Bids from private developers accepted
Commissioners asked for support on inn project
Cathy May - Contributing Writer

"If it's not done now, I don't think it will ever be done." These were the words of Marianne Wiggers as she addressed the County Commissioners at their meeting May 9. "The karma is right to put an inn at the Versailles State Park," Wiggers continued.

After working on getting an inn at the Versailles State Park for 18 years, Wiggers explained, "For the first time we have pressure from the top town." The top meaning the Governor Mitch Daniel's office.

Wiggers said that three weeks ago she met with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and they are ready to put out bids for an inn at the park. In fact, they are putting out bids to private developers for inns for both Versailles State Park and Potato Creek State Park in South Bend.

DNR is being very flexible. They are allowing a private developer to build the inn, then allowing them to maintain and manage the inn or bring in a management group. Property taxes are to be paid by the developer. The inn becomes state property but DNR will provide a long term lease with the right to renew.

Wiggers asked the Commissioners for a letter of support stating they would "entertain the idea of tax abatements for the inn." To be able to give a tax abatement, an Economic Revitalization Area has to be established. The county attorney needs to develop a legal description for the area in question or the Commissioners might want to consider declaring the entire county an Economic Revitalization Area. Jackson County has done this. This is a benefit to economic development in Ripley County as it speeds up the process.

Wiggers said an inn at the Versailles State Park would be a great asset to Ripley County. Currently, there are only 127 rooms for lodging in the county, which limits events. The matter will need to go before the Ripley County Council at their June 14 meeting.