[0:00] One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

[0:10] » Okay. Welcome everybody to our July 20th meeting. Council meeting. Oh,

[0:19] » roll call. >> Roll call. Council member Greyber

[0:24] absent. Council member Gens >> here.

[0:27] » Council member Ger >> here. Council member Sarah

[0:30] » here. >> Council member Hos

[0:32] » here. >> Mayor Kelsey is absent and I am present.

[0:36] » Present. Thank you. >> Anything you can report for the chief

[0:41] then? >> No sir. Just sitting in for him.

[0:43] » Sitting in and keeping guard. >> Okay.

[0:47] » How about superintendent? >> Again, you got an update. They're

[0:51] supposed to start working on I think pouring concrete tomorrow in Burnwood

[0:57] area. >> Mhm. Um, that's supposed to start on the

[0:59] 22nd, which is tomorrow. So, they're on schedule. Stay on schedule that start

[1:03] tomorrow. >> 22nd Wednesday.

[1:06] » Oh, Wednesday. Sorry. Wednesday. My bad. Wednesday. [laughter]

[1:09] » Supposed to rain tonight. >> So, yeah, they're going to start on

[1:11] that. I've seen the machine was in there today, too. So,

[1:14] » okay. >> And then I did move a couple of the

[1:16] sensor nodes. Dean see me moving them tonight. I can't There's a leak on Carl.

[1:21] I can't pinpoint it. So, I put more of my little nodes out through there.

[1:25] Hopefully, I can find out where it's at. Okay.

[1:30] » And then I did finish the water audit. So Kevin, I'll send that over to you as

[1:33] soon as I send it in. So >> how about on West Mine? All that

[1:38] easement and swale was kind of messed up.

[1:41] » That's all. We should get down there and get that. Yeah, I have not made it down

[1:44] there yet, but yeah. >> Okay. Scrape that then.

[1:46] » It's perfect timing. It's all nice and everything's dried and dried out. So

[1:49] yeah, >> and someone's put a new barn up there,

[1:51] too. So have more water shed issues. >> More more Yeah. low spots and high spots

[1:57] again. >> Yeah.

[1:58] » So, we might want to think about what to do with that here in the future

[2:02] as far as ordinances or or something. So,

[2:05] » we have a couple of them going up, but they're pretty good size.

[2:08] » Yeah. >> Looks like one bull rap is going to be

[2:10] pretty big, too. >> Yeah. And there's one next to it last

[2:12] year, too, that was put up. So, the water's got to go somewhere. And we're

[2:17] in poorly drained clay soil here. So anything else for the superintendent?

[2:25] Anybody? Okay. Thank you. Okay. Mr. Clerk,

[2:30] treasure previous minutes.

[2:34] » Anybody look at the minutes? >> I move to approve.

[2:37] » Second. You have a hand. >> You abstain?

[2:40] » Yep. >> Are you going to second?

[2:44] » You second, but I second. >> No, I was asking for a second.

[2:47] » Okay. >> Okay. All who approve say I raise your

[2:50] right hand. >> I

[2:52] » I >> oppose the same. So minutes are

[2:55] approved. Okay. Let's go to accounts payable

[3:02] accounts

[3:06] if you want to sign those warrants over $500 excluding any payroll items. Boy

[3:12] form systems for $557.70. Carson LLP for $2,940.

[3:19] Chemical services for $3,64.20. Christine Keenir for $2,500. Civic Plus

[3:26] for $453.15.

[3:30] CNI Fiber for $971.60.

[3:37] Uh Elon Financial Services for $55018. Force Technology for $2,591.85.

[3:46] Indiana Michigan Power for $3,31741.

[3:51] Uh Indiana Underground um that's Indiana811 for $55955.

[4:00] [snorts]

[4:03] Mike Tracy for $869.52.

[4:11] TNC concrete for $2,400.

[4:18] Wayne Asphalt for $89,42464.

[4:24] Wex Bank for $1,224.38.

[4:29] Wildman Uniforms for $693.98. WM Court for $16,35.58.

[4:37] and Woodburn Hardware for $1,29820.

[4:43] » You can see just added a couple of line items there together. So,

[4:46] » it does that. This is a summary. This is the report. So, this gives you

[4:50] everything. This is the summary of that. >> Okay.

[4:54] » I I need a reminder on some of these expenses. What they are exactly or what

[5:01] they were for. >> Yeah.

[5:02] » Um Carson L. >> That's for the attorney. That was for

[5:07] the services in June for getting the um ordinance stuff set up with the

[5:13] » okay [snorts] county court

[5:16] » and let me see here

[5:20] » what is this big one down here 89,000 where's that asphalt being put at

[5:26] » that is for the um CCMG project in Burnwood Court

[5:33] » that's for their their contract for the stone stone and tearing out the stone

[5:37] and >> and we got a grant that's covering

[5:40] » 80% of that. Yep. >> So, if you look if you go to the full

[5:43] report there, it's split up on their 8020 RE or our 20% and the 80% from the

[5:48] state. The state gives us the money, >> right? Okay. I just was want to be

[5:53] clear, you know, when you see that big number, you're going

[5:58] [clears throat] >> so actually what happens is is Wayne

[6:00] actually fills the engineer. The engineer looks over everything and then

[6:05] the engineer once they look over everything, confirm everything, then

[6:08] they send it to us and then we pay it. So I actually don't receive the invoices

[6:12] from Wayne Asphalt. We actually get them from the engineer.

[6:15] » Okay. Um Okay. Well, I think that was the only

[6:22] thing I was wondering about. >> Those are expensive.

[6:29] » Yeah. Okay. All right. Well, I move to approve. and a second.

[6:33] » Okay, we have a motion and a second. All who approve, raise your hand, right hand

[6:38] say I. >> Oppose the same. The motion passes.

[6:43] Uh I will give an update on that about the vi the uh ordinance with the court.

[6:49] We did me and Terry Brad uh met with our attorney and we met with the magistrates

[6:57] at Allen County Superior Court. We gave them the list of items that we

[7:02] want to enforce to be able to uh for the officers to be able to write tickets

[7:07] for. They are in full cooperation. They going to work with us to set that up so

[7:13] we can uh write tickets and they will be able to pay the fines at if there's a

[7:21] fine associated with the violation with the ordinance. they can go up there and

[7:25] they can pay it or they can attend their court date if they will would like to

[7:29] contest it and if there is no fine associated which there shouldn't be any

[7:34] um then they've attend the court and uh the judge makes up the the cost.

[7:41] [snorts] So that is moving forward. We have to get some of the ordinances in

[7:45] line. We have to update some of them to get them maybe to get the fines updated

[7:50] or certain sections fixed. that way we can um when they when Brad writes when

[7:55] the police write the tickets that they can cite the correct ordinances but it's

[8:00] moving in the right direction so >> so they can implement that now you know

[8:05] » pretty soon pretty soon >> we're working October September October

[8:08] » okay >> cuz everything got to be filed recorded

[8:11] » approved we're working towards it and so we'll have some amendments for

[8:17] ordinances coming up soon that we >> to get those all straightened out that

[8:21] way when We input them. We can actually enforce them.

