[0:09] Now please,
will you stand for the pledge?
[0:15] » I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the
[0:20] republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, [snorts] with
[0:25] liberty and justice for all.
[0:35] » Okay, Missy, you want to do roll call?
Tanya?
[0:39] » Here.
>> Ryan?
[0:40] » Here.
>> Libby?
[0:43] Brits?
John?
[0:44] » Here.
>> And we have a quorum.
[0:48] » I don't know if you picked up Libby, I
think she's online.
[0:51] » Oh, Libby, are you here, Libby?
[0:55] » You can't hear.
>> Thank you, Libby.
[0:57] » Are you you're muted, dear.
[1:01] » Ah, there we go. Now I'm here.
>> Okay.
[1:07] All right. Um, we're going to make a
change on the agenda to to move uh
[1:12] uh new business H up to A in new
business. So we'll look for a motion to
[1:17] approve those changes.
>> I'll make a motion to
[1:21] move
new business H up to new business A.
[1:27] » I'll second.
>> All in favor?
[1:29] I.
[1:33] And looking for a motion to approve
meeting minutes.
[1:40] » Make a motion to approve the minutes
from August 3rd, 2026.
[1:44] » I'll second.
>> All in favor?
[1:47] » I.
[1:50] » And
You go ahead.
[1:55] The executive session.
>> Yeah, the we had an executive session
[1:58] and only what was discussed
Only only what was posted was discussed.
[2:04] » Okay.
[2:06] Okay.
First up, we have old business, which is
[2:11] um
the council to consider the second
[2:13] reading of ordinance 2026 8A
establishing the residential rental
[2:18] registration.
Um
[2:22] » Do you want me to start off?
>> Yes, if you would, please.
[2:24] » So, as we've been discussing for quite
some time now and at the last meeting on
[2:31] first reading, you have before you um
both a clean copy for signature and a
[2:39] redline copy showing um
the changes that have been made
[2:45] in the signature copy from the
introduced version.
[2:50] There was a mistake at the last one that
some of the changes that I was
[2:53] explaining to the council
um that we were making, the majority of
[2:57] which were changes that we arrived at
with uh working with the attorney for
[3:03] the Indiana Apartment Association.
That copy didn't get printed for you, so
[3:08] those changes are in there now. All all
of the those pieces. So, we discussed a
[3:13] lot of those changes. A lot of it was
clarification just to make sure that it
[3:16] was clear with what's allowed under the
law not only in how
[3:22] um multifamily rental units are treated,
also making adjustments to if you have
[3:29] um
you know, a a multifamily or rental unit
[3:32] that has a an LLC with multiple owners
listing one owner, still having to list
[3:38] the, you know, a human being and an
actual address, but
[3:44] making it more workable uh for those
type of situations, also clarifying
[3:50] difference between registration and
permit um
[3:55] and
the changes that we made as discussed in
[3:59] the public meeting with the interested
parties about providing a grace period
[4:03] or a cure period. That was in the last
months and this as well. 30-day grace
[4:07] period if um the inspector comes out and
finds something
[4:11] issues a notice that the property owner
would have 30 days to bring the property
[4:15] into compliance before
a violation with any sort of penalty
[4:20] would attach. Um and then one other item
to just draw your attention to that we
[4:27] will need to if you choose to move
forward and adopt this tonight on the
[4:31] third page of the signature copy under
157
[4:36] .04 registration required
and the first section there A
[4:42] when we had drafted this um it was you
know all rental you know all existing
[4:48] rental units shall be registered with
the town between August 1st, 2026 and
[4:52] November 1st, 2026. We're beyond August
1st, so
[4:57] perhaps change that. My suggestion would
be if you move forward and adopt it
[5:01] tonight, September 1st and then December
31st, you know, get it all done before
[5:06] the end of the year or
however you'd like to discuss, but that
[5:09] is one uh change that we would need to
add to this.
[5:18] Similarly, if you wanted to in 157.06
we had a $5 registration fee that was
[5:25] waived until November 1st, 2026. If you
wanted to move that to
[5:30] whatever that second date um that you
picked in
[5:34] 15704 to to make that consistent, you
could do that as well or you could leave
[5:38] it at
the registration fee is waived until
[5:42] November 1st.
[5:50] » So, if we approve this, will we sign
this tonight then?
[5:54] » Uh yes.
>> Okay, just based on the changes that we
[5:57] made.
>> I would just clean up that language and
[5:58] add that.
[6:02] » [clears throat]
>> So, Jerry, what would be a a good
[6:04] timeline then to be able to get the
uh I guess the registration form
[6:11] drawn up?
>> Do you want to make it till December
[6:14] 31st? You want to go till the end of the
year?
[6:18] » Would September 1st give you enough time
then to draw up the
[6:21] documentation?
>> Okay.
[6:33] » So, in 157.04, the proposal would be to
change
[6:38] registration between September 1st and
December 31st would be the deadline.
[6:46] Also, in that that same
subparagraph 157.04a,
[6:51] we had a date of July 1, 2026.
Um
[6:56] I I think we just move that to
the adoption upon the adoption of the
[7:01] ordinance just to get rid of that date.
There's also a July 1 date in 157.08
[7:07] that we could do the same thing. Instead
of saying as of July 1, 2026, just say
[7:11] as of adoption of the ordinance.
[7:22] » Any other questions for Alex?
[7:27] Do we have any other public questions or
comments regarding the
[7:34] Monett ball?
[7:44] » In my mind at least, this is a new
release
[7:48] with a
mark up.
[7:51] Or has this mark up been around a while?
It's new.
[7:56] A recent
>> The council has seen this mark up.
[7:59] » Yes.
>> Yeah.
[8:00] » And how long have you guys had
benefit of it?
[8:04] » They've seen the
>> You guys have had ample time to see it.
[8:08] » Well, that's what the public meeting is
for.
[8:10] You're you're right.
>> You've already
[8:13] You've already told me more than I than
I can consume and give an opinion about.
[8:18] » Well, everything that I've mentioned
tonight I actually went through at the
[8:22] last meeting as well.
>> Um so that
[8:27] » So all of these changes were discussed
as proposed changes as proposed, some of
[8:31] them by the Indiana Apartment
Association and their attorney, and then
[8:35] some from the public meeting that you
participated in before the first
[8:40] reading.
>> Is is there an unmarked iteration of
[8:43] this
available right now?
[8:46] » You have it in your email box. I emailed
it to you about 3:00 this afternoon.
[8:50] » through it. I had didn't have time to
digest it at all, but what I have is
[8:55] this minus the marking.
>> I don't know what marking I mean what
[9:00] we're talking about right now in the
meeting. Okay, changing those dates
[9:03] » what I picked up here.
>> Yeah. Correct.
[9:06] » Okay.
>> That's what they're all like.
[9:08] » What I got in my email at 4:00 was
this reduced to no marks. It it the
[9:16] clean version.
>> There were two documents.
[9:19] » Mhm.
>> Okay.
[9:21] » There's a clean version.
>> I just I must open them I must have
[9:23] opened the finished one then.
I didn't have time to
[9:26] » And what and what you'll see I'll tell
you in the redline version that you got
[9:30] in your email, instead of
having these dates that we're talking
[9:34] about, I had actually inserted blanks.
>> Okay, so
[9:38] uh
>> But that's not a substantive difference.
[9:41] » Well, what I would ask for is is that we
get some time to where we can digest
[9:45] this.
Because this is like I said, you were
[9:49] kind enough to get one to me this
afternoon sometime, but I
[9:53] wasn't able to look more than just a
look at it.
[9:57] And I don't know anybody else here that
has the benefit of this for any length
[10:01] of time.
>> No.
[10:02] » To say to say what
what your feelings are about it, their
[10:07] feelings are about it.
Then that that almost makes this a
[10:11] performance vote.
>> Well, I would disagree because after the
[10:15] last meeting, I sent out another redline
copy that had these same changes in it.
[10:19] » And it's basically everything we
discussed at the meeting that we had.
[10:22] » Yeah, there's there's no major
differences from the meeting that you
[10:25] were at.
>> The only difference is tonight
[10:26] » Not major.
>> Changing the time.
[10:28] » make a difference to that
at all.
[10:32] Alex sent me both,
and I just saw I just saw them one.
[10:36] He sent me both this afternoon.
I did not have a chance to even look at
[10:40] it. I wonder how many people were on a
thread with Alex this afternoon
[10:46] and had the benefit of looking at it.
That's all I'm suggesting is
[10:50] that we table this for now and try to
figure out what all the changes mean.
[10:56] » Well, the thread that I used was
responding to your email, so it was a
[10:59] thread you created. So, that's how many
people were on it.
[11:03] » But at the point in time
and the timing, and I'm not the only
[11:08] one. I don't know I don't
>> You're all on it. You're all on it.
[11:11] Everybody that was at that meeting is on
it.
[11:14] » Have any of you made up your minds
whether you like it or not?
[11:16] » Yes.
>> You have?
[11:18] » Yes.
[11:23] » Well, then that makes the vote
um
[11:25] complete.
