One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
» Okay. Welcome everybody to our July 20th meeting. Council meeting. Oh,
» roll call. >> Roll call. Council member Greyber
absent. Council member Gens >> here.
» Council member Ger >> here. Council member Sarah
» here. >> Council member Hos
» here. >> Mayor Kelsey is absent and I am present.
» Present. Thank you. >> Anything you can report for the chief
then? >> No sir. Just sitting in for him.
» Sitting in and keeping guard. >> Okay.
» How about superintendent? >> Again, you got an update. They're
supposed to start working on I think pouring concrete tomorrow in Burnwood
area. >> Mhm. Um, that's supposed to start on the
22nd, which is tomorrow. So, they're on schedule. Stay on schedule that start
tomorrow. >> 22nd Wednesday.
» Oh, Wednesday. Sorry. Wednesday. My bad. Wednesday. [laughter]
» Supposed to rain tonight. >> So, yeah, they're going to start on
that. I've seen the machine was in there today, too. So,
» okay. >> And then I did move a couple of the
sensor nodes. Dean see me moving them tonight. I can't There's a leak on Carl.
I can't pinpoint it. So, I put more of my little nodes out through there.
Hopefully, I can find out where it's at. Okay.
» And then I did finish the water audit. So Kevin, I'll send that over to you as
soon as I send it in. So >> how about on West Mine? All that
easement and swale was kind of messed up.
» That's all. We should get down there and get that. Yeah, I have not made it down
there yet, but yeah. >> Okay. Scrape that then.
» It's perfect timing. It's all nice and everything's dried and dried out. So
yeah, >> and someone's put a new barn up there,
too. So have more water shed issues. >> More more Yeah. low spots and high spots
again. >> Yeah.
» So, we might want to think about what to do with that here in the future
as far as ordinances or or something. So,
» we have a couple of them going up, but they're pretty good size.
» Yeah. >> Looks like one bull rap is going to be
pretty big, too. >> Yeah. And there's one next to it last
year, too, that was put up. So, the water's got to go somewhere. And we're
in poorly drained clay soil here. So anything else for the superintendent?
Anybody? Okay. Thank you. Okay. Mr. Clerk,
treasure previous minutes.
» Anybody look at the minutes? >> I move to approve.
» Second. You have a hand. >> You abstain?
» Yep. >> Are you going to second?
» You second, but I second. >> No, I was asking for a second.
» Okay. >> Okay. All who approve say I raise your
right hand. >> I
» I >> oppose the same. So minutes are
approved. Okay. Let's go to accounts payable
accounts
if you want to sign those warrants over $500 excluding any payroll items. Boy
form systems for $557.70. Carson LLP for $2,940.
Chemical services for $3,64.20. Christine Keenir for $2,500. Civic Plus
for $453.15.
CNI Fiber for $971.60.
Uh Elon Financial Services for $55018. Force Technology for $2,591.85.
Indiana Michigan Power for $3,31741.
Uh Indiana Underground um that's Indiana811 for $55955.
[snorts]
Mike Tracy for $869.52.
TNC concrete for $2,400.
Wayne Asphalt for $89,42464.
Wex Bank for $1,224.38.
Wildman Uniforms for $693.98. WM Court for $16,35.58.
and Woodburn Hardware for $1,29820.
» You can see just added a couple of line items there together. So,
» it does that. This is a summary. This is the report. So, this gives you
everything. This is the summary of that. >> Okay.
» I I need a reminder on some of these expenses. What they are exactly or what
they were for. >> Yeah.
» Um Carson L. >> That's for the attorney. That was for
the services in June for getting the um ordinance stuff set up with the
» okay [snorts] county court
» and let me see here
» what is this big one down here 89,000 where's that asphalt being put at
» that is for the um CCMG project in Burnwood Court
» that's for their their contract for the stone stone and tearing out the stone
and >> and we got a grant that's covering
» 80% of that. Yep. >> So, if you look if you go to the full
report there, it's split up on their 8020 RE or our 20% and the 80% from the
state. The state gives us the money, >> right? Okay. I just was want to be
clear, you know, when you see that big number, you're going
[clears throat] >> so actually what happens is is Wayne
actually fills the engineer. The engineer looks over everything and then
the engineer once they look over everything, confirm everything, then
they send it to us and then we pay it. So I actually don't receive the invoices
from Wayne Asphalt. We actually get them from the engineer.
» Okay. Um Okay. Well, I think that was the only
thing I was wondering about. >> Those are expensive.
» Yeah. Okay. All right. Well, I move to approve. and a second.
» Okay, we have a motion and a second. All who approve, raise your hand, right hand
say I. >> Oppose the same. The motion passes.
Uh I will give an update on that about the vi the uh ordinance with the court.
We did me and Terry Brad uh met with our attorney and we met with the magistrates
at Allen County Superior Court. We gave them the list of items that we
want to enforce to be able to uh for the officers to be able to write tickets
for. They are in full cooperation. They going to work with us to set that up so
we can uh write tickets and they will be able to pay the fines at if there's a
fine associated with the violation with the ordinance. they can go up there and
they can pay it or they can attend their court date if they will would like to
contest it and if there is no fine associated which there shouldn't be any
um then they've attend the court and uh the judge makes up the the cost.
[snorts] So that is moving forward. We have to get some of the ordinances in
line. We have to update some of them to get them maybe to get the fines updated
or certain sections fixed. that way we can um when they when Brad writes when
the police write the tickets that they can cite the correct ordinances but it's
moving in the right direction so >> so they can implement that now you know
» pretty soon pretty soon >> we're working October September October
» okay >> cuz everything got to be filed recorded
» approved we're working towards it and so we'll have some amendments for
ordinances coming up soon that we >> to get those all straightened out that
way when We input them. We can actually enforce them.