[8:24] » Okay. >> So, yeah.

[8:26] » Okay. >> That is coming though.

[8:29] » Okay. >> Mayor's not here, so we'll bypass that

[8:32] report. >> Dean, anything you got?

[8:36] » Nothing. >> Okay.

[8:38] Vicki, >> uh, I had a question from um, um,

[8:44] a citizen here in town who was wondering why the [clears throat] flags are still

[8:47] up on 101 out here. What's that? Are they Can they [snorts]

[8:53] take them out? They said they've been there for months and months and months.

[8:56] » What flags? >> Oh, the locate. No, don't. No,

[9:00] » they can't take them out. [laughter]

[9:04] » Well, >> what if they've been run over by

[9:06] lawnmark? >> There'll be more to put in. [laughter]

[9:11] » So, when's that work going to be done? You know,

[9:14] » that $500 that you guys paid to UPS for the last 3 months, that's how many

[9:19] that's half the locate number that's came in. So,

[9:21] » you pay 99 cents a piece for those. >> They're 59 cents.

[9:26] » Yeah. 595. Yeah. >> Yeah. So, I mean that's telling how many

[9:28] are coming in. So, >> so will the citizen get charged and then

[9:32] the flag? >> It's illegal to remove those flags.

[9:36] » Illegal. >> Yes, it is illegal to remove those

[9:38] flags. >> What flags?

[9:39] » All locate. All locate flags. It is illegal to remove those flags. Yes.

[9:46] » What happened? >> I I understand. I understand people's

[9:49] frustration. >> I I'm frustrated because I have to go

[9:52] back out and put them back in. They get called back in. Every 18 days they call

[9:57] them back in. If my flags are gone, I got to go back out, put them back in.

[10:00] » I'm sorry. >> So, yeah. And they're literally the

[10:03] whole city has been located. >> Yeah. Every month the whole city gets

[10:07] located for the most part. So, it's not just me. The gas company's doing it. The

[10:11] fiber. >> Is that for metal link?

[10:12] » Metal link frontier. It's for all of them.

[10:15] » Okay. >> Everything that comes in. Yeah.

[10:17] » Yeah. And the more people that get installed with the more people those

[10:21] that was for the mainline fiber. Now once more people start getting

[10:24] installed, they're going to be calling in on each individual house to be able

[10:27] to put the drops in as well. >> Yeah.

[10:29] » So metal the metal link still is it or CI fiber or whatever it is. Yeah. They

[10:35] still have the main drag to do and park lane and 101 here to do and they're

[10:40] still over in addition over there. So they called in these last week again and

[10:44] the flags are pulled. They go back in. >> What are people supposed to do when

[10:49] they're mowing? >> Around them.

[10:51] » I get their frustration. >> Well, you want Well, here's the thing is

[10:54] that >> is that people want people want more

[10:57] internet. People want better internet. People want competition. You get mad at

[11:00] Comcast. Now you have before >> you were stronghold. can't go anywhere

[11:05] else. And now you have two more options to be able to go to.

[11:08] » So competition's good. It's a growing part of the city. I mean, there's

[11:12] » you mow around it. >> The big the biggest problem is if those

[11:15] locates aren't called in and those guys hit something.

[11:18] » Yeah. >> They're responsible for that.

[11:20] » Yeah. >> And if you hit a gas or something that's

[11:22] major, >> trust me, it's a nightmare when it these

[11:26] guys are paying thousands and thousands of dollars in fines and they get a it's

[11:30] a small gas service line. It cost me about $10,000.

[11:34] » You get to mow less. [laughter] >> I'm going to locate my whole yard.

[11:37] » Well, yeah. Then he goes around puts signs in you.

[11:39] » Well, [laughter] me I get my sign. I get people's frustrations and [laughter]

[11:46] » I'm just asking. >> They told me another month they'd be out

[11:48] here, but I'm not holding my breath. So, >> that's not going to be

[11:52] » So, we're talking September, October, November.

[11:55] » And And it's not it's not just them. It's because you had Frontier come in

[11:58] first >> and then you had them come in

[12:00] afterwards. So, there's two crews that came in that basically are doing the

[12:04] same thing in the same area. >> You know, if it's like right here, I'll

[12:08] pull it out, >> throw it over there,

[12:10] » that's that's for all the main, too. And every house that gets a drop put in,

[12:15] every house that gets a service line put in, cuz each house is an individual line

[12:18] that gets hooked up and those all have to get located in as well. So, every

[12:23] house that calls in for service and signs up will also be getting a locate.

[12:28] Okay. >> Be called in.

[12:29] » Okay. So if flags if the flags are put back

[12:34] then they do they should not be touching them.

[12:37] » Nope. >> They should not be touching them.

[12:39] Correct. >> Okay.

[12:40] » Even if they think the crews came through there and done their stuff,

[12:44] » leave them. Don't leave them. >> Really?

[12:46] » Yeah. >> Because it may not have been that crew

[12:48] that called in a different that locate on that property.

[12:51] » Could have been a different could have been two locates called in the same

[12:54] property. >> What caller?

[12:58] » What? >> A caller. Are you done?

[13:00] » I think your guys' streets pretty much done for the

[13:02] » Yeah, we're done. >> We're talking about 101.

[13:05] » We're still fighting with them. >> We're still fighting with them.

[13:07] » Yeah. 101's not done at all. 101's >> Yeah. Okay. Well,

[13:11] » I see why the flags were mowed over. Gone that just put down of last week.

[13:16] [clears throat] They're gone already. Reality of progress, right?

[13:20] » Anything else you got or >> looks like there's some improvements

[13:24] [clears throat] that's going on in those apartments. Uh Lynwood.

[13:27] » Yeah. did some painting or something. >> Well, they did Well, they did see that.

[13:31] I mean, it's all concrete in there, but they're also painting. It's

[13:34] » been months. >> Yeah. So, they're making some

[13:37] improvements, which is nice to see. >> Um I was just by there today. Um other

[13:43] than that, I'm good. >> Good. Skyler, I got a few things. First

[13:49] related to the internet conversation is there, you know, seeing that CNI fiber

[13:54] bill every month reminds me, do we have a timeline of when they'll be able to

[13:58] get service here? When Lakeland will have service here?

[14:01] » Not heard. >> I've not heard either.

[14:03] » Yeah. Yeah. I haven't heard for several months. So,

[14:06] » okay. [snorts] It looked like I mean, they have the box, they have the cabinet

[14:10] over there set up on the space. So, I'm assuming soon,

[14:16] but I we don't have a date in schedule. >> Okay. [snorts] Last session, we agreed

[14:23] to execute an agreement with Metal League pending their agreement to it.

[14:28] How did that end up? >> Uh yeah.

[14:31] » Yeah, he did email me back after uh after that meeting. I had emailed him

[14:36] and told him that you guys had agreed if they agree [sighs and gasps]

[14:41] and he [clears throat]

[14:46] I know it came down to it at the end. He said, "Okay, I want to look over it

[14:49] again." So >> So it's not finally out there though.