I don't
[11:28] I was hoping that you'd be open to
hearing something, but I don't want to
[11:32] probably I sent you all an email with
what my thoughts were and everything.
[11:37] Okay.
Okay.
[11:39] I don't need to repeat them in fact you
and I people can
[11:41] » Well, and as you know, we don't
deliberate over email, but I told you
[11:44] that I as the lawyer disagreed with your
position, but that's what your time is.
[11:49] » And I did look up I did look at some of
them, Bob. I read them.
[11:52] But I I did read some of the references
that you made.
[11:56] » Yes.
>> And I didn't see anything that that
[11:59] contradicted what we said.
>> direct patient were probably erroneous.
[12:05] That's that's what I'm concerned about.
So, I'm going to go to the library and
[12:08] read the actual law
because there are there are good minds
[12:15] that
that say that uh some of the listings
[12:20] that I sent you today
may be erroneous. And if they are, I'm
[12:24] going to know.
[12:27] I mean
I don't like following somebody who's
[12:31] incorrect on major scale if you'll
notice
[12:35] what we saw. I just say I know what I'm
I'm open to having the AI I use to be
[12:43] completely incorrect.
>> So, you didn't read the things that you
[12:46] asked us to read. Is that what you're
saying?
[12:49] » No.
>> You you didn't
[12:52] » the
the law all laws are copyrighted and
[12:56] they're not allowed to be printed and
photo because they got to use And so,
[13:01] excerpts have to be filtered when they
come through a third party, but they're
[13:05] not at the library to read the whole
thing.
[13:08] I haven't been there yet, so
Yeah.
[13:11] But if you guys have made up your minds,
that's where it is. I
[13:15] You know what I mean? But I I would like
to be told where I'm wrong.
[13:20] And if you look at the points with quite
a few of them, they were all mad. And I
[13:25] I want to I don't want to state that.
I want to know what the real thing is
[13:29] and uh
and go from there. Then I'll be your
[13:32] fan.
You know, or a fan of this.
[13:36] Okay?
Okay, thank you all.
[13:38] » Thanks, Bob.
[13:41] Anybody else?
[13:55] » Look down here. 60 years
I've had
[13:59] I've acquired a lot of property over the
years because I was in that line of
[14:04] work, construction.
And I'm going to tell you people
[14:08] something.
We have a I have a lot of people that
[14:13] rent off me
that are over 60 years old.
[14:17] They have lost their homes.
You all make good income, every one of
[14:22] you.
These people have lost their homes
[14:26] because of tax rate. You know, my tax is
doubled in the last 5 years.
[14:32] We take good care of our people. We
don't have any problems.
[14:37] We have helped people.
And you know what? When I lay my head on
[14:41] my pillow at night, I can live with
myself. Already this year alone
[14:47] I you know, I'm not in it to get rich. I
don't take anything out of this world
[14:51] with me.
Already we have roofed a lady's house
[14:56] because her husband died a few years ago
and he won't have his retirement. See,
[15:00] we don't live in this world down here.
We're up here where we've all got good
[15:04] jobs. And you forget there's little
people in this world.
[15:08] Another guy
that we helped this year, this is just
[15:11] this year.
Last 4 months.
[15:15] He was down on his luck. We let him live
in our apartment for 2 months
[15:20] and didn't charge him a dying or
anything. You know what happened?
[15:26] He got his self-confidence back. He now
has a nice job up here on Main Street,
[15:31] and he thanks us all the time.
So, that is the other side of the rental
[15:36] business. It's not all profit. And And
we're all You know, and I don't live
[15:42] high. I live in a simple little house,
and the rest of it I give away to help
[15:46] people. And that's where I'm coming
from, and you all And they good money,
[15:51] you live off of our tax money, a lot of
you. And that's where we're at.
[15:56] So,
that's what I got to say about this.
[15:59] It's a whole different story than what
you're trying to put on us now.
[16:06] » Okay.
[16:10] » We weren't here for the first meeting,
so we're not going to give everything.
[16:13] So, you'll have to pardon me if I do,
but
[16:16] Jeff Brown.
But, I would say
[16:20] one, I don't know the real benefit in
this. You guys have recent last week.
[16:24] But, we've been here for 125 years in
this town since we work great without
[16:27] this new building. This isn't a thing.
This isn't an inspection thing.
[16:31] Uh we've never had to pay $5 for all the
rentals.
[16:35] All of that, but as he just said,
it's all going to still back on him.
[16:42] If you find us for that property there,
still this building needs to be
[16:45] adjusted. It's going to be up beyond
$500. That person is not going to get
[16:48] raised if you know you'll be successful.
But, the rentals, the other rentals,
[16:52] everybody's going to
go up to adjust this situation.
[16:56] Like he said, most of us here have
decent incomes,
[17:00] but we do need to consider those of our
neighbors who are just barely getting
[17:03] by.
So, I don't know what you need to do to
[17:06] kind of adjust this thing. I guess you
got to either railroad out of town or
[17:09] get rid of it or something like that or
whatever.
[17:12] But, just think twice before you jump
because, like he said, we try to be to
[17:17] the renters, try to make a decent income
ourselves, but you also know there's a
[17:21] lot of people that are really
struggling. And
[17:24] I I think you just have to think about
it. It's going to just fall back on the
[17:27] renters.
It always does, unfortunately, poor poor
[17:30] folks.
And and that's not good. So, thanks
[17:33] twice for your job. It's nice to be able
to have a hand in things. Sometimes
[17:37] sometimes it's not good for people to
have a hand in having a situation. We've
[17:41] gone I see 1865 there. We're at this
point we say the four blocks this has
[17:45] been going pretty good out here. It's
like a good nice town to me. You sure
[17:48] you want to jump off this bridge?
Anyhow, that's all I have to say.
[17:52] » I want to say thank you to both of you
for taking care of people. I mean,
[17:55] that's a lot of people don't do that.
So, that's that's a good thing. And
[17:59] we're not trying to put an undue burden
on property owners. And and it doesn't
[18:04] cost you a dime to register the
properties if you do them before the end
[18:07] of the year. And we're going to ask you
to do it one time. The only time there's
[18:10] ever going to be a problem is if you
don't take care of your property. And we
[18:13] all know that you guys do. So, we're not
here to attack you for that. We're
[18:18] trying to keep away the ones that don't.
This is our way of trying to and it's a
[18:23] problem. I know that a lot of you might
not know that, but it is a problem. And
[18:28] Jerry has often not been able to get a
hold of people. People are in bad
[18:31] situations because you can't get a hold
of a property owner.
[18:35] Yeah. Yeah, and he will and he will
continue to do that. And there's no
[18:38] reason for us to go in your properties
or do anything unless somebody has
[18:42] complained and obviously some people
complain about things that really just
[18:45] don't matter and they're not
significant, but he has to address them
[18:48] cuz that's part of his job. But he'll
contact you guys first like he always
[18:51] does. Our problem is is that we don't
have information to contact those
[18:56] people. There's so many of them that he
can't do that. Then he's knocking on the
[19:00] door with the tenants. Then it becomes a
whole different situation, you know,
[19:04] because we can't get a hold of a
property owner. But
[19:07] And and that really does exclude a lot
of our local people. So, but we can't
[19:11] just you can't exclude people. We have
to include everybody in this. But,
[19:15] you'll have the opportunity, like I
said, to register these things at no
[19:18] cost to you. There'll be no burden on
you. Nothing will really change for you,
[19:22] as long as you continue to take care of
your property. And And obviously, you
[19:26] guys do. So, nobody's trying to to
change that for you. So, I just want you
[19:30] to know that that's not our intention.
[19:34] Yeah.
[19:39] » Thank you, ma'am.
[19:47] » No, not only if you get rid of the
property. Only if you sell it. You see,
[19:50] same owner same owner state, you never
have to do it again. Yeah.
[19:54] Yeah.
Ma'am.
[19:57] Could please come up here, cuz they
can't hear you online if you don't come
[20:00] up here.
>> [laughter]
[20:02] » Sorry.
[20:08] » I don't know. I haven't spoken with any
landlord, property owners, or anybody
[20:14] who is objecting to a registration
program.
[20:18] You people will have a need that you
see. You're doing your job. We're doing
[20:23] our job.
I don't know of one. Haven't spoken with
[20:27] one. Maybe there is one. There's nothing
wrong at all with a registration and
[20:32] inspection program. Let's have one.
The problem is the permit.
[20:39] If you if you
morph the language, which appears to
[20:44] have happened, from uh
a registration, and now it becomes a
[20:48] permit, and I haven't read all the
markings on it, but if it becomes a
[20:53] permit, then it becomes control that I
don't believe is uh justified, and I
[20:59] don't believe it is legal
that you can take us and suspend us for
[21:05] one reason or another. Might not even be
our own.
[21:09] So, if you want to have if you want to
have a registration and inspection
[21:14] program, I'll head it up.
[21:18] But, not for me, though.
[21:22] Thank you.
>> Thanks, Bob.
[21:25] Anybody else want to speak on it? Jay,
come on up.
[21:36] » My name's Julius Howard Jr.
