I can get any
Heat. Heat.
All
right, we'll go ahead and call the work session to order
and start with the discussion on the school.
You want to start off? >> Sure, I'll start. Go straight to Don.
» Yeah. Um, I'll I'll introduce a little bit and then Don can share his thoughts
or share what information he has. Um, Mr. Hodson from the election board came
to uh previous one of your council meetings, spoken out of public comment,
made you guys aware there was a law change uh in last year's legislative
session uh to allow municipalities if they chose to to change their elections
from off years, which in off years we have to pay for our elections when
they're not on a presidential year or they're not on an even year. So you are
given the option of choosing to do that. Now, there are some implications from
doing that. You do have a memo from the town attorney. Dan may want to share
some as well, but you guys do have to pass an ordinance. You have to do it by
the end of the year. Um, you have the option of giving people one-year terms
or three-year terms if you choose to try to get them to an even year election.
Just as a reminder, the way our election cycle is set up is we already have the
three wards on even years. So it's the two at large and the clerk treasurer are
the positions that are currently municipal elections in odd years
and so with that Don is that good you want to take from there share your
information but I've got some other information to share with you too but we
can kind of start there
and the money is just what you
Um and so president I did provide some information sheets. I think you kind of
but like you said three more seats are elected in each year this year. Um what
I did is I mentioned the 2022 election in the primary election you had 819
votes cast for each of those offices and then general election it was up to
559 because you had tested too
and cost for the town for election because the reason
county election every two years federal, state, township, local school board
instead of how two years the municipal elections are
done in municipal year after the midterm and so 2023 is when the large race were
elected along with clas. Uh what I've given you is the primary election there
224 votes uh cast for the primary and for each of those offices and then 849
cast each office in the general election cost for the primary election was
$6,7507
and so I the number of those primary $29.98
cost through those tax for the general election was $15,3754.
So that came out to $181 per load tax and the total cost
altogether for that year was $22,91.31.
The way the the costs passed on, what the clerk's office does is they take the
total amount of the cost that's paid out to hire pole workers, pay for locations,
um different
to etc. take that total cost and then by
state statute they invoice it based on a ratio that's you know on the number of
notes that's cast in each house. So the only town that doesn't hold a hot year
is you know say
so everybody else and sharing in that cost
if you wanted to change the process okay first of all the
changing to the even you don't have to pay
that we'll get a bill for those three
and then uh If you change those other three offices
over here second have a higher turnout. If you go
back when we look total number of voters I have
primary wise in 2022 we had basically four times the number of voters as
compared to 23 and then for the general election it was like seven times the
amount of people that voted in 23 voted in 22
he wanted to change it um basically board one, two, and three alone. And you
can have a quick and long one year or threeear terms after four
years out. Now, you want to continue to stagger terms, you have to do one year.
So those two at large, you go for a one year term. After that,
you would go for term train
one year or three year. I know the ratings probably three year
stand one year and have to learn everything.
So benefit three doing that office to run at the same time
and so they offer
so I've given you the year of meeting that's the
need to be done by the end of year the lunch is actually possible
you have October
some extra time together right now. I told you Dan
already
had that on their on their council agenda next Tuesday
has it on their agenda
where the meeting is on their coach too.
Those are the ones they contacted. I think the uh
allies receiving a resolution.
So again
questions. I have a quick one if they don't mind.
Um it only makes sense if every
municipality does it in the county. So, is every municipality going to change?
» I don't know yet. Keep in mind, those that don't will still pay for the
election. >> Yeah.
» So, if you go from I don't say district takes 10,
those two normal cost.
Now the referendum at Avon schools last year
Avon school build $56,000. Now people they have they have five
points because we have what call the state says if we have that we have
to have a voting site election for every 10,000 voters in county. So that's why
we had to have >> piggy back on that question of cost. Is
it a fixed cost to our town or is it a general cost divided by the number of
particip
and then for you know location that kind of stuff. So then the cost and the depth
during the maluction would only be whatever counts are effect.
So, and then that cost is told and then state statute I guess dictates that has
to be appropriated type thing and it breaks it down basically how many voters
the voters in the town and the township duplication they're separate
» I think well u in 2022 the primary election there were 14,000 911
registered voters in
the general election there was 15,2327 voters registered
and then in 23 primary there was 15,47 register voters in
general 15
but
» so if everybody doesn't do your shrink, your pole worker strength,
all of them are shrink where they're at
because the law says
» So you're promoting this just to save us $6,716272,000
2015,000 but it varies.
» That's what it could be.
Let's say
let's say
let's say you are going to share that total cost to
run those two elections will be the same vote because they'll
have five points in the township.
Those are all dictated by law.
One thing that I was talking to Ryan about,
this was difficult to mention was um how we discussed West Central Conservancy
and how we have gone to our legislators even and asked that they be more
transparent and that they be on too. So I don't I mean to me kind of if we're
asking for that then I think we should be at least willing to consider doing
the same
» has WCC interest probably not
» no that's why it's going through the legislator legisl We're going to have to
make that change.
But you know again maybe like 224
votes that's not a very big percentage of the people in our town that are
making decisions on their elected servants.
People just don't show up for that. This basically affects me, Jason,
and Robert. So, what do you
I think that financially it's a good decision to switch it. Um, I also agree
that it would be nice to have more voter turnout.
It's not going to be very much fun for us to have to improve on in a year.
I am humbled enough to know that I'm not so staring and awesome that I was the
one who who just walked out and won in a municipal year. There's an advantage to
having only 224 people turn out for an election. It allows someone to actually
go talk to residents. Something that I can look at the four of you, you've not
done in a general election. You just don't have to.
You're a Republican. You put your name on the ballot, you win.
This is nothing more than a ploy by the Republican party to ensure that no
Democrat will win again in this county. You had a Democrat win here and then you
had a Democrat win in Brownsburg. And now all of a sudden this this law was
changed three years ago, not last year. We had it on art. We discussed it three
years ago because it changed. Why is it now being brought forward? I
hear you. Saving 6,000 bucks. But something Don Hodson
continues to say is it could go up, but he's not saying if there's only two of
us, two communities running an election in that year, guess what the cost of?
It's going to go down. does not share that because the intention here is not
just to save money. It's to ensure that voters don't really have a say in what's
going on in their community. that the Republican party gets to pick.
» Dan, do you know the law?
» I believe it was passed last year. Um I yeah I made sure that I did reach
out to AIM as well just being that that they're kind of our lobbying body and
just had a conversation with them. I know you guys get copied on some of the
AIM uh communications especially during the legislative sessions they sent some
of these things out. uh when the bill was was there, AIM opposed the bill. And
so I I reached out to AIM because I thought that was interesting to at least
be able to share their perspective with you guys on why they they weren't
against it. I asked if they had like a one pager or something that they could
share with people and they didn't. Um but they did share that they said, you
know, generally municipal elections are more nonpartisan and that uh
presidential elections are more partisan. And so when you have those
municipal which are typically local issues which is why fewer people tend to
vote they are local issues but the value of those voters those are people who are
familiar with local issues and those are the people that are voting so that
there's maybe that you're not getting as many votes but those voters are more
valuable because they are people who are up on what the local municipal issues
are. Uh they also said that when it's on a presidential ballot specifically,
which is why it's still in a in a midterm, the other elections in a
midterm is when it's on the presidential ballot, it's so far down the ballot that
no one even pays attention in the municipal elections. There's all these
elections and so down at the very bottom is going to be our two or three
municipal elections, whatever they are. So they said those tend to get buried on
the ballots. uh they said their experience was that both state parties
have opposed moving the municipal elections. Clearly that's not the case
because it did it did pass and it's a law. So um at least somebody had to do
it. Um the other issue is they said typically then municipal issues are
ignored because the issue on people how people are voting is on the presidential
election not actually on the municipal election. So they offered those as just
talking points on on why they don't think you should change your municipal
election to a presidential election cycle again for whatever it's worth.
Yeah. The bill the bill was uh the bill to allow municipalities to change their
offer election was changed in 2020. Although I'll say um
there I don't know why the bill changed. I know that
the election board came to us this year and I don't recall it coming to us in
the prior year. So that's just to say Robert may not be about that but the
bill was passed in 2020. I agree with right about it. It's always been my
understanding that the parties wanted to be off year because they thought that,
you know, the municipal elections were going to get the attention they deserve.
