[0:08] I would like to call the public hearing to order for this public hearing. We

[0:14] have one piece of property. Well, one address we should say, 60 West 5th

[0:20] Street. It's in Sab Acres.

[0:26] I'm making a recommendation to continue that until spring based upon the tenant

[0:33] is seems to be moved out. However, the

[0:37] landlords or the owners can't get into the property yet for a legal purpose to

[0:43] clean it up, but I really do think they'll clean it up. So, so it's a

[0:47] notice of continuence order, more or less an extension for Safe

[0:53] Acres. It would reconvene on March 17th, 2026 at 5:30. They're asking for the

[0:59] time so the park owner can clean it up. So, any questions on the recommendation?

[1:09] » So, move to do continuation. >> I have a motion to do the continuence

[1:14] order. Do I have a second? >> I have a second by Barry. All those in

[1:17] favor? >> I opposed. Motion carries.

[1:25] With that said, we will close. the public hearing and open the regular

[1:32] town council meeting. First order of business, calling it to

[1:37] order. Approval of minutes. This would be for the October 21st, 2025 meeting.

[1:44] Any questions on the minutes? Any corrections? Do I have a motion for

[1:49] approval? >> So move.

[1:52] » I have a motion for approval. Do I have a second?

[1:55] » Second. >> Second by Scott. All those in favor I

[1:59] opposed. Motion carries.

[2:04] The next claims payroll comp time and appropriation reports. To that I would

[2:10] like to add a invoice from Indiana Pump Works LLC.

[2:16] This is an invoice in the amount of $8,000.

[2:19] This is for pump repair etc. And it would be as such with

[2:27] Jimmy's approval to make sure everything's done correctly. So that

[2:31] would be added. Any questions on this particular bill

[2:36] edition? Okay. Do I have a motion for claim payroll comp time funding program

[2:43] report? >> Have a motion by Ash. Do I have a

[2:46] second? >> Second.

[2:48] » Second by Bill. All those in favor? I opposed.

[2:55] Motion carries. Old business.

[3:01] DLC. Updates.

[3:08] Street projects are all done. Those were closed out at the last meeting. So,

[3:12] those are all good. Um, still next year's projects are on

[3:17] um tackle with API for for the spring. Um, we did submit the CCMG application

[3:26] in October. Um, fingers crossed's going to be making those awards in December of

[3:32] some sometime. Um, so then we'll be looking at bidding those out right after

[3:37] the first of the year. Uh, been working with Kathy on the

[3:44] alley, so we'd like permission to get that alley quoted out. It's going to be

[3:49] under should be under 150. So we can just do a quote package for that. So we

[3:54] need a motion to um move forward on that quote that

[4:01] » So you want permission to bid it out.

[4:08] » So have a motion by Barry to go ahead with that. Do I have a second?

[4:14] » Second by Scott children have his drink. All those in favor?

[4:18] » I >> I oppose.

[4:21] Motion carries.

[4:24] » And then uh the other big thing we've been evaluating the water plant um and

[4:30] working with the water guys and Kathy. We'd like to go ahead and uh get

[4:37] approval to submit the SRF application and get on the SRF list.

[4:44] » Okay. With regards to the water plant action item of approval to begin with

[4:50] the approval and submit the application. Do I have a motion?

[4:55] » Motion by Gary. Do I have a second? >> Second by Ashley. All those in favor.

[5:01] » Opposed. >> Motion carries.

[5:03] » All right. And that includes the application's due in March. Um and

[5:08] hopefully we hear back by I think it's July they make the announcements if

[5:12] we're on the funding list. Um that includes the application and the per and

[5:18] asset management plan. So that'll be good.

[5:26] Other than that, that's all I have. >> Any questions for Todd?

[5:34] Great job.

[5:38] Next on the

[5:42] agenda, Stuben County Economic Development Contract. This is a 2026

[5:49] contract, 14,400.

