Casey City Council Approves Over $175,000 in Potential Matches for Downtown Business Redevelopment

Casey City Council Meeting | April 6, 2026

Article Summary: The Casey City Council unanimously approved four business district redevelopment agreements that will pump major upgrades into the downtown area, including a new chiropractic clinic, a revived laundromat, and a massive expansion to the 1890 Sleepover hotel. The projects represent hundreds of thousands of dollars in private investment, with the city offering up to 50% reimbursement matches for qualified renovations.

Downtown Redevelopment Key Points:

• Stinson Chiropractic LLC will receive up to $50,000 to construct a new $250,000 clinic at 407-409 N. Central.

• Rohlfing Management LLC secured two matching grants of up to $50,000 each to renovate 14 S. Central and 18 S. Central, creating a unified hotel layout with first-floor ADA-compliant rooms.

• Jeremy and Jen Baysinger will receive an estimated $28,000 match to completely gut and rebuild the abandoned laundromat at 106 West Main.

• The matching funds are generated through the local Business District sales tax and are designed to encourage aesthetic and functional improvements to local storefronts.

The Casey City Council on Monday, April 6, unanimously approved a slate of four commercial redevelopment agreements, funneling Business District tax revenues into local storefront renovations and expansions.

The Business District Redevelopment Program, managed through the Economic Development Committee, allows commercial property owners to apply for a 50% reimbursement on qualified construction and rehabilitation projects, not to exceed a $50,000 match from the city.

Alderman Marcy Mumford detailed the four applications, which represent three different developers, calling it a “really good start” to the city’s matching initiative.

Ordinance #615 authorized a redevelopment agreement with Stinson Chiropractic LLC. Owner Aaron Stinson plans to build a new $250,000 structure adjacent to his current building at 407-409 N. Central. Mayor Mike Nichols noted that the project is “one of the larger ones out there” and will “definitely beautify the area.”

The council also approved Ordinances #616 and #617 for Rohlfing Management LLC, owned by Ben Rohlfing. The developer recently purchased 14 S. Central (the 1890 Sleepover) and 18 S. Central (formerly Deborah’s Attic) and is executing a massive expansion across both footprints.

According to Economic Development Committee documents, the $120,590 project at 14 S. Central will create two new first-floor rooms and ADA-compliant improvements. The adjacent $136,912 project at 18 S. Central will add two more first-floor ADA rooms, new windows, wiring, and a resurfaced roof. A pass-through will be constructed to connect the two buildings.

Rohlfing, who attended the meeting, stated the expansion will bring the hotel’s capacity up to between 24 and 26 rooms, including roughly five main-floor suites compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“There’s a lot of folks that can really benefit from not having to do those stairs,” Rohlfing said.

Mayor Nichols emphasized the downstream financial benefits of the hotel expansion, noting that even though the business district relies on sales tax, the hotel will generate substantial hotel/motel tax revenue.

“We’re keeping people here longer,” Nichols said. “All that’s going to help us do some other things.”

Finally, the council approved Ordinance #618 for Jeremy and Jen Baysinger, who are purchasing the abandoned laundromat at 106 West Main. The project carries an estimated total cost of $53,150, meaning the city’s 50% match will hover around $28,000.

Mumford relayed that the Baysingers described the renovation as a complete “gut job,” requiring new walls, equipment, and a full interior and exterior rehabilitation.

All four ordinances passed with unanimous 5-0 votes from the present council members, with Alderman Steve Jenkins absent from the proceedings.