We were going to be able to talk about municipal elections that that election
should not be the same as the general because it gets lost. And I think I
agree with Brown. I think traditionally that's what political operators would
have told you in the past that that's why the fact that municipalities pay for
these election is not new that is not you've always paid for your elections
and so that part is not new this idea that maybe municipalities don't want to
pay them anymore pay for them anymore is a new part and so the state legislature
said well if you don't want to pay for them then move it to the to the even you
have to pay for it but I mean, I would say that there was not, to my knowledge,
a rush after July 1st of 2020. There was not a rush of municipalities to get rid
of their offer elections. Um, I know it seems like there's movement here in
county, but I don't see I don't see this changing elsewhere. So you can you can
do whatever you think is right. But I think there is to the idea that um you
know that you have the all fear exist so that you can have so it could be your
election. Now you have fewer participants. Absolutely. You have fewer
participants, but um it gives you an opportunity to have an election about
it. I would say one other thing in my memo
is whatever you decide you're you're
not 12 years. So that is something
legislation put in there. Obviously, they don't want you going back and forth
back and forth. They want you to stick with something because it's a lot of
administrative part in order to make these changes. So if you do it, it'll be
a 12 year at least period where you get that they don't let you go back and
forth come up with 12 years. >> I don't know. I wasn't arbitrary.
» It's three election cycles. We know that it's three full election cycles, but I
don't know. And we don't have you can only do this during hot or even years,
but we don't do it this year. We have 2020.
I would also add a did say that if you guys wanted someone to attend that they
could send someone to your meeting to to give perspective. Um I know I' I've had
a brief conversation. I think I had heard Planefield wasn't doing it. Um AIM
also shared that they had not they were a little surprised when I reached out to
them. They said they hadn't heard of people actually changing their
elections. So he he kind of asked me he said well do they want to do it or what
why are they discussing it and I just said well it got brought up and so we
were having a conversation a was a little surprised to be having that
discussion and certainly if this was going on across the state having a
discussion wanting to change I think we we'd be hearing about it a lot more so I
wanted to share that comment from them as well.
» Well I think we need to understand what everybody else is doing because we share
the cost with everybody else. I I want to make sure we're clear about
this, but if you look at number one in my memo, you you only have an
opportunity to do this once every four years. You don't have opportunities to
because the way the statute is worded it says that you can you can adopt an
ordinance in an even number of year which is immediately preceding
a municipal election on 2028. There is no municipal election in 29.
So you you you can only do this you can do this this year 26 or you the next
time you would be looking at it would be 2030 there is some information out there
uh you know being communicated that you can do this every two years that's wrong
you look at statute I I'm quoting here number one the country is not enough
even number
well in your particular situation, your misalures, your next ones are 27 and 30.
So you can't do it in 29 because you don't have you don't have an election.
You don't have election 28 a municipal election in that year coming
up in 29. So So you have one shot the way your current is structured, you have
one shot every four years to do this.
And I think that's what Don told you a couple months ago. He's right about
that. There's some other information out there that I think again maybe there are
they have two off years and two odd years. Maybe they in 27 and 29. Well,
that would be true for them.
So just one thing I was not election.
So be the three of us knew about the law like to make everybody win. It's up to
you guys what you want to do. But anybody surprises where
decided on their own go do it all said you're getting a heck of a lot higher.
Why didn't somebody tell us we can do that? So that's the whole it's up to
you. We're not We're not pushing
any questions.
» Thank you.
So we'll move on to Avon logistics tip five number two.
» Um yes so as you guys are aware um Chicago industrial has started their
next building uh in Avon logistics with it which is the
613,000 foot building. Um they had actually approached and so you have a
nice colorful exhibit in here. It looks like this. You guys see this? So, I'm
going to refer to these roads that they're showing by their colors. So,
they actually approached earlier this year the redevelopment commission about
supporting the construction of the red road. Um the town's position, especially
when we're providing economic development incentives are typically
that if we're going to pay for infrastructure, it should be
infrastructure that benefits the public. So the red road as they had originally
proposed it was just going to be a culde-sac which meant it was only
basically going to serve the benefit of building six. And so we had given
feedback back to Chicago Industrial that unless they eventually built a
connection road to the back that we weren't willing to pay for the cost of
construction of that red road. So um Chicago Industrial has since modified. I
know this looks a little different than what you guys had previously seen in
some of their layouts. So, I had some conversation with them about that. They
are looking at starting building five potentially next year. So, they would
I'm going to call it maroon or mauve. I'm not sure what color that purple
maybe. The purple road they would then potentially build next year. And then
they have a third phase which would be the middle of blue road which would
essentially create a backage road along the back of the entire industrial park
which again would be beneficial to us. You know we talk a lot about traffic. We
talk about being able to dissipate traffic and if people don't have to
drive down to 100 south and get on 100 south to go two buildings down. That's
good for us. So the these roads would serve a value to us in the manner in
which they're showing in this exhibit. So that's the first thing. Uh the second
issue then was I asked them if they would be willing to provide costs for
what they thought construction of those roads were. So they did provide a tip
bond infrastructure budget. So you'll see it's about $9.5 million.
Um that has all the costs they expect for
again it be phased. Uh so it would be all three of those roads paid over time
which is a little bit similar to what we did with them. If you guys recall on um
on the first two buildings we also did what we call like a draw bond. So we'd
have the council approved the nine and a half million but they would only draw
what they need for the first piece and then they draw what they need for the
second piece and then they draw what they need for the third piece. So and
again just to go back these are all developer purchase bonds what we're
proposing. We're not proposing town or taxpayerbacked bonds. These are Chicago
industrial would purchase the bonds and then whatever tiff revenue we get would
be used to pay them back for those bonds for the infrastructure which is the
model we've used as an economic development incentive on on these other
industrial projects as well. The redevelopment commission when I
talked to them about it last month were were generally positive. they uh liked
the layout better and I think it's more consistent with what you guys at the
council have shared. You want in terms of economic development too which is
variety in building types. It's not that it's all million or 800,000 square foot
buildings that there be some diversity in the building size. Again the thought
process is the bigger buildings lend themselves to logistics and lower paying
jobs whereas the smaller buildings become more like manufacturing and that
have higher paying jobs. the some of the smaller buildings that they're
proposing. I think the redevelopment commission thought that that was
favorable and that they liked that layout. They did have some discussion
about well what if we agreed to pay for the roads and then they changed their
mind and they just want to build new buildings and they just showed us that
because they thought we'd like it and so we had a little bit of discussion about
how the agreement is written to make sure that you know they comply with
that. I shared that concern with Chicago Industrial as well. Chicago Industrial
said, "Hey, this has been we've been studying this and we've been talking
about it. If you guys recall, Chicago Industrial holds these properties. These
are not for sale." And they have said they want the diversity in their
portfolio as well. They don't want it to all be million square foot buildings as
well. So, he didn't seem to have any issues uh with that as well. And the
next thing the redevelopment commission asked was, well, will that building
layout actually generate enough to to support a $9.5 million bond? And so I
did ask Greg Gar. Oh, there he is. Sorry, Greg. So Greg
asked them to do a quick revenue bond analysis and see what it would generate
in terms of tip revenue and if it can actually support it. And not that all
these other pages aren't important, but if you work yourself all the way to the
back, I want to say it's page
uh page seven. It's exhibit F. It has a proposed layout which this is
the same layout we did with them on the first phase of the project. We asked
them to forgive interest for the first three years. And so you can see how the
three different draws and the payments would work out um and what that actually
how it works out. And so uh it does generate there the column is estimated
tiff revenue would be $25 million and then the debt service would end up about
$12 million. So there is double the coverage to be able to do it. And the
analysis by FSG does include the assumption that we would also give them
the tax abatement. And so again, if it's if it's something
the town's willing to do, um the redevelopment commission has not seen
this analysis yet that I just got that. So I'll share that with them next week.