[14:52] » He did not agree to it. I did tell them I had to send them certified mail the uh

[14:57] termination letter that way it was official.

[15:02] Um they he he was very he was curious about the water tower and the design of

[15:08] the water tower to make sure that it would be a design that he would be able

[15:12] to put his equipment onto which is reasonable. He wants to know once the

[15:17] new one's up, can you put his stuff on it?

[15:19] » Um we had gotten a hold of the engineer. Engineer assured us it's going to be the

[15:23] same style so he would be able to do that. um but with no I told him that we

[15:28] didn't have any like plans or anything drawn up yet that it's still far enough

[15:32] out in the future that we don't [snorts] have that yet and but he assured me that

[15:36] the new tile was the same style and there'd be no issues accommodating the

[15:40] equipment and he said okay thanks for the feedback let me read the agree

[15:45] amendment again and get back to you that was Thursday July 9th but I did send

[15:50] last week I did send the terminate the termination letter certified in the mail

[15:55] know the clock is ticking on that. So, they have a year. It's not like it's

[16:00] » next week or anything, but lets them know we're serious about it.

[16:07] » All right. Thanks for that, Kevin. Uh then next on my list is a Lifewise

[16:12] update. We had Jake in here last uh last session. We tabled that conversation.

[16:21] » You want me to talk about or you want to talk? Yeah, you go ahead.

[16:25] Well, you know, that opened up and there was a couple of hang-ups. One is to put

[16:30] a bridge through the swale or through the water retention pond. They they

[16:34] talked to the principal of Woodland apparently.

[16:37] » Okay. >> Cool. And he said, "Oh yeah, go ahead."

[16:40] But nobody got the approval through the superintendent of the of the buildings,

[16:44] the East Hen. So when he found out about it, he kind of put the kibash on that.

[16:50] So that was an issue. The second issue is I asked him I said do you have a

[16:53] contract and they said oh yeah we got a contract and they found the contract.

[16:57] There's no signatures on it. >> Wow.

[17:00] » So >> contract with the city

[17:02] » with the city police. I mean the details were apparently in it but they there

[17:07] weren't signed. >> So now this is null and void. Huh?

[17:10] » In essence that's what's going to happen. So, um, then of course, you

[17:16] know, you got the outside influence putting their pressure on and stuff,

[17:19] contacting the East Talent Schools, contacting Kevin and trying to get

[17:23] reports and stuff. So, Lifewise decided to go ahead and just uh forego the

[17:29] thing, >> wash their hands.

[17:30] » Yeah. Or abort the whole contract, if I can use that term.

[17:33] » What about the slab of cement that >> they're going to pay to rip all that out

[17:36] and make it like it was? >> Oh, so

[17:39] » Wow. >> And some of those those are pods, little

[17:41] pillar pods. are about 3 ft deep things of concrete like that. So,

[17:47] » so I guess it's Nolan Boyd and they're going to go back to the church that they

[17:51] were in before, which is probably just as good. So,

[17:55] » okay. >> It's worth noting the city never funded

[17:58] this project. The city never put any money towards it

[18:02] » and they were not building on city property. The city was leasing

[18:07] Lifewise Academy the property for money. It was not a

[18:13] free lease and the city never funded the project. So

[18:19] » no public funds were ever [snorts] given to Linewise.

[18:23] » So just a lot of you know things that fell short. So like they're kind of

[18:27] embarrassed. So >> anyway, it's done and we can move on to

[18:31] better things. So >> Right. Right. Okay. Um,

[18:35] » I was was told not to let them back on property language decided do who's when

[18:40] they come in to remove stuff. >> Let them in for that.

[18:44] » I really need to get that porter down out there. The inspector didn't like

[18:46] that. >> Okay. [laughter]

[18:48] » Yeah. If they come in to remove stuff, you might ask them then.

[18:51] » Okay. >> Yeah.

[18:52] » Cuz the gate the gates always closed. I didn't know who was coming.

[18:54] » We have to get scheduled with you to get that stuff out of there. So,

[18:57] » yeah. >> Someone I I don't have any contact over

[19:01] Terry. I know we've been in contact with them. Would you call them and let them

[19:03] know to come get the portagon? >> Well, after this week, I'll be gone till

[19:07] August 11th. So, >> well, we can at least get the portage on

[19:10] out of there. >> Yeah.

[19:11] » Soon. One of you guys can let them in to do that and then we can they can

[19:15] schedule when you get back to get the concrete out.

[19:18] » I know. >> Is that all right?

[19:20] » Go back to school at 12. >> Yeah.

[19:22] » Okay. >> Don't come back on.

[19:25] » Is that Is that why? Let's have them get that little potty out of there cuz I'm

[19:30] sure it hasn't surfaced yet. It's going to be Adam's going to rip out the pods.

[19:35] So, >> okay.

[19:37] » Okay. Is that it or >> No, not yet. [laughter]

[19:40] » Not yet. >> Uh Homestead Place, my lovely community,

[19:45] had their first HOA meeting for a number of years.

[19:48] » Mhm. >> And a couple things came up that sounded

[19:52] like they might be city related. Uh people were talking about the MIJ flies

[19:57] which I have experienced. There's [clears throat] a large population of

[20:00] those >> again.

[20:02] » Uh yeah, always every year. >> I thought those were taken care of.

[20:07] » And we treated we treated our ponds already for them. So

[20:10] » okay, that was the question if there was anything the city needed to do on their

[20:16] properties for them. >> No, it's usually it's usually your guys

[20:19] are swell and pond. They're not causing the problem.

[20:22] » Yeah. [snorts] >> So, okay. And then the street lights

[20:25] came up. It was reported that three of the street lights are owned by the HOA

[20:32] and the rest are owned by the city. It was the first three, the original three

[20:37] that are owned by the HOA. And

[20:42] one of the lights that I was under the impression is owned by the city has a

[20:47] light out. So I felt it prudent to report that it was harvest and legacy. I

[20:53] don't think the city owns any of those lights in there.

[20:56] Those are all >> I'll follow up with our new officers and

[21:01] let them know >> they're listening.

[21:04] » Yeah. I don't I don't think any of them in there are are the city's lights.

[21:08] » Okay. So, nobody spoke to you about >> No. No. Yeah.

[21:12] » Um Dan brought it up several meetings back, a bunch of meetings back several

[21:18] months ago about that being theirs and what the other additions were doing. If

[21:24] we were taking those, could we take all them, too? To my knowledge, we don't own

[21:28] any of the lights in the additions because they're not city city street

[21:34] lights. Now, we might pay a bill on them for the electric. On that part, I don't

[21:37] know. Well, I think Dan's request is more about decorations, right? Putting

[21:42] decorations up out on the light poles. >> The light poles that are in those

[21:46] additions are not your guys' normal light poles are just small little bases

[21:50] that are in there that the developer puts in

[21:54] and then typically the association takes care of them if they get hit by cars and

[21:59] stuff because you guys don't you guys don't carry them around [snorts] and

[22:03] they're not your style style poles. The only light poles you guys own are

[22:08] the ones down Main Street. >> Yeah, that's right.