Um
[21:39] I'm the inspections. Say they come in
there, you know, obviously a lot of
[21:43] these rentals are old. They're old.
And there's stuff that's probably not up
[21:48] to code, but I mean, is that
grandfathered in?
[21:52] You know, you come in there and say,
"Okay, this has got a
[21:56] 100 amp service, and it needs a 200 or
something." I mean, is that something
[22:00] when they come in there to inspect it,
they can just say, "Well, okay, you got
[22:03] to, you know, do a $10,000
upgrade on this, and a $5,000 upgrade."
[22:08] And And like Bob said, I mean,
I try to keep my rent cheap.
[22:13] And my tenants all stay. I mean, I've
had the same people for years. They
[22:17] don't They're not leaving. I keep it
cheap, you know, I mean, all right,
[22:20] yeah, you got to put new carpet in,
paint, and spend $5,000, and then you
[22:24] might get somebody that ain't worth a
crap. Then, you know, they move in, and
[22:28] you got to throw them out a month later.
I mean, is that something that's going
[22:32] to be? Or when they come in for the
inspection, what is that going to
[22:34] » Jerry, you want to answer that? Come up
here and answer that for me, William.
[22:39] » If you don't understand, please gesture
[clears throat] you do.
[22:43] This has never been an issue, all right?
Now, if you have bad renter,
[22:48] you know, I've had rental properties in
the past. When I did,
[22:52] get a bad renter, tear the place up, you
probably had it. Everybody that has
[22:55] rental properties has.
Destroyed, like you brought up your
[22:59] furnace.
Somebody calls and says, "I don't have
[23:02] any heat." Children are dying, you know,
they come in and take a look at it.
[23:07] I'm not going to tell you whether
or not we're going to burn it.
[23:11] You can't hit a 60-year-old furnace and
have to burn
[23:14] it. That's just the way it goes. We
could agree.
[23:18] If you're asking me if I'm going to go
in there and look for problems, no.
[23:23] I'm going to address the problem I'm
talking about.
[23:27] » In most cases, he's going to address
that with you first before he ever goes
[23:30] out there, you know.
[23:34] Right.
>> Is that Is that between service
[23:38] » Yeah, yeah. I mean, I just thought, you
know, like I said, I mean, there's some
[23:41] a lot of older units and
I mean, I could cost somebody 50,000
[23:46] like that just snap your fingers and you
can't absorb that. I mean, like you say,
[23:51] he said about the taxes. It's like
crazy.
[23:53] » It's like saying this is This isn't an
actual
[23:56] gas or taxation issue that we've taken.
That's why I'm working with you, though.
[24:02] » Yeah.
>> It's like times that
[24:04] some of these are owned by out-of-town
corporations.
[24:09] Give you a post office box out in Texas
and they're and they'll phone numbers. I
[24:13] have no way to contact them.
I've spent hours and hours talking with
[24:16] them. It's like that.
It's like cases like that.
[24:20] I mean, I could name all these serial
number appeals.
[24:23] You know, and so you guys I've talked
to, you I haven't talked to. I don't
[24:27] view problems with them.
>> Okay.
[24:31] That would Thank you.
>> I I have respect for you guys that that
[24:34] are reasonable with your rent because we
you know, we've always been known for
[24:37] that here in town. That's always been
something that we've
[24:41] It is. I know.
[24:45] » It's crazy when I pay taxes. It's
>> I know. Yeah.
[24:49] » Well, the two-car garage one I mean,
it's like
[24:51] » Yeah. you know, that's two months of my
[24:53] rent has gone and then and then
insurance is going up, you know, and
[24:57] then I'm I'm eating all this.
>> Right.
[25:00] » They said, "Grant."
And they they think, you know, well,
[25:03] we'll go somewhere else. I mean, usually
I would say, "Hey, take a couple months
[25:06] to think about it." And then they call
around and they're like, "You know,
[25:08] » And you That was another thing I just
Yeah.
[25:12] » Right. So, probably it's a
>> Yeah.
[25:14] I I understand.
>> Thank you.
[25:16] » Yeah.
Yeah, the property tax thing is
[25:19] something everybody talks about. So, and
you know you can appeal those, too.
[25:25] I did go through that this year myself.
So, I'm telling you, if if you feel like
[25:28] you're unjustly charged, you should
appeal them, you know?
[25:32] I know it takes time, but it might be
worth it.
[25:36] » I'm Mary Lou Garrison, and I just like
to say this.
[25:40] John left me with these apartments. I
would have much rather he left me with a
[25:45] bunch of money.
>> [laughter]
[25:47] » It is not easy being a landlord. It is
>> No, it's not.
[25:50] » It is difficult.
>> It is.
[25:51] » I mean, you you come up a
all kinds of situations. Sometimes, like
[25:57] Bob said, you let somebody live in your
apartment for two or three months cuz
[26:00] they don't have the money and they don't
have a job. I mean, it's I don't think
[26:05] anybody's getting rich off of having
apartments. At least I'm not. But I just
[26:10] wish that you would take into
consideration as as we implement these
[26:14] things that you would take into
consideration. We're not trying to be
[26:18] difficult. We're just trying to make it
through, you know? Just I'm just trying
[26:24] to make it through, and I'm going to
leave the apartments to my girls, and
[26:27] hopefully they will sell them. Now,
say, "Why don't you sell them yourself?"
[26:32] There's so many ands, ifs, and buts, and
so much trouble. I I can't afford to
[26:37] sell them. I can't afford to sell them
because I live in one of them,
[26:43] and and and different things. I can't
afford to sell them. I can't afford to
[26:47] do anything else than I'm doing. But I
do appreciate those that have taken time
[26:52] and have called me back this week. I
appreciate it very much.
[26:56] I wish we could all get along. I wish we
could all care about each other. I wish
[27:00] we could all be a community and and
that's what we really need to be.
[27:06] We don't have that a lot of times and
that's very sad.
[27:10] » Thanks, Marilyn.
Anybody else?
[27:15] Okay.
[27:20] All right.
So, anybody else have anything they want
[27:24] to add or
>> [sighs]
[27:26] » we going to
questions?
[27:29] If not, we're looking for a motion.
[27:38] » I'll make a motion to approve second
reading of ordinance 2026-8A
[27:43] establishing the rental registration.
>> I'll second.
[27:46] » All in favor?
>> Aye.
[27:48] » Aye.
[27:54] Any opposed?
>> No.
[27:56] » No. I didn't hear Fritz, so yeah.
Okay.
[28:01] Motion carries.
[28:04] And I need to sign this one here. We
need to do this, right?
[28:15] Thanks again for your contribution and
your opinion. Appreciate it.
[28:18] » Just one point of clarification that is
with the changes we discussed.
[28:22] » With changes, yes.
Yeah.
[28:24] » Okay. I'll clean that up so that we're
going to have a complete
[28:27] » Yeah. So, that'll be September 1st
through December 31st to registration
[28:32] for free.
And then we're they're working on the
[28:35] application part of it, so we'll get it
out to you just as soon as as soon as we
[28:38] get it done.
[28:48] Okay.
[28:51] But next we have um
the 2027 proposed budget by Beth Marsh.
[28:57] This is under new business.
[29:02] Okay, you should have the budget before
you.
[29:07] So as as we always do, I've met with all
the department heads and gone over
[29:11] everything. Then we had a meeting
earlier this month with the there was a
[29:15] public meeting um just to sort of go
over everything again and then made some
[29:20] additional changes after that. So I'm
just going to go over some of the final
[29:22] things that we made.
Um
[29:26] so based on the salaries, we've
increased everyone's salary in the
[29:30] budget for 3%. Um the longevity pay is
changed as usual. We did have a couple
[29:36] price um adjustments based on their
positions um that are pre-proposed ones
[29:42] for the park manager and the others for
the town manager.
[29:45] Um on both of those, obviously none of
these these are all allowable in the
[29:50] budget. It's then obviously got to be
approved in the salary resolution or
[29:54] salary ordinance that you have. So
those are you know, it's just but it's
[29:57] been put and allowed in the budget. Um
then we've added a full-time officer
[30:03] under the um general fund. Um we've also
added a few positions because we're
[30:08] trying to
get everything in order
[30:12] in case the day comes that Joe wants to
retire.
[30:15] » Trying to phase me out.
>> Yeah, phase him out, you know.
[30:18] Um we're adding a civil engineer and
then an assistant town manager. We've
[30:22] added those positions. We've also added
a deputy planner, but in that we've also
[30:27] eliminated the building inspector
assistant position and that's not being
[30:32] rehired. And one of the reasons we're
adding that deputy planner is when I
[30:36] looked at the fees that we've received,
they're up 450%
[30:40] over last year. So I mean, it's
definitely justifiable as far as where
[30:45] that's at. So, that's why we've added
that position.
[30:48] Um
and then
[30:53] the benefits we've added a 20% So, we've
not gotten to receive the information on
[30:58] that yet.
Um as our far as our supplies, we've
[31:01] done a 3%.