» Okay. >> So, yeah.
» Okay. >> That is coming though.
» Okay. >> Mayor's not here, so we'll bypass that
report. >> Dean, anything you got?
» Nothing. >> Okay.
Vicki, >> uh, I had a question from um, um,
a citizen here in town who was wondering why the [clears throat] flags are still
up on 101 out here. What's that? Are they Can they [snorts]
take them out? They said they've been there for months and months and months.
» What flags? >> Oh, the locate. No, don't. No,
» they can't take them out. [laughter]
» Well, >> what if they've been run over by
lawnmark? >> There'll be more to put in. [laughter]
» So, when's that work going to be done? You know,
» that $500 that you guys paid to UPS for the last 3 months, that's how many
that's half the locate number that's came in. So,
» you pay 99 cents a piece for those. >> They're 59 cents.
» Yeah. 595. Yeah. >> Yeah. So, I mean that's telling how many
are coming in. So, >> so will the citizen get charged and then
the flag? >> It's illegal to remove those flags.
» Illegal. >> Yes, it is illegal to remove those
flags. >> What flags?
» All locate. All locate flags. It is illegal to remove those flags. Yes.
» What happened? >> I I understand. I understand people's
frustration. >> I I'm frustrated because I have to go
back out and put them back in. They get called back in. Every 18 days they call
them back in. If my flags are gone, I got to go back out, put them back in.
» I'm sorry. >> So, yeah. And they're literally the
whole city has been located. >> Yeah. Every month the whole city gets
located for the most part. So, it's not just me. The gas company's doing it. The
fiber. >> Is that for metal link?
» Metal link frontier. It's for all of them.
» Okay. >> Everything that comes in. Yeah.
» Yeah. And the more people that get installed with the more people those
that was for the mainline fiber. Now once more people start getting
installed, they're going to be calling in on each individual house to be able
to put the drops in as well. >> Yeah.
» So metal the metal link still is it or CI fiber or whatever it is. Yeah. They
still have the main drag to do and park lane and 101 here to do and they're
still over in addition over there. So they called in these last week again and
the flags are pulled. They go back in. >> What are people supposed to do when
they're mowing? >> Around them.
» I get their frustration. >> Well, you want Well, here's the thing is
that >> is that people want people want more
internet. People want better internet. People want competition. You get mad at
Comcast. Now you have before >> you were stronghold. can't go anywhere
else. And now you have two more options to be able to go to.
» So competition's good. It's a growing part of the city. I mean, there's
» you mow around it. >> The big the biggest problem is if those
locates aren't called in and those guys hit something.
» Yeah. >> They're responsible for that.
» Yeah. >> And if you hit a gas or something that's
major, >> trust me, it's a nightmare when it these
guys are paying thousands and thousands of dollars in fines and they get a it's
a small gas service line. It cost me about $10,000.
» You get to mow less. [laughter] >> I'm going to locate my whole yard.
» Well, yeah. Then he goes around puts signs in you.
» Well, [laughter] me I get my sign. I get people's frustrations and [laughter]
» I'm just asking. >> They told me another month they'd be out
here, but I'm not holding my breath. So, >> that's not going to be
» So, we're talking September, October, November.
» And And it's not it's not just them. It's because you had Frontier come in
first >> and then you had them come in
afterwards. So, there's two crews that came in that basically are doing the
same thing in the same area. >> You know, if it's like right here, I'll
pull it out, >> throw it over there,
» that's that's for all the main, too. And every house that gets a drop put in,
every house that gets a service line put in, cuz each house is an individual line
that gets hooked up and those all have to get located in as well. So, every
house that calls in for service and signs up will also be getting a locate.
Okay. >> Be called in.
» Okay. So if flags if the flags are put back
then they do they should not be touching them.
» Nope. >> They should not be touching them.
Correct. >> Okay.
» Even if they think the crews came through there and done their stuff,
» leave them. Don't leave them. >> Really?
» Yeah. >> Because it may not have been that crew
that called in a different that locate on that property.
» Could have been a different could have been two locates called in the same
property. >> What caller?
» What? >> A caller. Are you done?
» I think your guys' streets pretty much done for the
» Yeah, we're done. >> We're talking about 101.
» We're still fighting with them. >> We're still fighting with them.
» Yeah. 101's not done at all. 101's >> Yeah. Okay. Well,
» I see why the flags were mowed over. Gone that just put down of last week.
[clears throat] They're gone already. Reality of progress, right?
» Anything else you got or >> looks like there's some improvements
[clears throat] that's going on in those apartments. Uh Lynwood.
» Yeah. did some painting or something. >> Well, they did Well, they did see that.
I mean, it's all concrete in there, but they're also painting. It's
» been months. >> Yeah. So, they're making some
improvements, which is nice to see. >> Um I was just by there today. Um other
than that, I'm good. >> Good. Skyler, I got a few things. First
related to the internet conversation is there, you know, seeing that CNI fiber
bill every month reminds me, do we have a timeline of when they'll be able to
get service here? When Lakeland will have service here?
» Not heard. >> I've not heard either.
» Yeah. Yeah. I haven't heard for several months. So,
» okay. [snorts] It looked like I mean, they have the box, they have the cabinet
over there set up on the space. So, I'm assuming soon,
but I we don't have a date in schedule. >> Okay. [snorts] Last session, we agreed
to execute an agreement with Metal League pending their agreement to it.
How did that end up? >> Uh yeah.
» Yeah, he did email me back after uh after that meeting. I had emailed him
and told him that you guys had agreed if they agree [sighs and gasps]
and he [clears throat]
I know it came down to it at the end. He said, "Okay, I want to look over it
again." So >> So it's not finally out there though.