[22:10] » Everything else is AP, the [snorts] power companies. But to my

[22:14] knowledge, so not saying that's correct, but I'll follow up with my

[22:19] » communities officers and I'll have them reach out to clarify.

[22:24] Then I had a couple Facebook discussions the last couple weeks,

[22:30] some conversation about water rates. So, I tried to correct some misinformation

[22:35] that was being spread, pointed them to the city's website to our last uh

[22:40] adopted ordinances regarding the water and sewer rates so that everybody's

[22:46] aware of those. Some again uh comments and misinformation around water sourcing

[22:53] and quality. pointed them to the city websites and resources that are

[22:58] available for that and informed them about our recent public hearing and uh

[23:05] meeting discussion on the [snorts] preliminary engineering design uh from

[23:12] for the water works improvements >> including filtration and softening

[23:16] » including that. Yes, that came up specifically.

[23:19] » And Joe was down, we were downtown last week and talked to the commissioners

[23:25] about getting funding for some of that and using our tiff for some of that.

[23:30] » Yeah. >> Water tower and and repairing lines and

[23:34] getting a filtration system in. City does need a filtration system.

[23:39] » Yeah. >> No, we have a filtration. We need a soft

[23:42] system. >> Right.

[23:44] » We do have filtration. We don't have softing. Well, filtration is is sand

[23:48] filter. So, I mean, it doesn't remove magnesium and your calcium, which is

[23:54] isn't solution in the water. Won't remove that, but softening will.

[23:58] » They're looking at a reverse osmosis. >> Yeah, I'm not. Yeah, something along

[24:01] those lines. Yeah, >> but we have we already have a filter to

[24:04] remove iron from the water. So, the only only chemical we add is chlorine. So, we

[24:09] add nothing else to the water. >> Okay. Are we going to get a softener

[24:15] softening? in the phase one. >> It's it's in it's in that uh SRF loan

[24:21] we're going for engineering report. Yes, there'll be softing in the system. Yes.

[24:25] » The whole project's about 10 million. >> About 1.7's a filtration softening.

[24:30] » Right. >> So, we got to find some grants. We don't

[24:33] want to raise everybody's water bill for that.

[24:35] » Right. Right. >> Okay.

[24:38] » And the last Facebook conversation was around the splash pad that seems to come

[24:43] up every year when it gets hot. people wondering [cough and clears throat] why

[24:47] we had. So reiterated >> um that none of the donations ever went

[24:53] through the city or anything. That was through found out the Woodburn Community

[24:57] Association. >> I did a quick little search on who were

[25:02] the officers of that. Provided some names on Facebook if people want to hold

[25:06] them accountable. And so those contacts are there. Isn't [snorts] the It wasn't

[25:12] the trustee. >> These the park is owned by the township,

[25:17] but the donations went through the Woodburn Community Association.

[25:22] » Okay. Well, who was in charge of that? >> Uh

[25:27] I don't know if there's a problem with me naming her.

[25:31] It was >> I would if I could name

[25:35] it. Yeah. >> Okay. The last known officer was

[25:39] Jennifer Grunno as the president of that Woodburn committee.

[25:44] » Didn't we look into this though last year?

[25:46] » Well, she never showed up. She's supposed to come.

[25:48] » She was supposed to show up and she never did.

[25:49] » That's what I thought. >> You look into it every year.

[25:53] » But we got money. They got They have money parked in there. People probably

[25:56] do. >> We should be doing something with that

[25:58] money. So, how should one of us clean up the park?

[26:01] » You guys can't do anything with that money.

[26:02] » City can. [clears throat] >> It's not It's not the city's money at

[26:05] all. big part of the conversation. We don't have any responsibility with the

[26:09] money. If the citizens want something done with it, they need to contact the

[26:14] community association leaders and then they need to put pressure on the

[26:18] township to say, "Hey, we've got this money. Here's what we want to do with it

[26:22] and work something out." >> Is that a 501c3, Jeff?

[26:26] » Yes, >> it was. That was revoked.

[26:29] » Oh, it was. >> Yes. because they don't have any

[26:31] officers and they haven't filed a tax return.

[26:34] » At least 10 years. >> How many years ago?

[26:37] » 10 years ago. >> You said 10 years.

[26:39] » No, it has been that long ago. >> It hasn't been that long ago.

[26:41] » About six four to six years ago. >> Yeah, cuz Lori Shine and I

[26:45] » I believe 2021 was the last published tax return. [clears throat]

[26:50] » Yeah. >> So, should people just refer to this

[26:53] Jennifer then? >> Absolutely.

[26:55] » I think they ought to let >> accountability reach out to Jennifer.

[26:58] » Yeah. Well, it's important to know that this the city does not have that money.

[27:03] They do not have control of it. They don't have access to it. They don't

[27:06] know. We don't know the amount or where it's held. No one on this board

[27:11] » knows that information. >> The council, the mayor, none of us said

[27:16] no, you can't do it. We said we're not the ones responsible for whether it

[27:20] happens or not. >> Approval permission.

[27:25] » The only thing you can do. >> Yeah. We have no decision making where

[27:28] that money >> food

[27:31] » goes to where that money goes to. No one up here

[27:35] has control of it. Even if everybody in here wanted to say, "Okay, let's do a

[27:39] splash pad or let's let's give it to we have no power to do that,

[27:43] » right?" >> And since it was a 501c3, that's public

[27:46] information and give them her name, >> right?

[27:49] » So that's all we do. >> They're angels.

[27:53] » They both live out, >> right? And then uh the last thing I see

[27:56] Jeff is here. I had township city reorg uh as something I wanted to follow up

[28:00] on, but you can pin that >> I think.

[28:04] » Okay. Okay. Mayor's not here. We went through

[28:08] the members. Before we get to the public comments, we got a couple of special

[28:12] guests. Um Francis, any anything in your world there? [laughter]

[28:21] » No, I'll talk about it afterwards. I need to talk to Ryan about some stuff

[28:26] » just individually. >> Yeah.

[28:27] » It's nothing public for us. >> No, not really.

[28:30] » Okay, Jeff. >> Can I defer?

[28:34] » Want to defer? >> Yeah. I'll just let everybody else that

[28:36] way. >> Okay.

[28:37] » If you want, >> Mrs. Sherwood.

[28:39] » Oh, I'll just wait until after. >> Oh, come on.

[28:42] » Ladies first. >> First.

[28:44] » I think there's other people, aren't there?

[28:47] » You want to be last? You're saying? >> Sure. I usually am.

[28:50] » Okay. [clears throat] State your name. I'm just here to observe and comment

[28:56] should I need to. >> Anybody else want to speak?

[29:01] » Not me. >> I just I wanted to check who's taking

[29:03] down the elevator or or is somebody taking down the elevator?

