[0:02] [snorts]
[0:04] You're nice, Sharon.
She ain't coming.
[0:09] » She told me that she might be here to
be. Yeah.
[0:12] » Okay, we're good to go. [clears throat]
>> You good to go?
[0:14] » Yes.
>> Good evening.
[0:16] » Good evening.
>> Welcome to the Beach Common Council
[0:18] meeting. Uh today's date is August 3rd,
2026. My name is James Kaufman, mayor.
[0:23] I'll defer to the clerk treasurer
>> and roll call. We'll introduce
[0:26] ourselves. Starting on my right,
>> Chris Duffer, council at large.
[0:29] » Dan McMillan, councelor at large.
>> Samantha Stratton, clerk treasure.
[0:34] » Ryan Mackkins, council district 2.
>> Craig Wy, city attorney. Avis Fryson,
[0:39] councilwoman, district 4.
>> Mike, council district 5.
[0:43] » Thank you. Um, I know counciling said
she cannot be here tonight. Has anybody
[0:47] spoken with council?
>> Yes, I did. He's going to try to make
[0:50] it, but he said he doubts that he will
because he's so busy with school getting
[0:56] ready to open.
>> Okay. Okay. [clears throat] Uh, please
[1:00] stand for the pledge of allegiance.
[laughter]
[1:05] I pledge algiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the
[1:10] republic for which it stands. One nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and
[1:18] justice for all.
[1:22] » Thank you. Up first, we have invocation
call pastor Bailey. Um like to please
[1:27] remember the uh the residents of
diplomat apartments and prayers this
[1:31] evening. Um special thanks IFD uh Beach
Grove EMS and the BGPD for their uh
[1:35] efforts over the weekend. Um and if
anybody needs any help, please route to
[1:39] the reach out to the city. Beach Grove
will help help in any way possible. So
[1:42] please get keep them in your thoughts
and prayers. U Pastor Billy,
[1:46] » thank you Mayor. Good evening, council
members.
[1:49] » Good evening,
>> ladies and gentlemen of the community,
[1:50] if you'd be so kind as bow your head,
please. [snorts]
[1:54] Lord, most loving father in heaven.
Lord, we pause in the midst of all that
[1:58] we do, Lord. Lord, we clear our minds
and we still our spirit, Lord, that we
[2:02] might hear your wisdom from above. Guide
us down here below as we handle this
[2:06] business before us today, Lord. We ask
you, Lord, to bless our mayor, bless our
[2:10] city leaders, bless the council members,
Lord. Bless our community members with a
[2:14] peace and joy that comes from knowing,
Lord, we're in your hands, Lord. And we
[2:18] ask you to bless the officers, Lord,
each and every day, each and every
[2:21] shift. Bring them home safely. Put a
hedge of protection around them and let
[2:24] them feel the love of this community
that we appreciate what they do. In
[2:27] Jesus name I pray. Amen. Amen. [snorts]
[clears throat]
[2:33] » Thank you. We have uh several special
presentations this evening. Um first I'd
[2:37] like to call up Dr. Laura Hammock, Beach
Grove City Schools for a presentation.
[2:45] [snorts]
[2:52] » Oh no.
>> Sorry.
[2:55] Hi Dr. Good.
our brand new schoolboard member that I
[3:00] just tasked with passing out our
handouts. Just [laughter] drop them in
[3:04] front of everyone. Just needed that to
say that for the record.
[3:07] » Just fine.
>> That's wonderful. Thank you, Madison.
[3:09] [laughter]
>> I don't think the camera shows that
[3:12] area.
>> Oh, good. And I just noted her.
[3:15] [laughter] That was wonderful. So, uh,
council members, just we wanted to make
[3:20] sure that you had a copy of the
presentation that we'll be rolling
[3:22] through here. Um, and thank you,
Madison. Sweet thing. That was awfully
[3:26] kind of you. [laughter]
So, um, mayor and, uh, our members of
[3:32] our common council, I just want to thank
you for giving me this time tonight. I
[3:36] clearly know that your agenda is quite
full, and I'm just grateful for the
[3:40] opportunity to speak with you about an
issue that will shape not only Beach
[3:44] Grove City Schools, but the future
strength of our entire city. I'm joined
[3:49] this evening by several members of our
school community who are here to also
[3:52] show their support. Uh many of our
schoolboard members are here. We have
[3:57] our president Janice King, our vice
president, Tara Wolf. You all can stand.
[4:01] Our uh members Brian Downer. Oh, they're
not. They are my bosses, so they can do
[4:06] whatever they want. [laughter]
Madison West. And we also have two
[4:11] wonderful members of our school
community. Kelly Herren, who is one of
[4:14] our parents, and Mr. Bruce B uh who has
uh joined our group to ensure that folks
[4:20] understand all about what we're going to
talk about this evening which is our
[4:24] believe in our future campaign. Thank
you [applause] so much.
[4:29] So I'm here tonight speaking
specifically as your superintendent of
[4:33] our schools, but I'm also here as your
partner. The city and the schools serve
[4:37] the same families, the same taxpayers,
the same neighborhoods, and the same
[4:40] future. There is no version of Beach
Grove in which the city thrives while
[4:46] its schools struggle. And there is no
version in which the schools reach their
[4:50] full potential without a strong city
behi beside them. In the few minutes
[4:55] that we have together here this evening,
I will work to make five things
[4:59] unmistakably clear. First, why an
operating referendum is needed. Why
[5:06] Beach Grove is affected so severely.
what the district has already cut, what
[5:12] voters are and are not being asked to
approve, and why this decision matters
[5:17] to the whole city, including residents
who do not currently have children in
[5:22] our schools. At the conclusion of my
presentation, I welcome your questions
[5:27] and I look forward to further
discussion.
[5:31] So, let me begin with the clearest
possible description of the proposal.
[5:36] » [clears throat]
>> We are not asking the community to
[5:38] approve an additional operating
referendum.
[5:42] On November the 3rd, voters will be
asked to replace the most recent
[5:46] operating referendum approved in 2020.
The current referendum will expire and
[5:52] if approved, the proposed referendum
would take its place. There will be no
[5:57] overlap.
We are not building anything with this
[6:01] referendum. We are not adding a new
program. We are simply asking voters to
[6:06] support continued funding of four basic
existing services.
[6:12] Everything related to transportation,
school buses, school bus drivers,
[6:17] monitors, fuel maintenance,
facility maintenance and utilities,
[6:23] custodial and operational services, and
student safety, including our four
[6:28] school resource officers.
As you can see, those are not extras.
[6:34] Those are the operating foundation
beneath every classroom in our district.
[6:41] It's easy to talk about the city and the
schools as though they are two separate
[6:44] institutions, but our residents don't
experience us that way. A family
[6:49] deciding whether to buy a home here
considers the schools. A business
[6:53] deciding whether to invest here
considers the quality and stability of
[6:56] the community. A senior citizen wants
property values protected. Our police
[7:03] department provides our school resource
officers. Our facilities host community
[7:07] events. Many of our students eventually
become the employees, homeowners,
[7:12] parents, and civic leaders of Beach
Grove.
[7:16] We do not have empty buildings sitting
unused. Every school serves a purpose
[7:22] and we have consistently repurposed our
spaces to meet the evolving needs of our
[7:26] students, our families, and community.
Hornet Park, for example, now houses our
[7:31] early childhood center, a facility
serving three, four, and 5year-olds with
[7:36] a waiting list that is bursting at the
seams. For the third year, we qualify
[7:41] [clears throat] for and provide
universal free breakfast, lunch, and
[7:46] dinner opportunities, ensuring that all
of our students have access to
[7:50] nutritious meals. Our buildings also
serve as gathering places for athletics,
[7:55] the performing arts, public meetings,
and community traditions. Events such as
[8:00] our community Thanksgiving dinner and
Believe in Beach Grove community meal
[8:04] serve hundreds of people at no cost
thanks to generous sponsorships.
[8:11] But perhaps most meaningfully, our
schools are places where Beach Grove
[8:16] comes together during its most difficult
moments. Just last weekend, we hosted
[8:22] two memorial services.
One for a former student and another for
[8:28] a current student who recently passed
away after a brutal cancer battle.
[8:34] Their families chose our schools as the
place to celebrate their lives because
[8:39] our buildings are more than facilities.
They're part of the heart of this
[8:44] community.
Beachgo City Schools is not only an
[8:48] educational institution. It is also one
of our city's most important employers
[8:53] and economic anchors. Our 292 employees
earn paychecks. They support local
[9:00] businesses, contribute taxes, and
participate in the life of our
[9:04] community. Their economic impact extends
well beyond the schoolhouse doors.
[9:11] And we believe that the partnership runs
both ways. The city helps make our
[9:16] schools safe, connected, and proud. The
schools help make Beach Grove a place
[9:21] where families choose to live,
businesses choose to locate, and
[9:26] residents choose to stay.
[9:30] So, home values are influenced by many
factors, and I would never claim that
[9:35] schools alone determine them, but the
evidence and the lived experience of
[9:40] communities across the country are
clear. School quality is an important
[9:44] part of residential demand, neighborhood
stability, and long-term property value.
[9:50] Since Beach Grove voters first approved
an operating referendum way back in
[9:55] 2009, the median home value in our
community has risen from approximately
[10:00] $92,300
to today at $185,700.
[10:07] that growth has many causes, but it
would be difficult to argue that
[10:11] allowing our schools to become less
safe, less reliable, less
[10:15] well-maintained, and less competitive
would strengthen the city or protect
[10:20] homeowners.
So whether someone has a kindergartener,
[10:24] graduated from Beach Grove 40 years ago,
or never had a child in our schools,
[10:29] they have a stake in the strength of the
local school system. Strong schools help
[10:35] protect the investment every homeowner
has made in this city.
[10:41] So to understand why we need a
referendum, it helps to understand one
[10:48] distinction in Indiana school funding.