» He did not agree to it. I did tell them I had to send them certified mail the uh
termination letter that way it was official.
Um they he he was very he was curious about the water tower and the design of
the water tower to make sure that it would be a design that he would be able
to put his equipment onto which is reasonable. He wants to know once the
new one's up, can you put his stuff on it?
» Um we had gotten a hold of the engineer. Engineer assured us it's going to be the
same style so he would be able to do that. um but with no I told him that we
didn't have any like plans or anything drawn up yet that it's still far enough
out in the future that we don't [snorts] have that yet and but he assured me that
the new tile was the same style and there'd be no issues accommodating the
equipment and he said okay thanks for the feedback let me read the agree
amendment again and get back to you that was Thursday July 9th but I did send
last week I did send the terminate the termination letter certified in the mail
know the clock is ticking on that. So, they have a year. It's not like it's
» next week or anything, but lets them know we're serious about it.
» All right. Thanks for that, Kevin. Uh then next on my list is a Lifewise
update. We had Jake in here last uh last session. We tabled that conversation.
» You want me to talk about or you want to talk? Yeah, you go ahead.
Well, you know, that opened up and there was a couple of hang-ups. One is to put
a bridge through the swale or through the water retention pond. They they
talked to the principal of Woodland apparently.
» Okay. >> Cool. And he said, "Oh yeah, go ahead."
But nobody got the approval through the superintendent of the of the buildings,
the East Hen. So when he found out about it, he kind of put the kibash on that.
So that was an issue. The second issue is I asked him I said do you have a
contract and they said oh yeah we got a contract and they found the contract.
There's no signatures on it. >> Wow.
» So >> contract with the city
» with the city police. I mean the details were apparently in it but they there
weren't signed. >> So now this is null and void. Huh?
» In essence that's what's going to happen. So, um, then of course, you
know, you got the outside influence putting their pressure on and stuff,
contacting the East Talent Schools, contacting Kevin and trying to get
reports and stuff. So, Lifewise decided to go ahead and just uh forego the
thing, >> wash their hands.
» Yeah. Or abort the whole contract, if I can use that term.
» What about the slab of cement that >> they're going to pay to rip all that out
and make it like it was? >> Oh, so
» Wow. >> And some of those those are pods, little
pillar pods. are about 3 ft deep things of concrete like that. So,
» so I guess it's Nolan Boyd and they're going to go back to the church that they
were in before, which is probably just as good. So,
» okay. >> It's worth noting the city never funded
this project. The city never put any money towards it
» and they were not building on city property. The city was leasing
Lifewise Academy the property for money. It was not a
free lease and the city never funded the project. So
» no public funds were ever [snorts] given to Linewise.
» So just a lot of you know things that fell short. So like they're kind of
embarrassed. So >> anyway, it's done and we can move on to
better things. So >> Right. Right. Okay. Um,
» I was was told not to let them back on property language decided do who's when
they come in to remove stuff. >> Let them in for that.
» I really need to get that porter down out there. The inspector didn't like
that. >> Okay. [laughter]
» Yeah. If they come in to remove stuff, you might ask them then.
» Okay. >> Yeah.
» Cuz the gate the gates always closed. I didn't know who was coming.
» We have to get scheduled with you to get that stuff out of there. So,
» yeah. >> Someone I I don't have any contact over
Terry. I know we've been in contact with them. Would you call them and let them
know to come get the portagon? >> Well, after this week, I'll be gone till
August 11th. So, >> well, we can at least get the portage on
out of there. >> Yeah.
» Soon. One of you guys can let them in to do that and then we can they can
schedule when you get back to get the concrete out.
» I know. >> Is that all right?
» Go back to school at 12. >> Yeah.
» Okay. >> Don't come back on.
» Is that Is that why? Let's have them get that little potty out of there cuz I'm
sure it hasn't surfaced yet. It's going to be Adam's going to rip out the pods.
So, >> okay.
» Okay. Is that it or >> No, not yet. [laughter]
» Not yet. >> Uh Homestead Place, my lovely community,
had their first HOA meeting for a number of years.
» Mhm. >> And a couple things came up that sounded
like they might be city related. Uh people were talking about the MIJ flies
which I have experienced. There's [clears throat] a large population of
those >> again.
» Uh yeah, always every year. >> I thought those were taken care of.
» And we treated we treated our ponds already for them. So
» okay, that was the question if there was anything the city needed to do on their
properties for them. >> No, it's usually it's usually your guys
are swell and pond. They're not causing the problem.
» Yeah. [snorts] >> So, okay. And then the street lights
came up. It was reported that three of the street lights are owned by the HOA
and the rest are owned by the city. It was the first three, the original three
that are owned by the HOA. And
one of the lights that I was under the impression is owned by the city has a
light out. So I felt it prudent to report that it was harvest and legacy. I
don't think the city owns any of those lights in there.
Those are all >> I'll follow up with our new officers and
let them know >> they're listening.
» Yeah. I don't I don't think any of them in there are are the city's lights.
» Okay. So, nobody spoke to you about >> No. No. Yeah.
» Um Dan brought it up several meetings back, a bunch of meetings back several
months ago about that being theirs and what the other additions were doing. If
we were taking those, could we take all them, too? To my knowledge, we don't own
any of the lights in the additions because they're not city city street
lights. Now, we might pay a bill on them for the electric. On that part, I don't
know. Well, I think Dan's request is more about decorations, right? Putting
decorations up out on the light poles. >> The light poles that are in those
additions are not your guys' normal light poles are just small little bases
that are in there that the developer puts in
and then typically the association takes care of them if they get hit by cars and
stuff because you guys don't you guys don't carry them around [snorts] and
they're not your style style poles. The only light poles you guys own are
the ones down Main Street. >> Yeah, that's right.