[29:08] » Egg Plus sold the metal bins is what they've done. So a company and a

[29:14] farmer are taking them down >> and then the the rest of the property

[29:18] has been sold, the buildings and the whatever the land.

[29:23] » Yeah. So those are all going to be up the cement.

[29:28] » Yeah, the cement ones are >> okay.

[29:32] » They are going to be taken down. >> Not to my knowledge.

[29:36] » An Amish man bought it and it's going to be kind of a lumber transfer type

[29:41] station. Not really a lumber yard, but you know, warehouse storage. So, they

[29:46] want to use the side tracks. >> Last I knew, there was an accepted

[29:51] offer, but it's that was in January and has not been closed yet, but So,

[30:03] » okay. Who's going last? Our next call. Doesn't

[30:07] » matter. >> Go ahead. Letter go. Um, I guess we can

[30:11] start with the three minute time frame. I allowed it for the last couple

[30:14] meetings, >> but the three minute time frame has to

[30:17] be for every single person in the meeting or it's not legal. I think that

[30:20] was said to me the second meeting I was here that they were going to check into

[30:23] because it's not legal. >> I'll handle that. Go ahead.

[30:25] » Um, Vicki was encouraging me last meeting to

[30:29] accept an apology from somebody that I did not feel it was sincere because he

[30:34] still wasn't admitting to his words that he actually said. And I wanted to put it

[30:38] in context that she might understand. If I come in here tomorrow and there's a

[30:42] young lady working inside that office and I go in there and I stand above her

[30:45] and I start screaming and yelling, "I'm pretty sure the cops are going to show

[30:49] up to my house. I wonder if you would encourage her to just accept my apology

[30:53] once I got caught." I thought that was pretty egregious.

[30:58] I also wanted to say to the rest of the city, I think it's pretty sad when you

[31:03] guys try to hide things from the town and you table things and you hide

[31:08] discussions about property and buying things.

[31:12] Um, wondering when the alley beside me was

[31:16] going to be cleaned up from the construction and the debris.

[31:28] You have more to say. I'll respond when you're done.

[31:43] » Are you done? >> This is the talking stop probably.

[31:48] » What's that? >> Oh my god.

[31:50] » I stop talking. That usually insinuates. >> I was asking a question. Okay.

[31:55] To my knowledge, >> she's got her hand up over here.

[31:58] » Can I speak? >> No.

[32:01] » No problem. >> No. Yeah. Not yet. Yeah. Wait.

[32:04] » Okay. To >> my knowledge, Chief Parker said that the

[32:08] alley was cleaned up. There was one item yet to clean

[32:12] » and uh I assume that that's going to be followed through with. It is cleaner

[32:17] than what it was. So, anybody else have a comment on on that here?

[32:24] From my knowledge, it got cleaned up. >> It says no building or construction

[32:27] material and under that is literally labeled countertops or sinks and those

[32:32] are still in the um alley. >> Okay, I'll check with Chief Parker. He

[32:36] said he gave me a date that was supposed to be out of there. So, I will follow

[32:39] up. >> The last update we had was that it got

[32:42] cleaned completely out. It was completely taken care of.

[32:44] » He said there was one thing that they had that needed a skid loader or

[32:47] something. >> Nope.

[32:50] » Well, yeah, I know. I read that, too. Um, I went by there today. All I saw was

[32:56] some boards. I [snorts] didn't get out of the car to

[33:00] go study it, but that's all I saw. I saw where he had taken the the big

[33:07] » piece of whatever that is that Yeah. It's gone

[33:11] » and put in his own property. So, >> that's all I saw.

[33:17] » As far as the apology, I think the individual you're talking about sits to

[33:20] my right. He's made an apology. You didn't answer the phone. You left a

[33:23] voicemail. As far as I'm concerned, he made an attempt to do that. That's good.

[33:28] So, we all make mistakes, including yourself, including me. So,

[33:32] » yeah, but I'm just a citizen. I'm not being paid to be here.

[33:36] » Mr. uh President Prom for Miss Sherwood said she was done speaking, but she

[33:41] continues to speak. >> But he also said last meeting that as

[33:44] long as there's give and take that it would be okay.

[33:48] No one's really asking any questions, I guess. So,

[33:50] » no, we're addressing. Yeah. >> Um,

[33:53] anyway, I I I feel that he's made adequate restitution and at least from

[33:59] his effort and that's all we can ask for. So, anybody else have any comment

[34:05] on that on the council? >> No. So, I I agree.

[34:11] » Yeah. So,

[34:15] » and then lastly, the accusation that the city is hiding

[34:18] » Yeah. >> Okay. That had to do with the life-wise

[34:21] thing. I think it was very wise to table that. There was a legal challenge that

[34:25] was thrown upon the clerk treasure and the mayor's desk that day. So, we

[34:30] decided just to to table it, talk about it, and there's no our hands are open

[34:37] now. They we've abandoned the project and we're done with it. I think we were

[34:40] talking about when we were discussing the sale of the property up here at the

[34:44] VFW or whatnot >> that wasn't tabled. So

[34:48] » you said you couldn't talk about it in front of people who were present. I

[34:52] believe >> I don't think that was about that issue

[34:54] at all. No. >> So

[34:55] » that that's a that's an offer pending. So it hasn't closed. So

[35:00] » and it was stated there would be a public hearing about that transaction

[35:04] after all of the details were worked out. So nothing is being hidden.

[35:08] » So yeah. Yeah, >> there have it's required

[35:11] » require >> it's required to have public

[35:13] » one or two >> I think I'm not sure.

[35:16] » Okay, but at least one. So, [snorts]

[35:22] » okay. You had your hand up. >> I did.

[35:25] » What's your name? >> Joy Lothr.

[35:27] » Oh, okay. >> Hi.

[35:30] » Hi. Um, I am the neighbor that lives in the alley and

[35:36] » last city council meeting it was told that we need to move the shed and which

[35:40] we did. >> Mhm.

[35:42] » Before the meeting. >> Mhm.

[35:45] » And Chief Parker came over and didn't realize Well, we didn't move the shed

[35:48] before the meeting that night. We moved we made progress in the alley as was

[35:52] recommended to us. And when Chief Parker reported at last meeting that we did not

[35:57] do anything, I called him at that very moment and said, "I really need you to

[36:02] stop by our house tonight." >> Right.

[36:05] » So, he did with Officer Evans. They came and looked at the alley. He apologized

[36:11] because he did not get out of his car to look at the alley. That we made great

[36:15] progress. And he we also said that we would have the barn moved by the

[36:21] weekend. and he said he would not service us any papers because he made a

[36:24] mistake. It was his mistake that he would be here tonight, but

[36:28] understandably so, he's not. >> Mhm.

[36:30] » Um, but the barn has been moved to our property. The stuff in the alley is not

[36:36] a nuisance to anyone. And I have an email for him stating that if it needs

[36:40] to be seen. >> Okay.

[36:43] » He did correct himself. He did send an email after that meeting of stating why

[36:47] he left stated in the exact same thing saying that um that it was it was his

[36:52] mistake. He had made that assumption by driving by it, not actually going back

[36:56] there. Said he went back there and it was cleaned up.