State dollars which are separate from
[10:54] any funding derived from property taxes
support what happens inside the
[10:59] schoolhouse. So that's everything.
Teachers, principals, instructional
[11:04] staff, curriculum, any classroom
services come from those state
[11:08] resources.
Local property taxes support school
[11:12] district operations, buses, utilities,
custodial services, maintenance, and
[11:18] safety.
Beach Grove City Schools problem is that
[11:22] our operations fund receives almost no
meaningful revenue from the regular
[11:27] property tax levy. We are predominantly
residential. Most homesteads are
[11:32] constrained by the 1% constitutional tax
cap. [clears throat] And we have the
[11:37] lowest assessed valuation per student in
Maring County. When the tax caps prevent
[11:42] collection, that money does not arrive
later. It is simply not collected.
[11:49] The comparison is stark. Beach Grove is
projected to receive roughly $320 per
[11:56] student in net operations fund levy
revenue. The state average is $1,96
[12:05] per student. IPS is projected at
approximately $3,25
[12:11] per student.
That does not mean that those districts
[12:14] are doing something wrong or something
right. It shows how unusually
[12:19] disadvantaged Beach Grove is by the
structure we operate within.
[12:24] When all school districts are ranked
according to impact,
[12:29] Beach Grove City Schools is the most
significantly impacted school district
[12:35] in the state of Indiana.
No other school district experiences
[12:39] this level of imbalance.
I'm sure that we can all agree a Beach
[12:44] Grove child does not require one sixth
of a safe building, one/tenth of a bus
[12:48] or a fraction of a school resource
officer. The responsibilities for
[12:52] serving a school community are the same.
The bottom line is that local revenue
[12:57] capacity is not.
[snorts]
[13:00] So before asking voters to consider a
continued support, the community has
[13:05] every right to ask what we have done
ourselves. And the answer we believe is
[13:09] a great deal.
So, I just started serving my sixth year
[13:14] as superintendent of schools here in
Beach Grove. Very quickly in my first
[13:20] year, I realized that we were in
significant financial distress.
[13:25] Together with the board, we committed to
doing the work that our community
[13:29] deserved.
just [snorts] like we would do in our
[13:32] own households. When we realized that
our budget was upside down, we had to
[13:37] reduce our expenditures and find ways to
increase our revenue through innovative
[13:42] solutions that did not burden taxpayers.
During the last 5 years, we have
[13:48] eliminated six district level
administrative positions, including both
[13:53] assistant superintendent positions and
four director positions.
[13:58] reduced more than 30 certified and
classified positions primarily through
[14:02] attrition. We re renegotiated
long-standing contracts and changed
[14:06] service models. We reorganized staffing
and operations, pursued grants,
[14:11] partnerships, and alternative revenue to
offset local spending, and did all of
[14:16] that while lowering the school total tax
rate by approximately 22.5%
[14:23] over 5 years, bringing it finally this
last year below $2.
[14:30] Those were not paper reductions. They
were real positions, real contracts, and
[14:34] real changes in how we operate. They are
a major reason the replacement rate
[14:38] before voters is not higher. If this
were simply a matter of finding
[14:43] efficiencies, we would solve it through
efficiencies because we've made them. If
[14:48] it were a matter of unchecked
administrative growth, the facts would
[14:50] show growth. Instead, we eliminated six
central office administrative positions
[14:56] and no longer employ any assistant
superintendent.
[15:00] We've already made significant and
difficult reductions and we will
[15:03] continue to manage every dollar
responsibly. But an additional $4.5
[15:09] million loss every year would be
devastating and could not be absorbed
[15:13] without fundamentally changing the
services and opportunities we provide to
[15:17] our students and families.
[15:21] The wording on a ballot can make this
proposal sound as though an entirely new
[15:26] tax is being placed on top of what
residents pay now. And that is not what
[15:30] is happening. The referendum approved in
2020 is currently in place. The proposed
[15:36] referendum replaces it. The old and new
referenda will never be collected at the
[15:41] same time. The proposed maximum rate is
57 for $100 of assessed value. Current
[15:49] projections show that compared with the
current operating referendum, a median
[15:54] homeowners change is expected to range
over time from approximately $1.25 more
[16:01] per month at the highest projected point
to a monthly savings as assessed values
[16:08] change.
Across the eight-year life of the
[16:11] proposal, the median homeowner is
projected to pay about $42 less in total
[16:18] than under the current referendum
trajectory.
[16:22] Now, it's important for you to
understand every property is different,
[16:26] which is why we've created a calculator
using the homeowner's own assessed value
[16:31] and deductions. I want residents to use
their actual information to calculate
[16:36] the impact. Our Beachg Grove City
Schools website has a banner on the
[16:40] homepage that will take you to a
comprehensive page illustrating the
[16:44] facts of the referendum. Click how much
would this cost me and you'll be able to
[16:50] get right to that calculator.
The referendum funds are dedicated to
[16:55] these four operating areas and these
areas only. safe and reliable student
[17:00] transportation, building maintenance,
grounds, utilities, and repairs,
[17:04] custodial and operational services that
keep every school clean and functional,
[17:08] and student safety, including our school
resource officers. Again, no new
[17:13] building, no expansion, no hidden
construction project, simply the
[17:18] recurring services that are in use
today.
[17:23] So, if voters do not approve the
replacement, the current referendum
[17:27] expires and beginning in 2029, the
district will need to reduce
[17:32] approximately $4.5 million annually.
I do not say that to frighten anyone. I
[17:40] say it because withholding the
consequence would be less honest than
[17:43] stating it plainly.
There is no $4.5 million reduction plan
[17:49] that leaves the daily experience of
students and families unchanged. At that
[17:53] scale, every part of the organization
would face pressure. Transportation,
[17:57] staffing, safety and security,
maintenance, custodial service, student
[18:02] supports, academics, and extracurricular
opportunities.
[18:06] Quite frankly, we would not look like
the Beach Grove City schools that our
[18:09] community knows today.
We've already reduced significant number
[18:14] of positions and restructured our
operations. $4.5 million in reductions
[18:19] would be visible service reductions felt
by families and ultimately by the city.
[18:28] A reduction of that size would not stop
at the schoolhouse door. When
[18:32] transportation is reduced, working
families feel it. When buildings and
[18:35] grounds receive less care, neighborhoods
feel it. When student supports and
[18:40] safety systems weaken, the broader
community feels it. And when families
[18:45] lose confidence in their schools,
enrollment, housing demand, workforce
[18:50] readiness, and community identity can
all be affected.
[18:54] But conversely, every time the city and
schools work together, Beach Grove
[18:59] becomes stronger. Our police officers
know our students. Our students learn to
[19:04] serve their community. Our families
gather in our facilities. Our graduates
[19:07] become the people who run local
businesses, coach teams, care for
[19:11] neighbors, and raise the next generation
here. This is not the school district
[19:17] asking the city to solve a school
problem. [clears throat] It is one
[19:21] public institution asking its closest
partner to understand a shared community
[19:26] concern.
For more than a century, Beach Grove has
[19:32] chosen to operate its own schools and
shape its own future. that local
[19:37] identity matters. Decisions about Beachg
Grove children should continue to be
[19:41] made by Beachg Grove people who know and
love this community.
[19:45] So, all of a sudden, I got old. I just
completed my 30th year as an educator. I
[19:50] don't know how that happened. I have
served in districts over those 30 years
[19:54] with far more resources than Beach
Grove. And I can tell you with absolute
[19:58] certainty, children from wealthier
communities are no smarter, no more
[20:04] talented, and no more deserving than the
2700 children who walk through the doors
[20:09] of Beach Grove City Schools every day.
Our students deserve safe buses, clean
[20:14] schools, well-maintained facilities, and
adults who protect them. Our homeowners
[20:20] deserve a school district that uses
resources carefully and helps preserve
[20:24] the strength of their investment.
Our city deserves a school partner that
[20:28] brings families opportunity, pride, and
energy into Beach Grove. [snorts] The
[20:34] district has reduced costs. We have
eliminated positions. We have
[20:38] restructured services. We have also
lowered the school tax rate. And now we
[20:43] are asking voters, not the
administration, not the school board,
[20:48] and we're not asking the council, we're
asking voters to decide whether to
[20:52] replace the current referendum and
continue the essential services that it
[20:56] supports.
Mayor and council members, I just thank
[21:00] you so much for listening, for the
partnership you provide our schools
[21:03] every day. I welcome any questions that
you might have, including the difficult
[21:08] ones. I promise I'll answer them
directly, honestly, and respectfully.
[21:13] Thank you very much for your time.
[21:17] [applause]
[21:25] » Doctor, um could you uh go back over the
unequal revenue uh capacity? Yeah. So,
[21:31] our uh lower level is is that because of
state funding?
[21:35] » It's a great question. Uh so state
funding actually supports what we call
[21:39] the education fund and that that's
genuinely a check that we receive from
[21:42] the state every month [clears throat]
electronically and that those resources
[21:47] are allowed to support everything inside
a school building. This disparity is
[21:52] related to what we call our operations
fund which is the fund that you have to
[21:57] use for all of those essential services
like transportation, custodial um uh
[22:03] maintenance and then school resource
officers. So the state essentially says
[22:07] use this fund to to pay for these things
and use this fund to pay for these
[22:12] things. So because the operations fund
is funded by property taxes, when you
[22:19] get to a space where you might hit those
caps, then those dollars are never
[22:23] realized. And that's exactly what
happens in this slide. So, a Beach Grove
[22:27] kid generates $320 per kid compared with
an IPS kid who generates $3,25
[22:35] per kid. And so, that's where the
discrepancy lies, that operations fund.
[22:39] » So, we're talking about cap on the
property taxes is where we're at.
[22:44] » That's exactly right.
>> Okay. Thank you.
[22:46] » Yes.
So, what would that 300 uh increase to?
