A public hearing on a proposed amendments to the Rising Sun Comprehensive Plan was held on Wednesday, March 9 in city council chambers.
The draft and complete presentation can be found online at risingsuncompplan.com
Comments on pthe lan are still being accepted until March 23rd. The plan will be taken to the Plan Commission on April 13th.
HWC Engineering presented the plan which reported the biggest challenges facing Rising Sun is the decreasing and aging population, falling school enrollment and decrease in casino operation.
School superintendent Branden Roeder told Vevay Media Group on Monday that if you want to attract young families, 20 to 40 years old, you need housing and jobs.
There are local builders who want to work but, Roeder said, “we’ve found ways to block them.”
The school receives approximately $6000 per student.
Roeder noted that he recently was on a school bus that took students to the apartments at Little Farm on the River. There were more than 20 students living there which amounts to around $150,000 for the school system.
There is a need for more apartment complexes for beginning families, contends Roeder. Not section 8 housing. His stance from the school’s perspective is not for $300,000 houses but maybe $150,000 and under.
Roeder was mayor when a grant was secured for a new comprehensive plan which was later approved under mayor April Hautman.
He expressed his views at the comprehensive plan meeting and has received emails from several people. He contends there is a need for a task force of different entities but it needs to be simple.