By Rusty Nixon Correspondent
PLYMOUTH — The city of Plymouth will take a hard look at strategies used to entice local business.
To that end Mayor Mark Senter announced that he will form a task force to do just that. The CrossRoads Task Force will look at current strategies for enhancing Plymouth’s economic development and compare them with cities of similar size and make recommendations on future policy.

“It was an idea that started on the campaign and has continued on here early in the administration,” said Senter. “I’ve had conversations with several developers in the area and they have some concerns about some things. I don’t think there are any problems, but it’s something that we should take a good, hard look at.”
The mayor’s appointments to the CrossRoads Task Force are David Morrow of Morrow Insurance; local real estate developer Ed DeMont; Chris Troutner, owner of Mayer Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning; Plymouth resident Dennis Carter, Waste-water Maintenance Manager for the City of Mishawaka; and Plymouth City Attorney Nelson Chipman.
Senter said his role in the task force will be a limited one.
“I want to get the ball rolling, and I will be involved,” said Senter. “But I’ve known most of these gentlemen for quite awhile and they are all very qualified for the task.”
Senter says the name given this initiative is intended to symbolize one of Plymouth’s strengths — its location at the cross roads of U.S. 30 and U.S. 31 — as well as symbolize a time for making sweeping and fundamental decisions about Plymouth’s future growth based upon sound public policy.
“A lot of the concern by developers was tap fees (fees charged developers to hook up to city services),” said Senter. “The assertion by some is that most cities don’t charge those up-front fees. Financial guarantees that developers have to put up are also an item that some say other cities don’t charge.”
Tax abatement and financing of infrastructure improvements that support development will also be items on the task force agenda.
“One thing I’d like to look at is asking local businesses that are benefitting from a 10 year tax abatement to donate 10 percent of that savings back to some non-profit agency in the city,” said Senter. “When the city of Plymouth invests public money to stimulate private investment it seems reasonable to ask the private investor to contribute to the quality of life in our community.
“The task force will gather information on those subjects that will be useful in forming policy.”
The first meeting will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 7, at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers, in the Plymouth City Building.
This is an open meeting and the public is welcome.