[22:53] So that actually stays the same because
what an operating referendum does is
[22:57] that it's a separate fund now. So you
have an operations fund that's
[23:01] generating the 320. So effectively the
balance of what we if you pulled up the
[23:07] Beach Grove City Schools 1782 notice our
budget order. It would show that Beach
[23:11] Grove should be receiving about $4.5
million in its operations fund. We
[23:17] receive little to no revenue in that
fund. So the operating referendum is the
[23:24] catchup of what should be in that
operations fund. It's its own separate
[23:28] entity paying for the things that are in
the operations fund.
[23:32] » And so by 2029, we won't be able to
survive it.
[23:36] » So 2029 is it would be devastating to a
school district this size to sustain
[23:41] $4.5 million of reduction.
Laura is the uh
[23:47] » Wow.
>> the people that are out of district.
[23:51] » Yes.
>> Do we get the same dollar amount or is
[23:53] it more or
>> Great question. So, if a student is a
[23:58] transfer student, they don't live in
Beach Grove, but they are attending
[24:00] Beach Grove City Schools. Uh those
students are actually what we call a
[24:04] value ad because they are bringing
education fund revenue with them. And uh
[24:10] so every student generates the same
amount of funding in Beach Grove to fund
[24:14] that education fund. So even if you
transfer in, you're getting that amount
[24:19] of revenue. What doesn't happen with a
transfer student is that the operations
[24:24] uh local property tax that that student
might uh sort of earn if we're talking
[24:30] three, let's use $320. A Beach Grove kid
generates $320. If they are an IPS kid
[24:36] who's coming to Beach Grove, they do not
bring this $3,25
[24:41] with them. But how that works is that
operations need to be in place no matter
[24:47] what. We have to heat all of our
schools, have to cool them, you know,
[24:50] have to have lights on. So what ends up
happening is that they're a value ad
[24:54] because they add to our ability to have
teachers, pair of professionals, support
[24:58] staff curriculum because it's that
education side of the house from the
[25:01] state.
>> Okay. Have you guys done anything to
[25:04] lobby the legislature? Because
>> that's the entire problem with schools,
[25:11] with the cities and municipalities.
>> Yes.
[25:14] » And uh they're not listening.
>> Councilman, I really appreciate this
[25:20] question. Uh we are I think I'm probably
best described at the state house as a
[25:26] gnat. uh because I just don't go away
and I keep staying in people's faces. Um
[25:32] I I am so frustrated by the situation
that Beach Grove City Schools finds
[25:37] itself because this is a a structural
system that has been designed and and
[25:41] really quite honestly I believe quite
intent unintentionally we are the
[25:46] victims of of an analysis of um
a system a model that benefits some
[25:53] school districts but then there are also
losers. I've had really incredible
[25:57] conversations with state leadership um
who have said to me uh Laura uh this is
[26:03] not right, this is wrong, what Beachg
Grove experiences is not fair. These are
[26:08] all words that have come leadership uh
at the state house and they have
[26:12] promised that they are working to solve
this problem. Um, I am so hopeful and we
[26:18] we continue uh to keep lobbying at the
state house to ensure that um
[26:25] equity is realized for Beach Grove
taxpayers uh so that the burden uh
[26:30] doesn't necessarily need to be carried
in the way that it currently is.
[26:33] » Thank you.
>> I think we should say thank you for the
[26:37] cost-saving measures that you've already
taken and implemented. I I think we
[26:42] should say thank you.
>> Kind of you
[26:43] » for sure. Thank you. It's a gift to
serve as your superintendent. I can't
[26:48] tell you how much I love this community,
this city, these people. It's just a
[26:51] very special place. Uh fourth day of
school today. Um students were fed. We
[26:56] didn't leave any kids on the bus. Like
it [laughter] was good. Yeah. Yeah. It's
[26:59] a win. Absolutely. So, thank you all.
Thank you, Mayor. Thank you for your
[27:02] time. And truly, if you have any
questions as followup, don't hesitate to
[27:05] reach out. Thank you.
>> Thank you.
[27:09] [applause]
[27:19] Thank you, Dr. Hammock, for that
presentation. We appreciate it.
[27:22] [clears throat] Um, up next, council, we
have an RDC update, RDC update. Um, and
[27:27] the Civotas group will be here to
discuss the uh comprehensive plan that
[27:31] was recently approved uh by the council
and the RDC and the implementation of
[27:35] that plan. So, like to call up RDC
President Matthew up and then we'll
[27:39] introduce some of us.
[27:44] Evening council. Uh as I promised to
Councilman Matkins, I will be short. Um
[27:49] we uh RDC is working um through
impleaining the plan. Uh this month we
[27:55] will be adopting new um funding
applications uh with helps. We are
[28:01] working at making multiple ones to fit
city once I have an ask as opposed to
[28:06] private businesses as opposed to a
bigger project as to opposed to a um a
[28:11] community grant. So that is ongoing. Um
we will have that final vote um at our
[28:16] August meeting and then shortly
thereafter we'll get that all up on the
[28:19] website. Um and Civas will be working on
a plan to let um the folks know such as
[28:25] the Chamber of Commerce um cuz we're
really going to try and make something a
[28:29] little bit more usable for uh private
business owners, those who want to
[28:33] either come and invest in the city or
reinvest if they're already currently
[28:37] here and seeing what we can do again
under applicable law. Uh but for the
[28:41] most part, I'm here to introduce our new
consultants uh from Civotas, Jack Woods
[28:47] and Pete Olsen. Um we signed the
contract with our consultants a number
[28:51] of months ago. Uh they jumped right into
it. Uh are have gotten the lay of the
[28:56] land and where we're at and continue to
gather that information. Uh we have been
[29:01] me and the mayor have been meeting um
with these two gentlemen um every two
[29:06] weeks uh to go through things to plan
for upcoming RDC meetings um and discuss
[29:12] discuss approaches on how to redevelop
uh certain areas of the city for which I
[29:17] will not go into. You've heard me talk
about them more than once. Uh but
[29:21] without further ado, I will turn it over
to Jack and to Pete to introduce
[29:24] themselves, talk about what they're
doing, anything else they want to uh let
[29:28] you know. Um and then they will also
mention that we are having a training in
[29:32] September um for which uh we the RDC and
our consultants want to invite you all
[29:38] to uh to attend. Um so we can all
understand what powers we have as an RDC
[29:44] uh what redevelopment tools we have
according to law. As you are very much
[29:49] aware we have a lot of new members on
the RDC. We've had some turnover this
[29:53] year. Um, and for those who have been on
the RDC for a long time, me, um, it's
[29:58] always good to have a refresher because
again, I'm an election attorney. I don't
[30:02] do redevelopment work, uh, full-time and
so even even I need a refresher on what
[30:07] the law says I can and can't do um, on
occasion. So, Jack and Pete, I'm going
[30:11] to turn it over to you.
[clears throat]
[30:16] Thank you, Matthew. Uh, good evening,
council. My name is Jack Woods. I'm the
[30:20] director of economic development for
Civotas Strategies. I'm joined by my
[30:24] colleague Pete Olsen. He's our director
of community development. Um, Civotas is
[30:29] a division of the various groups. So, if
you see my quarter zip and it says
[30:32] Veritus, it's it's the same as Civotas,
but essentially we work with cities and
[30:37] towns across the state of Indiana um
helping them implement plans such as the
[30:42] economic uh and redevelopment plan that
the city of Beach Grove has recently
[30:46] passed. Um, we're really excited about
this opportunity and have enjoyed
[30:50] working with Matthew and the mayor over
the last two months or so and uh look
[30:54] forward to continuing in in this role.
As Matthew pointed out, our first focus
[30:59] has been um helping to uh fine-tune the
RDC funding application um as it exists
[31:09] today. uh we've wanted to introduce some
additional uh I guess flexibility uh or
[31:14] maybe structure depending on how you
look at it. Um but have multiple funding
[31:19] applications that um address private
businesses, the city, nonprofits and so
[31:25] forth. Um and look forward to rolling
that out here uh in the next month or
[31:29] so. Um so that's that's been a big
priority for us. Um, the other big piece
[31:32] of this is just looking at that economic
development redevelopment plan and
[31:36] prioritizing projects with Matthew and
Mayor Kaufman and understanding where we
[31:40] start. Um, there's a pretty long list of
opportunities that we're excited to to
[31:45] work through. Um, but obviously some of
those are more impactful to the city
[31:48] than others. Um, so we've been working
on that and looking at things like the
[31:51] CSX property, the hospital, um, bigger,
larger scale projects that have that'll
[31:57] have a big impact. That's where we want
to start. Um, [clears throat]
[32:01] one of the other things that I think we
bring to the table that will be helpful
[32:04] in this effort as the redevelopment team
for the city and the redevelopment
[32:08] commission is relationships with
developers. Um, we've already started
[32:12] having conversations with developers and
just talking about some of the projects
[32:15] that are highlighted in the
redevelopment plan. Um, specifically
[32:19] some of the infill projects. I know
there was a focus on some of the bigger
[32:22] ones that I mentioned earlier, but I do
think there are some quick wins or
[32:25] lowhanging fruit that can be
accomplished uh on some of those infill
[32:29] opportunities such as town homes um or
infill single family opportunities. And
[32:34] there are a few developers who have
already expressed interests and uh
[32:37] potentially talking with the RDC and
Mayor Kaufman um about those projects.
[32:42] So after we get through these funding
applications, I think most of our focus
[32:46] will be on that more uh I guess
traditional economic development lens of
[32:50] engaging developers and potential
businesses that are interested in coming
[32:54] to Beach Grove and and participating in
redevelopment that aligns with the uh
[32:58] with the plan that was passed this year.
Um, I I guess the one thing I'll
[33:03] mention, Pete, before I turn it over to
you to talk a little bit more about what
[33:06] we've been working on, to Matthew's
point, we do have uh an RDC training
[33:10] that will occur at the September
meeting, which is currently planned for
[33:13] September 24th. Um, again, we think
that'll be great to just go over best
[33:18] practices about what redevelopment
commissions do. We do know there are a
[33:21] few new members who I think that'll be
helpful for. Um, and then Matthew also
[33:25] mentioned, I think, just a refresher for
members that have been a part of the
[33:27] commission for a longer period of time.
uh that refresher could still be
[33:31] helpful. So, we would like to invite you
to come and observe that meeting um and
[33:37] uh be present for that as well on the
24th if you're able and would like to.
