion.
Amanda Haney, Codes and Planning Administrator, went over various larger projects that have already been plan approved and are either currently under construction, or are about to be under construction very soon.
“Berea College always has lots of projects underway— right now, they have the what they’re calling the ‘commit’ building which is a four story 48,000 square feet Computer Science Building, that CMR T stands for computer media and IT buildings. So this is just starting construction,” Haney said at the last city council meeting.
The planning and codes administrator also discussed Berea College’s indoor athletic facility that will be just off Mill street near the soccer and baseball fields.
There are several barns that are nearing completion as well, according to Haney. One being a hard to miss big red barn off Shoreline park, that will be a new horse farm. A new cattle handling facility, poultry facility as well as a multipurpose barn on Berea College’s farm located off Walnut Meadow Road are also on the way.
Haney also brought up progress happening at the Industrial Park regarding the AppHarvest project.
“We have the AppHarvest project which consists of offices, a pack house (where they will do their processing and shipping from), and then basically three separate greenhouses,” she said. “So currently today we have given temporary occupancy for AppHarvest to operate one of the three greenhouses, so they are currently growing and harvesting lettuce.”
She continued, “last week, we opened them up for two of our five processing lines so they will soon be shipping outlets from that facility.”
Construction is well underway at the M.P. Kelly Design and Construction Building, the Technology Center, Popeye’s and two dental offices.
According to Haney, the Planning dept. has granted approval for a greenhouse for Tractor Supply, and another indoor practice facility at Madison Souther High School. Residentially they have 48 active permits for the new single family dwellings.
The Planning and Codes department are in the process of interviewing for a new building instructor.
Ordinance #13-2022 was tabled until further discussion at the next city council meeting — this comes after local business owner, Russell McMahan, shared his thoughts and how this ordinance would affect fellow wreckage/towing companies.
This proposal is in regards to the city contracting with private wrecking and towing companies. The ordinance would establish further requirements for city tow operators to follow when providing service to the city.
McMahan stressed the importance of those in the towing industry should have an input and work alongside city officials in the best interest of the community and other local businesses that would be affected.
Later on in the council meeting it was (by both the council and McMahan) proposed that there would be work sessions with both officials and the community to better adapt the ordinance for Berea, as this was a “continuity” of the City of Richmond’s ordinance. All towing and wreckage companies are to be notified about when and where these sessions are to take place. All members of the council were in agreement that this ordinance should be postponed until there have been work sessions and time for further review.