Um we did increase the police fuel to
[31:06] reflect the higher gas prices and then
also for the additional officer. Um we
[31:11] have added $10,000 for police vests. Um
we he's applied for a $10,000 grant,
[31:18] which is also in that which will cover
that. If we don't receive that, we still
[31:22] have the funds to accommodate that, but
hopefully we'll have a grant to cover
[31:25] those.
Um and then we've um added 3% basically
[31:30] for the rest of those.
For our other services, um again,
[31:34] basically overall, it's 3%
um for most expenses related to that. Um
[31:40] we did add a little additional monies
for some planned um IT cost um as far as
[31:46] that. We've got um
some increases in the trash contract
[31:52] based off of the contract. We've
increased that, but then the offset is
[31:55] the revenue, which is so it offsets each
other.
[31:58] Because we had such a liability
insurance went up last year so much, we
[32:03] did include another 30% for that cuz we
don't know exactly where that's going to
[32:06] come in yet. Um we're hoping it'll be
lower, but we just want to make sure we
[32:10] accommodated that.
And then we also added $2,500 additional
[32:15] for fireworks for next year.
Um and then our utilities, um which we
[32:19] normally always do, is at 10%.
Um capital outlays for the township town
[32:25] portion of it, we've added um
for the cloud-based computing um versus
[32:31] on our server cuz we're moving that to
cloud-based this year.
[32:34] And then the vehicles, we will don't
have any police vehicles in this budget.
[32:39] Um we're hoping to do a geo bond and
then a lot of times we take some as the
[32:43] continuing education. Um so we don't
have any in this year's budget um
[32:48] for that.
Um local road and street, we're keeping
[32:52] the same
um which we've not really changed. It's
[32:55] always at the 50,000. We just kept that
the same. Um MBH, um again we did the
[33:00] same for the um personal services.
And then um there weren't really much
[33:06] changes in the supplies other than the
3%. We had a little bit added for some
[33:11] clothing and boots that's increased to
the current spending.
[33:14] Um and then our other services
we have added monies for some
[33:20] projects.
>> [clears throat]
[33:21] » So the MBH funds that come in are split
part of it has to have 50% of it has to
[33:27] be set aside for
capital projects and we've been letting
[33:31] that build up. Well, this year we're
going to budget 350,000
[33:35] um of that. So part of that money's
going to come out of there and we're
[33:38] going to be using that restricted money.
So um
[33:42] 200,000 of that's going to be used for
that. So um which is for the repairs of
[33:46] streets cuz it's for construction,
reconstruction, preservation. So we'll
[33:49] be using that for paving projects.
Um and then we're going to increase
[33:54] signs in our capital outlays $10,000.
And then some of the other requests for
[33:59] equipment and things from Brian we're
going to be doing in the geo bond.
[34:04] And then under the park
we will be um
[34:09] increasing again fuel um for higher
prices for about 10%.
[34:14] Um
we'll be adding um
[34:18] trees. We're going to add trees. We're
adding a line for that for $20,000.
[34:23] And um our pest control's been a little
bit higher, so we've increased that as
[34:27] um as well.
We have some equipment repairs we're
[34:30] adding um for the dump truck for 22,000.
And again, our liability insurance.
[34:37] Um
as far as capital outlays, we will be
[34:40] doing um 75,000 for the
planned um restroom renovations. Um we
[34:46] got some fence replacements. We're
adding $25,000 for trails.
[34:51] And then, you know, some things for the
buildings. We will also be doing some
[34:54] some of the things that are going to be
coming through this year, which we have
[34:57] been as I've mentioned in the past, we
we've been trying to save her money for
[35:01] that. So, we've got some build-up cash
in the park. So, we'll be doing
[35:04] additional appropriation at the same
time we do the public hearing. So, it'll
[35:06] be a public hearing and then a
resolution that you can adopt right
[35:09] after that. So, I'm going to have that
exact amount. We'll have that at the
[35:12] next meeting.
Um as far as um the rest of the money
[35:18] that we need for the paving, we will be
taking out of the CCD, the capital
[35:23] cumulative capital development. So, that
one's going to be higher than what we
[35:26] normally do. We'll be adding um 100,000
there.
[35:30] And overall, that's pretty much it. The
um circuit breakers, they did finally
[35:35] come out and they they actually did
decrease a little bit. Um but they
[35:39] finally just came out, so I got those
numbers. I'm still waiting for
[35:43] miscellaneous revenues. They're supposed
to come out this week, so we'll see.
[35:48] They were a little late on some of the
others, so hopefully we still have that.
[35:52] Um overall, um the budget is up 20%, but
a lot of that is for capital is what the
[35:58] majority of that's for.
Um but, you know, there's things that
[36:01] the projects that we've been planning
and we're able to do those this year.
[36:06] Does anyone have any questions?
[36:10] » I do not.
>> So, we'll have the public hearing at the
[36:13] second meeting in September, and then
the first meeting in October is when
[36:17] we'll do the budget approval. If anyone
has any questions or anything before
[36:21] then, just please reach out to Misty or
myself, and we'll be happy to answer
[36:24] that.
>> Okay. Good. Thanks, Ben.
[36:28] » Uh
yeah, Joe, didn't you say the uh with
[36:31] the civil engineer that may change or
>> It Well, the title of it may change. I
[36:36] think both of those positions she
mentioned that the title might be just a
[36:40] little different, but the funding is
still the same.
[36:45] » Okay, so the the their salaries, what's
on here is what it's going to be then?
[36:49] » Right.
>> Okay.
[36:55] » Yeah.
>> Okay.
[36:57] Okay. So, that could change still then.
Okay, okay.
[37:04] Okay. Yeah.
[37:09] » Okay.
Thanks, Beth.
[37:13] You don't have to stay here all night.
[37:17] Okay, uh next step, uh we have a revised
um
[37:21] the 2027
uh budget for the fire territory.
[37:26] Um
the lit actually came in There's a 10.9%
[37:31] increase county-wide lit. So, the
original proposed amount
[37:36] um
the original proposed budget we had was
[37:39] a deficit of 204,000.
But with the um improvements, we're in
[37:43] an excess of 52,960.
So, the new budget goal
[37:48] um
it's what's shown here on this.
[37:54] 700 7,564,739
[37:58] would be the new budget for the 2027
fire uh Warren Township fire territory.
[38:05] So,
um
[38:07] we just need to make a motion to approve
this new revised budget
[38:14] for the fire territory.
[38:19] Unless you have questions about why it's
changing, but it's really for the
[38:22] better, so
>> Yeah, what are what are they getting for
[38:24] the
>> Um they'll be allocated their capital
[38:28] expenses including a camera upgrade,
turnout gear, and a training building.
[38:32] Uh they also we've also approved uh
three full-time positions for the
[38:39] firefighters, too.
So, all that will be able to to happen
[38:42] now.
[38:48] I think
Correct. Yeah, it was 204,000
[38:54] uh was the deficit.
And now we're
[38:58] over at 15 52 960.
>> Even with the proposed changes, right?
[39:02] » Yes.
I think uh yeah, the the actual So, the
[39:06] budget goal was seven seven million
564,739
[39:10] and then the proposed budget from the
fire territory is 7,511,779.
[39:18] I think Florrie's on there if she has I
don't know if she has anything to add to
[39:21] that. I hope I got everything that
[39:27] Uh
I think that's it.
[39:32] So, we just need to
um approve that budget for them if
[39:36] everybody's in favor of that.
[39:42] » I'll make a motion to approve the
revised 2027 fire general fund budget.
[39:48] » I'll second.
>> All in favor?
[39:50] » Aye.
>> Aye.
[39:51] » Aye.
[39:56] » Okay.
[40:03] Okay, next step we have the BOT
agreement for Landmark in Memorial Park
[40:08] and this is Doug with Reynolds
Construction.
[40:11] » Good evening. Doug Tishbane with
Reynolds Construction. Nice to see you
[40:14] again.
I apologize I'm a couple weeks late in
[40:18] being here. I was anticipating being
here the 1st of the month, but we ran
[40:22] into a little concern about the ADA
compliance to the north side of the new
[40:27] pedestrian bridge.
Got all that figured out and worked out,
[40:30] so
um I think over the last couple of weeks
[40:34] we've had a couple of improvements.
Memorial Park added to the project on
[40:38] some restroom renovations. So, we worked
with Heath in order to come up with
[40:42] those numbers. Um
Alex has given us a redline version of
[40:47] the agreement, which we gave a couple of
weeks ago, and we've accepted all of
[40:51] those.
We had to add the exhibits, which goes
[40:54] through the pricing and some of the
GMP reports, guaranteed maximum price
[40:59] reports, and some other exhibits that'll
be filled in or at a later date, more
[41:02] towards the end of the project. So,
really at at at this point in time
[41:08] our original number on just Landmark, if
you remember, was a million 941 408.
[41:15] And working with Heath on the Memorial
Park upgrades,
[41:20] that was an additional 243, so we're
currently at 2.184 million.
[41:26] And I think we're asking for approval of
the agreement tonight, so we can get to
[41:30] work.
>> We want you to get to work.
[41:34] » Absolutely.
[41:38] » When do you expect to move in and be
ready to start?