[33:41] Pete, you want to add a few words?
>> I think uh Matthew and Jack probably hit
[33:47] most of the high par uh high parts. Just
uh kind of a as a background, I spent
[33:53] better than 25 years in municipal
management. Uh most recently 20 up in
[33:57] Yorktown helping with their RDC. So, as
we've been looking at this funding
[34:02] application, understanding how uh those
long-term effects can help uh throughout
[34:07] the community, obviously the the school
makes a a very uh good case of of what
[34:13] is happening in your community and how
that affects everything. I think one of
[34:17] the things uh that the superintendent
mentioned that I I I think I firmly
[34:21] believe that we firmly believe both from
a a professional side is that you can't
[34:25] have a strong community without strong
schools. You can't have strong schools
[34:28] without a strong community. So, we'll be
looking at how we can uh further enhance
[34:33] those relationships if they're funding
applications for those kinds of
[34:37] organizations or even in a deeper
meaning how additional students coming
[34:42] in through infill of housing or uh just
additional opportunities of jobs. Uh
[34:49] obviously as SEA1 is starting to uh poke
through in the next few years, funding
[34:55] is going to look a whole lot different
and that'll be something that we
[34:58] continue to talk about with the RDC
members and make sure that we're giving
[35:01] the best benefit to the entire community
when it's all said and done.
[35:06] Any questions for either Jack or I
tonight?
[35:08] » Did he say what time the training was on
the 24th?
[35:12] » Uh yes. So our meetings start at 6. Um
probably will start closer to 6:15. We
[35:18] do have to do a very short meeting to
approve our docket and the minutes. Go
[35:21] through all the statutory stuff, making
sure we're like paying their contract
[35:25] and approving minutes for the public
record. That should take no more than 10
[35:28] minutes, probably five, but would say
closer to 6:15 on the 24th of September.
[35:34] » We'll be there. Thank you.
>> Uh Pete, one question. Um so um being up
[35:41] there in Yorktown a little bit smaller I
think even than Beach Grove uh things
[35:46] turn out pretty good some of the
implementations that you've done there.
[35:50] » Yes. Yeah. So we um so so I I'll tell
this history for for you all. I was a
[35:57] client prior to being a a uh consultant
with with Civitas and or Veritis. Um we
[36:03] ended up doing some pretty significant
downtown redevelopment. In fact, um I
[36:07] think your police station looks an awful
lot like our town hall because we had a
[36:12] number of police officers come and visit
prior to construction and and looking at
[36:17] it and everything else. [clears throat]
Um that project continues to go to be
[36:21] ongoing. We had we continue to have an
ongoing relationship with the town of
[36:25] Yorktown and helping them and doing some
of the same things. These are things
[36:29] that both Jack and I love to do. uh we
find communities finding innovative ways
[36:34] uh to to make progress is a is a good
opportunity and so we look forward to
[36:39] doing that here in Beach Grove.
>> Wonderful. Thank you.
[36:42] » The cost of you guys doing this was this
part of the initial I think it was
[36:48] 85,000
[clears throat] or are you guys at a
[36:52] additional cost?
Um so we had budgeted $150,000 for this
[36:58] year in our funding plan um for our as a
professional services contract for the
[37:04] consultants. Uh because we enter the
contract in the middle of the year and
[37:08] there is a desire to align that that we
renew our contracts every year because
[37:13] again all of us on the RDC are one-year
terms. We do not know um if we'll be
[37:18] reappointed until the end of the year.
the mayor as well as your appointees. Uh
[37:22] you may want to change track. Um and so
um the contract is I I don't have it in
[37:27] front of me and as you know my joke is
I'm a lawyer because I'm bad with
[37:31] numbers. I don't remember what the
number is off the contract is definitely
[37:34] below 150,000. Um but we will be
bringing up their contract. We're
[37:39] probably going to amend it to increase
it for another year for the calendar
[37:43] year 2027. Um, but that will be decided
closer in the fall when we built our
[37:48] funding budget and that'll be around
October. Uh, but it's set at a maximum
[37:53] 150,000. It is way below that. What that
number is, I do not remember, but I will
[37:58] email the council a copy of that
contract again. Um, just so you have for
[38:02] your records and so I can answer your
question um, offline. Sir,
[38:05] » I appreciate that.
>> Of course. And with that, um I will just
[38:08] also say that um we will have a new
member of the school board um who is one
[38:15] of our is our non- voting adviser as
provided by statute. Uh for a long time
[38:19] that was Rock Chalice, but um Rob has
since left left the school board. Uh
[38:24] Brian, I think it's Have you been
appoint? I don't know if the school
[38:27] board has a plan this time. Usually as
Brian is swapped in, but once they
[38:30] figure that out, we look forward to
having them cuz we on the RDC also look
[38:34] forward to helping um the schools. Um I
second everything that Dr. Hammock said
[38:39] in her presentation. Um and having grown
up in Northwest Indiana, I know um from
[38:44] up there that uh in you have to have
good schools to have a good town or a
[38:50] good city. But with that, there's no
other questions. I will let you get back
[38:54] to your evenings and your long agenda.
Thank you, council.
[38:58] » Thank you, Jack. Thank you, Pete.
>> Thank you.
[39:02] » Thank you.
[39:06] [clears throat]
>> Thank you. Um, up next, uh, we're
[39:09] getting into uh, budget time. Um, so FOP
86, reach out to me uh, to get a couple
[39:15] minutes of your time this evening. Like
to call up Captain Frankle uh, say a
[39:20] couple things. Captain.
>> Yes, sir.
[39:24] » Evening, council.
>> Good evening.
[39:26] » Most of you know me by now. We've
negotiated a few times with the city and
[39:29] in budget time. We are at the end of our
three-year contract with the city and
[39:33] we've met with the mayor multiple times
this year on our contract for the future
[39:36] year or years. And like I said last year
with budget time and where we're at
[39:40] financially as a city, I want to be
transparent and I've promised you guys
[39:44] that we will be transparent through the
entire process. Like I said, we've be
[39:47] been negotiating with the mayor and I
want to give you my information to take
[39:51] your questions and concerns. I've wrote
down my personal cell phone number for
[39:55] you guys to call me. I'll stay after the
meeting tonight. Like I said, every year
[40:00] we've never asked for anything that we
don't believe the city can afford. We
[40:03] obviously are proud to be Beach Grove
police officers and we love representing
[40:07] the city, especially through this year.
I know it's been been a lot this year,
[40:10] and you guys have shown your support to
us. Um, so like I said, I promised last
[40:15] year at budget time that I would be
willing to take your questions and
[40:18] concerns as we negotiate with the city.
So I just wanted to provide you with my
[40:21] information and let you know you can
call me or email me anytime or talk to
[40:25] me before or after the meeting. Um, but
I think we should be wrapping up
[40:28] negotiations in the next month. Thank
you.
[40:31] » Wonderful.
>> Thank you.
[40:32] » Thank you, sir.
>> Thank you.
[40:36] » Thank you.
[40:40] [laughter]
Thank you.
[40:43] Appreciate you, sir.
[clears throat]
[40:47] » Thank you, Captain Franle. Um, and I do
have uh scheduled to meet with the 416
[40:51] this week, so we'll start those
negotiations and start that
[40:54] conversation. Uh, they're here as well
if you want to talk to them after the
[40:57] meeting, and I'm sure their door open
door is open as well. [clears throat]
[41:00] Uh, up next, last special presentation
is Regions Bank. Um, Bill Harris is here
[41:05] to speak about cards for department
heads. Um, I don't know if the treasure
[41:08] wants to start off or introduce Bill,
but we're good to go.
[41:11] » Yeah. So, Bill service
>> has been with the city for a while,
[41:14] worked with us as a relationship
manager. And I know I mentioned a couple
[41:16] months ago about the need for getting
each department head a card rather than
[41:21] us all sharing one card with my name on
it. Um just for a multitude of reasons.
[41:25] So Bill is just here to kind of like
tell you what that would how that would
[41:28] look and answer any questions.
>> Yeah, thank you Councilman um for
[41:32] allowing me to come again. Bill Harris,
relationship manager. U been fortunate
[41:35] to work with the city. Uh been with
regions for 11 years and have the
[41:39] fortune to really work with the city
since that time. So, uh, met with James,
[41:43] um, when he was a treasure and then
obviously moving on to Samantha, um,
[41:47] kind of as as she said. So, one of the
things that we've kind of been talking
[41:50] about, um, for for a while now is, um,
what we call kind of our commercial card
[41:55] and being able to basically provide
cards, um, where the clerk treasurer
[42:00] would have the ability to assign cards
um, to department heads um, and then
[42:05] obviously if if they wanted to use those
cards um, to give out to their
[42:09] employees, they'd be able to do that. Um
there's other functions that would be
[42:12] able to to to utilize as well. Um one of
the things that is brand new is called
[42:17] like a mobile wallet. So one of the
things you would be able to do is you
[42:20] could temporarily provide a card that
the individual would be able to use on
[42:25] their cell phone or smartphone, excuse
me. Um so that basically they could use
[42:29] that and then once they were done using
it that would just go away. So, it kind
[42:33] of helps from uh the standpoint of being
able to really um as we have shared more
[42:39] or less being able to really control the
cards um so that they're just not
[42:44] floating out there in the ether or
basically getting lost by employees that
[42:48] are using them. So, um with so many
people having smartphones, it's just
[42:52] real easy to push them out. Once they're
done, they're done and then basically
[42:55] they're they're removed. So, there's a
variety of different things that that
[42:58] can be utilized also on the reporting
side. Um, so as as the clerk treasurer
[43:03] mentioned, the nice thing is is
basically she would be able to go in and
[43:08] basically um you know uh what I like to
say is is she assigns cards, she can set
[43:14] limits as to how much can be set spent
on the card. She can also set different
[43:19] codes to where the cards can be used.