But I wanted to have a conversation with the council and see what your guys
thoughts were so that I could share those back to the RDC and certainly
Steve is a leazison of the RTC so he can help me carry that message back to them
as well. So, just wanted to get your guys thoughts and input
and Julie says that
unless it was public,
I mean, how do you see the public? >> Well, I mean, it would be if there was
an accident or there was something, the public could use it. Now it does serve
the industrial park as well and so yes maybe it would provide a greater benefit
to the industrial park but it doesn't have no value if it doesn't connect to
anything that has no value to the public. So yes you may
typically yes it does. So yeah, people could walk there. There's other reasons
that there'd be benefits and if there was an accident and they needed to
divert traffic back there, the public could use it and drive on it versus the
alternative is it ends up there's fences between every building and there's no
connectivity and so that connectivity does provide some benefit as well. But
good point D that would be the alternative argument. It still does
benefit. Would this be ours to maintain? >> It would be. Yes. which if you guys on
the other exhibit you can see that there's already kind of an existing loop
road that is a public street over by those two buildings and the town does
maintain those
sense I like the draws and phases
it's developed by have we had our engineer look at these numbers and make
certain they say accurate Right. But they're not
buying this guy. >> Not yet. But we can we we certainly as
we get further in the process, we do that. And I will say, you guys may
recall on the first one, I think we did a $5.5 million was what you guys
approved. It actually came in at like four 4.6 million or something. So, we
only issue bonds at what the actual cost is. And so, even if it's an estimate,
we'll end up even if they're estimating at nine and a half and it ends up at
eight, we only do an $8 million bond. and they have to prove their actual
cost, not >> but if we're doing it in basis and costs
go up before we get to the session and we might exceed the
» but then they then they just have to pay for whatever goes over and you that
happened on Reagan logistics if you remember their costs ended up going up
and we said sorry we said we agreed to do x amount of a bond or you just have
to eat whatever goes over that amount. That's what we don't have to do. We can
choose to say, "Well, we'll give you $8 million towards incentives to pay for
infrastruure." We don't have to full. That's
negotiable. I I think it it would help on building
this making work together. And then I like the the commission did feel that
they like the size of the building smaller that this seemed to fit well. So
that was one thing that was pretty strong.
» We all have smaller buildings. Not everybody wants.
» Well, they've changed their tune. >> They have that be like two million
square foot, >> right?
And Greg, that's exactly why I think the redevelopment commission had the
question that they asked because they said, "Well, I thought they were saving
the middle for a 2 million square foot building. Are they just showing us
something smaller because they think that's what we want versus what they
really intend to build?" So, I do again that was a fair question by the RDC.
Questions or comments?
Which one's up first? Right. Sustainability analysis. Let's show
you it. And do they have it? They have it, but Oh, they have it. If you don't
have it, a physical copy with you. You do have a copy in your email. Greg, they
do have Oh, here. You need this, right? Is this the sheet, the one sheet?
they do have that Greg is in their packets. Great. Um, I think
Greg's gonna start on, and this is hot off the press, so we haven't had a lot
of time to analyze it, but in your packet behind the sustainability
analysis, the first spreadsheet you have is
looks like this. Says assessed value on the top.
And if you guys recall, the number one thing that drives our entire budget is
how our assessed value looks. And this is a perfect discussion. I'm gonna lead
Greg into what I wanted to talk about a little bit, but you guys will recall
that about five years ago, your guys goal was that you wanted to move towards
diversifying our tax base and getting more economic development in that 3%
range. Um, and so you can look on here. This is something I started tracking.
Actually, the county started splitting up the 1% 2% 3% a few years ago. And so
I started tracking it and I find it to be fabulously interesting. Greg and I
figured out on it earlier today, but um if you look at our 3% assessed value
growth, we had 11.78%. And if you look at our tiff, we had 23%
growth in our tiff as well. So those are great things. But with that, I'll turn
it over to Greg and let him share what what he wants to share. And then that
will kind of lead us into the sustainability analysis. By the way,
here thank you Ryan and I'm used to standing so I might stand up here for a
little bit. So this is the assessed valuation on a preliminary basis for
2027. What is notable is I believe the county
as a whole was just slightly around 1%. Okay, so you're bucking the trend or
higher than the trend. And keep in mind, we've been lucky in any county and we've
seen two or 3% growth because of the supplemental deduction and those that
are phasing in on the 1% property over the five-year period. We're also looking
at that the special deduction that was given to the 2% property and that's
trending down and personal property is trending down. But here what we see on a
preliminary basis is we've kind of bucked that and basically we have some
growing AB in your sustainability. We originally projected a negative 2%.
Because we projected that that would really start kind of those supplemental
deductions would really start trending you and that may be the way we go in the
future here. Just keep in mind those are over five years. Okay? But the but the
still the gross AB of your home uh may have gone up because major desiraability
factor and all of those things. So this is not to be individualized.
This is all the classes of property at the 2.54
together. This could be revised down slightly once the state get it literally
was this week that it was being put together
» yesterday. We've seen personal property change
because utility distributed property has been refigured and sometimes checked out
a couple times. So So this is good news. Okay. And I I want to start off on that
is that is awesome news. Now I'm going to go through the sustainability. But
before I do that, I want you to kind of look at this page because this kind of
keys into the council meeting. and when Ryan and I go through the fund totals,
but we've been doing a lot of work behind the scenes. And I kind of want
you to understand that when I make the statement that I believe Avon is in good
position to weather the 10,00ear storm that I think I swam through yesterday in
in Rushville. Uh, you know, and and so, you know, we're in a great position. Do
I mean that we should go out and spend money like uh drunken sailors? No. I I
believe though we're in a very good position as you know as SP1
1210, SP2, SP3, SP4, all of those when they come, you know, we want to be in
the best position. We want to be in the best position you can be in 26 and 27.
And that's where we're at, I believe. So what what did in order to put all these
opinions together of where our budget ought to first of all we had the special
lit distribution and you did very well in that distribution you received um
Julie got it back in I think the document came out in May and I think you
deposited in June and and that was additional edit that was additional uh
basically income taxes and I'll call them lit because that's what we you call
them all. Now u that went into the general fund also.
Next we got uh news from then the state that the growth quotient was released at
6%. So the growth quotient never been heard of never in my life have I seen a
6% growth quotion. Okay. I I was quite surprised that there wasn't a memo that
came out later and said no it's going to be four. If you remember it was capped
in the past at four and so do I believe that it will be capped in the future? Uh
very much so. Okay. Now now they they understood this 6% but also understand
that when we get to the sustainability we believe the realizable
revenue is more like between three and 4%. Why? Because with a 6% growth
quotion and 2% AB growth, the tax rate will grow and the tax rate will grow for
everybody, county, you know, school, township, and everything. So that'll
push up circuit breaker. So that means our realizable revenue that comes into
the bank account will be less. So everybody might say, you know, when
everybody ran around and said, "Oh, we can give a 6% raise in salary was like
time out. You don't understand the numbers." And now we've got a lot of
communities saying we can't afford zero. We have, I believe, been using 3%. Is
that correct? And that's generally what I'm seeing around the state of Indiana.
Like I said, I've been all over with mushrooms and everything else. The next
thing is then we put together this draft sustainability. Okay. And worked real
hard on it and looked at the both the income factors and the revenue on the
expenses. Next then we got uh Julie's closing of her 630. Remember this is an
18month budget, right? So when it shows up in Gateway it's 18 months. It's the
last half of this year and it's all of next year. Okay. 27. And so where she
stood as of June 30th gave us a real good indication on if revenues were
declining, if food and beverage was increasing or holding its own, if storm
water was doing good. And those were all putting kind of put into the
sustainability and kind of our next version of the sustainability clear. And
those all indicated that everything was going good. Okay. the 6:30. Next, then
we sat and spent the entire day. We sat down with the chief of police and kind
of went through his budget, went through where we are on all the others, and then
we kind of formulated the opinion on what we will present during the council
meeting. And so, we spent looking at again updated revenues, updated
expenses, and things like that. Next, we got busy and we put together the capital
improvement plan. And Ryan, have you given the council that? They've seen it
and reviewed it. Yes. Okay. Since that was July 30th, then on July 31st,
we got the county level lift. What is that? That means the amount of lift that
is expected to be settled to all jurisdictions within Hendricks County.
And that was up 7.5%. So you could maybe yield five maybe six%
of that. Remember any any in communities that had a higher levy since we're a
levybased system remember that we're levy based not tax ratebased yet like
representative Thompson says will be happening in the future. So if someone
Brownsburg increased their levy more than you did because of annexation or
whatever they would get more share. Okay. So now where we are is we're at
August 13. We want to get your feedback on the on the budget amounts and then
what we're waiting on next week we should get Ryan this is late breaking
news but we should get the individualized Avon LIIT for 2027
next week. So that'll really help us and really kind of fit into your timeline. I
have here somewhere for our budget approval and how we move forward. So we
got a b a lot of information in gateway. We've been working with Julian and Ryan
and we're we're going to be getting the other funds in there too. So okay, any
questions on what we've been doing to get to here? Okay. So now what I want to
do is also tell you that there is no doubt in you know like I said when I was
kind of swimming back from Rushville last night um I was like wow if you look
at the things that Avon has accomplished and how we've gotten to what I call the
good position is that from several things we many many years ago we we
approved and implemented and the food and beverage and I remember that and
remember going through all that and it it was a hard kind of a you know
everybody's concerned with it going up but that was the really paid dividends
and it shows up in in the sustainability the wheel tax doing the wheel tax a year
or two ago you know actually got it back you know Brownsburg is trying to catch
up with you they're trying to do it this year now everybody's mattering heck
because of everything else. And so our timing on the wheel tax couldn't have
been better. And you saw Ryan, I'm sure, told you the lane miles, the lane mile
revenue that we got in that will be our new match for our new grant next year
and that's automatic because you have the wheel tax and things like that.