[41:44] » So, we've got a couple of
pre-construction meetings I need I know
[41:47] we need to set up with Adam.
Uh we've got to get through the state
[41:50] permitting processes, which we we've
already started.
[41:54] Um
I'm hopeful
[41:56] uh that we're going to have boots on the
ground probably within
[42:00] Don't let me do it, but I'm going to say
30 days.
[42:06] With a anticipated completion in March
of next year.
[42:17] » You said March 1st of next year. Is that
what you said or
[42:20] » March of next year.
>> Okay.
[42:22] » [laughter]
>> I think the document says on a tentative
[42:24] schedule that it's scheduled for April
1st, so
[42:28] as soon as we get through the
pre-construction meetings and the
[42:31] permitting, I'll be able to give you a
schedule, so you'll see what the
[42:36] actual deliverable is.
[42:43] » Any questions?
[42:46] » Nope.
Okay.
[42:47] » Yeah.
Guess we'll look for a motion then to
[42:50] approve.
[42:54] » I'll make a motion to approve the BOT
agreement for Landmark and Memorial
[42:57] Parks.
>> Second.
[42:59] » All in favor?
>> Aye.
[43:01] » Aye.
>> Aye.
[43:03] » Just get going.
>> Thanks, sir.
[43:04] » Thank you very much.
>> Yeah.
[43:06] If you can get started earlier, that'd
even be great.
[43:08] » That'll be good.
>> Thanks.
[43:12] That, too. Not not not to put any
pressure on you or anything.
[43:17] Yeah, no kidding. If we any of this
could be nice.
[43:21] » [clears throat]
[43:43] » Okay.
[43:46] Uh next we have the MOU water agreement
with McCordsville. Joe?
[43:52] » Okay, uh this this is something that
we've been talking about with
[43:55] McCordsville for a while and brought it
up with the council several times um
[44:00] over the year.
This is a an MOU between the town of
[44:04] Fortville and the town of McCordsville
to service water
[44:08] into the territory
that will eventually become McCordsville
[44:13] or
should be McCordsville before the
[44:17] service is ever provided. And just to
refresh your memory, we've got an MOU
[44:21] with uh
McCordville that 400 will be our
[44:25] boundary as far as annexation. So, we
will not annex beyond 400 and they won't
[44:30] come this direction. Um a big part of
this MOU and I know part of their
[44:34] concern is
we we for one, we just wanted to make
[44:37] sure that
they were good with us
[44:41] getting into that territory
and then giving us a territory that we
[44:45] could plan to to make sure that we could
size the mains properly and make sure
[44:49] that we'll be able to service the area
correctly. And then their part of the
[44:54] agreement was uh more of a concern that
we don't try to annex across that
[45:00] original agreed upon 400 boundary
um just because we are servicing the
[45:05] water to that area. So, that's pretty
much what this agreement spells out. And
[45:09] if you look at the very last page,
there's a an exhibit there. It's got the
[45:13] drawing.
400 West
[45:16] is where the town of Fortville's limits
are. Um our sewer territory ends at 400
[45:21] West. McCordsville comes up to uh 400
West on the west side of the road. Um
[45:27] there's about a square mile, roughly,
that's kind of marked out there that
[45:32] makes more sense for
Fortville to service them. Um
[45:37] we stopped we didn't go any further
south because I think uh
[45:41] there's some development that they're
proposing along 234 that will more than
[45:45] likely have citizens in the area. Makes
more sense for citizens to serve them
[45:49] than it would for us. So,
and they this was kind of a uh
[45:53] you know, a a mutual agreed upon
territory that
[45:57] worked for McCordsville, worked for us
that we could serve and it would allow
[46:02] them to continue to grow because as of
right now citizens uh
[46:07] is not prepared to service part of this
territory.
[46:11] And and we can
So.
[46:14] And you have it. If you have any
questions, I'll do my best to answer.
[46:18] » What will be responsible for
servicing any problems out there in
[46:23] right-of-ways, and we'll have access to
all that, or
[46:26] » Yeah, all the all the water mains will
be owned by the town of Fortville once
[46:30] it's said and done. So, yeah, we'll take
care of all the maintenance, hydro
[46:33] flushing, and
exercising the valves, and
[46:37] just like we do the Hamilton County
area.
[46:40] » So, the the big
benefit, I guess, that that we get is
[46:44] the that utility money, that water money
and stuff coming in.
[46:48] » Yeah, we get the asset of the the
additional plant,
[46:52] and then the the revenue. And as you
know, the
[46:55] bigger your user base is, the easier it
is to try to keep the cost down for
[47:00] everybody paying into it. Cuz the more
people we have in paying into the
[47:04] system, it's it allows us to keep our
rates lower, and keeps it
[47:08] In fact, let me go back to the water
um prior to our last rate increase,
[47:14] and we had to do the water treatment
plant, which we're going to do a water
[47:17] treatment plant anyway,
we hadn't raised our rates for over
[47:21] what, 16 or 17 years.
And that was a lot of that was based on
[47:26] extending our utilities out, and being
able to pick up more users. Was able to
[47:30] keep our rates down for everybody here.
>> Yeah, hookup fees and all that good
[47:34] stuff.
>> Mhm.
[47:35] » Okay, cool.
>> Yeah, and and I think I brought this up
[47:39] earlier, but uh there will be a time
that we're going to need uh to drill an
[47:43] additional well,
and add some additional filtering at the
[47:47] water treatment plant. The plant was
designed to add that on,
[47:51] and uh
the fees that they'll pay for connection
[47:55] will
essentially cover the for all that
[47:58] replacement or add-on.
[48:08] Then there's McCordsville hasn't signed
this. I know that they've uh
[48:11] they've already approved it in theory.
Uh there was some tweaks that they
[48:14] wanted uh
the town managers, myself and Tim Grob
[48:18] to to look at and uh make sure that we
were good with it or to put some things
[48:22] in place, but in theory they're um
they've already approved it. So, we just
[48:27] got to get them to sign it.
>> How do you guys decide the uh third
[48:31] party?
>> It's written up in here and it's kind of
[48:35] lengthy, so
>> It's nice to have
[48:37] » That's kind of like how do you get the
third party that would be beneficial
[48:40] » We only need the third party if there
gets to be a a point in time that uh say
[48:45] Tim and I can't agree on something or my
predecessor, whoever the town managers
[48:49] are at the time, um if they can't agree
upon it, then we'll select a mutual
[48:54] party that's not going to benefit either
community either way.
[48:58] » Yeah, that's what I was kind of curious
where you get that
[49:02] where you get that person from.
[49:11] » So, what do you need from us? Do you
need us to approve?
[49:13] » Yeah, just vote on it and sign it and
then we'll get it to McCordsville and
[49:16] let them do the same.
>> Okay.
[49:19] » I'll make a motion to approve the MOU
water agreement with McCordsville.
[49:23] » I'll second.
>> All in favor.
[49:25] » Aye.
>> Aye.
[49:30] » Make sure we sign the right page here.
One's from McCordsville and one's from
[49:35] » Now, if you mess up, I got another
>> Yeah.
[49:39] » [clears throat]
>> There you go.
[49:41] » Oh, I just lost it.
[49:46] » Okay, uh next step. We have uh
Council to consider resolution number
[49:51] 2026-8C,
approving and adopting a parks and
[49:55] recreational facilities naming rights
policy.
[50:00] And
Alex, I don't know. Do you want to
[50:04] surely dust in this?
>> Yep, I can run through this. This is
[50:07] something that we've talked about with
the council and then with Heath. Um as
[50:11] you're you working on these improvements
to to the parks and some other buildings
[50:17] throughout the town,
having an opportunity or having a
[50:20] specific policy for naming rights. And
so we looked at some other communities.
[50:27] We found I think that Zionsville had one
that seemed to work with us. So we
[50:33] modeled and and finessed that from a
starting point to get what we've got in
[50:38] front of you
this evening to create a policy that if
[50:43] someone comes to the town and would like
to
[50:45] um have their name on a public facility,
this outlines the process that
[50:52] they would go through doing that.
[51:01] » It says a lot.
A lot more a lot more than I thought it
[51:04] would.
[51:11] » A lot of it well into that it
you know, we're you always try to have a
[51:16] balance, but
who installs it and what if they who
[51:21] maintains it and um so those types of we
we tried to address those
[51:28] issues. Um
so
[51:32] longer than it probably it could have
been, but we wanted to try to cover the
[51:37] town and also make any potential, you
know, business or person that wanted to
[51:44] um
take advantage of it and have the naming
[51:46] rights that they're going to have some
responsibilities as well. It's not just
[51:50] » Sure.
>> write a check for,
[51:52] you know, X amount and that they don't
have There's some responsibilities that
[51:56] that go on with that. So, that's why
it's
[51:59] uh eight pages.
[52:03] Seven. Actually, six.
Selling myself short. It starts on the
[52:08] The resolution's two pages.
>> Each name that we we choose a name,
[52:12] let's say we have new parks that come
along,
[52:14] it's voted on that the the majority on
the name. It's just not one person
[52:20] naming it.
>> Correct.
[52:21] » Thank you.