Um, one of the things that I like to say
[43:23] is for instance, if someone um is using
a card to get gas, they would only be
[43:28] pay at the pump. if they tried to go
inside the station and use the card, it
[43:32] would come back declined. So again, you
can set these controls on it so that
[43:36] basically they can only be used how you
would like to use them. Um and then with
[43:39] those controls, it can be only used at
um entities that they would choose to
[43:44] be. So um again, kind of the same thing.
If you had a card that was really only
[43:48] to be used for fuel, um if you tried to
go to um what I'd say Walmart or Lowe's
[43:54] or anywhere and try to use the card, it
would come back decline because
[43:57] basically the MIT code that is assigned
to that vendor um would not match and so
[44:02] it would come back decline. So there's a
lot of safeties that that are
[44:06] incorporated with that that can be put
in. Um and the other thing that that we
[44:10] have shared is um you know obviously if
you get to a certain spend limit um
[44:15] there's uh what we like to call in the
banking industry a revenue share but
[44:19] what most people look at it as a rebate.
So you get a certain spend um and then
[44:23] basically once that spend and then
basically you would get a reagate back
[44:27] on those funds that's normally paid
annually. So um is there anything else
[44:33] that I'm missing or what can I answer
for anyone? The other thing that's
[44:37] really uh well I don't know what the
word is for me um enticing for me with
[44:40] the codes it will save us a lot of time
on the back end of getting receipts
[44:44] because did do you guys have a way to do
that?
[44:47] » Yes. So again, we have a thing that's
spend Clarity, which is free. Um, and
[44:51] basically that would allow folks that
um, basically, you know, once they they
[44:56] purchase something, they take a picture
of that receipt on their smartphone, it
[45:00] it um, then uploads to the the system
and then basically it can be assigned to
[45:05] the code that whatever that card may be
assigned to. So it really helps from a
[45:10] reconciliation. Um, and kind of as the
clerk treasure said, you're not chasing
[45:14] down individuals for receipts. So, you
know, everyone more or less has a
[45:17] smartphone. They take a picture, they
upload it, and then they're done.
[45:20] [snorts]
>> You still want to keep the hard copy,
[45:23] though, right? If you can.
>> Yeah.
[45:25] » Yeah. Oh, yeah. We recommend that. Yeah.
I mean, yes, absolutely. Absolutely.
[45:30] » What's the cost of this service?
>> There's there's no cost. I mean, you
[45:34] know, so spun clarity is free.
Commercial card, there's no cost to
[45:38] that. So basically um once we get set up
the only cost that you would have uh
[45:43] councilman is if you lost a card and you
need it expedited. So again you there
[45:48] would be a fee for that expedited card
but if you know someone lost a card it
[45:52] was stolen. If you went through the
private channels there's no there's no
[45:55] fee to that. Okay.
>> Any other questions for Bill? No.
[46:01] » All right.
>> Great. Thank you very much for your
[46:03] time. Appreciate it. Thank you sir.
[46:13] Thank you, Bill. I appreciate it.
[clears throat] Up next, we have uh
[46:16] that's the end of special presentations.
We have committee reports, financial
[46:20] report, treasure straten.
>> All righty. Good evening. Um 2027 budget
[46:25] dates. As we approach bud budget season,
please make sure to save the dates for
[46:29] the two budget meetings in October,
which will be on October 5th and 19th at
[46:32] 7 p.m. Um, the MVH additional
appropriation. Um, in July, my office
[46:37] prepared and published the required
notice for an additional appropriation
[46:40] of $756,65.70
to the motor vehicle highway fund for
[46:45] the Hannah Arlington roundabout
projects. These funds were received
[46:48] specifically for this project, but were
not included in the city's original 2026
[46:52] budget. So, council approval is required
before they can be spent. This does not
[46:56] involve a new tax or the use of the
city's general operating funds. The
[46:59] current bank balances are listed below
as of August 3rd, 2026. These totals do
[47:04] not include all claims that were
approved earlier this evening. Bank
[47:08] accounts city corporation 8,260,927.34.
[47:13] Utilities 1,752,81961.
[47:18] Criminal Investigation Fund $273,34610
[47:23] RDC general fund bank account
2,728,3629.
[47:29] And then fund accounts, the general fund
is at $1,748,347.64.
[47:35] Sewage utility fund
$514,82242
[47:41] and the storm water utility fund is
$920,115.89.
[47:47] respectfully submitted. Samantha
Stratton, clerk treasure.
[47:51] » Thank you, clerk treasure. Any questions
or comments for the clerk treasurer?
[47:54] » So, we um the uh general ordinance
number four that we're going to hear
[47:59] later on, [clears throat]
>> the funds are already
[48:02] » Yeah. So, essentially, they changed the
processes on how they fund projects like
[48:06] that. I think it's from the NO, but
essentially typically we send them
[48:10] invoices and they pay it. They gave us
the money and we pay the invoices, but
[48:13] without that being budgeted, I can't use
that money. Okay.
[48:16] » So, we already got the money. We just I
just have to allocate it so I can spend
[48:19] it.
>> Okay. So, that doesn't increase our
[48:21] overall budget for the year.
>> It does.
[48:24] » It's just basically we got a check and
we have to have a way to spend it.
[48:26] » Yeah.
>> Okay.
[48:27] » So, it the this is a a project awarded
by the Indianapolis Metropolitan
[48:31] Planning Organization. Um, prior years
before 2026, as the court treasure
[48:36] stated, they paid the 80% um and those
funds never were received by the city of
[48:40] Beach Grove um or the municipality that
that received that was awarded them. So,
[48:44] but they changed that to this year. So,
we actually received the funds um and
[48:48] then we have to budget accordingly to
submit it. So, um they changed that last
[48:51] year. Um and that's why you see that
tonight. But that project is nearing
[48:56] completion though. I was told today that
um that the the deadline for it to be
[49:01] completed is I think August 14th or
something. Um so, if you haven't been
[49:04] out there, it's uh it's taking shape and
it's it's getting very close. So,
[49:08] weather dependent will hopefully be
ready soon.
[49:11] » I do have one question. I hate to ask,
but with all this rain, how are we
[49:15] looking on the sewer and
>> so far so good. I don't like that we got
[49:18] two and a half inches of rain in one
day.
[49:20] » Um, but I don't know that bill yet. So,
we'll we'll see. But we're doing okay.
[49:23] Our new bill um that we just got today
for not last month, the month before is
[49:28] 148,000. So, that's pretty standard.
>> Okay. Wonderful. Thank you.
[49:31] » We got five inches in my yard.
>> I was [laughter] going to say, yeah, we
[49:33] had about four and a half Saturday. So,
>> that was a lot of water.
[49:38] » A lot of water.
>> Okay. [clears throat] Um, up next is
[49:42] reading of minutes. You have the council
meeting minutes dated July 6th, 2026.
[49:47] Um, up for approval this evening. Any
questions or comments?
[49:50] » I have a comment. I'm sorry, counselors.
Um, the minute section of the approval
[49:54] of minutes from last time, I did not put
the counselor's name as in. So, I
[49:57] believe it was Duffer and Matkins. So,
you'll see I have a placeholder there,
[50:01] but I will fix that after approval.
[snorts]
[50:05] I would like to um make an amendment to
the the minutes, sir.
[50:10] » Uh page two under public comment,
there's two paragraphs that have to do
[50:16] with uh Manny Singh and Donnie Moore
House. Um [clears throat] the second
[50:21] paragraph, the last
uh two sentences where it starts, "No
[50:27] binding action was taken. Council
members individually expressed varying
[50:31] levels of support for continued city
cooperation subject to legal
[50:37] environment, financial, and public
impact review. I would like to strike
[50:41] all of that and replace it with
councelor Duffer made a motion for a
[50:46] non-binding resolution to state how each
of the counselors felt about supporting
[50:51] Mr. Singh and his project and the city
working with them to obtain the proper
[50:56] paperwork. The city attorney and the
clerk treasurer were against this
[51:00] non-binding resolution and stated that
each counselor could take a poll on how
[51:05] they feel about the subject. The poll
was taken and councelor Duffer stated he
[51:10] was in favor of helping Mr. Singh. Mr.
Mil Mr. McMillan was in favor. Councelor
[51:16] Lampin had concerns about the paperwork
and wanting to make sure that the proper
[51:21] legal authorities had addressed the
situation before she voted yes or no.
[51:27] Councelor Matkins abstained, secondary
to not enough information. Councilors
[51:32] Himmigorn, Frierson, and Ernest were in
favor. The final vote total was five in
[51:38] favor, one abstension, and one needed
more information.
[51:42] » You will have to email that to me.
>> Pardon me.
[51:44] » You will have to email that to me if you
don't mind.
[51:47] » Yeah. Give this email.
>> Yeah. Or I can take it. Either one. I'll
[51:50] give it to you.
>> Okay. Perfect.
[51:52] » Any other questions?
If not, entertain a motion to approve
[51:56] the common council meeting minutes dated
July 6th as amended.
[52:00] » I'll make a motion to approve them.
>> Second.
[52:03] » All those in favor say I.
>> I.
[52:05] » Those opposed?
>> Motion carries.
[52:09] Up next, public comment. Craig.
>> Yes. Uh Robin Stewart.
[52:17] » Okay. Um, [clears throat] Gary, I can't
read your last name, but Is it Gary?
[52:25] » Yeah, there you go. Mhm.
>> Yes.
[52:27] » Gary, come on up.
[52:38] » I'm just up here cuz I heard about
they're wanting to raise the taxes on
[52:42] automobiles.
>> Real quick before you start,
[52:45] » Yes.
>> can you just state your name and your
[52:47] address? My name is Gary E. Cllingan
Smith.
