The Harper County Commission will discuss the "Anthony 100" downtown redevelopment project at their upcoming meeting. The project aims to rebuild the north side of Main Street in Anthony that was damaged by fire five years ago. At the meeting, the commission will discuss a development agreement between Harper County and developer Jeff Jones' company for the project. However, liens placed by the City of Anthony on two properties over three years after demolition may delay the project. The City expects the liens totaling under $81,000 to be paid off before development can proceed, despite the project's estimated $3 million cost. Representatives from the property owners and economic development council will speak at the meeting about resolving the issue.

1. Downtown Anthony Project Prepares to Move Forward
By Kate Catlin
Published in Harper County Herald, Vol. 5, Issue 34, 6/23/2014
The Harper County Commission will take up the discussion of the “Anthony 100” project at the regularly
scheduled, 9:00 am meeting on Tuesday, June 24th
, at the courthouse in Anthony. Up for discussion is the
Community Improvement District project concerned with rebuilding the north side of the 100 block of Main
Street in Anthony, a block that was damaged by fire five years ago, on July 8, 2009.
At Tuesday’s meeting, the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) is scheduled to discuss the
Development Agreement for the Downtown Anthony project, between Harper County and Developer Jeff
Jones’ company Tru Building, Inc. The project has been in the negotiation and planning stage for months,
bringing together several different property owners and their vacant lots.
The latest roadblock that could delay the project is the City of Anthony’s liens, placed on two of the
properties more than three years after the demolition was finished, to repay the City of Anthony for the
demolition. The City received an Urgent Needs Grant to pay for the downtown demolition, but only for the
buildings directly damaged by the fire. The remaining buildings, attached to the rubble that remained after
the fires, were not directly damaged by fire and therefore not eligible for the Urgent Needs monies.
According to a letter received by 131 W. Main Street owners Derrick and Jackie Keim, signed by City
Administrator/Clerk Amber Horbelt, “…the City of Anthony has decided that it will not release the lien that it
has on 131 W. Main for $26,394.26 or the lien it has on 135 W. Main for $54,118.14, for the demolition of
both buildings, until each lien is first paid in full, with interest.
“The City of Anthony is looking forward to development of that portion of the block of Main
Street that is sitting vacant and empty. With that being said, it is the position of the City that it is in
the best interest of its citizens to have the liens paid off as soon as possible. The City also maintains
that now is the time to get the liens paid off in order to bring an end to the annual levying of mills
that is needed to pay off the debt that the City acquired when it demolished the two dangerous
structures.
“With the cost of construction of the proposed project being estimated at over three million
dollars, the two liens totaling less than $81,000.00 represent a rather small portion of the total cost.
The City of Anthony advanced the cost of preparing these lots for new construction. The City believes
that that it is the responsibility of the owners of these lots to pay these expenses as a cost of
construction. The City of Anthony has not made exceptions for the payment of any liens in the past
and does not intend to make exceptions to the payment of any liens in the future. In the City’s
opinion, making exceptions defeats the purpose of the liens and weakens the City's position and
likelihood of recovering the total costs incurred.
“Thank you for your understanding in this matter. Once again, the City of Anthony is excited
about the development of the vacant block downtown and is looking forward to having the project
moving forward!”
Mr. Keim reported that he and his representative had been attempting to negotiate repayment terms
with the City of Anthony, when he unexpectedly received the letter from the City last week.
The Harper County Economic Development Council, who owns 135 W. Main Street, is scheduled to
speak before the BoCC on Tuesday. Bill Widener, Chairman of the Board, requested a spot on the agenda at

2. the previous meeting, to speak to the Commissioners about the lien on their property, explaining, “[Harper
County is] the only funding source for HCEDC.”
Jeff Jones is scheduled to be present for the BoCC meeting on Tuesday to update the Commission on
progress with the project.
The City of Anthony had not responded to an emailed request for information as of press time.