Okay. So that's awesome. the fact that we brought on, don't throw anything at
the we brought on Geo bonds very strategically, not not a ton, but we
brought those on because guess what? Those are going to be harder in the
future. There's no doubt about it. Okay? And so, you know, bringing those on and
then bringing the storm water on just again set the whole table. You know, I'd
like to say if we are Christmas dinner, we got a nice table table set and we've
got a lot of things on the table to eat from or to enjoy and that has gotten us
to this point. Okay. So, those are key things to kind of remember. So, when I I
want to go to the recommendations and I want to update number three where I
talked about the rainy day fund and Ryan and I talked about this and we looked at
um we looked at it and what I'd like to do is make the suggestion on the 300,000
that we actually split that 150 to the insurance
reserve front. We can't call it rainy. There's only one rainy day in this
state. uh and then 150 to the rainy day fund. That would bring up the rainy day
fund a little bit, bring up our self insurance up a little bit and we'll be
then on on our way to the goal of $2 million that I set forth here. So, we're
hoping we can give it a nod from the council and be able to head in that
direction and then a resolution would probably be put together. Okay. So
other things in there I think those are I'm on the second page of any
recommendation. I guess I will pause here for a second and say if anybody
read through these and have questions, you know, address them at any time. I
can stop on a dime and get started on the dime. So, um, any questions on some
of these recommendations or observations that I think within the document?
different different thing. So that's showing the proposed appropriation for
next year, not the transfer. He's talking about the transfer and in
this is we appropriate 250 in case we have to spend. So that
would be if there was a tornado and we need the money to spend from the rainy
day. That's the 250 that he's showing. But you'll notice on here for the uh
insurance reserve fund, there's a footnote that says we're not expecting
to spend any of that. So there's no appropriation to the insurance reserve
fund. So we're not in my it's our my understanding we did
do our our transfer this year >> and this is what we're setting up for
next year. >> Correct.
» So when do we want to get that $2 million goal?
Uh it would be nice before LIIT comes to a theater near you.
» Which is when uh 2028 2029 and 23rd. Very clear, right? So there's a
implementation in 28, collection in 29 and and then maybe you receive it 30.
But guess what? I expect every a lot of things to change.
So, but that's because of the state lagging part of that. They figured out
there was going to be a lag from the state of Indiana on tax returns and
things like that. So, imagine that. >> So, we'll move 150 at the end of this
year from next year.
» It'll really be beginning of we'll have you pass a resolution at the end of this
year and then we will tell Julie to do it before March 1st of next year. And
then we always catch up with you
the other 300,000. >> Yeah.
» Which we want to be careful and cautious and you know and and keep the keep the
ship head in the right direction. Okay. Any other questions on any of
those? If not, I'm going to jump through some of the uh specific information kind
of in in the back and kind of talk about is unless you've got some specific
questions on any of the actual funds like the general fund, the addit or or
anything like that. If you've got anything on the cash flow, now keep in
mind we will this this set our tone for the numbers at the council meeting. like
I said within the and then once we get those uh the details of those the
sustainability will be updated for those and we got most of the general fund in
and Brian's been working on that. questions on specific funds.
If not, I'd like you to turn to page 79, which is the circuit breaker. And this
is the one that that I've been talking about. and the fact that we really were
quite lucky uh that the circuit breaker on page 79 from 25 to 26 went down by
91,000 even though the total went up u you know
with the tip in it our total loss was u basically eliminated or the incremental
loss was very very left, right? So that really helped. Now we believe that as
you can see in 2728 probably even given now where we are the
growth push came out a little later we're we're going to have bigger circuit
breakers than these numbers. So, keep in mind what that means is when we put
together a budget and we say we're going to levy $3 million of general fund
property taxes, we'll only yield 3 million minus 625.
So, we'd only get $2.5 million of real cash. So, you know, that's how it works
and how it meets the comes into the fund balance. Questions on that?
not uh we also then put together the um I want to point you to page 82. Now
we've been uh we've been looking at Oh, by the way, I probably should
mention this too. We do have the possibility of a annexation deal. Matter
of fact, I have one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, uh, fiscal plans that
we could use for an appeal. And the total is around 75,000.
So, we like to get your again thumbs up to apply or advertise that in the budget
and be able to move. Now, why I brought that up, it it will the tax rate's going
to come up from the 33 ps, right? it's going to come up because the growth
quotient and because of the cess valuation the 75
75,000 won't move it much but that is something that once you get the 75 as
you know by the way the SC the three-year growth quotient all of those
excess levy appeals that used to be back there in the old days or even a year ago
those are all gone this is the annexation and physical plan are the
only deal cities and towns got left. Okay? So, it's your only bite of the
apple. And what they recognize is they want to incentize if you increase your
border, they want to make sure that you can match your revenues with the
expenses or who would ever increase the border. Okay? and and they believe
increasing your border and providing additional services like police
protection and things like that benefit. So they've kind of left the average
appeal alone at least so far, right? It's the only
recall it's the only appeal left the growth appeal has gone away. So this is
the one they reminded us last year. >> Yes, they reminded of us last year. Even
though we were eligible for it, we didn't get it anyway. Yeah. Yeah.
There could be I mean there's no guarantee at all
but we didn't you know my suggestion is we at least try you know because these
are legitimate annexations based fund a legitimate um fiscal plans and hopefully
Dan legitimate ordinances. >> Right.
» And I got a lot of faith in you on that. >> Which son do we have? Are you
referencing? >> Um, you're welcome to see these. I I
just have one sheet. Um, you've seen this. I have
the council want.
» That was our quick inventory of the ones 256.
So, I'll turn to page 83. And 83 is your projected assessed value or your actual
assessed valuation. And what's interesting is we're going back to the
days of 2013 and 2016 when we had 35% growth in AB and you see what we enjoyed
in the past and that's due to annexation that's due to um all the you know people
building homes and all the things that Ryan showed you on that AB sheet. And
so, you know, I I I expect very highly that we will not have those growth
numbers in the future. You can even see your personal property at one it was 148
million 149 million and it's going down like a rock too at 114.
Okay. So that so that what I mean by the perfect storm is we're going to have a
lot of pressure on AB. We're going to have tax rates going up. We're going to
have circuit breaker until you hit $3. Everybody told tax rate hits $3. We're
going to have a new regime on okay coming to an theater near you.
That's why I want you to be as strong as you can before you go into those. Now,
the the lid discussion, as Brian has shared with you, looks like we'll be
fairing well, maybe better than others, but the fact of the matter is u you
know, it's going to change and there's going to be a lot of hard decisions.
Now, if you turn to page 88, page 88, this shows the h how the 2026
uh property tax rate is broken down. This is our 3.33
pennies. And uh as you can see, we've got a very low debt rate of one one
penny. That that's very very low. And keep in mind again, most of the debt
that we've incurred recently is the developer bonds and they're on the hook.
It doesn't use our one at all. And by the way, on that one that you presented
just a little bit ago, we I really love the three-year forgiveness
because what a lot of people do, as you know, Greg, they capitalize that
interest. That just makes the bond size higher. that just makes the taxpayers
use that money for that. And by using the and and if we can get them to stay
with the forgiveness, it really just gives us more money back in the pocket
of the tax eventually. So that's, you know, that's really I love that they
they laugh that they agree with us on that because a lot of developers don't
want so just come out. So um next one is on page 92. We got that. We've got the
comparison of the 2026 rate and this is the one that um you know we're at our
total rate on Avon is 79880 playing field with their two billion AB
of captured just in their tiff district and three billion in their town uh yield
a little bit better than us at 7958 but uh you know That's that's the way it
is. But we're still right there. And and we've got it and and this kind of breaks
them all down and puts them puts it in the debt serve the fire too. And so it's
an all inclusive rate. It's not your 33 pes, right? It's your 79 to make you
comparable to everybody. Okay. Um and there's a graphic depiction
of that on page 93. So um ultimately then I guess if you
turn to page 110 this is our weighted cost of cap capital calculation that
I've gone through in the past and you can see our overall cost of capital in
2012 was 4.3. We're at 3.1. So, we've got everything we've done,
even with the least rental bonds of 3.79, which was in 2025, we got very low
cost of capital. And our 2016 bonds, we'll be paying off in a few short
years. So, even though we did issue that, we issued that a very low price.