[52:49] » Okay. And then you have three minutes.
>> Pardon me.
[52:52] » You have three minutes.
>> Three minutes. Well, I'm just kind of
[52:54] curious why they want to raise it on us.
A bunch of us down here are just retired
[53:01] um senior citizens and I feel like that
we're already being badger with our
[53:07] taxes and everything else. And I'm kind
of upset about wanting to raise
[53:14] our $25 for automobiles for roads and
roads all look pretty nice around here.
[53:22] » I mean, I don't know what to say. It
pretty much
[53:25] » I know we're going to go over that more
in in a minute.
[53:28] » Okay. I mean, this conversation, but now
anyways, I'll just sign that thing and
[53:32] you
>> Yep.
[53:34] » brought my name up. So,
>> okay.
[53:36] » All right. Appreciate it. Yeah. Like she
said, we will be going over that here
[53:39] shortly. Thank you.
>> Yeah,
[53:43] » Pam Stellard
[53:51] [clears throat]
[53:55] Pam Stallard, 711 Churchman Avenue,
Beach Grove.
[54:00] Um, I know you, pardon me, already voted
twice on the whale [clears throat] tax
[54:06] and tonight you're supposed to vote a
third time on the wheel tax. [laughter]
[54:13] I [clears throat] would urge you to
table this
[54:16] until we get a better understanding of
what the Indianapolis City Council is
[54:23] going to be doing. Uh, there's a lot of
confusion out there. I've talked to a
[54:28] lot of citizens and uh nobody is coming
up with the same response about what
[54:34] this is all about. Whether we're going
to be double charged once by the county
[54:40] and once by Beach Grove. So we have a
combined fee or if it's going to be
[54:46] separate or if it's only going to be the
25 from Beach Grove. So, there's an
[54:52] awful lot of confusion still out there
and I think the meeting for the
[54:57] Indianapolis City Council is tonight and
they'll come up with a final decision
[55:03] hopefully. So perhaps if we can table
this for tonight and bring it back up
[55:11] again at next meeting, we might be
better off. Thank you.
[55:17] Mayor, didn't you say that um the
the wheel tax assessments would not
[55:25] stack?
>> That is correct. Yes. Um I think I was
[55:28] mentioned the last two months that that
will not stack. So, um if we do not
[55:32] implement our own will tax and we will
defer to whatever rate Indianapolis
[55:35] chooses to implement. Um but if we do
pass our own, it will not stack. Um and
[55:39] that's the same with the other uh other
cities across the state and their
[55:42] specific counties. Um the before this
year you were they were stacked but this
[55:47] year they were not. Um I I got an email
from um that was passed on to me from um
[55:54] actually Greenwood and they received an
email from Sydney Krasco um and it says
[55:58] any new municipal wheel taxes that go in
effect after 123126 will not be stacked
[56:03] with any county taxes. Um this means
that any residents of the municipality
[56:07] with a new wheel tax that goes in effect
1127 and after would only pay the new
[56:11] municipal wheel tax. Um, municipalities
that are unstacked from the county will
[56:15] not receive any distributions from the
county will tax. First, for example, if
[56:19] XYZ County had a county will tax and ABC
municipality adopted an ordinance today
[56:23] for it to be in effect on 1127, the
municipal will tax would be unstacked
[56:27] from the county will tax and the
taxpayer would only pay the municipal
[56:30] wheel tax and that's it. So, but we can
get into that again a little bit later.
[56:34] Okay. Anybody else signed up, Craig?
>> No, that's it.
[56:37] » We get [snorts] into it now then.
Anybody else like to speak this evening?
[56:42] Okay, that [clears throat] is all the
public comments. Um, on to unfinished
[56:45] business. Um, up third reading is
general ordinance number 3, 2026, which
[56:51] is a will tax. Um, it has been read into
the record. So, um, I'd entertain a
[56:56] motion to read it by title only this
evening.
[56:59] » I'll make a
>> I'll make a motion to read it by title
[57:03] only.
>> Second.
[57:06] » All those in favor say I.
>> I. Those opposed? Motion carries. Court
[57:10] treasure.
>> General ordinance number 3, 2026 is an
[57:13] ordinance that amends chapter 39 of the
city of Beach Grove's code of ordinances
[57:17] establishing a municipal wheel tax and
motor vehicle license excise tax and
[57:21] creating the city's wheel tax fund and
the motor vehicle license excise cert
[57:24] tax fund.
>> Thank you. Um number 3 2026 will taxes
[57:30] on third and final reading this evening.
Like to have discussion or answer any
[57:34] questions that you all might have. I
know that one of the biggest questions
[57:37] we received was would it stack? um and
and that has been confirmed that it will
[57:41] not stack. So um what the state
legislature did um in the last legis
[57:45] legislative session was they decided
that um with community crossing grants.
[57:49] So each year the city of beach grove has
applied for community crossing grants um
[57:52] awards and we've done that. I know I
handed out this documentation from um
[57:57] director Cochran last time. Um we
received about $2.7 million in community
[58:02] costing grant awards since 2019. um that
has uh basically in effect doubled our
[58:08] paving projects in the city each and
every year. Um and and we're very
[58:12] thankful for that from the state. Um and
those are the taxes that you all pay
[58:15] each and every every day when you fill
up your tanks. Um so what the legislator
[58:20] did, they said, "Okay, we we're going to
continue to have community cost and
[58:22] grants. Um but in order to be eligible,
each municipality will have to um enact
[58:27] their own wheel tax. Um and that is to
start out at a minimum of $25 per
[58:31] passenger and $40 for commercial. Um, so
that is why that's being presented
[58:35] tonight. Um, and in order to uh be uh
eligible for community costing grants,
[58:40] it has to be done by September 1st of
this year in order to take effect in
[58:44] January of 2027. Um,
so this is being presented at the
[58:50] minimum. I know there's other
municipalities who are going higher. Um,
[58:54] we decided, we thought, you know, again,
it is tough to implement any tax. Um,
[58:58] but basically this will this will mean
the money will stay here in the city of
[59:01] Beach Grove and not go to the county.
and then disperse from there. So, it'll
[59:05] stay in Beach Grove. Um, it'll go to
improve the infrastructure here in the
[59:08] city of Beach Grove and the people
[clears throat] that live here.
[59:11] » And if we do not do it, then we have to
go with Indianapolis. Right.
[59:16] » Correct. So, if we do not implement our
own wheel tax, um, we will default to
[59:20] whatever Indianapolis decides their rate
will be for Marian County. And also, we
[59:24] will lose any, um, eligibility to apply
for a community crossing grant funds
[59:27] because we do not have our own wheel
tax. So, um, if whatever Indianapolis
[59:33] does or doesn't do, um, if we do not, we
will lose that that funding source. Um,
[59:38] so, as mentioned earlier, we we just did
a a big paving project in the city of
[59:42] Beach Grove. Um, the most substantial
part was Alton, um, and that was from
[59:47] 13th Emerson Avenue, um, 4th Avenue,
Albany to Bethl, 6th Avenue, Albany to
[59:52] Bethl, and Detroit Street. Um, about
1.48 48 mi um of road and we received
[59:59] $487,000
uh from the community costing grant
[1:00:04] fund. Um so without that half of those
roads would not have been done this year
[1:00:08] because we just simply don't have the
revenues to do that.
[1:00:12] And if we don't implement this by what?
1st of September.
[1:00:17] » September 1st. So the 1st of September.
So um I know there are discussions about
[1:00:22] the next meeting. The next meeting uh
the first Monday of September falls on a
[1:00:26] holiday. So it'll take place on Tuesday,
September 8th, 2026. So that'll be after
[1:00:30] the deadline. Um we have to get it to
the DMV to implement any changes. And
[1:00:34] that's why they set that September 1st
date.
[1:00:36] » Gotcha. And with Indianapolis and them
right now, the mayor vetoing uh their
[1:00:44] $100 one, my understand if they get the
votes this evening to override the veto,
[1:00:49] it will be at the $100, which if we turn
ours down and vote ours down, then we
[1:00:55] would all be at the $100.
>> Correct.
[1:00:58] » Um even if they don't do the $100, they
can resubmit it for a a different price.
[1:01:04] It could be 75, it could be 50, it could
be whatever. still more than what we
[1:01:07] correct.
>> And Indianapolis, you know, with their
[1:01:11] multi-million dollar budget for roads,
$1 million match is not a big thing for
[1:01:16] them. Our city, it's a huge thing. It it
will double everything that we can do
[1:01:21] here.
>> Mhm. [clears throat]
[1:01:22] » Um, Mr. Queensman, I I have to
respectfully disagree with the the the
[1:01:28] roads. Um, the roads are not in great
shape. I do want to however say that
[1:01:34] Emerson
is not our our road to take care of.
[1:01:39] That is an Indianapolis road. We have a
couple here that is Indianapolis.
[1:01:44] They're in terrible shape just like most
of the roads in Indianapolis. Um every
[1:01:49] road you try to go down, there's road
construction. So hopefully a lot of
[1:01:53] these are getting taken care of.
However, a million dollars just doesn't
[1:01:57] go very far, especially when you're
looking at projects for asphalt and road
[1:02:02] repair. Uh, you know, to to not have the
option of getting matched through the
[1:02:07] grant, that that would really hurt us, I
believe.
[1:02:11] » Mayor, can I make a recommendation?
>> Yes.
[1:02:14] » It it seems like it would be the most
friendliest to the taxpayer to pass the
[1:02:19] minimum tonight. So if this council
takes passes the minimum of $25 and
[1:02:24] Indianapolis passes is at 50, there's no
there's no stacking, right? Correct.
[1:02:29] » So it's going to be $25. Um if we do
nothing and Indianapolis passes 50 or
[1:02:35] 100, then our our taxpayers get hit with
50 or 100.