[52:28] » Yep.
To specifically,
[52:31] um in section four, the town council
governs the approval of naming rights.
[52:37] » So, along those lines, Heath Luster,
parks manager, for the record, I wanted
[52:41] to bring to your attention that I
received a phone call this past week
[52:45] from the Zumbo Anybody know Charles
Bailey?
[52:49] Uh he had a plaque dedicated over to him
in Landmark Park on one of the trees.
[52:54] » He was on the park board for a lot of
years.
[52:56] » So, his son, Philip, uh passed away. I
got a phone call from his grandson,
[53:01] Jake.
Um they would like to donate $25,000
[53:05] to the park to rebuild the retaining
wall by the basketball court and put up
[53:10] a fence along the creek to keep balls
from going in there.
[53:14] Um and his only ask was if we could put
up a sign that was basically Philip
[53:20] Bailey Memorial Basketball Court. And
so,
[53:23] I don't know if that really pertains to
what we're talking about here from a
[53:29] gazebo standpoint, but I wanted to bring
to your attention as we're going through
[53:33] this that there'll be opportunities such
as, you know, this young man. And my
[53:38] understanding of it is is the plan for
him is to stick another $25,000 in an
[53:44] account and every year whatever interest
accrues, figure out some way to give it
[53:48] back through the parks and or schools.
And so that's something he wants to
[53:52] continue to do, but it'll be something
um that he's looking for just kind of
[53:57] confirmation. Is that something that the
council would be willing to do? And so
[54:01] obviously with having his naming rights
um
[54:04] paperwork, you know, I want to make sure
that, you know, we are still allowing
[54:08] for things like that if and when they
come up. So
[54:12] » That's awesome. That's really nice.
>> Thank you.
[54:21] » Joe, did you have Are you good with all
this? You didn't see anything in here
[54:24] that was concerning, did you?
>> No, I didn't see anything that was
[54:27] really concerning at all.
You know, something we've been talking
[54:31] about for quite some time and it
>> Yeah.
[54:34] I think it looks good. I mean I
>> Seems pretty thorough.
[54:39] » I really didn't see anything that
concerned me either, so.
[54:48] Guess we're looking for a motion then.
[54:52] » I'll make a motion to approve resolution
2026-8C
[54:57] approving and adopting the parks and
recreation facilities naming rights
[55:00] policy.
>> I'll second.
[55:02] » All in favor?
>> Aye.
[55:10] » Sure.
[55:20] » So as you go through your advertisements
and solicitations
[55:24] I'm going to be very specific about what
you ask. Have you discussed this
[55:27] » Yeah.
Yeah.
[55:29] » And just social media, it's all stuff
like that.
[55:32] » [laughter]
[55:35] » Abraham Lincoln was in it?
>> Oh.
[55:37] I guess it was. It makes sense. Yeah,
thanks. Thanks.
[55:44] » Abraham
Lincoln said don't believe everything
[55:48] you read on the internet.
[55:54] » [laughter]
[56:02] » Okay,
next step we have the
[56:07] Council to consider first reading of
ordinance 2026 8B. It's amending the
[56:12] 2026
salary ordinance.
[56:16] Um
I'll just start off with this first I
[56:19] guess because
this was
[56:22] something that I recommended to Beth and
that we need to try to do here moving
[56:26] forward in the next few years to prepare
for Joe's exit.
[56:31] His salary was never has never been and
really still wasn't at where it should
[56:36] be and we're trying to get it
to the level it was comparatively to to
[56:41] find someone that will
somewhat replace what he does. So
[56:46] this part of this here is to actually
amend his salary
[56:53] so the town managers bi-weekly pay would
would change to 4,330
[56:59] 77.
Um and then also it's adds in the senior
[57:04] planner to be hired. I think
They've already had applications and
[57:10] stuff on that too. So this is the reason
that we're asking to amend this
[57:15] salary ordinance.
[57:19] I don't know Joe if you want to add
anything or
[57:21] » No, I mean you you pretty much covered
everything.
[57:24] » Yeah.
So we are closer to having it where it
[57:28] should be.
Um
[57:30] I think
and if we stay on top of it for the next
[57:34] few years, we should be ready by the
time he gets ready to retire to
[57:39] to attract the right person, hopefully.
>> Is Is this starting from today?
[57:44] » Yeah.
>> Or is it retroactive?
[57:45] » It is not retro. Not retro. It started
>> wait till after the ordinance is passed?
[57:50] » Yeah.
>> Okay.
[58:00] » Questions?
>> Okay, so this is This ordinance is for
[58:03] this year. So then we still got
>> Yes. Yeah, you have We haven't seen the
[58:07] salary ordinance for 2020. We'll see
that after the
[58:11] uh October after the budget's passed.
>> Uh so how how soon are we looking to get
[58:16] that senior planner?
>> I think uh
[58:21] » We
We extend We extended a job offer to a
[58:25] candidate and it was accepted.
Um I can tell you more about it during
[58:31] planning and building comments.
>> Yeah. Okay.
[58:34] » Don't steal his thunder. That's what
he's saying.
[58:36] » [laughter]
>> I don't want to disrupt the flow.
[58:39] » Yeah.
[58:42] Okay, so if there's no other questions
than that, then I'm looking for um a
[58:46] motion
to approve this salary amendment.
[58:53] » I'll make a motion to approve first
reading
[58:57] of ordinance 2026-8B
amending the 2026 salary ordinance.
[59:02] » I'll second.
>> All in favor?
[59:05] » I.
>> I.
[59:06] » I.
>> Nay.
[59:12] » Did Libby vote?
>> I say
[59:15] Did nay, right?
[59:18] » We have to be able to see Libby vote.
>> Is Libby still on there?
[59:30] » So 3 1.
>> Yeah.
[59:32] » 3 1.
>> So where do I put her for Olivia? Is it
[59:35] abstaining or do I just put recuse?
>> Yeah.
[59:37] » She disappeared. I
[59:40] She probably She might even lost
connection. I don't know.
[59:44] Okay.
[59:48] And that passes 3 to 1.
First reading.
[59:53] Okay, up next we have
Council to consider commercial lease
[59:57] agreement for the Community Center with
Indy Sharks Baseball.
[1:00:00] » I can cover this if you'd like just to
save Heath the trouble to walk up. As
[1:00:05] you know, this
um
[1:00:07] is the same lease terms that we had with
the Sharks from last year.
[1:00:13] Um same rent, same terms. That was the
only thing that that changed was to make
[1:00:17] it so that they can continue to be there
um for another year. And then next year
[1:00:22] if they give us notice that they want to
extend,
[1:00:25] we've got the right to negotiate um an
increase in rent or other terms at that
[1:00:30] time. But this would just allow them to
continue
[1:00:33] uh being in the space and using the
space under the same conditions as the
[1:00:37] existing lease.
>> Any problems Ashley or Heath?
[1:00:53] » Any questions from anybody up here?
Good.
[1:00:56] Questions?
>> I'll make a motion to approve commercial
[1:01:00] lease agreement for the Community Center
with Indy Sharks Baseball for 2020
[1:01:06] Well, just for the next year? Is that
what it is?
[1:01:08] » It's
>> Yeah, 6 27.
[1:01:10] » Starts September 1st. It's for the
>> I'll second.
[1:01:15] » All in favor.
>> Aye.
[1:01:16] » Aye.
[1:01:19] » Do I need Do I need to sign this one?
[1:01:35] » You got You got it.
>> Yeah.
[1:01:37] » Okay.
>> Yeah.
[1:01:38] Okay.
Next step, we have
[1:01:42] Council to consider purchase of utility
terrain vehicle by the Four Wheel Police
[1:01:46] Department. Pat.
[1:01:50] » Good evening.
Like I mentioned the last
[1:01:53] um
meeting that we had had some refunds
[1:01:57] that weren't really expected to the PD.
Um and there's funding there and I was
[1:02:04] have been looking at a
way to give us some off-road capability
[1:02:09] to patrol the parks a little bit easier,
patrol the trails,
[1:02:14] things like that. And with the recent
floods,
[1:02:17] um
I know a lot of
[1:02:19] departments have used them for that type
stuff. Knock on wood,
[1:02:24] we hadn't had any of that, but I think
Penn kind of got hit a little bit and
[1:02:28] Camber City was underwater and a lot of
the Southeast communities were
[1:02:31] underwater.
Um so, I have the money in my budget
[1:02:37] that's been basically fully refunded by
some over payments and by insurance.
[1:02:43] Um and I reached out and got three
quotes, which you guys all have.
[1:02:48] Here's a summary of the quote um with
all the specs. Everything's the exact
[1:02:53] same except from Indy Power Sports. They
did not have
[1:02:57] what I was looking for, so they quoted a
higher-end model, which I'm really not
[1:03:02] interested in.
Um
[1:03:05] but I'd like to get approval to go ahead
and
[1:03:09] make that purchase for the from Fear
Power Sports in Berne, Indiana
[1:03:16] uh for 26,725.
That covers everything that we would
[1:03:21] need um
to have some off-road capability and to
[1:03:25] be able to to patrol the trails a little
bit easier.