[5:54] And I presume everybody read it. In that contract has a whole harmless, which is

[6:02] good for us. Any questions on that contract? Any

[6:07] comments? Do I have a motion to accept that

[6:11] contract? >> So moved.

[6:14] » Have a motion by Bill to accept this contract for services. Do I have a

[6:18] second? >> Second.

[6:19] » I have a second by Barry. All those in favor?

[6:22] » I opposed. Motion carries. There also is needed an appointment to the board.

[6:29] Kathy has served in that position before and does currently.

[6:39] appointment her again to serve. >> Would you be willing to take another

[6:44] appointment? >> Yes.

[6:47] » She's willing to do it. >> I make a motion.

[6:51] » Motion for appoints to continue on that board. Do I have a

[6:58] second? Have a second by Asha. All those in

[7:02] favor? I I motion carries. new business

[7:11] utility credits.

[7:15] » Yes, I'm sorry. You have your normal monthly credit and then we have one that

[7:19] um is a adjustment and that was verified by the water department.

[7:25] » And I will say that's probably the nicest request we've ever had for an

[7:30] adjustment. Most formal request we ever had. Okay. So, we have the normal

[7:36] credit for Horizon and then the very nice request for an adjustment. Any

[7:43] questions on the utility credits? >> Do I have a motion to approve the

[7:47] utility credits? >> Got a motion by Barry. Do I have a

[7:51] second? >> Second by Bill. All those in favor?

[7:56] » I opposed. Motion carries. Holiday schedule.

[8:06] You've got a listing of all the holidays for the upcoming year of 2026.

[8:11] Any question on I mean holidays? Any questions? Do I have a motion to

[8:18] accept the 2026 holiday schedule? >> Salute.

[8:23] » Have a motion by Ashley. All those in Do I have a second?

[8:27] » Second. >> Second by Scott. All those in favor?

[8:31] » Opposed? Motion carries. There's also the meeting schedule for

[8:37] 2026. Fremont Town Council, Fremont Plan

[8:41] Commission, Fremont Park Board, Fremont BCA, Fremont Tree Board. This is for the

[8:48] entire year of 2026. Any questions on the schedule?

[8:55] Do I have a motion to accept the schedule for 2026?

[9:00] » Have a motion by Scott. Do I have a second? Second. Second by Ashley. All

[9:04] those in favor? >> Opposed? Motion carries.

[9:11] We have a fire alarm upgrade. This is being submitted by Horson Fire. It is an

[9:20] annual monitoring system contract as well as an upgrade.

[9:28] Let's see. We're looking at $600 from the annual monitoring fee brings into

[9:34] dispatch and also alerts the fire department. You're looking at the

[9:38] upgrade of 13,78650.

[9:42] Any questions on either one?

[9:47] Do I have a motion to accept both? >> I have a motion by Barry to accept both.

[9:53] That's for the animal monitoring as well as doing the upgrade. Do I have

[9:58] a second? Second.

[10:00] » Second by Scott. All those in favor? >> Opposed.

[10:06] Motion carries. >> If they tell us this is an outdated

[10:10] system when we buy it. >> Yeah.

[10:12] » That be very frustrating. >> Oh, you mean like a new one? Yeah. Yeah.

[10:16] » Like the old one was. >> Right. Right. Right. Which we didn't.

[10:20] » Yeah. >> Oh, the one was put in.

[10:22] » Yeah. >> Howdy. When it was put in. Yeah. That's

[10:25] » You like the phone calls on it, though. You got to be right.

[10:29] » Congratulations whoever's in first or second.

[10:33] Just saying. Next on the agenda is the appointing of

[10:39] two appraisers using the same ones we've used in the past. Any questions on those

[10:45] two appraisers? Do I have a motion to use those two

[10:51] appraisers?

[10:54] Motion by Scott. Do I have a second? Second by Bill. All those in favor?