[36:59] » Yes, he did.

[37:03] » Anything else? >> Clear.

[37:07] » Is there still something in the alley? >> Not that I'm aware of. There is still

[37:11] stuff in the alley, but it is he said that it was fine to be there and we if

[37:15] we want to move it, we can move it >> at our time, but the shed was priority

[37:20] one and that's what we needed to move. Most of 95% of everything is gone. There

[37:26] was any kind of obstruction. >> So, what's in the alley is not in the

[37:30] alley. It's on your property. >> Right.

[37:33] » Okay. >> I d I'll just speak quickly. I drove by

[37:38] today and it was a lot. Like I said, the or like she was saying, the wood's gone,

[37:42] everything's gone. There's like two or three items that are laying against the

[37:45] back of the barn. And I would believe if you would go back out and check with the

[37:49] line, they're since they're so flat up against the barn, they're under the

[37:54] overhang. I would assume it's it's going to be on our property anyways.

[37:57] » Oh, I wouldn't assume that. >> Okay. [laughter] Well, I'm just saying

[38:00] I'm just saying there's >> I have to reme-measure, but

[38:03] » I know it's close. I >> There's not much room. Yeah, there's not

[38:05] much room back there. Just just so you know that. I mean, if it's up against

[38:08] their barn laying flat, maybe it is. >> But

[38:10] » is the barn over the easement? Actually, >> the I would tell you the overrange

[38:14] probably right the top over probably really right on that easement line.

[38:18] » And we wouldn't do anything with it unless we wanted to go in there and do

[38:21] something. So, >> yeah. I don't think nothing none of the

[38:23] barn is on is over into the alley easement. Okay.

[38:27] » Yeah. >> Well, I'd like for due diligence just to

[38:30] have Ryan double check the measurements and make sure that it is in fact on

[38:34] Lothy's property. Okay.

[38:37] » Okay. >> State your name, please.

[38:40] » I'm Darlene Ko. >> Okay.

[38:42] » I built that barn. We had the permission. We had it all staked out,

[38:48] surveyed out, and it was on the correct property. And that alley has never been

[38:54] maintained. I've had that house for 40 years.

[38:58] » Mhm. >> Wow.

[38:59] » And that alley is just like it always has been.

[39:03] » Okay.

[39:07] I'm glad you came to clarify all that. >> And there's a tree at the end of the

[39:13] alley. >> Mhm.

[39:14] » On the other end, if you look down there,

[39:17] » cars can't even go through. >> There's a fence in the alley down the

[39:20] other end. >> Yeah, I saw that.

[39:24] » So why >> the big deal is about this end of the

[39:27] alley when you can't use it at the other end

[39:30] » where the alley stopped. There's no there's no there's no

[39:34] approach on the other end. It was taken it was taken out.

[39:37] » All right. >> Okay.

[39:38] » But that house that sits on the corner of Ash and Lynwood,

[39:44] their fence is out in about 3 ft out in the alley. It is

[39:49] » because you can tell it based off the other fences down through there. They're

[39:52] out past where they're supposed to be. They're in the alley.

[39:57] » Okay. >> But that's not where the complaint came

[39:59] in. They wanted to do other stuff moved. So, no one's hollered at that one down

[40:02] there,

[40:06] » but theoretically that fence should be moved. You have several of them that

[40:09] way. So, >> yeah.

[40:11] » So, don't open that can of wor right now.

[40:13] » I don't think any of this has to do with the city. The city does not have permits

[40:17] on that. The city does not issue the permits. They do not maintain it. They

[40:21] do not uh police [clears throat] that. the we police the ordinance that we have

[40:27] in place of junk being in the alley under the ordinance. Junk under the

[40:33] ordinance. [laughter] Uh if there's a violation of the

[40:37] ordinance, that's something that we can take care of.

[40:41] Variances, fences, where barns are built, that has nothing to do with the

[40:44] city. That has to do at a county level. So there's nothing anybody can do up

[40:50] here about that besides the same thing that every one of you can do as well is

[40:55] calling the county. >> Now I was just going to ask so that's

[40:57] what they need to do is call the county. >> Yep.

[41:00] » Okay. Okay.

[41:08] » Okay. Kevin,

[41:12] I'm sorry. >> That's okay.

[41:15] » They didn't really It's a good [clears throat] compliment.

[41:19] » That's compliment. >> Uh just an update to and I I I know I

[41:25] sent everybody the reorganization uh for Sheridan, Indiana. That was a

[41:31] that was a reorganization uh where their township merged into

[41:35] their city into the town of Sheridan. Uh Terry and I watched a ITA, it's from the

[41:42] Indiana Township Association uh webinar the other night, last week, not last

[41:46] week, the week before on mer. It had to do more with mergers on Senate Bill 270

[41:50] and deal more with on the merger aspect of townships merging, which is coming.

[41:55] Uh it's no surprise there. Uh I say I I told Terry Cypio's dead. Uh and they

[42:02] will be. That's okay. You know, there's nothing wrong with that because, you

[42:05] know, they're such a small township. they need to merge. But again, if you're

[42:09] looking at the Wami Township and City of Woodburn, that's called a

[42:12] reorganization. There wasn't a lot of information on reorganization per se in

[42:17] the video, but there was in the or in the Zoom meeting, but there was some

[42:21] stuff and I did ask a question. I then of course, you know, you think about

[42:24] those things after 10 minutes afterwards because I asked I say Terry was there.

[42:29] If a city and a township merges, you know, how easy or how because merging

[42:33] townships is going to be fairly easy, going be fair, fairly simple process.

[42:37] Townships or cities and townships the way Jeff Bellamy is the attorney of

[42:43] record. He's he's also I've dealt with him before, worked talked to him before

[42:47] with the East Central Fire and EMS. He was the attorney of record for that

[42:52] merger when we when Mami Township and everybody formed in New Haven. But

[42:56] anyway, so so Jeff is the attorney uh handling a lot of the merger stuff or uh

[43:02] in doing was the one during the webinar. uh he indicated well it could be very

[43:08] difficult but then again Harry and I were talking afterwards

[43:12] on our end we don't think it will be it would be hard because we don't have you

[43:16] know I'll pick on Muny Muny and Delaware County or even New Haven and Adams

[43:21] Township merging together or not Adams County whatever township Muny's in the

[43:26] um >> we don't have you guys as a city don't

[43:30] have the departments that Munie has you know planning services, permitting, you

[43:35] know, doing permitting processes. Uh I say obviously you don't have fire, we

[43:40] don't have a fire department anymore. Uh we don't have what were some of the

[43:43] other ones, Terry? There was there was a whole list of thumbs. We look at New

[43:46] Haven's organizational chart. We know we don't have what New Haven, you know, all

[43:49] the departments that New Haven has. So really

[43:51] » parks departments, the parks department. >> Yeah. Right now you have parks

[43:55] department, you know, that sort of thing. So there's not the amount of

[43:57] services that have to be because we don't have that. You don't have that.