And Greg, you know, as a result of your bit yesterday, interest rates are more
like four and a half. And so
» okay, you should have been 43 and maybe
but um so you know that's that's very very good and and I think really kind of
sets us up by again we are using very very very little of our 1 cent of our
tax. I'm sorry Julie but that's not a lot. So, you know, and that's for our go
and keep in mind that you've built some really good assets and what we've been
able to do with the TI and you know, when we all go up on the hill, that's
one heck of an asset that that we're going to have up there. And so, you
know, we've come a long way on things like that. So, Ryan, what else do you
want me on the sustainability to cover? Um because again if you looked at the
funds the fund trend most of them are holding their own going up a little bit
and again that will be updated for once you get once we get the 27 budget
solidified but you can kind of see where like overall I think it's a lot of good
news.
talk about this uh when in the future
» and the decisions that we may have to make.
» Well, the decision that's going to come to you all is going to be whether you
opt in or opt out and I'm talking to you. Okay. Um, you happen to be I I put
it in the tale of two cities in my write up to the mustard or two tabs and that
was playing field and a look at it your population is x%
and you know your uh your basic levy is x% but they've been around a long time
levy of lift they've been around a long time. So they've grown their property
tax levy. So since they've grown their property tax levy each and every year
and annex and grown and growth quotient and all that that they've grown to a
level that they need x amount of of lick. When you calculate that out and
you use the right of each town over 3500 to levy their own lit rate of one up to
1.2 too. It's not It's not enough for Brownsburg.
Dan probably maybe Danville was okay, but Brownsburg and Plane
for you it it is it actually will pay substantial dividends possibility of you
doubling or more your LIT total. Okay. Now, so that's if you opt out and create
your own tax. All the other towns will more than
likely when we went around, I don't know if any of you went to the bus group.
Yeah. And so, and you're coming to us too, right? The second one. Um, and so
most of them will say we want to opt in and use the adjusted gross income of the
county as a whole as opposed to the town as a whole. Okay. Now, keep in mind we
have done estimates and everybody's done estimates and at this point in time it
looks like you could do your own and you could farewell, but you could also
farewell if that tax if you stayed in with Planefield and Brownsburg because
they need a higher tax rate to fund their lift. They need let's say about a
0.8. Okay, that's still higher than what you need. Now, what do we need?
» Uh, we had it I don't have those numbers right at my fingertips, but about 50
basis point 48 cents I think just to break even.
» Yeah, to break even. And the definition of break even has been cussed and
discussed. It is what what the reason I say that is that
there is a general perception of break even is lit plus cap loss, circuit
breaker loss and things like that. That should be it. That's not given by by
anybody. Okay? That's what the towns are are asking. Cities and towns think is
fair. Counties don't need it so much. And the overall fact is everybody's
going to say, "Well, you've survived with those circuit breaker caps now. Why
do you need to increase the lip rate that much more?" That's a big debate and
I guarantee you that's coming in SP2 something of that. So, so Greg, that
would then give us dividends, too. So right now either opt in or opt out would
end up to be more of a political decision than a maybe an economic
decision because you would you would now if you opt out you would be able to go
up to 1.2 as it is stated now and it would be up to you to calculate and then
not impose a rate. the state would impose the rate but basically have that
rate. Okay. If you opt in, then the county council will mandate the rate.
Okay. So to speak to make everybody to give everybody lit,
you know, that won't make everybody. >> Well, they they may they may not. I
don't know. Right. That that will be the 180 and we certainly
at 50. >> Yeah.
» And if they don't, then you're down 120. Maybe you're still w. But then how much
can we >> right? You can do up to 120 as it stands
today. Um but then again what you might say then is if they opted in in they
became 50 basis points and you said we want to opt out create our own tax rate
at 100 basis point you'd be twice as high. Okay. And so that will also have
in my opinion annexation. It will impact your annexations.
Okay. because one might become savvy enough to say if I stay out here I'm I'm
going to pay less income tax you know so still so my recommendation to ride is
you know we keep on our trail of annexation because we we may do the same
rate but if we have to end up going and creating our own rate that might change
that story a little bit but u and you know getting that donut hole legisl
ation, you know, is really, really important in my opinion. And I I think
the state's going to hear us loud and clear on that because they're going to
say, "Oh my gosh, we got to put a a virtual fence
around Jason's neighbor because he happens to be out of the out of the town
limits." I'm just saying as an example. We've
known that for years, but Jason's in. And so, you know,
creating those virtual fences to capture people's trash don't
ain't going to work. Okay. To be Mr. Office. Um, and so, you know, that's
that's where it's going to come down to, Greg. And and you know you in one hand
you get to choose your own destiny for the rest of your life. In one other hand
you might uh choose the other for the rest of your life so to speak. And once
you opt in it is my understanding you cannot opt out. So you don't get to play
the game of one year one year one year one year.
» Is it locked for three years? >> Well the rate is locked for three years.
» You can't even read the that's often in one. and you don't know what the
county's going to do. So, you'll be surprised by what they choose and then
you're locked in for three years. Whereas, if we do do our own, we control
our destin and and and that's not going to that's not playing real good in, you
know, I I do Martin County, their income doesn't grow from one year to another.
You lock in a rate. uh how do you give Shelby a 3% rate raise if you don't get
any more lit you're not going to get much more property taxes so you're not
going to get much lit in that case and so you're going to be so dependent on
the budget is going to be driven by the lit increase
and the lit increase is is driven by the adjusted gross income in the town of
Avon or the ity of Hendricks. Now, the the goal is not to pit anybody
against anybody. You know, as I said in the opening thing of of of the Hendricks
County month, we got to all be in this kind of fish ball all together because
it's the county as a whole that's the important thing. Okay? And so that's
what I still believe and I think the county council believes that. let their
structure.
It sounds like we're going to be much better if we do stick with our have our
own and a lot of what you mentioned about the we did well with the wheel tax
food and beverage you know our history of that. So if we can control our own
and it seems pretty darn logical that we should stick with that rather than just
going on the tail of the county on regular basis.
It's going to be a tough call. Okay. And the good news is, guess what? You don't
have an ordinance in front of you tonight. Uh, so, you know, that won't be
until 28, maybe 29. So, we've got some time. I I do believe SB2 is coming. I do
believe it's going to change things. And so, Steve,
your observation at this point is you've managed your finances very, very well.
you should be able to manage it very well in the future. So I don't disagree.
» But either way, when we saw this great presentation, if it must be
» put on by this company that is topnotch, we make out either way.
» But what would be better for our future if I like the idea that we control it?
» And that's I mean it's gonna be a tough decision for you guys. So that's okay.
So Greg has a beautiful model that we can
spend an entire hour and a half moving things around and letting you guys see
what the different things are. I don't think today is that
» but I Greg and I would like to do a specific lit meeting with you guys pre
» because at some point we are going to have you are going to have to give Julie
guidance on how to vote at a meeting because Julie is our representative on
the must on the must board or whatever they're calling it. So I think late
August or early September we'd probably like to
» yeah probably conversation that's just a meeting where all we talk about with you
guys is the must where Greg can put his model up, show you the different
scenarios. Let's just assume the county approves an 80 cents. What is the impact
of the town? What is the impact of the town does 80 cents? What is the impact
of because it changes under every scenario. What if playingfield opts out?
That's going to change the scenario and what everybody gets. What if Avon opts
out? How does that impact? So, >> and Brian, I think the integration
between Avon and Washington Township Fire is so so important because the the
one version you shared with me, you know, we talked about today, right? Avon
fire gets nothing. Now, they might be assuming that you're
going to give them your extra. Well, that's not a good decision. And that may
be another thing that comes into play which will make your decision even
harder is depending on what decision it is. We could get a huge influx of
additional lit revenue but like the school is no longer going to be able to
get lit. So the school corporation may come and ask you guys for a portion of
your lit money or the Washington Fire Department may come and say hey council
will you support us and give us lit money. So all of these things you're
going to have all these decisions to make that are going to impact other
entities. And so we're gonna have a friendly consolidation discussion then
is what you're saying. >> I'm not saying that it would maybe be a
great idea but I I I don't know. >> Just Donald was there too. You see all
the scenarios we are just finally getting
and I don't like to share. That's just >> I'm with you there.