[10:59] » I opposed. Motion carries.

[11:06] Mural patchwork building.

[11:10] This would be just to start the process because you're going to I mean, we've

[11:15] already talked to her. She's on board with it to use her building.

[11:22] This would be to find an artist, get an estimate, and apply for grants so it can

[11:27] be paid for hopefully. Any questions on doing a mural? Mural

[11:33] doing the history of Fremont beginning one end with the history and moving

[11:38] forth to current. >> Didn't Portland.

[11:48] » Yep. And they just put I mean it's not a history mirror on an they just put one

[11:54] in >> Anola.

[11:58] » Yeah. Neat. So do I have a motion to approach this mirror and see what we can

[12:04] do with it? >> I like the motion.

[12:06] » Have a motion by Ashley. Do I have a second?

[12:09] » Second. >> Second by Scott. All those in favor?

[12:14] » Opposed? Motion carries.

[12:19] Next, renewal of health insurance for the town. This is a 6.86%

[12:26] increase, which is a increase of 2,15134,

[12:33] which is lower increase than most places are looking at. Any questions on doing a

[12:40] renewal on the insurance because this is a grandfather policy?

[12:47] Do I have a motion to do the renewal on the health insurance?

[12:51] » So I have a motion by Barry. Do I have a second?

[12:54] » Second. >> Second by Ashley. All those in favor?

[12:58] » I opposed. Motion carries.

[13:03] » We just worked right through that. >> We have trees

[13:09] that need attention. We have three bids.

[13:16] A top tree service put their bid in two different ways. One portion 16,000.

[13:24] They remove the wood 13,500. The town keeps the wood, but we have

[13:30] people that will take that wood. We next one is set tree service. That's

[13:37] 19,600. And the last one is H and K and that's

[13:42] $18,450.

[13:45] And when you read and compare them, they're all the same.

[13:50] Any questions on the bids for the trees?

[13:57] » And we have people that would take the wood.

[13:59] » That's amazing. That's >> okay. I've got a motion for a top tree

[14:03] service and doing it for the 13,500 whereas the town keeps the wood it would

[14:09] get people to remove it. So I have a second for a top.

[14:13] » I have a second by Barry. All those in favor

[14:16] » I oppose. Motion carries.

[14:32] 17 cents a minute. >> I guess

[14:37] I guess

[14:42] » I just like to see you. >> Yeah, that's fair.

[14:48] » Your attorney's contra This fixed fee for meetings is unchanged. The only

[14:54] thing that changes is there's a 4% hourly rate increase which is $10

[15:01] which is 17 cents a minute.

[15:06] » Do we have any and I don't get to keep it?

[15:10] » Bet you've never had anybody for him. >> No, I have not. That was a first.

[15:16] » I bet. Do we >> Do we have any questions on his

[15:20] contract? Do >> do I have a motion to accept the

[15:25] contract with the 4% increase? >> So moved.

[15:30] » Motion by Barry. Do I have a second? >> Second.

[15:33] » Second by Scott. All those in favor? >> I.

[15:37] » Thank you. >> Motion carries.

[15:42] » We just like to get you going. >> It doesn't take much. I appreciate it.

[15:49] since you're back in such good shape. >> Okay.

[15:55] Department reports. We have >> Fremont Fire.

[16:01] » He let me take his money today.

[16:09] » Police report. Um the new vehicle is in shop so it should be up and operational

[16:15] probably in the next couple weeks it's looking

[16:18] » so looking at first part of December to mid December.

[16:21] » Yeah. Um the only other request I had was uh for the board to consider our

[16:27] animal purchase for training and duty carry. It went up a little bit more so

[16:32] we had to have it rebid with from a month and a half ago. uh asked the board

[16:38] to approve 13,165 for ammo purchase for pistols, rifles,

[16:45] and uh the shotguns. And

[16:50] I was working with Kathy to see if she could uh find the extra funds to

[16:59] remove from. Any questions on the police report to

[17:05] begin with? And Joe's asking to purchase a home.

