None of the participating parties could discuss exactly what was said because items discussed in executive session are secret. Trustee Todd Minnear characterized the meeting as productive.
“Both sides are making good progress toward the next steps on Millikin and one of those next steps will hopefully be an IGA agreement,” Minnear said. “I feel like there continues to be good partnership and progress.”
In his announcement Dixon noted he does not believe “that my property interest would benefit in any selective, differential, unique or disproportionate way, beyond the benefit to the region in general,” but recusal was prudent. He cited two main reasons for stepping aside from talks:
1) The pronouncements of external funding sources (like TRAC) — the state Transportation Review Advisory Council — being more and more dependent on local financing.
2) Liberty Township’s request for financial assistance and support of sanitary sewer easement acquisition and utility construction supervised by the Butler County Water and Sewer Department.
The Butler County Transportation Improvement District is directing the project and Executive Director Dan Corey has applied for $14 million from the state Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC) to pay for right-of-way.
Trustee Tom Farrell said the project is beneficial to both entities, given the exponential growth possibilities.
“What it comes down to is Millikin is something we have discussed for a very long period of time and we continue to work together,” Farrell said. “We’re both going to see revenue coming from the project, we should both have a vested interest and skin in the game to work towards what’s best for the township and the county long-term.”
Financial analyst Andy Brossart has conservatively estimated the interchange project, when fully phased out, is going to be worth $388 million in new investment.
Commissioner T. C. Rogers said they are “close” to reaching an agreement with the trustees, and Dixon’s absence shouldn’t be an issue.
“Two need to be in agreement, so you have to deal with the cards that are put before you,” he said.
About the meeting Commissioner Cindy Carpenter told the Journal-News, “we’re not on the home stretch yet, there’s a lot of pieces to put together, I really appreciate the hard work the Liberty trustees have put in on this.”
The commissioners have helped fund two other Interstate 75 interchanges. County Administrator Judi Boyko — who is the former West Chester Twp. administrator — said the commissioners loaned the township $10 million to help build the Union Centre Boulevard interchange in the 1990s. The loan was repaid with TIF dollars.
The commissioners and Liberty and West Chester townships created the University Pointe TIF to finance the $40 million Liberty Way interchange which opened in 2009. That debt is set to be retired 2034.
The commissioners and trustees have talked about the project — with Dixon participating — on several occasions and he has discussed it extensively with the Journal-News. Dixon consulted county Prosecutor Mike Gmoser on his recusal. Gmoser told the Journal-News previous conversations are not “material” to what is happening now.
“That would be in the realm of theoretical, more generalized and global than specific,” Gmoser said about Dixon’s previous involvement. “So from this point forward there’ll be no involvement on anything material to any decisions the board might make.”
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