So if you thought this job was boring now just wait.
So yeah. So we'd like to and and and that's what we want to do is just get
you get it up on the screen, get my analyst and and we're going to do some
some whatifs in there and and take you as deep in there as you want to go. And
I'm telling you this when you get all the nuts and bolts together, there's a
lot of changing things. And and what I'd like to do is get you educated on where
it is today. So you'll understand when SB2 and again I call it that, right? SB2
comes through the theater near you. Um that then you'll be able to see the
change and understand the change. That's what's critical for you because yeah,
we're going to be in in September here. We're going to be looking at Julie and
saying, Julie, you may have to sign on the dotted line somewhere here. Now, I
don't like what the Association of City of Counties put out is that everybody
would agree to a rate. I don't like that because I don't think you want to agree
to a rate at this point in time because then you'd be agreeing to one. I think
the concept I've been trying to always push the concept they're pushing for the
town needs to say what its rate needs to be and the county needs to say. I'm not
sure the county is going for that either. But you know I'm I don't speak
for any of you. I just got so
» well hand out that information before we talk about it. So
it's impossible to do. You're going to have to sit here and look at it with us.
C can we have these some of these charts and uh some interactive uh you know
graphs that it kind of showed a little better because you can get lost in
spreadsheets is it can be we can see about that now we may need a a week
later for that but sure yeah you know yeah I I
have a graphics person that can do that >> on some of the key points you can't make
a real tight too much to do everything the key points okay when's that must be
» it is next week I believe is or the week after and
» the 17th >> be careful but they said the 26th
» yeah and then they also said that it still may not depending on if we get the
data they may move it forgive me you're you're saying that you're saying our
next with you guys that Julie's going to need some guidance from us you said
» no these are discussion meetings >> got When when is when is the decision?
» That's not been said. >> It will be sometime in September, maybe
later in September. Okay. So, sometime late August, late August, early
September, we will want to sit down with you guys to look at. Now, most of the M
discussion is going to be more focused on what are we going to do in 28 or 29
versus what Julie's going to do because we don't have the option to create our
own right now. So no matter what happens, we're still opting in with the
county at this point because we don't have that other option yet. So the
county is making the decision really at this point. Correct.
» Now, why are you saying that? You're over 3500,
» right? But we can't establish a rate until 28.
» Oh, I'm saying 27 28. We are with the county no matter what.
» Well, >> but we're under the weird system, not
the same, not the way the system's going to shape.
» Yeah. But you know that may be where since you have the right you may say I
need to reserve the rights correct okay and and get that because otherwise you
might be sending a false signal you see what I'm saying but we we need
to talk >> yeah we'll talk further
» yeah so
any other quick questions on sustainability Again, Greg will be at
the council meeting to talk about the his recommendation fund for the funds.
But I think it's important again each and every year. I wanted to write this
down and show you everything that we went through to get to these points
because you know man, you know, the data just keeps coming and the hits keep
playing. Okay? And so we just don't sit down in a vacuum and say we can't afford
this or we can't afford this or whatever. We really I mean we really put
some time and effort in it and we know exactly where you are. We know in 27 28
where you're likely to go. We don't know too much after. Okay. It's a little
murder but it looks like it's a good m if that makes sense.
Okay, Ryan, you told me they needed. So, >> thanks.
» Yes, thank you.
Let's
go
ahead and call the meeting to order
to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it
stands. One nation,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
» Robert
Susan >> Jason.
Is there any discussion?
Make a motion to approve the consent agenda for the check register for August
13th. Approval of July 23rd as present
» Jason Pucket >> four
» four >> four
» four. Next is public comment period. The
public can comment on items on the agenda that are not part of a public
hearing this evening or on any specific matter's jurisdiction. If you would like
to speak, please come forward. My phone's not working. My phone's not my
phone's not working. So, you don't have to press the green button, but please
state your name and your address, please.
Hi, John Taylor 217.
I'm here tonight to let everybody know that we have someone to run the economic
development partnership and I brought with me so a chance to say hello and I'm
gonna let her say a couple things but I'm going to say one thing before I
leave. Thank you all for what you did for me the last seven years and
believing in what economic development is and what it will bring to the
community. I think Greg wouldn't have as much to talk about if it wasn't for all
the new development that's happened the last few years. And thank you for every
time I've come before you for a a tax abatement or use tip dollars. You always
were supportive and understood. So, um, continued success to the community. And
this is >> Oh, I'm Jennifer.
Thank you, John. Um, my first question is, is this guy ever tired?
» No, I'm I'm Jennifer Chamberlain. honored to be the next executive
director with county and development partnership and um I'm really looking
forward to using my past experience in the public sector and the private
sector. Um I started my career in I got my master's degree in geography. That's
kind of a fun fact unique but then um served in community and economic
development departments in Portage and Fisers. did that for eight years in both
those communities throughout the state and then um I worked in the private
sector for the last 14 years. I was most recently with Thompson Thrift and worked
in multif family development over the last year, but the real bulk of my
career was at Simon Property Group and I was there for 13 years um helping
leasing and development or redevelopment of anchors and um the common thread is
just trying to attract business and investment to a location whether it's at
a community or finding an apartment site or at a shopping center. So, I look
forward to doing that here in Hendris County. And um at Avon, I'm so excited.
There's so many exciting things. John has really done a great job setting me
up for success um with Eastern Gray and the Mormon Church and all of those
opportunities and I look forward to building upon that. And my last thing
that before I sit down and let you move on is that I want to let you know that I
am our organization's here to serve you as a partner and as a resource. My
personal goal is to make that a reliable resource and a trusted partner. So
please don't hesitate to reach out and I I would love to meet with each of you
and get to know you better and what your priorities are and make sure that aligns
with our organization. And thank you for your time. I look forward to working
with you all.
» Anyone else like to come forward? >> Thank you very much.
» Hey, no one else coming forward. So, we'll close public comment and move on
to department updates.
Steve Moore works director. Uh first on the list is a 100 north race
roundabout making some really good progress out there. Um utility re
relocation will be complete overnight tonight.
That'll be the last one. Then aes will remove the remaining poles hopefully
next week and the drill crews and the storm water crews can do what they need
to do where those poles were interfering. Uh that said the storm
water crews doing great. They have already completed the south leg, the
south side of the east leg and they're going to be working on the north side
and east leg for the next week. Dirt crews are out there working. Milling is
done of the road. So we're doing pretty well.
Um, here's a revised completion date. I'm going to say the end of October,
early October, which I would say the end of the year. So, this is an improvement.
Okay. Set that far kind of low, but yeah. So,
end of October is when we think that'll be complete. They should hopefully meet
that date. Um, road widening on Dan Jones Road phase three. The utility
relocation work continues. The trans transmission poles are done. Uh, the
electric distribution, they'll still have some polls to set later this year.
AT&T will begin their relocation on the west side as soon as
clear. Once they're out of the way, our road contract will be able to then
temporary temporarily widen west side of the road so we can shift the two lanes
to the west and then work on the east for next year. Um
widening phase four design is progressing to allow for bidding
design should be done for this fall. I don't know why bid this fall being
pushed to 27 based on utility locations but that's making good
progress. CCMG all the concrete work is done. Um
they're doing full depth patching on 200 South right now and then hopefully
they'll get paid next week and then they'll jump into all the neighborhoods
where they've got the concret sidewalks. We have a sidewalk and curb
project going out for it's out right now waiting for them to come in and that
work will be done again this year. stormwater utility. Uh we received the
quote today for the K10 drainage project. We only received one quote. Not
sure why. We had five of our river biders. Um nobody responded but one. Not
sure why. Um I will be finding out why. But uh it was good price. It was 15,800
and the estimate engineers estimate was 62. So it was under that. So annoying
the other guys. Um so the storm board will be considering that acceptance of
that quote at their next meeting. Um being excavating by the ones who didn't
quote um completed their reund and 200 north that area there's
another section that has done yet and that's pretty much it. Any questions?
Speak just a little feedback. Did are you feel like you're getting good
feedback from the utilities? Are they being responsive to you? You know, as
far as communicating well. >> Oh, you love me.
» I sense a little sarcasm. >> We have we we have the healthy
relationship. >> Oh, I sense a little more sarcasm.