[17:15] Motion >> move.

[17:19] » Got a motion by Bill to purchase the web. A second.

[17:22] » Second. >> Second by Barry. All those in favor? I

[17:27] » oppose. Motion carries.

[17:32] Anything else, Joe? >> No, thank you.

[17:35] » Okay. Zoning.

[17:42] See, she's sent our orders have been out to new violators.

[17:47] We already had the public hearing, so she's working on

[17:52] her job.

[17:57] Street

[18:00] I will say that um they're very busy doing the leaves and they will pick up

[18:05] fresh again, but right now they need to get one last time, which they said will

[18:08] probably be that first week in December if they need to get the leaves done and

[18:12] finish up their Christmas decorations. And we did get a phone call

[18:16] complimenting them on going out and doing the leaves in the rain. So that

[18:20] was nice to get congratulations on there.

[18:23] » It's kind of nice when once you hear something good.

[18:27] Just one quick question. I know that we did our last like brush pickup months or

[18:32] so ago. What about the ones that are on 20?

[18:36] » They'll get those when they do that. Should we get December when they're

[18:39] thinking that they'll be able to get back out through the brush? Because we

[18:42] had so much come down here. >> Yeah. So one more time, get it back out.

[18:47] Yep. I guess there was even some

[18:55] water.

[18:58] Looks good. Water report. Waste water.

[19:04] We're good

[19:10] part.

[19:16] Okay, that finishes those.

[19:22] Just as an update, the audits are complete

[19:26] and Kathy and I have a meeting come Thursday,

[19:31] two days from now to have an asset conference on the audit.

[19:37] The budget has already been approved for 2026. Kudos to Kathy.

[19:46] We are still working with Baker Tilly on property tax study, hoping and praying

[19:51] that in this next section maybe they can get the towns over 2,000

[19:58] that we would be able to set our own tax rate instead of relying

[20:02] on neighboring town. We're still waiting on the DORA app.

[20:08] We've had 44 responses on the survey that was sent out with bakery,

[20:17] coffee shop, restaurant, and entertainment,

[20:24] but that was what came through as the responses. So, that was kind of

[20:30] interesting if nothing more. And then on Wednesday, December 10th at

[20:36] 7 a.m. is the chamber breakfast. And you're all invited to attend.

[20:43] » And what time? >> 7 a.m.

[20:47] in the morning.

[20:52] » Now, we were here at 7 a.m. this morning,

[20:56] » right? Yes, we were. The other thing is Surf Net is going

[21:01] around town now, visiting different homes, passing out fires, and I know a

[21:06] couple people that have signed up. >> Get mine tomorrow,

[21:10] » huh? >> Get mine tomorrow.

[21:12] » Yeah, because they start out at $30, no contract. Um, let's see. That's one.

[21:19] » So, lock in fees. >> Yeah. And then 30, 50, and 65, I think,

[21:25] are the three rates. So >> that's 100 200 300 gigabytes. So that's

[21:32] » So they started. >> Does anybody have anything else?

[21:38] » Two ma'am. >> We're at 100.

[21:40] » We're good. >> We're paid. Do I have a motion? Do you

[21:44] have anything you would like to add? >> Just thank you. It's nice to be here.

[21:48] » Well, we're happy to have you back. >> Don't scare us like that. What's that?

[21:55] » Yeah. I mean spirit try not to >> they told me 3 to four weeks off work

[22:00] and this is 3 weeks from the day surgery so I am very

[22:08] happy well you haven't seen it all we might after the meeting

[22:20] but thank you

[22:23] » anything Do I have a motion to adjurnn?

[22:28] » Got a motion. Second. >> Second.

[22:31] » Got a second. All those in favor? Motion carries. Meeting is adjourned.

Town Council Meeting November 18, 2025

Transcript