[1:02:39] » They will. Correct. Um and and we will
no longer qualify for the community
[1:02:43] costing grant money. um we'd be bringing
a lot more revenue because you'd be
[1:02:47] basically quadrupling the revenues that
are coming in now. Um but
[1:02:51] [clears throat] we don't want to do that
and that's that's why we're presenting
[1:02:53] it at the minimum um just to still
qualify for that community crossing
[1:02:56] grant money because you can do a lot of
lot of paving for $8 or $900,000. You
[1:03:02] can't do much paving for half of that.
And that's that's what our fear is that
[1:03:05] if we we aren't eligible for that
additional funding, someone else will
[1:03:08] get it. We're still going to pay that.
We're still going to fill up at the
[1:03:10] tank. We're still going to pay those
taxes. uh we just won't be eligible to
[1:03:13] receive that, which which is kind of
kind of crazy to say, but uh because we
[1:03:18] all pay them, but that's what the state
legislature decided to do. Um and that's
[1:03:21] what they implemented for the cities and
towns across the uh state to implement.
[1:03:26] » And you know, nobody wants to raise
taxes, but you know, I think the uh the
[1:03:31] superintendent say her case did an
excellent job. We're getting hit on the
[1:03:36] city side as well that we have to take
these types of measures.
[1:03:43] So to uh Indianapolis is meeting tonight
and um one of the other counselors had
[1:03:49] told me that they talked to one of the
city county counselors and that they
[1:03:53] were going to try to lower the amount
from 100 to 50 and maybe get that
[1:03:58] passed. Um, so if uh we do not pass ours
for 25 then and they do pass theirs for
[1:04:07] 50, then
>> we would be assessed $50 uh instead of
[1:04:12] 25.
>> Correct.
[1:04:14] » So, um I also asked our city attorney
and I said, uh what will happen if we do
[1:04:22] not pass our wheel tax and Marian County
does not pass theirs either? and his
[1:04:27] answer was the city will be ineligible
still for the CCMG matching uh road
[1:04:33] grants or road matching funds uh moving
forward and until the city enacts a
[1:04:39] wheel tax. Note that the CCMG funds have
accounted for half of all road paving
[1:04:45] projects since the program was
implemented. In some the city's projects
[1:04:50] would likely be cut in half each year
without CCMG funding. So, um I guess
[1:04:57] we've got two choices. I think we talked
about tableabling it. Uh Pam asked us to
[1:05:02] table it. That would require us to meet
another meeting yet this month uh and
[1:05:08] for it to be advertised and uh and that
type of thing. And then we have the
[1:05:13] suggestion from our city attorney to uh
um go ahead and pass it on third reading
[1:05:19] tonight. And then if Marian County
doesn't do anything and uh we wind up
[1:05:26] not [snorts] being in favor of it, we
can repeal it. Is that [clears throat]
[1:05:32] » even though it's not till Monday?
>> Yeah, it's the 10th.
[1:05:34] » It's the 10th. Yeah.
>> Oh, it is.
[1:05:36] » Yeah, it's next Monday.
>> I thought they was meeting tonight.
[1:05:38] Okay.
>> There switches around.
[1:05:40] » They're uh having a a meeting amongst
that.
[1:05:44] » A meeting for the meeting. Yeah.
>> Okay.
[1:05:48] So, I don't know whether the other
counselors uh would want to wait and see
[1:05:54] what Indianapolis does or whether they
want to pass an increase on third
[1:06:00] reading and uh then uh
get the matching CCMG funds and go from
[1:06:08] there.
>> I'm not much of a gambler.
[1:06:11] [snorts and laughter]
Um, and just for the record, so I know
[1:06:14] we said 2025, 2024 we received about
353,000. Um, 2023 was a big year. We did
[1:06:21] a lot of paving that year. Mayor Buffley
did. Um, and that city council did
[1:06:25] 647,000
um, in funds from community crossing
[1:06:28] grant, which is which is the the largest
we've ever applied for. Um, the biggest
[1:06:31] paving project that we've ever done. Um,
and then about 351, 162, 350, and 333.
[1:06:37] So, um it kind of doubles at me right
around that $7 $800,000 um range of
[1:06:42] paving each year. So, that's that's what
we're looking just to continue uh that
[1:06:47] progress forward and continue to chip
away at our roads because they are
[1:06:49] deteriorating. Had some hard winters and
uh you see those potholes and stuff. Our
[1:06:53] DBW does a great job filling those and
and keeping up ahead of those, but it's
[1:06:57] difficult uh without that paving budget.
>> What other funding mechanisms are out
[1:07:02] there? Uh outside of that, I guess we
none that I know of for for paving
[1:07:08] specifically. Um you can do
intersections improvements. Um the safe
[1:07:13] routes for all that we applied for
Emerson Avenue that's going to basically
[1:07:17] uh repave and reconstruct that entire uh
thoroughfare. Um but outside of that, I
[1:07:22] I'm not aware of anything um that we
could apply for for just standard uh
[1:07:26] paving project updates. Um I know that
you can apply for safety and that's why
[1:07:31] you avenue um was awarded uh for the
intersections like the roundabout at
[1:07:36] hand on Arlington. Um it's one of the
most dangerous intersections in the
[1:07:40] county and that is why we received
funding for that. So we try and stretch
[1:07:43] those out as much as possible but that
intersection can only qualify for so
[1:07:46] big. So um I don't know of anything else
sir
[1:07:50] » on the routes or [snorts] streets
whatever you want to call it is done by
[1:07:56] Indianapolis. None of this community
crossing grants will be used for them
[1:08:01] roads like Sherman Drive, Emerson.
>> Yeah. I mean, I I don't I would not
[1:08:07] anticipate the city would be funding uh
those rehab and those uh those paving
[1:08:11] projects though.
>> Well, [snorts] we've done it on
[1:08:13] roundabouts that are not in beach.
>> Yeah, we have. But that was with the 80%
[1:08:17] match from the NONDOT. So,
>> but I mean I think that needs to be put
[1:08:21] into the minutes or the ordinance. Yeah,
I it so we we do a payment asset plan.
[1:08:28] Okay. Um and that payment asset plan um
grades every road in the city of Beach
[1:08:32] Grove. Correct, Tim. Um does that
include the city roads of Indianapolis?
[1:08:36] » Yes,
>> they're graded in that as well. Okay. Um
[1:08:40] but in the plan, it kind of goes forward
about five or six years for the next
[1:08:43] five paving paving seasons and we do not
include the roads to Minneapolis. Um we
[1:08:48] just try and keep up on the uh on the
mayor and the city county council to uh
[1:08:52] incorporate those. They've they've done
a few of them in the past and we're very
[1:08:55] thankful for that. Um there's a few
roads that are that are pretty rough
[1:08:58] right now, but we're still in
communication with them. Um and hoping
[1:09:00] to see some some work on those in the
coming years.
[1:09:09] Any other questions or comments?
If not, I entertain a motion to approve
[1:09:15] general ordinance number [clears throat]
3, 2026, bill tax on third and final
[1:09:19] reading.
I'll make said motion to approve general
[1:09:25] ordinance number three on third and
final reading.
[1:09:28] » I second.
>> Okay. All those in favor say I.
[1:09:31] » I.
>> I.
[1:09:32] » Those opposed?
>> Nay.
[1:09:34] » That is 421.
>> All right. General order number 3 2026
[1:09:39] passes on third reading only. Thank you.
Thank you.
[1:09:56] » [clears throat]
>> All right. Up next, we have new
[1:09:59] business. I' like to open up a public
hearing uh for general ordinance number
[1:10:04] 4, 2026, which is the NVH additional
appropriation on first reading only.
[1:10:10] » All right. Additional
>> You want me to read it while you are you
[1:10:13] doing that? Are you okay?
>> I can do that. Additional appropriation
[1:10:15] ordinance number 4, 2026. Whereas it has
been determined that is now necessary to
[1:10:19] appropriate money in excess of the
annual budget. And whereas the city of
[1:10:22] Beach Grove, Indiana is a duly formed
municipal corporation within the state
[1:10:25] of Indiana governed by its duly elected
mayor and council. And whereas the
[1:10:29] council has the duty and authority to
maintain and allocate funds as necessary
[1:10:32] to maintain the fiscal integrity of the
city and maximize efficiency. And
[1:10:36] they'll therefore be affirmed that the
Beach Grove Common Council desires to
[1:10:39] appropriate the funds listed below based
on the recommendation of the clerk
[1:10:42] treasurer. Now therefore, it be ordained
by the city of Beach Grove common
[1:10:45] council of Marian County that the
expenses of the taxing unit in the
[1:10:48] following sum of money are hereby
authorized to be appropriated out of the
[1:10:51] fund named and for the purpose specified
subject [snorts] to the laws governing
[1:10:55] the same and appropriated in the fund
listed itself. So requesting into the
[1:11:00] motor vehicle highway fund $756,65.70.
[snorts]
[1:11:07] Now it be affirmed that the common
council approves the appropriation
[1:11:10] requested above. Now, be it further
affirmed, this ordinance only applies to
[1:11:13] the fund listed above and no other
budget matter. Now, be it further
[1:11:16] affirmed that this ordinance shall go
into effect immediately upon passage by
[1:11:19] the common council attested by the clerk
treasur and signed by the mayor.
[1:11:24] » All right, go ahead and close this
public meeting. Um, up for discussion.
[1:11:28] Any comments or questions? Um, when we
received these funds in originally, did
[1:11:33] they go into their own fund?
>> No, they got receded right now into the
[1:11:38] general miscellaneous revenue. So
that'll just get appropriated from that
[1:11:42] general miscellaneous into
[clears throat] NVH.
[1:11:44] » So that's why this doesn't show what
fund it's coming out of and going into.
[1:11:48] » That's probably my fault. It should say
uh the general fund.
[1:11:51] » Okay.
>> Yeah, it just a miscellaneous revenue.
