Bicknell's plans put on hold

Updated: Friday, 05 Nov 2010, 11:29 PM EDT
Published : Friday, 05 Nov 2010, 9:53 PM EDT

BICKNELL, IND. (WTHI)
- A southern Indiana town's push for a million dollar makeover for its downtown hits a funding problem.
A denied request for cash has the small town of Bicknell looking for new options.
Community leaders in Bicknell have some big plans to try and bring new life to the old downtown.
When they went to the Knox County Development Corporation looking for some funding the organization responded with "not now."
"There always seems to be a greater array of desirable and worthwhile projects than there are monies available to fund those projects," said Gary Gentry with the K.C.D.C.
K.C.D.C. officials say they feel that instead of taking on a new project they need to start re-trenching.
"Some felt the election results Tuesday were a call to fiscal responsibility," added Gentry.
While the K.C.D.C. is calling their action a delay on the request to help with the downtown project, Bicknell officials are calling it a surprising denial.
"I really thought we would get the money, but we didn't," said Bicknell Mayor Jon Flickinger.
The mood in Bicknell is very disappointed that the K.C.D.C. decided not to jump in and fund the project, but it doesn't mean the revitalization plans for downtown Bicknell are dead.
"We're going to move right ahead," said Flickinger. "We're going to look at other options to see what we can come up with. We're not going to give up just yet."
The community spent months working on the plan for the downtown project that will impact everything from street lights to sidewalks.
Now, they have to figure out a way to make a couple hundred thousand dollars appear to make the million dollar idea a reality.
The Development Corporation says it will not reconsider the Bicknell request until newly elected Knox County officials take office.

Credited to WHTI TV News

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