[1:03:29] And with the town growing and it just
and we're putting in more trails and
[1:03:33] parks and things like that, it just
gives us that a different advantage
[1:03:38] um than what we currently have with a a
truck or a patrol vehicle.
[1:03:43] We don't have any off-road capable
vehicles even though they're all-wheel
[1:03:46] drive or four-wheel drive, they just
they're not going to go through water or
[1:03:50] mud or anything like that.
[1:03:56] » What's the top speed on these?
[1:04:01] I couldn't find it in the specs.
>> I'm not It's not in the specs?
[1:04:04] » [laughter]
>> I can do that real quick Google search
[1:04:07] for you. Hold on.
>> I was just curious.
[1:04:09] Top speed of a Polaris Ranger XP 1000.
>> That's 60 to 65 miles an hour, sir.
[1:04:19] They will not
Hopefully, we won't ever need to to go
[1:04:23] that fast.
>> I bet you it'll be tested.
[1:04:29] With the
>> There will There will be new policies on
[1:04:32] this piece of equipment.
>> Does that cost like fully outfitted?
[1:04:36] That's how much?
>> fully outfitted. Um only thing we would
[1:04:38] have to do is add some lights, which I
have some in the garage.
[1:04:42] And then get some um we have leftover
out in the garage from some of the other
[1:04:47] vehicles.
So, we would throw some decals on it and
[1:04:51] some lights in it and a siren and that's
really about it.
[1:04:56] Those would be very minimal costs.
Um
[1:04:59] we have the equipment, just some
installation fees.
[1:05:03] Couple hundred bucks, I don't know.
[1:05:08] » Damn.
[1:05:12] » They will entertain a motion.
>> I'll make a motion to approve the
[1:05:16] purchase of a UTV by the Fort Worth
Police Department from Bear Power Sports
[1:05:22] for $26,725.
>> I'll second.
[1:05:26] » All in favor?
>> Aye.
[1:05:28] » Aye.
[1:05:31] » Thank you.
[1:05:36] » All right.
[1:05:41] All right.
[1:05:44] So, next we have departments, Joe.
[1:05:50] » Okay. I don't know where
Let me turn my mic on so you can hear
[1:05:53] me. Um
The trails plan is coming along um
[1:05:58] pretty good right now as far as the
section two. We're still
[1:06:03] uh looking to let that project November
5th. Uh seem like everything's lining up
[1:06:07] with all of our permits and all the
INDOT stuff that we need. So, looking
[1:06:10] forward to to getting moving on that
project. Um INDOT has uh given us the
[1:06:16] approval for the intersection at 13th
and uh Broadway for the South um Madison
[1:06:22] Boulevard project that we're working on.
We had uh talked to INDOT about
[1:06:26] expediting that permit just due to some
of the other intersections that INDOT's
[1:06:31] going to be working on the next few
years. Um we can try to get our project
[1:06:35] done
before
[1:06:38] um they start closing down some of these
other intersections and causing detour
[1:06:42] issues.
Um and then we've got a uh
[1:06:46] 300 ft of 10-in storm pipe that's on
McCarty Street north of Church.
[1:06:51] Um we've been having a lot of issues and
I think a lot of you probably gone
[1:06:55] through the standing water on State
Street there at McCarty when we get a
[1:06:59] good rain.
The uh the pipe we tried to get a video
[1:07:03] through it. The only thing we could get
a video through the pipe was busted and
[1:07:06] collapsed and
pretty bad shape and it's it's packed
[1:07:10] full of stones. So,
we're going to be getting some price
[1:07:13] quotes to set one manhole and run about
300 ft of storm pipe so we can fix that
[1:07:18] and get that drain flowing again.
Um just an update on the alley there on
[1:07:23] Main Street. All the concrete's in, the
dirt's in, the electrical's ran, the
[1:07:27] water's ran.
Um
[1:07:29] our goal is we got a patch on the
west side where they had to dig up the
[1:07:33] water main.
Uh we're going to get that patched, try
[1:07:36] to get all the plantings in there and
get it opened up for the uh
[1:07:40] uh
the Blazer 88 ride this weekend and
[1:07:44] definitely before Christmas.
[clears throat] So,
[1:07:47] we I know Heath has picked up all the
plants and if the weather holds off,
[1:07:52] they'll be getting those put in the
ground on Wednesday.
[1:07:55] » Looks really nice.
>> Thank you. I'll pass that along to the
[1:08:00] guys who worked so hard to put it in.
>> So, that storm uh
[1:08:06] storm line you're responding about
replacing is all 300 ft need to be
[1:08:09] replaced or can just a spot repair?
>> Um actually the pro- project is probably
[1:08:18] closer to a little over 400 ft and what
I'm doing is I'm setting a structure at
[1:08:22] that location and then
from the from the structure north of
[1:08:28] Church Street to the ditch, it all needs
to be replaced. The segment from there
[1:08:31] back to the original manhole,
I'm going to see about getting that
[1:08:35] lined. I need to do some more inspection
on some of the other pipe in there
[1:08:38] first.
[1:08:42] I'm just trying to do the worst of it as
far as replacement.
[1:08:44] » Yeah.
>> It's going to be a little tricky because
[1:08:46] we got a storm sewer and a or a sanitary
sewer and a water main and everything in
[1:08:50] there and there's previously been dug
and we're going to be 10-ft deep so
[1:08:54] that makes it a little bit uh
more sketchy when you got previously
[1:08:58] disturbed trenches along next to where
we're digging.
[1:09:04] » How far How How deep is that sanitary
though? It's probably
[1:09:08] 20 30 ft?
>> No, it's not that deep in there. In
[1:09:11] fact, it's probably going to be real
close to the 10-ft deep.
[1:09:14] » Really?
>> It's going to be
[1:09:17] cuz that was part of our uh
combined sewer system back in the day.
[1:09:20] We put in a new sanitary at the uh
same elevation or maybe a little bit
[1:09:25] deeper than existing storm
and just use the storm converted to your
[1:09:30] combined to sanitary or storm sewer.
[1:09:35] That's all I have unless you got
something for me.
[1:09:37] » Yeah, I got a question. Uh the trees
that are in the easement
[1:09:41] I had a uh resident say that he's
hitting his head on trees as he's coming
[1:09:46] through on Stat and on Main Street. Is
the town responsible for that or is it
[1:09:52] the land the homeowner right in front?
>> It It's realistically it's the
[1:09:56] homeowners because in most cases it's
their tree. Um
[1:10:00] but we've been going out and trimming.
Anytime anybody reports anything, even
[1:10:04] though that we do have the ordinance
that says that the homeowner is supposed
[1:10:07] to maintain them, if they if they were
if somebody reports it to us, we're
[1:10:11] going out and taking care of it.
>> Okay. Cuz he was just wondering if he
[1:10:14] could volunteer to trim them back.
If it's
[1:10:19] to get it done.
Uh there's quite a few. He He drove me
[1:10:23] around today. There's There's a lot of
trees that are
[1:10:26] » Just give me a route and I'll get our
guys to do it. We can knock it out
[1:10:29] quicker and we can get rid of the limbs.
If homeowner sees somebody out there
[1:10:33] besides the street department trimming
>> just asking for him if it's possible.
[1:10:37] » It's like
I don't I don't know that I want to get
[1:10:41] somebody out there doing it voluntarily
and
[1:10:44] » Okay.
>> get hurt or something like that and then
[1:10:45] the property owners. I know even when
the street guys are out there, we've
[1:10:48] been uh
yelled at by property owners, so
[1:10:53] It'd probably be cleaner.
>> I didn't know if there was an ordinance
[1:10:55] that they had to keep them so high or
>> They just need to Yeah, for ADA purposes
[1:11:01] and stuff, they need to be high enough
you're not going hit your head on them.
[1:11:04] » Okay.
>> Sure.
[1:11:05] » Cuz he's pretty tall. He's like 6'5.
>> [laughter]
[1:11:09] » So, I just he's probably tall as Andy,
so
[1:11:11] » Just Just give me a route. Give me a
route moment to do
[1:11:14] » Okay.
I'll let I'll I'll I'll have him write
[1:11:17] up a route. Thanks.
>> And we we always have that uh
[1:11:20] app on our website where people can
report any issues. So, we've been
[1:11:23] getting quite a few of those lately.
>> Mhm.
[1:11:29] » [clears throat]
>> Adam?
[1:11:36] » Uh yes, so anything that I wanted to
report on was to follow up on the senior
[1:11:40] planner position. So,
um really quickly
[1:11:44] for the public's benefit too is we had a
um there's myself, and there's Jerry in
[1:11:49] the department, and then we had a
part-time
[1:11:51] um administrative assistant, uh Sarah.
She did a wonderful job, but she went
[1:11:55] ahead and took um full-time employment
elsewhere.
[1:11:58] So, rather than refilling that position,
we actually eliminated it.