» Everything else is AP, the [snorts] power companies. But to my
knowledge, so not saying that's correct, but I'll follow up with my
» communities officers and I'll have them reach out to clarify.
Then I had a couple Facebook discussions the last couple weeks,
some conversation about water rates. So, I tried to correct some misinformation
that was being spread, pointed them to the city's website to our last uh
adopted ordinances regarding the water and sewer rates so that everybody's
aware of those. Some again uh comments and misinformation around water sourcing
and quality. pointed them to the city websites and resources that are
available for that and informed them about our recent public hearing and uh
meeting discussion on the [snorts] preliminary engineering design uh from
for the water works improvements >> including filtration and softening
» including that. Yes, that came up specifically.
» And Joe was down, we were downtown last week and talked to the commissioners
about getting funding for some of that and using our tiff for some of that.
» Yeah. >> Water tower and and repairing lines and
getting a filtration system in. City does need a filtration system.
» Yeah. >> No, we have a filtration. We need a soft
system. >> Right.
» We do have filtration. We don't have softing. Well, filtration is is sand
filter. So, I mean, it doesn't remove magnesium and your calcium, which is
isn't solution in the water. Won't remove that, but softening will.
» They're looking at a reverse osmosis. >> Yeah, I'm not. Yeah, something along
those lines. Yeah, >> but we have we already have a filter to
remove iron from the water. So, the only only chemical we add is chlorine. So, we
add nothing else to the water. >> Okay. Are we going to get a softener
softening? in the phase one. >> It's it's in it's in that uh SRF loan
we're going for engineering report. Yes, there'll be softing in the system. Yes.
» The whole project's about 10 million. >> About 1.7's a filtration softening.
» Right. >> So, we got to find some grants. We don't
want to raise everybody's water bill for that.
» Right. Right. >> Okay.
» And the last Facebook conversation was around the splash pad that seems to come
up every year when it gets hot. people wondering [cough and clears throat] why
we had. So reiterated >> um that none of the donations ever went
through the city or anything. That was through found out the Woodburn Community
Association. >> I did a quick little search on who were
the officers of that. Provided some names on Facebook if people want to hold
them accountable. And so those contacts are there. Isn't [snorts] the It wasn't
the trustee. >> These the park is owned by the township,
but the donations went through the Woodburn Community Association.
» Okay. Well, who was in charge of that? >> Uh
I don't know if there's a problem with me naming her.
It was >> I would if I could name
it. Yeah. >> Okay. The last known officer was
Jennifer Grunno as the president of that Woodburn committee.
» Didn't we look into this though last year?
» Well, she never showed up. She's supposed to come.
» She was supposed to show up and she never did.
» That's what I thought. >> You look into it every year.
» But we got money. They got They have money parked in there. People probably
do. >> We should be doing something with that
money. So, how should one of us clean up the park?
» You guys can't do anything with that money.
» City can. [clears throat] >> It's not It's not the city's money at
all. big part of the conversation. We don't have any responsibility with the
money. If the citizens want something done with it, they need to contact the
community association leaders and then they need to put pressure on the
township to say, "Hey, we've got this money. Here's what we want to do with it
and work something out." >> Is that a 501c3, Jeff?
» Yes, >> it was. That was revoked.
» Oh, it was. >> Yes. because they don't have any
officers and they haven't filed a tax return.
» At least 10 years. >> How many years ago?
» 10 years ago. >> You said 10 years.
» No, it has been that long ago. >> It hasn't been that long ago.
» About six four to six years ago. >> Yeah, cuz Lori Shine and I
» I believe 2021 was the last published tax return. [clears throat]
» Yeah. >> So, should people just refer to this
Jennifer then? >> Absolutely.
» I think they ought to let >> accountability reach out to Jennifer.
» Yeah. Well, it's important to know that this the city does not have that money.
They do not have control of it. They don't have access to it. They don't
know. We don't know the amount or where it's held. No one on this board
» knows that information. >> The council, the mayor, none of us said
no, you can't do it. We said we're not the ones responsible for whether it
happens or not. >> Approval permission.
» The only thing you can do. >> Yeah. We have no decision making where
that money >> food
» goes to where that money goes to. No one up here
has control of it. Even if everybody in here wanted to say, "Okay, let's do a
splash pad or let's let's give it to we have no power to do that,
» right?" >> And since it was a 501c3, that's public
information and give them her name, >> right?
» So that's all we do. >> They're angels.
» They both live out, >> right? And then uh the last thing I see
Jeff is here. I had township city reorg uh as something I wanted to follow up
on, but you can pin that >> I think.
» Okay. Okay. Mayor's not here. We went through
the members. Before we get to the public comments, we got a couple of special
guests. Um Francis, any anything in your world there? [laughter]
» No, I'll talk about it afterwards. I need to talk to Ryan about some stuff
» just individually. >> Yeah.
» It's nothing public for us. >> No, not really.
» Okay, Jeff. >> Can I defer?
» Want to defer? >> Yeah. I'll just let everybody else that
way. >> Okay.
» If you want, >> Mrs. Sherwood.
» Oh, I'll just wait until after. >> Oh, come on.
» Ladies first. >> First.
» I think there's other people, aren't there?
» You want to be last? You're saying? >> Sure. I usually am.
» Okay. [clears throat] State your name. I'm just here to observe and comment
should I need to. >> Anybody else want to speak?
» Not me. >> I just I wanted to check who's taking
down the elevator or or is somebody taking down the elevator?
» Egg Plus sold the metal bins is what they've done. So a company and a
farmer are taking them down >> and then the the rest of the property
has been sold, the buildings and the whatever the land.