[44:01] that's doesn't have to be all figured out and everything else. [laughter]

[44:04] » So, personally, you know, I I don't going come away from that. Again, I

[44:07] still think it's a a process that we need to be proactive on. Uh it's coming.

[44:12] We know it. Uh it's been, you know, it's been discussed

[44:17] for many years now in the state of Indiana doing way doing mergers and

[44:22] consolidations and things like that. Uh I think personally I I told Terry I

[44:27] think from the township side >> there's two funds that you guys have on

[44:32] your taxes that we don't have in the township side. One is the economic

[44:36] development and I forget what the other one was Terry. There's two two different

[44:39] funds and Kevin might know that looking at the the rates or whatever.

[44:43] » One of them differs and one doesn't. So >> one of those funds or tax rates differs.

[44:48] Well, we don't have the economic development one that you have on your,

[44:52] [clears throat] you know, for the city residents and there was another one that

[44:54] was a small amount. >> That that'll be going away though. But

[44:57] what the new that that new bill >> it could be

[45:00] » that they have to Allen County will have to that's something else we'll have to

[45:04] discuss as well is Allen County is is going to establish a new tax on people

[45:10] and that's something that we will have to ask them to also enforce for and

[45:15] collect for us >> that's going to be coming up. So,

[45:18] » okay. >> So, we'll want to discuss it. We

[45:22] probably want to start the process sometime in late 26 so it can be done

[45:27] what about 2029 20 >> Well, that's what I figured cuz I had a

[45:31] lady in I had a lady in the office today cuz she asked about the splash pad, you

[45:35] know, and I thank Skyler for all the stuff because I' i've read the stuff you

[45:38] put out there. I appreciate that. [clears throat]

[45:41] Uh but she she asked about uh some some things and I I said I did mention the

[45:46] the reorganization. It can't happen next year because of the municipal elections.

[45:52] So I the way I see this the uh timeline is in I would assume we could do a

[45:59] referendum in May or you know the primary in May of 28

[46:04] at the earliest or it could be on the November ballot because we would have to

[46:08] do a referendum on it for the township city for the whole entity and then it

[46:13] would take effect like you say January 20 1st of January 29 and then then the

[46:18] township would be s system deceased to river so At

[46:22] » least we would want to get a resolution between the township and the city that

[46:26] » yes >> has agreed to late 26. And and I told

[46:29] Terry and I was gone last week and I told Terry I would get get a hold of

[46:32] like an Allen County Commissioner uh one of the commissioners that is in our our

[46:37] district commissioner and also the I think Tom Harris is our um county

[46:41] council person representing this area and uh see if we can't get together and

[46:47] talk logistics wise because we looked like Terry and I said what happen and

[46:52] Kevin and I have talked about what happens to the roads like I live on Gar

[46:55] Creek who takes care of those. It's still maintained by at Sheridan, it's

[46:58] still maintained by the county. >> Yeah, they made an interlocal agreement.

[47:03] » Yeah, there's an interlocal agreement. Uh,

[47:06] » and what they did at Sheridan, uh, if if you read the information, they created a

[47:10] non what I call it non they call it a rural district.

[47:14] » Yeah. >> Just a rural district

[47:16] » in an urban district, you know. And uh, I think Kevin and I have talked having

[47:21] two representatives, maybe north and south or east and west, whatever you

[47:24] want to do. I don't you know what how you want to write it but yeah I think we

[47:27] need to be proactive on that on this and because it is coming and we we as a

[47:34] township I don't know I don't know Skyler did you do have you done the uh

[47:39] or anybody looked at the scoring system that they the point system they have out

[47:42] there >> I've looked at it

[47:44] » yeah because we're right at the we're right at the you know because we don't

[47:47] have a fire department >> I was curious where you thought you'd go

[47:49] » well we don't have a fire department so that you know that's a point or whatever

[47:53] I do less than whatever the township assistance

[47:58] » applications were per year. Uh we have had no vacancies on our either advisory

[48:03] board or trustes office in years. They're all

[48:08] student running for I guess but anyway you know so we had no vacancies that

[48:13] doesn't that doesn't hurt us but u >> well you you scored three out of four I

[48:17] think. >> Yeah I think yeah cuz we did it that day

[48:18] when you were there and >> zero zero to one you're going to have a

[48:21] mandatory >> Yeah. Well, actually actually zero to

[48:23] two is >> so I guess my question is what's the

[48:28] next step? I mean, I I say I I I say I was gone last week, so I did not get a

[48:33] hold of our commissioner or our council person, but just so get input from you

[48:38] guys and see if you think we're going about this the wrong way or I know Kevin

[48:42] and I have talked about, you know, you you you guys have an attorney. We don't

[48:46] have the township does not have a, >> you know, we we've used the good graces

[48:51] of, you know, people that live here who have kids that are attorneys, you know,

[48:55] advises things. >> We can we can do that. We could probably

[48:58] start with our attorneys then. >> So, I'll let you guys know. When I

[49:02] talked to Joe's attorney, Kevin Bruns, he didn't seem very in favor of it.

[49:07] Seemed like it was going to be a very hard process. It's going to be h I'm not

[49:10] too sure what the process is that Jeff is talking about. From what Kevin had

[49:14] told me that this is has to be uh a vote on a ballot. So,

[49:18] » Jeff is saying that it has to be in a non-election year, but you can't have an

[49:22] election and have it be on the ballot. So, I don't know. Yeah,

[49:25] » not sure exactly how it goes. >> Well, 28 would be

[49:28] » bronze did not >> 27 27.

[49:32] » So, yeah, I don't know what I can't remember what the time frame was.

[49:34] » So, Bruns didn't seem too hopeful about it at the time. Um, if you guys I mean

[49:40] my attorneys uh um >> uh is is more proactive on things and my

[49:49] my guy uh tends to uh hit things a little harder. Um, so, uh, but also you

[49:57] guys see the bills. You guys see what one month I mean

[50:00] » we worked for we we worked with that attorney for 2 years to try to get this

[50:05] set up with Allen County. Nothing happened. I asked my guy about it. A

[50:09] month later, we're sitting in front of the magistrates. I mean, my guy gets

[50:12] stuff done, but you see the bills. >> So, if you guys want him to work on

[50:16] this, this isn't a small task. He said it would take probably about on average

[50:20] what $10,000 >> to do the merger. And we could probably

[50:23] split that between the city and and the town.

[50:26] » Well, this is just one one month right here for Carson LLP. This was $3,000

[50:33] uh just to do the ordinance stuff. [snorts]

[50:36] So, I doubt it's going to be $10,000. >> That's what the guy said on the he was

[50:41] attorney. >> I think he's saying extra fees on top of

[50:43] any lead lawyer fees you pay was my guess. Oh, he said all the the whole

[50:47] fees, all the filing and all the what? He said this plan on spending $10,000.

[50:52] In fact, he said I'm overshooting it. Uh but he say Sheridan did it for $9,000.