No, I I know. Um, I guess I just throw that out there in case there's comment
or room. You utilities are difficult to work with and that's that's the that's
the long part of it. I've actually revised our um contract agreements form
for our consultants on each coordination. Lessons learned, right?
You know, things that we want to make, you know, better and try to avoid, you
know, pitfalls in the future. So, you know, as things happen, you know, try to
counter them with contract language for the future projects.
» I think that's probably the best way go forward on that. So, that's good. I I
know you're in tough position, so I was mainly asking is to see if there's room
for movement in that direction. >> I I think honestly I think they're they
all are working well with us. I I think as well with us as anybody, maybe better
with us than most. Okay, that's enough. That's good.
» I have a question. Um, I thought I read recently that there made some
announcements about CCMG money. >> Yes. Avon was not on that list.
» I don't know what you're talking about the congestion. They were awarding the
next round. There's a second Yeah, there was a second round, but we weren't
eligible for the second round because we were funded in the first round.
» Oh, yeah. >> They changed the program. It's not
working the same way. So basically the state came up with like another $75
million for the one state awarded in the first round. There were some some
administrative issues with but we were we were fortunate enough to have all our
issues resolved and we were awarded in the first uh award for the year. Then
the second round came out for people who did not get that did not include us. Uh
but we do now that you mentioned CCMG, we do have our
designer working on our application for the next round that's coming out in
October. I think October. So yeah, we're already working on that. So our
engineers has been a walk all the projected sites next Thursday.
I didn't want to miss out
planning and building updates on our hearing agendas. We have one case next
week on BCA agenda. We have now down to three cases on the plan commission for
this month. um after the development plan and plat
that were proposed for the commercial area were drawn. Um not sure what
actually precipitated that. So that's not going forward at this time. We had I
think four new filings for September planning commission. Not sure if those
are all on the agenda because they're working on getting additioners to uh
complete their submissions actually. So that's TBD. Um, we're still making
progress on setting up our online application submission process through I
work. Um, getting closer to going live on that. We have our engineering
consultant moved in so they can review everything um through that portal now
without having to come in pick up paper and thumb drives.
So, continuing to do some uh testing and troubleshooting on that, but hopefully
that'll be live in the next couple months for the public. to submit to. And
then we're still hoping to have comprehensive UDO revisions um later
this year, but we are working on possibly doing a smaller revision that
might come before you sooner as we've identified some uses that would be
considered kind of high impact uses that aren't very well
called out or delineated at all right now in the video. And we want to make
sure that we have those in the appropriate classification most likely.
So that before something like that would go in by right, it would have to come
through the council presumably for resuming. Um
and from the building side of things, you should have Mike Ty's building
activity report for July. You have any questions on any of that, just reach out
to him directly. and the building permit fee increases that you all adopted
earlier this year will go into effect in two weeks.
Happy to answer any questions.
» Good evening. Shelby Craig, parks recreation director.
um updates on our construction projects at the pickle patch. We've ran into some
unexpected drainage issues, so push our timeline back a little bit. Um we have
to repair a pipe underground, push pavement back, I think three times
now. Hopefully we can still get pavement down next week. Um and then smooth
ceiling from there. The foundation for the shelter has been poured and the
sidewalk from Avon Avenue to the pickle patch is complete
at Bernett. The contractor has mobilized and the first round of invasive species
removal by Williams Creek has been done. We actually have a meeting out there on
Monday to go over what that project entailed. We actually got a credit back
for some of that. So, looking good there. Our PRBC met last
night. I shared the capital improvement plan and 2027 budget with them.
Obviously, they don't have any voting powers, but I just
they are my sounding board for everything. So, I just bring them up to
speed on all that. And then upcoming uh Tiffany has been working with um
uh Crossroads on potentially maybe this year bidding two trails. um the 150
South to Dan Jones project and the Waywood Trail to 625 at 800 sports
project potentially getting those together. Um if not this year definitely
next year. Any questions?
» What we have on the sewer connection? >> Um it is scheduled day is scheduled to
be there the last week of August 25th. Is that Monday?
» I think those are deadline. How long?
» A week. >> A week. I'm not going to finish that.
» Good evening. Sean, chief police. Um, Officer Adam St. Jack. He'll be
graduating from Indiana law enforcement academy next Friday on August 21st
High School
this year for sure, but could be one of those two. If you're never that I
encourage you to go watch that
more information on that officer Jacob Redmond, he'll be reporting to for
training August 31st. came out going in and then on Monday a police department
air board met and convened and voted unanimous state vote to tender two final
conditional offers of employment to two other new officers. Uh both of them are
completing their final per retirement physical, psychological examinations and
other remaining portions of background investigation
and as long as all of those uh go through successfully then they'll get an
official start date probably within a month or so.
Uh we received our annual reimbursement from the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force
in the amount of approximately $12,000 that goes to reimburse our payroll and
our cell phone forensic technology platforms that we help support that
program investigations. Happy to answer any questions you are
expenses that we already incurred
on your two new officers. How many officers will we have on board?
» That will be 44
beginning. >> Yes and no. because we originally set
aside the two positions that were going to fill because we weren't sure how the
impact that
allian
I believe as of yesterday. Um, and it's towards the bottom of the list. So, it
is harder to get quality candidates once we get down there. We just got two of
them there. So, they're really good. So, this has been unusually good. Um,
usually after we got a list of 30, we might get maybe three, maybe four. I
think right now we got six up for this list. We have some others pretty
promising still.
Yes.
That's me.
» I sent you guys reports. We rolled um into we rolled our July. Send you guys
reports. So, check your emails. If you have any questions, let me know. Um
you'll hear about it later. We started budget season. Greg's gonna go over
everything. My favorite time of year. Um,
and just he'll be talking to you a lot more about the must. I am your
representative. So, whatever you guys decide, just give me direction and
that's how we go. But, um, most importantly, just review those reports
if you have any questions.
All right, moving on to council comment and reports state.
» I think our work session I think our our work session we covered
a logistics about the the background with the comments the board members had
Ryan was very good about covering all that. So I I won't want to go on
anymore. I'll just say that they're they're having good interaction. uh
you're not just having a a board that meets and approves funding. Um they are
going through and as as Brian relayed there in the work session, they're
they're wrestling with some of these copies and they're thinking through and
they're making sure there's there's clawback that that there's not an open
book and the bonds are being bought in this case by Chicago Industrial. But uh
I have to say I've been impressed listening to it. It's kind of fun.
being on the listening end and not being able to say anything. It's kind that's a
tough part. But Ryan Ryan puts this back to me when I'm back there behind him and
I I'm trying to get his motions, but boy, he just he ignores them. I feel I
feel terrible. No, that's all. Thank you.
» Thank you. Great. Nothing.
» Um, I'll just say that there's a tuxway day coming on Saturday, August 22nd.
That will be at the fairgrounds this time in Hendricks County Fairgrounds
entering 85. And then there's a community shred happening Saturday,
October 22nd. That's going to be at the Plfield Library.
That's it for me. New business 2027 budget introduction.
» It's just got a copy. >> Okay.
I didn't Thank you. I'm getting >> Oh, okay. I've got one. I've got one.
» Thank you. And good evening. I I told you that in work session, we we've
actually been working on the budget since May 11th. We've gone through about
eight different items. And what we're showing then tonight or giving you
tonight is our usual uh step one which is kind of giving you the trend of the
budget since 2021 and where we're paying the 27 total
budget by each fund. Okay. Now, you might notice you've got a brand new
fund, and you might say, "Well, where did the building and construction fund
come from?" And did you and Ryan just decide to do a new fund? Well, obviously
we didn't because Julie would have had something to say about that. The state
of Indiana uh believes that actually the builders association believes that uh
most municipalities are making any kind of money off of building and peries.
Well, I haven't found one yet. I'm still looking for the county or city and Jan
maybe you saw some but I don't know anybody that's making a ton of money.
And so they required us now effective 127 to set up a brand new fund. And so
that's what we've done here with the 635,000.
Now that's not the total budget. It's more like 900,000. So we've had to keep
some of it in the general fund because and that's what the footnote
says down there if you can read it. Uh but what we've said is that it's going
to take basically on January 1st, we're not going to have any revenue. Okay? And
so we're going to have to pay some of the starting starting numbers out of the
general fund. Now, what we've made the suggestion, and Hendricks County is
doing this too with their building and planning is that from from here on out,
they're taking their money that they collect on building and permit and
putting it into this new fund. I am suggesting that's probably what we
should do. So not put it in the general fund, but now start transferring it by
resolution subject to a resolution. So that Julie's just not doing it because
she wants to with council's approval. And so we would then fund that like
September, October, November, December and hopefully have a beginning balance.