» Yeah. So those are all going to be up the cement.
» Yeah, the cement ones are >> okay.
» They are going to be taken down. >> Not to my knowledge.
» An Amish man bought it and it's going to be kind of a lumber transfer type
station. Not really a lumber yard, but you know, warehouse storage. So, they
want to use the side tracks. >> Last I knew, there was an accepted
offer, but it's that was in January and has not been closed yet, but So,
» okay. Who's going last? Our next call. Doesn't
» matter. >> Go ahead. Letter go. Um, I guess we can
start with the three minute time frame. I allowed it for the last couple
meetings, >> but the three minute time frame has to
be for every single person in the meeting or it's not legal. I think that
was said to me the second meeting I was here that they were going to check into
because it's not legal. >> I'll handle that. Go ahead.
» Um, Vicki was encouraging me last meeting to
accept an apology from somebody that I did not feel it was sincere because he
still wasn't admitting to his words that he actually said. And I wanted to put it
in context that she might understand. If I come in here tomorrow and there's a
young lady working inside that office and I go in there and I stand above her
and I start screaming and yelling, "I'm pretty sure the cops are going to show
up to my house. I wonder if you would encourage her to just accept my apology
once I got caught." I thought that was pretty egregious.
I also wanted to say to the rest of the city, I think it's pretty sad when you
guys try to hide things from the town and you table things and you hide
discussions about property and buying things.
Um, wondering when the alley beside me was
going to be cleaned up from the construction and the debris.
You have more to say. I'll respond when you're done.
» Are you done? >> This is the talking stop probably.
» What's that? >> Oh my god.
» I stop talking. That usually insinuates. >> I was asking a question. Okay.
To my knowledge, >> she's got her hand up over here.
» Can I speak? >> No.
» No problem. >> No. Yeah. Not yet. Yeah. Wait.
» Okay. To >> my knowledge, Chief Parker said that the
alley was cleaned up. There was one item yet to clean
» and uh I assume that that's going to be followed through with. It is cleaner
than what it was. So, anybody else have a comment on on that here?
From my knowledge, it got cleaned up. >> It says no building or construction
material and under that is literally labeled countertops or sinks and those
are still in the um alley. >> Okay, I'll check with Chief Parker. He
said he gave me a date that was supposed to be out of there. So, I will follow
up. >> The last update we had was that it got
cleaned completely out. It was completely taken care of.
» He said there was one thing that they had that needed a skid loader or
something. >> Nope.
» Well, yeah, I know. I read that, too. Um, I went by there today. All I saw was
some boards. I [snorts] didn't get out of the car to
go study it, but that's all I saw. I saw where he had taken the the big
» piece of whatever that is that Yeah. It's gone
» and put in his own property. So, >> that's all I saw.
» As far as the apology, I think the individual you're talking about sits to
my right. He's made an apology. You didn't answer the phone. You left a
voicemail. As far as I'm concerned, he made an attempt to do that. That's good.
So, we all make mistakes, including yourself, including me. So,
» yeah, but I'm just a citizen. I'm not being paid to be here.
» Mr. uh President Prom for Miss Sherwood said she was done speaking, but she
continues to speak. >> But he also said last meeting that as
long as there's give and take that it would be okay.
No one's really asking any questions, I guess. So,
» no, we're addressing. Yeah. >> Um,
anyway, I I I feel that he's made adequate restitution and at least from
his effort and that's all we can ask for. So, anybody else have any comment
on that on the council? >> No. So, I I agree.
» Yeah. So,
» and then lastly, the accusation that the city is hiding
» Yeah. >> Okay. That had to do with the life-wise
thing. I think it was very wise to table that. There was a legal challenge that
was thrown upon the clerk treasure and the mayor's desk that day. So, we
decided just to to table it, talk about it, and there's no our hands are open
now. They we've abandoned the project and we're done with it. I think we were
talking about when we were discussing the sale of the property up here at the
VFW or whatnot >> that wasn't tabled. So
» you said you couldn't talk about it in front of people who were present. I
believe >> I don't think that was about that issue
at all. No. >> So
» that that's a that's an offer pending. So it hasn't closed. So
» and it was stated there would be a public hearing about that transaction
after all of the details were worked out. So nothing is being hidden.
» So yeah. Yeah, >> there have it's required
» require >> it's required to have public
» one or two >> I think I'm not sure.
» Okay, but at least one. So, [snorts]
» okay. You had your hand up. >> I did.
» What's your name? >> Joy Lothr.
» Oh, okay. >> Hi.
» Hi. Um, I am the neighbor that lives in the alley and
» last city council meeting it was told that we need to move the shed and which
we did. >> Mhm.
» Before the meeting. >> Mhm.
» And Chief Parker came over and didn't realize Well, we didn't move the shed
before the meeting that night. We moved we made progress in the alley as was
recommended to us. And when Chief Parker reported at last meeting that we did not
do anything, I called him at that very moment and said, "I really need you to
stop by our house tonight." >> Right.
» So, he did with Officer Evans. They came and looked at the alley. He apologized
because he did not get out of his car to look at the alley. That we made great
progress. And he we also said that we would have the barn moved by the
weekend. and he said he would not service us any papers because he made a
mistake. It was his mistake that he would be here tonight, but
understandably so, he's not. >> Mhm.
» Um, but the barn has been moved to our property. The stuff in the alley is not
a nuisance to anyone. And I have an email for him stating that if it needs
to be seen. >> Okay.
» He did correct himself. He did send an email after that meeting of stating why
he left stated in the exact same thing saying that um that it was it was his
mistake. He had made that assumption by driving by it, not actually going back
there. Said he went back there and it was cleaned up.