[50:57] Yeah. So, >> but maybe before we pay a lawyer, we

[51:00] just have somebody talk to them if we're serious about it. Well, what were the

[51:04] steps we followed? >> I agree. Yeah,

[51:06] » we could talk to Carson. They're a little more proactive. I'm fine with

[51:09] that. Brun seemed to be okay to do it, but it's like, well, do you really want

[51:13] to do it? That kind of thing. I am curious about the timing of it. I

[51:16] thought I read online it had to be in a year where the municipal elections were

[51:21] held because people are already going out to vote on

[51:24] » Yeah, it could be. I I say I may have messed up.

[51:27] » Mayor Kelsey and Jeff have both said that it had to be on an off year.

[51:31] » So, >> maybe some things do and maybe the

[51:35] » How would you do that? >> The vote would probably have to be

[51:37] during obviously during the election, but

[51:39] » yeah. Well, I think we'd start with the attorney and see if if they've got a a

[51:43] protocol to do it. >> No, I mean, how if if we don't do it in

[51:47] an election year, how are we going to vote on it?

[51:49] » Well, yeah, >> right. I agree. I agree.

[51:52] » So, I I I probably got the dates back mix back.

[51:55] » The last comments I want to make on it are the biggest concerns I've heard

[51:59] about it were, oh, taxes are going to go up for township people. And again with

[52:04] what we saw in Sheridan, that's not necessarily the case because you can set

[52:07] up two taxing districts. And then the other was the roads and the opportunity

[52:13] to have an interlocal with Allen County to continue

[52:16] » their maintenance of the roads. You know, if we didn't get that agreement,

[52:20] then it would could be a tax, >> correct?

[52:23] » On the citizens and that could cause them to go up, but it would be

[52:26] independent >> of the other things going up. That would

[52:29] be new for everybody. It sound like that could be worked out from the ones that

[52:33] have done that already, >> right?

[52:34] » As far as the roads, plus the garbage bill would go down with people. They

[52:38] could use our contract. >> Those are out of the city could have

[52:41] lower sewer rates and lower water rates if they're hooked on the water. So,

[52:45] » because they've got a search charge right now.

[52:47] » Yeah. >> For being out of city. And then

[52:49] » the the last comment is, you know, the parks improvements that we want

[52:53] potentially developing the new park, the new location for the park,

[52:57] [clears throat] right? That would probably go easier

[53:00] » if these >> were if it was one municipal

[53:03] organization. >> Yeah, correct.

[53:05] » And and the state is pushing this cuz these townships are from the early 1800s

[53:09] when you had to have a school and every township and

[53:13] » you know life was smaller was horse and buggy days.

[53:15] » So can we get what happens if we don't do it?

[53:19] » Well, I don't think they're going to force us now. But those that are

[53:22] becoming dysfunctional like Cypio, they're going to mandatorily push them

[53:26] into a merger. >> They would just merge with another

[53:29] township. Correct. >> So nothing effectively would change

[53:33] except for who's managing it boundaries. >> Yeah. They're not going to be able to

[53:35] force Woodburn to merge with Maui Township. Now they may

[53:39] » they could force >> Miland and Mame or

[53:43] » I guess we could go north and go Springfield. You know, I guess we go

[53:46] Cypio too as far as that goes. So they do connect. They do touch each other.

[53:50] » I know. Yeah. >> I don't think that makes sense, but for

[53:54] us, but or we could go Jackson. Go south and go Jackson. There's not much in

[53:58] Jackson either. So, >> yeah. They're not going to force the

[54:02] city. It's not It's not a force a city force thing. It's a good It's a

[54:06] township. They want to be with the way of the like Terry said, the old the old

[54:10] township model is run its course, so to speak. and uh the old horse and bugging

[54:15] days. Uh and they want to make it more efficient and uh I think I just read the

[54:22] other day, believe it or not, uh state employees are down what 3,000 people

[54:26] since Brun took over because efficiencies and things like that.

[54:31] » Yeah. I think you have to see what the longterm effect is and how long

[54:35] something like that would take >> because I think that the other mergers,

[54:39] the one that we had talked about before, Jeff, the first one you had brought to

[54:43] me that I gave to Kevin, from what I understand is that most of the city was

[54:48] already in the township, >> but this is not that way.

[54:53] » Like 95% of city. >> So it was it was pretty close already.

[54:57] So I don't know these other ones you guys are talking about with the size of

[55:02] Yorkville. >> Well, Sheridan was a little closer. I

[55:04] you know >> I think Yorkville is the one you

[55:05] originally brought up. >> Yeah, Yorktown was the one Yorktown was

[55:08] the one I originally and yeah that was happened years ago and I think Jeff Bell

[55:12] and me also talked remember he he's been involved with all all the mergers so

[55:16] far. That's basically his >> specialty. I won't say a specialy type

[55:20] but that's really what he focuses on is that sort of stuff. So Sheridan was a

[55:24] little more populationwise, right? >> Closer to what this would be.

[55:30] » Can you check with your attorney? >> We can check with the attorney. Carson,

[55:34] » I don't know. Should we do something more informal first?

[55:38] » Informal or formal? >> Call

[55:40] a Sheridan contact and just say, "Hey, what were the steps you followed and

[55:44] how, [clears throat] you know, confirm how much they spent?"

[55:46] » I can do that, too. Yeah. I mean, I can do that. Would you do that? Yeah. Oh,

[55:48] yeah. I have one contact. I I don't know if it's uh from one of our

[55:52] commissioners. There's the three commissioners. I don't know if it's

[55:55] Turpin. I think Turpin is the one might be the one here.

[55:59] » I think it is. Yeah. >> And then uh I think Tom I see I think

[56:02] Tom Harris is the because he was originally in St. Joe Township on the

[56:07] township uh board or trustee there and he's the Apple County council person

[56:13] that be involved. So I can kind I say I was going to call them because but I say

[56:19] I was gone last week. So >> Okay. Could you do that?

[56:22] » Yeah. >> Then let us know then maybe we need

[56:24] » Right. I just bring that up and you know >> at least have a counsel.

[56:27] » Oh yeah. The more information we get informal information we get that will

[56:30] help us. I think long term, like you say, Kevin, with the attorney stuff, we

[56:34] have a ducks in a row, so to speak, that we can just lay this out and say,

[56:38] here's, you know, here's the res, you know, we can here it is,

[56:43] you know, it's not going to be attorney fees. So,

[56:48] » right, I say I asked Kevin to come in and talk and share that with us. I

[56:52] appreciate it. So, >> you're Kevin.

[56:55] » You're Jeff. You're Jeff. >> Sorry. [laughter]

[56:58] » I've had a long day for you, right? So

[57:02] I'm sorry. [clears throat] Okay. All these Kevin Kevin Bruns Kevin

[57:08] jobs. Sorry. >> Yeah. Kevin's on jobs.

[57:12] » Okay. I think we're through the public comments. Do we have a

[57:16] » motion to adjurnn? >> Yes. Seconded.

[57:20] All improves.

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