[1:11:55] » So this is on first reading this
evening. Uh we'll do second and third
[1:11:58] reading come uh September 8th. [cough]
[1:12:02] » Any other questions or com? Yes. Any
other questions or comments? Entertain a
[1:12:06] motion to approve general ordinance
number four, 2026. the additional
[1:12:09] appropriation uh for NVH in the uh
roundabout at Hannah and Arlington.
[1:12:16] » I make say a motion.
>> I'll second.
[1:12:17] » All those in favor say I. I.
>> Those opposed.
[1:12:21] » Motion carries. Thank you. Up next we
have general number 5 2026 um which is
[1:12:26] for a new fund number 2260 on first
reading only. And this was another uh
[1:12:32] new law that was passed by the
legislature um this year for uh
[1:12:35] municipalities to implement. So, uh,
I'll let the clerk treasury read that in
[1:12:40] the record, but basically any funds that
are received from permit fees in the
[1:12:43] city of Beach Grove have to go in its
own fund separate from the general fund.
[1:12:46] Um, and then to be, uh, expensed out for
specific duties and responsibilities for
[1:12:50] that, uh, for the permit process. So,
clerk treasure.
[1:12:53] » Okay. Journal ordinance number 5, 2026
is an ordinance that establishes fund
[1:12:58] 2260, the building and construction
related fees fund to receive an account
[1:13:02] for fees subject to Indiana code
36-7-2.3.
[1:13:07] Whereas House Enrolled Act
10001 enacted as public law 7326 added
[1:13:13] Indiana code 36-7-2.3
entitles limits on building and
[1:13:18] construction related fees. Whereas
Indiana code 3672.3
[1:13:22] applies to fees imposed by a city for
approval of applications related to
[1:13:26] construction or reconstruction of
buildings or building of pertinances and
[1:13:30] to zoning, development, subdivision,
classification or reclassification of
[1:13:34] land including permit application,
inspection and [snorts] processing fees
[1:13:37] regardless of the name given to the fee.
Whereas Indiana code 3672.3-3
[1:13:43] requires fees assessed and collected
after December 31st, 2026 to m be
[1:13:48] maintained in a special fund dedicated
solely to reimbursing the cost actually
[1:13:52] incurred by the city relating to the
imposition and amount of the fees and
[1:13:55] prohibits the money from reverting to
the general fund or any other fund of
[1:13:59] the city. Whereas state examiner
directive 2026-1
[1:14:03] directs cities and towns to deposit and
account for all fees subject to Indiana
[1:14:06] code 3672.3
in fund 2260 the building and
[1:14:11] construction related fees fund. Now
there excuse me. Now therefore it be
[1:14:15] affirmed that the Beach Grove common
council desires to establish fund 2260
[1:14:19] the building and construction related
fees fund as a special non-reverting
[1:14:22] fund of the city of Beach Grove. Now
therefore, be it further affirmed that
[1:14:25] the common council instructs the clerk
treasurer to establish fund 2260 and to
[1:14:29] deposit and account for all fees subject
to Indiana code 3672.3
[1:14:33] in that fund beginning January 1st,
2027. Now, therefore, be it further
[1:14:37] affirmed that money in fund 2260 shall
be used solely to reimburse costs
[1:14:41] actually incurred by the city relating
to the imposition and amount of fees
[1:14:45] deposited into the fund and shall not
revert or be transferred to the general
[1:14:48] fund or any other fund of the city. Now
therefore be it further affirmed that
[1:14:52] receipts and expenditures shall be
separately accounted for by each type of
[1:14:55] fee and the clerk treasurer shall
maintain a subsidiary ledger detailing
[1:14:59] all revenue received by individual fee
source and dispersements from each
[1:15:03] specific fee source. The subsidiary
ledger shall be reconciled to fund 2260
[1:15:07] monthly and made available for review by
the Indiana State Board of Accounts. Now
[1:15:11] therefore be it affirmed that this
ordinance applies only to the
[1:15:13] establishment administration of fund
2260 and does not itself establish,
[1:15:17] impose or change the amount of any fee.
Now therefore be it further affirmed
[1:15:20] that this ordinance shall go into effect
upon passage by the con council attested
[1:15:24] by the clerk treasur and signed by the
mayor with applicable fees assessed or
[1:15:28] collected after December 31st 2026 to be
deposited and accounted for in fund
[1:15:32] 2260.
[1:15:35] » All right. Any questions or comments?
>> Does this just apply to permit fees or
[1:15:42] like shelter rentals? Do they have to go
under
[1:15:46] » shelter rentals are still under the
parks. Um, so this is just like we have
[1:15:50] all our our sewer, sewer tap, um,
electrical, electrical commissioner, uh,
[1:15:55] the other commissioner that I can't
think of right now.
[1:15:57] » Building commission. Um, building
commission. Yeah. Um, so anything that's
[1:16:00] related to any construction or sewer
permits.
[1:16:02] » Okay.
>> Yeah.
[1:16:05] » Uh, again, this is on first reading
tonight. We'll hear second and third
[1:16:08] reading on September 8th. Um, any other
questions or comments? If not, a motion
[1:16:12] to approve joinance number 52026 for
establishing the new fund 2260 on first
[1:16:18] reading this evening.
>> I'll make a motion to approve uh general
[1:16:21] ordinance number 5206.
>> Second a motion. All those in favor say
[1:16:26] I.
>> I. Those opposed. Motion carries 5 to
[1:16:30] zero. Thank you.
>> That's all we have this evening tonight.
[1:16:35] Counselors. Um council comments. Council
nest.
[1:16:38] » Yep. Um no. Just thanks to everybody
that came out tonight and everybody that
[1:16:42] spoke. Thanks for department heads,
school board for being here. Uh Dr.
[1:16:46] Hammock uh did a really good job and all
the presenters. We appreciate you. And
[1:16:49] [snorts] just speaking for district 5
and my constituents alone, not speaking
[1:16:53] for other counselors. Reason I voted for
the will tax increase with the city
[1:16:57] level is it's better than the
Indianapolis level like we talked about
[1:17:00] and it's non-stacking. So everybody that
I talked to in district 5, it was a
[1:17:06] no-brainer [snorts] for them. So it was
a no-brainer for me as well. Um, there's
[1:17:09] going to be those out there that say,
you know, we voted we voted for raise
[1:17:13] taxes again and we, you know, people are
going to say this, but can you imagine
[1:17:16] how they would have gone after our heads
if we went with the Indianapolis rate.
[1:17:20] So, again, nobody wants to do this, but
this was the lesser of two evils. And,
[1:17:24] uh, that's it. Thanks for everybody
coming out.
[1:17:27] » Just send much prayer for the apartment
uh, situation and just if there's
[1:17:33] anything we can do, let us know. For
sure.
[1:17:38] Both of you took everything that I was
going to say. Prayers for everybody.
[1:17:42] » I'll start with you next month.
>> Yeah, Council Mackin, I'll start with
[1:17:46] you, sir.
>> Pray Prayers for everybody that has been
[1:17:48] displaced from the fires. Uh, also,
please watch over our EMS, our Beach
[1:17:54] Grove Fire Department,
[clears throat] our IFD, sorry. Um, and
[1:18:00] our BGPD. Um, every day is getting a
little crazier out there and they need
[1:18:05] all the help that they can get from
above. That's all I have for this
[1:18:09] evening.
>> All I'd like to say is on the wheel tax,
[1:18:14] uh, it sounds like a no-brainer. I agree
with that 100%. Problem is they give you
[1:18:21] a cut somewhere and put it in this hand,
that cut, and they put it over here and
[1:18:27] take it. People are tired of being taxed
to death.
[1:18:32] » I agree with you.
>> That's what's going on. That's the
[1:18:35] reason why I voted against it. And uh
you know, I I just don't like any new
[1:18:42] taxes that they're putting in and tell
us they're giving us something else over
[1:18:47] here.
>> Go ahead, Chris.
[1:18:49] » Um I agree with what's been said by
pretty much everyone. Uh, Councelor
[1:18:55] Ernest did take most of what I was going
to say. Um, I don't like raising taxes
[1:19:00] either. I, uh, I'm retired. I live on a
budget. And so,
[1:19:06] um, it's not something we want to do,
but you sit up here and you study this
[1:19:11] stuff all week or all month long. And
>> you learn which is the lesser of two
[1:19:15] evils and which is going to be uh, the
best thing for the citizens of Beach
[1:19:20] Grove. and sometimes it's not always
evident to the citizens, but uh uh I do
[1:19:26] try to have your best interest at heart
and that was the reason for my yes vote.
[1:19:32] Very good. For sure. Thank you,
counselors. Uh a couple announcements.
[1:19:35] Um tomorrow is National Night Out with
our Beach Road Police Department. Um new
[1:19:39] location will be at Sarah T Bolton Park
this year. Uh that is tomorrow, August
[1:19:43] 4th, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Sarah T
Bolton Park. So, be sure to come out and
[1:19:47] show your support to our men and women
that uh serve protect us each and every
[1:19:50] day. Um, council workshop. So, that'll
be September 8th. We will have a council
[1:19:55] meeting. Um, and then we'll kind of uh
maneuver into a budget workshop. Um, and
[1:20:00] then as the clerk treasurer stated, we
have a budget on first reading on
[1:20:03] October 5th. Um, second reading
[clears throat] and adoption on October
[1:20:06] 19th. Um, that is all we have this
evening. Next
[1:20:10] » drop here.
In here. Okay.
[1:20:12] » Yes, sir. All all take place here at the
council chambers. Thank you. Uh the next
[1:20:16] city council meeting again is scheduled
for Tuesday uh September 8, 2026 at 7
[1:20:21] p.m. here at city hall. Motion to
adjurnn. I'll make said motion. I'll
[1:20:25] second.
>> All those in favor say I.
[1:20:27] » I.
>> Meeting is opposed at 8:21. Thank you.
[1:20:30] » Meeting is opposed.
>> Is opposed.
[1:20:34] [laughter]
[1:20:38] I'll email that.
>> Yeah. That way it's easier. Yeah.