» Yes, he did.
» Anything else? >> Clear.
» Is there still something in the alley? >> Not that I'm aware of. There is still
stuff in the alley, but it is he said that it was fine to be there and we if
we want to move it, we can move it >> at our time, but the shed was priority
one and that's what we needed to move. Most of 95% of everything is gone. There
was any kind of obstruction. >> So, what's in the alley is not in the
alley. It's on your property. >> Right.
» Okay. >> I d I'll just speak quickly. I drove by
today and it was a lot. Like I said, the or like she was saying, the wood's gone,
everything's gone. There's like two or three items that are laying against the
back of the barn. And I would believe if you would go back out and check with the
line, they're since they're so flat up against the barn, they're under the
overhang. I would assume it's it's going to be on our property anyways.
» Oh, I wouldn't assume that. >> Okay. [laughter] Well, I'm just saying
I'm just saying there's >> I have to reme-measure, but
» I know it's close. I >> There's not much room. Yeah, there's not
much room back there. Just just so you know that. I mean, if it's up against
their barn laying flat, maybe it is. >> But
» is the barn over the easement? Actually, >> the I would tell you the overrange
probably right the top over probably really right on that easement line.
» And we wouldn't do anything with it unless we wanted to go in there and do
something. So, >> yeah. I don't think nothing none of the
barn is on is over into the alley easement. Okay.
» Yeah. >> Well, I'd like for due diligence just to
have Ryan double check the measurements and make sure that it is in fact on
Lothy's property. Okay.
» Okay. >> State your name, please.
» I'm Darlene Ko. >> Okay.
» I built that barn. We had the permission. We had it all staked out,
surveyed out, and it was on the correct property. And that alley has never been
maintained. I've had that house for 40 years.
» Mhm. >> Wow.
» And that alley is just like it always has been.
» Okay.
I'm glad you came to clarify all that. >> And there's a tree at the end of the
alley. >> Mhm.
» On the other end, if you look down there,
» cars can't even go through. >> There's a fence in the alley down the
other end. >> Yeah, I saw that.
» So why >> the big deal is about this end of the
alley when you can't use it at the other end
» where the alley stopped. There's no there's no there's no
approach on the other end. It was taken it was taken out.
» All right. >> Okay.
» But that house that sits on the corner of Ash and Lynwood,
their fence is out in about 3 ft out in the alley. It is
» because you can tell it based off the other fences down through there. They're
out past where they're supposed to be. They're in the alley.
» Okay. >> But that's not where the complaint came
in. They wanted to do other stuff moved. So, no one's hollered at that one down
there,
» but theoretically that fence should be moved. You have several of them that
way. So, >> yeah.
» So, don't open that can of wor right now.
» I don't think any of this has to do with the city. The city does not have permits
on that. The city does not issue the permits. They do not maintain it. They
do not uh police [clears throat] that. the we police the ordinance that we have
in place of junk being in the alley under the ordinance. Junk under the
ordinance. [laughter] Uh if there's a violation of the
ordinance, that's something that we can take care of.
Variances, fences, where barns are built, that has nothing to do with the
city. That has to do at a county level. So there's nothing anybody can do up
here about that besides the same thing that every one of you can do as well is
calling the county. >> Now I was just going to ask so that's
what they need to do is call the county. >> Yep.
» Okay. Okay.
» Okay. Kevin,
I'm sorry. >> That's okay.
» They didn't really It's a good [clears throat] compliment.
» That's compliment. >> Uh just an update to and I I I know I
sent everybody the reorganization uh for Sheridan, Indiana. That was a
that was a reorganization uh where their township merged into
their city into the town of Sheridan. Uh Terry and I watched a ITA, it's from the
Indiana Township Association uh webinar the other night, last week, not last
week, the week before on mer. It had to do more with mergers on Senate Bill 270
and deal more with on the merger aspect of townships merging, which is coming.
Uh it's no surprise there. Uh I say I I told Terry Cypio's dead. Uh and they
will be. That's okay. You know, there's nothing wrong with that because, you
know, they're such a small township. they need to merge. But again, if you're
looking at the Wami Township and City of Woodburn, that's called a
reorganization. There wasn't a lot of information on reorganization per se in
the video, but there was in the or in the Zoom meeting, but there was some
stuff and I did ask a question. I then of course, you know, you think about
those things after 10 minutes afterwards because I asked I say Terry was there.
If a city and a township merges, you know, how easy or how because merging
townships is going to be fairly easy, going be fair, fairly simple process.
Townships or cities and townships the way Jeff Bellamy is the attorney of
record. He's he's also I've dealt with him before, worked talked to him before
with the East Central Fire and EMS. He was the attorney of record for that
merger when we when Mami Township and everybody formed in New Haven. But
anyway, so so Jeff is the attorney uh handling a lot of the merger stuff or uh
in doing was the one during the webinar. uh he indicated well it could be very
difficult but then again Harry and I were talking afterwards
on our end we don't think it will be it would be hard because we don't have you
know I'll pick on Muny Muny and Delaware County or even New Haven and Adams
Township merging together or not Adams County whatever township Muny's in the
um >> we don't have you guys as a city don't
have the departments that Munie has you know planning services, permitting, you
know, doing permitting processes. Uh I say obviously you don't have fire, we
don't have a fire department anymore. Uh we don't have what were some of the
other ones, Terry? There was there was a whole list of thumbs. We look at New
Haven's organizational chart. We know we don't have what New Haven, you know, all
the departments that New Haven has. So really
» parks departments, the parks department. >> Yeah. Right now you have parks
department, you know, that sort of thing. So there's not the amount of
services that have to be because we don't have that. You don't have that.
that's doesn't have to be all figured out and everything else. [laughter]
» So, personally, you know, I I don't going come away from that. Again, I
still think it's a a process that we need to be proactive on. Uh it's coming.
