The City of Jasper, Indiana

“Your life does not get better by chance; it gets better by change.”

Jim Rohn, American entrepreneur

Heading into a new year, it’s very beneficial to contemplate those elements which brought us to this day. As Mayor of Jasper one of the key contributors to where we are today as a community is our 2010 Comprehensive Plan. In the Summary of Public Input eight key issues and ideas were identified. There was overwhelming agreement the community should aggressively pursue ways to diversify its economy, continue to promote Jasper’s unique cultural history, as well as strengthen its quality of life.

I’ve listed the ideas from the Comprehensive Plan below and included a brief update of how they have been addressed in the last three years.  It should be noted that nearly 400 people attended public meetings on many of these actions:

1. Support and strengthen local businesses in the community especially in the downtown area.
   • We completed and adopted the Jasper Downtown & Riverfront Master Plan and we’re pursuing designation of Downtown Jasper as a Historic District.
     
     
2. Continue to support and expand recent development along the Patoka River.
   • Through ROJAC, the German American Boulevard was unveiled and we are working on construction of a labyrinth meditation path along the Riverwalk.
     
     
3. Capitalize on, and provide greater variety of, accommodations for visitors.
   • The Master Plan has provided us with an instrument for marketing this area and we have met with a dozen developers over the course of this year - many of whom have never been here before. Discussions on apartments, condominiums, hotel and mixed uses of downtown and riverfront properties have taken place. 
     
     
4. Seek innovative ways to retain and/or redevelop underutilized factories or similar buildings in the downtown area.
   • Our meetings with developers led to the $13 million proposal to redevelop the old JOFCO building into apartments for our workforce.
     
     
5. Preserve the surrounding rural setting (avoid sprawl) and seek ways to support local farm practices.
   • The 2010 Comprehensive Plan called for the City to take a proactive approach to tax abatement and TIF in Jasper. In the last three years there have been 8 uses of our new abatement ordinance and all of them have been within our existing industrial areas.  So far the new investments have totaled over $30 million dollars and have brought over 350 new jobs.  We also purchased the former Jasper Country Club golf course and created The Parklands of Jasper, a 50-acre park in the center of the community.
      
6. Continue to support and strengthen Jasper’s unique arts and cultural programs.
   • The current proposal by a not-for-profit group to purchase and re-open the Astra and to work with the Jasper Arts Department is in response to this call to action.
     
     
7. Encourage new development that reflects and enhances the unique character and qualities of the community.
   • Again, the Downtown & Riverfront Master Plan calls for investment in our downtown and we are currently working on funding such a project.
     
     
8. Provide a greater variety or affordable housing options as one method to attract families to Jasper.
   • Along with the JOFCO proposal the City of Jasper is participating with Dubois Strong in a county-wide housing study.
     
     

We welcome your continued input, questions and support in 2015!

Mayor Seitz