We may have still a negative in that fund that we'll have to make up, but
ultimately we want to get all the expense in there, get all the revenue in
there, and then if it takes refilling it with some other revenue, you know,
that's what we're going to have to show because they're going to come back and
say either see you uh are making a lot of money or they're not going to say
anything and you're going to say this was a huge waste of money. Okay. It's
kind of like when we created the LIT general fund on the county level and
that went away about three years because it was a huge pain and wasn't worth it.
So, so we've got some of the about 300,000 within the general fund. We've
also then given you the updated fund balances. Keep in mind income. Uh
Julie's been doing a fine job and we're getting a lot of interest income, but
that's really what built up our cash balance along with what I call the
pennies of from heaven, which is the supplemental width that drops in. And so
we peg the general fund at 106. And as you can see with the MVH, we've
got the MVH restricted and or unrestricted and restricted, the 2
million 150, the 450, the LRS keeping it the same. And and by the way, you know,
we we do believe that we'll be made whole with the gas tax. And so, you
know, from this the quote surplus and so everybody's depending on that and we're
keeping the budgets of expecting that money to come in and I think you even
got some of it. Sure.
» Pardon? How much are we expecting to do? >> I don't think we've I don't know if
we've got a tally on what we've lost so far. Do you
» know that?
» Yeah. The amount that we're not getting in gas tax right now because of
» um >> we have to get you that.
» Yeah. We can look up like 70 something. It was like 79
» that in total. >> Yeah.
So, um, the municipal sir tax and wheel tax obviously that's new was new for 26
and we've got it pegged now and and we've got a better handle on the
revenue. remember they were gueststimations at the time. All the way
down there's our new lane miles which we're expecting to use that money as the
GR as the grant match for the CCMG along with the wheel tax too. And we we
talked about budgeting that specifically for the grant match so that we can say
your local dollars that you're paying in are paying two for$1 dollars. is
building $2 of roads for every dollar we use. So that's awesome. And and it's
being spent now you've got it where it's being spent here in Avon. So that's
really awesome. CCI, CCD, we left those fairly close to
the same. Food and beverage, uh we did we're keeping that the same. We do have
uh fine support for the bonds out of that. Um so the bonds are not at risk in
any way, shape or form. Our um parks and recreation fund, we're
depending on those dollars coming in around 1 million of user fees, I
believe, right? And so those are are are building up a little slow, but we're
we're hoping that that will continue. Riverboat, we don't really do much with
roundabout yet. And then the rest of them on down are pretty insignificant
other than the storm water. Again, we were reconciling the first half of
revenue and reigning anytime we thought that revenue was not sufficient to
support these levels and things like the rainy day fund 250,000.
You know, I can tell you at the work group. I swam here from Rushville
yesterday and so u you know they sometimes some things happen and you
know tornadoes hit hit. We've had catastrophic floods. This money is is
pinpointed for emergency only. But if that happened to you yesterday, you
could be using it today. So it's already appropriated would be already
appropriated and set aside. So, that's kind of a rundown. What uh we're doing
now with Ryan is we've met with the police chief and that went real well.
We've met with parks and things like that. We're building the individual
department outline budget up to this amount. And you know, and that this
gives the department heads a little understanding that, you know, we're not
able to fund things a million dollars more. So we all have to kind of share
those dollars in that we're going to be increasing the budget. So that kind of
gives us an understanding of where we can allocate and share.
So Ryan, anything you think I missed?
Okay. questions from council again. Step one
of many steps to go on that building and construction
account fund. You said that we were going to
move some money from our fees and permits and stuff. What number we have
now? >> Well, there's nothing in there now
because the fund so our attorneys will be drafting the resolution for you guys
to create the funds. Once the funds created, then we can start transferring
money. But currently we're bringing in about $600,000 a year in planning and
building permit fees. And so that's why it's based on 635. You
guys amended the fees. So we think we'll bring in a little more than the 600 next
year, but that is a loss of $600,000 in revenue in the general fund though as
well. So you're really moving in between. And there's a net of still 300.
Correct. And so when you guys actually see when we do the general fund
presentation at the next meeting, you'll notice that several employee salaries
from planning building are actually now in my budget because
they didn't necessarily fit the purpose of the building and construction. So
like our code enforcement officer, what he's doing doesn't necessarily isn't
being covered by those fees. We need to show a direct correlation between those
fees and covering the actual costs. Same with the administrative assistant or the
receptionist. I moved that position into the town manager's budget. So, we were
subsidizing that department with around $330,000
of of general fund money or property tax dollars to fund that whole department.
So, it's going to look a little different when when you guys see it when
we do the general fund presentation. And by the way, at most of the legislative
conferences, this was not covered. the the guidance from state board accounts
has been pretty limited but and everybody thought they had to do it July
one then state board accounts came out and said no that's not practical it's
January one and so it was kind of a big surprise and again I think it's a lot of
effort for nothing but we got to do it and we want to we want to try it this
way for 27 if we can move over all all the expenses in 28. You want to do that
because like I told you, someone will they'll take your annual report and
they'll run an analysis on it when they after they do the audit and they'll say
if you have 250,000 in there we'll say see they're overcharging.
So stay stay tuned for that. >> Yes sir. Well, I agree with what Fred
says. The analysis is going to show that the taxpayers of the town are
supplementing new homeowners. That's what it's going to show. And the
builders don't pay that cost. They pass that money to the sale of the home. So,
I'm not sure what their complaint is. That's what it's going to show. It's
going to show that existing taxpayers supplement new homeowners.
And I think that's that's what the data is going to show. So then the data
should if you're driving policy with data then we should raise our fees again
right so the taxpayers are not supplementing that but that is what
you're going to be talking to your legislators and I think that the stark
reality is different than the narrative you should be prepared to you know
confront them with the fact >> and and Dan as you know in the law you
can only raise your fees once in five years
» it's the current law see that's why it's a dumb law Because prior law said you
cannot have a fee which exceeds your cost of delivery of services. That made
sense to everyone. Well now what they've done is they've said you can't even have
a fee that covers your cost of services because we actually think that you're
making money. It's not a fact-driven conversation. When it is a fact-driven
conversation, we can get back to the way it was. But you guys are going to need
to be adding this >> because let's face it, if you do one
raise in one five years, you know, you would like to give your employees 3%
raise maybe or 2% raise each and every year, you'll be behind the eight for
your legislators are telling you that they want your tax to they want all the
citizens of Bayon to pay for the new houses.
That's what they're saying. That's what's going to happen. So, we should
protest that. >> I agree.
So summary or questions on what we've done here on high level and you'll be
getting all the great details soon.
» Thank you. Any other questions? Okay. Thank you.
To make this another quick reminder, this was first step in the process. your
your first your second meeting in August, August 27th, we're going to
present the general fund with the detailed information and then the first
meeting in September, we'll present the non- general fund and then you'll still
have another discussion the second meeting in September and then budget
adoption is first meeting in October.
Okay, moving on to ordinance final reading 2026-10
authorizing the bond series 2026 for the LAR.
» Yes, this ordinance is final reading on the ordinance which establishes the
authority for the bonds to be issued. As I explained last time, this is uh
anticipated to be $5.35 million in developer purchase bonds for the LAR
phase 2 project. The bond establishes not only the authority to issue bonds
but also with the parameters of the bonds authority. With approval of bonds,
you also be approving two other documents that are also in your packet.
The first supplemental trust and venture and the trust and venture is like the
mortgage on the bond. Uh it's an agreement with the town and ARJ will be
the trustee. Uh and also then the first supplemental financing agreement and the
financing agreement just is the underlying agreement between the
developer and the town as to how the funds could be used for the issuance.
I'd be happy to answer questions.
No discussion. We'll entertain a motion.
» A motion that we approve the 2026-10 authorizing sponsors 2026b
for the book two project as presented. Second
I'll defer to Jason in a second. I'll be the third though.
» Jason bucket >> four
legal council report. >> Nothing tonight. Thank you.
» Second of the two publications or comment periods. you'd like to come
forward. Same rules applies your name address.
No one hurrying up the speaker. So, we'll move on to council comment.
No one talking. >> Uh yes. So, as a reminder, we did talk
about at the work session. Your next meeting uh is August 27th. We will have
an executive session at 5:30 followed by um the town council meeting at 7 PM and
then there's one other date to celebrate and that is Don Lad's birthday tomorrow
on the 14th. So happy birthday Don