We know it. Uh it's been, you know, it's been discussed
for many years now in the state of Indiana doing way doing mergers and
consolidations and things like that. Uh I think personally I I told Terry I
think from the township side >> there's two funds that you guys have on
your taxes that we don't have in the township side. One is the economic
development and I forget what the other one was Terry. There's two two different
funds and Kevin might know that looking at the the rates or whatever.
» One of them differs and one doesn't. So >> one of those funds or tax rates differs.
Well, we don't have the economic development one that you have on your,
[clears throat] you know, for the city residents and there was another one that
was a small amount. >> That that'll be going away though. But
what the new that that new bill >> it could be
» that they have to Allen County will have to that's something else we'll have to
discuss as well is Allen County is is going to establish a new tax on people
and that's something that we will have to ask them to also enforce for and
collect for us >> that's going to be coming up. So,
» okay. >> So, we'll want to discuss it. We
probably want to start the process sometime in late 26 so it can be done
what about 2029 20 >> Well, that's what I figured cuz I had a
lady in I had a lady in the office today cuz she asked about the splash pad, you
know, and I thank Skyler for all the stuff because I' i've read the stuff you
put out there. I appreciate that. [clears throat]
Uh but she she asked about uh some some things and I I said I did mention the
the reorganization. It can't happen next year because of the municipal elections.
So I the way I see this the uh timeline is in I would assume we could do a
referendum in May or you know the primary in May of 28
at the earliest or it could be on the November ballot because we would have to
do a referendum on it for the township city for the whole entity and then it
would take effect like you say January 20 1st of January 29 and then then the
township would be s system deceased to river so At
» least we would want to get a resolution between the township and the city that
» yes >> has agreed to late 26. And and I told
Terry and I was gone last week and I told Terry I would get get a hold of
like an Allen County Commissioner uh one of the commissioners that is in our our
district commissioner and also the I think Tom Harris is our um county
council person representing this area and uh see if we can't get together and
talk logistics wise because we looked like Terry and I said what happen and
Kevin and I have talked about what happens to the roads like I live on Gar
Creek who takes care of those. It's still maintained by at Sheridan, it's
still maintained by the county. >> Yeah, they made an interlocal agreement.
» Yeah, there's an interlocal agreement. Uh,
» and what they did at Sheridan, uh, if if you read the information, they created a
non what I call it non they call it a rural district.
» Yeah. >> Just a rural district
» in an urban district, you know. And uh, I think Kevin and I have talked having
two representatives, maybe north and south or east and west, whatever you
want to do. I don't you know what how you want to write it but yeah I think we
need to be proactive on that on this and because it is coming and we we as a
township I don't know I don't know Skyler did you do have you done the uh
or anybody looked at the scoring system that they the point system they have out
there >> I've looked at it
» yeah because we're right at the we're right at the you know because we don't
have a fire department >> I was curious where you thought you'd go
» well we don't have a fire department so that you know that's a point or whatever
I do less than whatever the township assistance
» applications were per year. Uh we have had no vacancies on our either advisory
board or trustes office in years. They're all
student running for I guess but anyway you know so we had no vacancies that
doesn't that doesn't hurt us but u >> well you you scored three out of four I
think. >> Yeah I think yeah cuz we did it that day
when you were there and >> zero zero to one you're going to have a
mandatory >> Yeah. Well, actually actually zero to
two is >> so I guess my question is what's the
next step? I mean, I I say I I I say I was gone last week, so I did not get a
hold of our commissioner or our council person, but just so get input from you
guys and see if you think we're going about this the wrong way or I know Kevin
and I have talked about, you know, you you you guys have an attorney. We don't
have the township does not have a, >> you know, we we've used the good graces
of, you know, people that live here who have kids that are attorneys, you know,
advises things. >> We can we can do that. We could probably
start with our attorneys then. >> So, I'll let you guys know. When I
talked to Joe's attorney, Kevin Bruns, he didn't seem very in favor of it.
Seemed like it was going to be a very hard process. It's going to be h I'm not
too sure what the process is that Jeff is talking about. From what Kevin had
told me that this is has to be uh a vote on a ballot. So,
» Jeff is saying that it has to be in a non-election year, but you can't have an
election and have it be on the ballot. So, I don't know. Yeah,
» not sure exactly how it goes. >> Well, 28 would be
» bronze did not >> 27 27.
» So, yeah, I don't know what I can't remember what the time frame was.
» So, Bruns didn't seem too hopeful about it at the time. Um, if you guys I mean
my attorneys uh um >> uh is is more proactive on things and my
my guy uh tends to uh hit things a little harder. Um, so, uh, but also you
guys see the bills. You guys see what one month I mean
» we worked for we we worked with that attorney for 2 years to try to get this
set up with Allen County. Nothing happened. I asked my guy about it. A
month later, we're sitting in front of the magistrates. I mean, my guy gets
stuff done, but you see the bills. >> So, if you guys want him to work on
this, this isn't a small task. He said it would take probably about on average
what $10,000 >> to do the merger. And we could probably
split that between the city and and the town.
» Well, this is just one one month right here for Carson LLP. This was $3,000
uh just to do the ordinance stuff. [snorts]
So, I doubt it's going to be $10,000. >> That's what the guy said on the he was
attorney. >> I think he's saying extra fees on top of
any lead lawyer fees you pay was my guess. Oh, he said all the the whole
fees, all the filing and all the what? He said this plan on spending $10,000.
In fact, he said I'm overshooting it. Uh but he say Sheridan did it for $9,000.