[1:12:04] And then converted it to a planner. Just
have an additional planner so that this
[1:12:08] way that this person
um has the ability to review items and
[1:12:12] also approve items,
um and it'll hopefully make things more
[1:12:16] efficient for the residents. Like I had
mentioned I think maybe at a previous
[1:12:20] meeting,
ultimately what we'd like to get to is
[1:12:23] some over-the-counter approvals for some
simple things, whether that's easement
[1:12:27] encroachments, electrical permits, shed,
um really
[1:12:32] um routine type items. So, um
[1:12:37] So, in order to do that,
um we we interviewed probably about
[1:12:43] I I think we interviewed seven people,
and we had probably
[1:12:48] maybe about 40 45
um applicants in one fashion or another.
[1:12:53] So, we had a really good amount of
qualified people that were interested in
[1:12:57] the position.
And it was originally going to be an
[1:13:01] assistant planner,
[1:13:05] a lower-tier entry-level position.
However,
[1:13:11] we ended up offering the job to her. Her
name is Hannah Rose Urbanski. She was
[1:13:16] the planning director and she was an
interim planning director and then
[1:13:20] became planning director in Pendleton.
She's got her
[1:13:24] undergraduate degree in planning,
master's in planning.
[1:13:27] So, she's got great experience,
especially in a small town like ours.
[1:13:32] So, very personable, very knowledgeable.
Definitely looking forward to having her
[1:13:39] start. She's going to start on Monday,
October 5th.
[1:13:44] So, that's where we're at with that and
and if you have any questions, happy to
[1:13:51] to address those.
>> Did you get a chance to look at that
[1:13:54] sign? Cuz when you look at the drawings
on McDonald's, it looks like that
[1:13:59] port-bill sign
is even with the
[1:14:03] um
where people have to stop at the
[1:14:06] McDonald's before they go into the
walkway. It's it's pretty flush straight
[1:14:10] on for a sight.
>> Yeah, I haven't I haven't had the
[1:14:14] opportunity to look at it yet, but we
certainly have time and um
[1:14:18] your point is well taken, but we want to
make sure that
[1:14:22] that port-bill sign is not going to
cause a sight visibility issue there
[1:14:25] with people coming in and out of the
McDonald's.
[1:14:28] Um so, if we need to adjust it, we
certainly can.
[1:14:31] Um I think the state would want us to do
that, too.
[1:14:34] So, um yeah, we'll definitely it's on
the list and we'll continue to look at
[1:14:38] it.
>> All right, thank you.
[1:14:40] » Thanks.
>> Um with that senior planner having
[1:14:44] [clears throat] her master's and her all
that, is there any fear of being over
[1:14:48] qualified that
I don't I don't know how much schooling
[1:14:51] it normally takes and stuff for that
position, but
[1:14:54] I just didn't know, like I said, if it
would be over qualification and
[1:14:57] » yeah, the Well, the other thing that we
did, too, that I forgot to mention was
[1:15:01] um
>> [clears throat]
[1:15:03] » that is why the the position, although
the funding is at the same amount that
[1:15:09] we had originally anticipated, we did at
least
[1:15:12] um give her a higher title of senior
planner to reflect her
[1:15:17] um qualifications. So,
I think um you know, in talking to her,
[1:15:22] I think
she she wants to get back in the
[1:15:25] municipal planning and and
um
[1:15:29] she's familiar with Fortville, so
I think certainly with with any
[1:15:34] applicant, there's always a degree of of
risk that that person
[1:15:39] may move on, but um you know, at the end
of the day, I think given the the
[1:15:45] applicant pool that we had, it was a
strong pool, um there's no doubt that
[1:15:50] she was the most qualified and and also
had the best
[1:15:54] experience um for a town like like
Fortville, so
[1:15:59] we'll see. Looking forward to it.
>> That's good.
[1:16:02] » No no issues you think of her uh
hourly pay and stuff?
[1:16:07] I mean,
she going to start wanting a lot more
[1:16:10] money and stuff after
few months or a year?
[1:16:13] » Well, I guess we'll we'll cross that
bridge when we get to it and um
[1:16:19] » We told her what the pay was when she
was applying and see if it was something
[1:16:22] she was interested in.
>> Yeah, okay.
[1:16:24] » Yeah, we have those those discussions
um early on.
[1:16:29] And uh
So.
[1:16:33] » Cool. Hope she works out.
>> Yeah, I'm looking forward to it. I think
[1:16:36] she will.
Any other questions on planning stuff?
[1:16:42] » No.
Okay.
[1:16:44] That's it for me then.
>> He's coming up.
[1:16:51] » Uh Joe touched on Main Street.
Um talked about 25,000. So that's all I
[1:16:57] got for you tonight unless you guys have
any questions for me.
[1:17:00] » We don't have any.
>> Okay. Thank you.
[1:17:02] » Thanks, Heath.
[1:17:05] And Andy,
what's on your plan?
[1:17:10] » We have Blizzard 88 this weekend. Should
be a nice event as long as weather is
[1:17:16] good.
Um
[1:17:18] and [clears throat] then the following
weekend Cammy's Cause.
[1:17:21] So uh we They're actually on Some of you
may have seen it on Facebook, but they
[1:17:27] are going to have a celebration that was
supposed to happen last Saturday.
[1:17:30] It's going to be this Saturday at 11:30
in the morning at uh Three Rivers and
[1:17:35] where uh Cammy's Cause received their a
check to put them over the
[1:17:41] million-dollar mark for funds that they
raised for
[1:17:44] uh the minus 4p um program and
everything and it's
[1:17:49] it's going to be a big deal. So uh Jared
sent us a message just asking everybody
[1:17:54] to come out for that if they could uh to
help celebrate when they come back out.
[1:17:59] Uh doesn't have to be anything long,
just you know, something that they've
[1:18:02] been working on for
Here we are in the 22nd year of that. So
[1:18:07] um it's going to be awesome.
Um
[1:18:10] Other than that, I think that's all I
have.
[1:18:14] That is this Saturday. This Saturday at
Three Rivers 11:30 a.m.
[1:18:20] » And do you do you know where people can
get like yard signs?
[1:18:24] » I Well, they bunch of them showed up
this weekend around town. Um
[1:18:29] and your wife actually asked me about
that as well. And they're supposed to be
[1:18:33] bringing some up to us here as well. Um
so I'll find out for sure if anybody
[1:18:38] needs one, I can get one
for you or whatever. I mean, we get
[1:18:43] Um, just under 2 weeks now from that for
that huge event, so
[1:18:48] five stages, 33 bands.
It's going to be pretty big deal and it
[1:18:53] encourage everybody to if you can light
up your house with
[1:18:57] green lights, that's the official color
of Cammie's Cause and decorate
[1:19:01] storefront windows and
decorate your house if you want. I don't
[1:19:05] know. I think Fritz has already started
that.
[1:19:10] Anything else for me?
>> Do they need Are they still looking for
[1:19:13] donations and stuff for their um
their auction?
[1:19:17] » I I'm not sure.
>> I don't know that either. I was
[1:19:21] » Um,
always looking for donations, I believe.
[1:19:23] So
[1:19:26] Reach out and ask.
>> Okay.
[1:19:30] Pat,
anything else from you?
[1:19:31] » Yep. Um,
Officer Payne graduates this week from
[1:19:35] ILEA, so we'll be happy to get him back.
Um,
[1:19:40] Officer Morland in the back there, we
submitted his waiver to the law
[1:19:44] enforcement training board from
Illinois. They held their meeting today,
[1:19:47] so we're waiting to hear back to see if
his waiver was approved or not.
[1:19:51] Assuming it will be with some
stipulations of doing our criminal law,
[1:19:55] traffic law type stuff.
Um, and then
[1:20:00] uh
Um, last week I got Alex the new MOU for
[1:20:03] the school
for 26 through 31.
[1:20:09] Um, he's going to give me the final
blessing on it and then I'll get it to
[1:20:12] the school.
We can continue staff officers out there
[1:20:16] and and then in the MOU it also states
that uh they'll be responsible for a
[1:20:21] vehicle.
So I know Beth said that we were working
[1:20:26] on some.
Uh, Beth and I talked about having
[1:20:29] school get one for us next year also, so
that should get us in line where we need
[1:20:34] to be.
But, it's nice that
[1:20:36] they're willing to do that and just buy
us well, we buy the car and then they
[1:20:41] just pay us back.
So.
[1:20:44] Other than that, I don't have anything
unless you got questions.
[1:20:50] » Nothing.
Missy, you have anything for us?
[1:20:55] Alex, do you have anything else for us?
>> I don't have anything else unless you
[1:20:58] have questions for me.
[1:21:03] » Any more public comment?
[1:21:11] Brian, you have anything?
>> I do not. Thank you.
[1:21:14] » I have nothing.
>> I'm good.
[1:21:18] » I'm good.
>> I'll take a promotion to approve and
[1:21:21] sign vouchers.
>> I'll make a motion to approve and sign
[1:21:23] vouchers.
>> Second.
[1:21:25] » All in favor.
>> Aye.
[1:21:26] » Aye. I'll make a motion to adjourn at
7:52.
[1:21:29] » I'll second.
>> All in favor.
[1:21:30] » Aye.
>> Aye.
[1:21:34] Thank you for coming.