Yeah. So, >> but maybe before we pay a lawyer, we
just have somebody talk to them if we're serious about it. Well, what were the
steps we followed? >> I agree. Yeah,
» we could talk to Carson. They're a little more proactive. I'm fine with
that. Brun seemed to be okay to do it, but it's like, well, do you really want
to do it? That kind of thing. I am curious about the timing of it. I
thought I read online it had to be in a year where the municipal elections were
held because people are already going out to vote on
» Yeah, it could be. I I say I may have messed up.
» Mayor Kelsey and Jeff have both said that it had to be on an off year.
» So, >> maybe some things do and maybe the
» How would you do that? >> The vote would probably have to be
during obviously during the election, but
» yeah. Well, I think we'd start with the attorney and see if if they've got a a
protocol to do it. >> No, I mean, how if if we don't do it in
an election year, how are we going to vote on it?
» Well, yeah, >> right. I agree. I agree.
» So, I I I probably got the dates back mix back.
» The last comments I want to make on it are the biggest concerns I've heard
about it were, oh, taxes are going to go up for township people. And again with
what we saw in Sheridan, that's not necessarily the case because you can set
up two taxing districts. And then the other was the roads and the opportunity
to have an interlocal with Allen County to continue
» their maintenance of the roads. You know, if we didn't get that agreement,
then it would could be a tax, >> correct?
» On the citizens and that could cause them to go up, but it would be
independent >> of the other things going up. That would
be new for everybody. It sound like that could be worked out from the ones that
have done that already, >> right?
» As far as the roads, plus the garbage bill would go down with people. They
could use our contract. >> Those are out of the city could have
lower sewer rates and lower water rates if they're hooked on the water. So,
» because they've got a search charge right now.
» Yeah. >> For being out of city. And then
» the the last comment is, you know, the parks improvements that we want
potentially developing the new park, the new location for the park,
[clears throat] right? That would probably go easier
» if these >> were if it was one municipal
organization. >> Yeah, correct.
» And and the state is pushing this cuz these townships are from the early 1800s
when you had to have a school and every township and
» you know life was smaller was horse and buggy days.
» So can we get what happens if we don't do it?
» Well, I don't think they're going to force us now. But those that are
becoming dysfunctional like Cypio, they're going to mandatorily push them
into a merger. >> They would just merge with another
township. Correct. >> So nothing effectively would change
except for who's managing it boundaries. >> Yeah. They're not going to be able to
force Woodburn to merge with Maui Township. Now they may
» they could force >> Miland and Mame or
» I guess we could go north and go Springfield. You know, I guess we go
Cypio too as far as that goes. So they do connect. They do touch each other.
» I know. Yeah. >> I don't think that makes sense, but for
us, but or we could go Jackson. Go south and go Jackson. There's not much in
Jackson either. So, >> yeah. They're not going to force the
city. It's not It's not a force a city force thing. It's a good It's a
township. They want to be with the way of the like Terry said, the old the old
township model is run its course, so to speak. and uh the old horse and bugging
days. Uh and they want to make it more efficient and uh I think I just read the
other day, believe it or not, uh state employees are down what 3,000 people
since Brun took over because efficiencies and things like that.
» Yeah. I think you have to see what the longterm effect is and how long
something like that would take >> because I think that the other mergers,
the one that we had talked about before, Jeff, the first one you had brought to
me that I gave to Kevin, from what I understand is that most of the city was
already in the township, >> but this is not that way.
» Like 95% of city. >> So it was it was pretty close already.
So I don't know these other ones you guys are talking about with the size of
Yorkville. >> Well, Sheridan was a little closer. I
you know >> I think Yorkville is the one you
originally brought up. >> Yeah, Yorktown was the one Yorktown was
the one I originally and yeah that was happened years ago and I think Jeff Bell
and me also talked remember he he's been involved with all all the mergers so
far. That's basically his >> specialty. I won't say a specialy type
but that's really what he focuses on is that sort of stuff. So Sheridan was a
little more populationwise, right? >> Closer to what this would be.
» Can you check with your attorney? >> We can check with the attorney. Carson,
» I don't know. Should we do something more informal first?
» Informal or formal? >> Call
a Sheridan contact and just say, "Hey, what were the steps you followed and
how, [clears throat] you know, confirm how much they spent?"
» I can do that, too. Yeah. I mean, I can do that. Would you do that? Yeah. Oh,
yeah. I have one contact. I I don't know if it's uh from one of our
commissioners. There's the three commissioners. I don't know if it's
Turpin. I think Turpin is the one might be the one here.
» I think it is. Yeah. >> And then uh I think Tom I see I think
Tom Harris is the because he was originally in St. Joe Township on the
township uh board or trustee there and he's the Apple County council person
that be involved. So I can kind I say I was going to call them because but I say
I was gone last week. So >> Okay. Could you do that?
» Yeah. >> Then let us know then maybe we need
» Right. I just bring that up and you know >> at least have a counsel.
» Oh yeah. The more information we get informal information we get that will
help us. I think long term, like you say, Kevin, with the attorney stuff, we
have a ducks in a row, so to speak, that we can just lay this out and say,
here's, you know, here's the res, you know, we can here it is,
you know, it's not going to be attorney fees. So,
» right, I say I asked Kevin to come in and talk and share that with us. I
appreciate it. So, >> you're Kevin.
» You're Jeff. You're Jeff. >> Sorry. [laughter]
» I've had a long day for you, right? So
I'm sorry. [clears throat] Okay. All these Kevin Kevin Bruns Kevin
jobs. Sorry. >> Yeah. Kevin's on jobs.
» Okay. I think we're through the public comments. Do we have a
» motion to adjurnn? >> Yes. Seconded.
All improves.