[0:01] [music] [0:03] You are watching Access Leaport County [0:05] Channel 97. Coming up next is the [0:07] September 14th [music] meeting for the [0:09] Long Beach Town Council. You can find [0:12] more information [music] for this [0:13] meeting by visiting www.acess [0:16] leaport county.org. [0:19] [music] [0:22] » Welcome everyone to the September town [0:24] council meeting. Let's please stand for [0:26] the pledge. [0:31] To the flag of the United States of [0:33] America to the [0:36] stand, [0:39] liberty and justice for ally. [0:42] Amen. [0:46] » Thank you. Meg, could you do roll call, [0:48] please? [0:48] >> Sure. President Joy Schmidt, [0:51] >> here. [0:52] >> Vice President Anita Remis, [0:54] >> present. Kendra Bartlett, [0:55] >> here. Colleen Lane [0:57] >> here. [0:57] >> Cindy Levy [0:58] >> here. [0:59] >> Attorney Willoughby [1:00] >> present. [1:02] >> Chief Swiss [1:04] >> present. [1:05] >> Clerk Collins I am present. And that [1:06] concludes role. [1:09] Uh thank you. I have no opening remarks. [1:13] Uh the consent agenda tonight includes [1:17] the approval of the minutes council [1:19] meeting August 10th, 2026. Town Council [1:22] Executive Session August 17, 2026. [1:26] Building revenue report for August 2026. [1:28] Permits approved totaling $2,21,385 [1:33] with revenue of $25,515.82. [1:38] Five electric permits with revenue of [1:40] $99. One street cut permit with revenue [1:43] of 200. [1:45] Invoices for payment approval. Sender [1:47] Dalton, July Town invoice 12873 for [1:51] $3,23546. [1:55] Sender Dalton August town invoice 12951 [1:59] for $4,616.94. [2:03] Sender Dalton August water invoice 12952 [2:07] for $47.50. [2:10] H Jan August 2026 closeout invoice [2:15] 2024361-20 [2:17] for 225.74 [2:21] house September invoice [2:24] 2024374-13 [2:27] for 23523.75 [2:32] lw wall constructors LLC July invoice [2:35] number 3286 for $933.33 [2:39] 3. Elwall Constructors LLC August [2:43] invoice for number 3287 for $8,695.83. [2:50] Uh note, Council Member Colleen Lane is [2:53] going to recuse herself from the [2:55] consideration and all decisions [2:56] regarding invoices from and payments to [2:59] LW wall constructors. [3:02] Claims approval town checks [3:05] number 22821 [3:07] through 22884 [3:09] totaling $149,34549. [3:15] Note, council member Colleen Lane will [3:17] recuse herself from the consideration [3:19] and all decisions regarding payments to [3:21] LW wall constructors LLC. [3:24] Water checks number 55565 [3:27] to 55769 [3:29] totaling $171,311. [3:34] August payroll $81,82169. [3:40] July combined bank reconciliation. [3:43] We'll be taking two votes tonight for [3:46] the consent agenda. One to prove all [3:48] matters except those involving LW wall [3:51] constructors constructors LLC and two [3:55] matters involving LL Wall L Wall [3:58] Constructors LLC for which council [4:00] member Colleen Lane recuses herself from [4:03] consideration in all decisions. [4:06] Chris, is there you want to jump in [4:08] here? [4:09] I think you did great. So I think that [4:12] it would be appropriate if inclined to [4:14] take the first vote to approve all [4:15] matters on the consent agenda except [4:18] otherwise accepted [4:20] regarding a wall constructors LLC. [4:23] >> Okay, I will make that motion. Do we [4:25] have a second? [4:26] >> Second. Anita Remiges. [4:28] >> Uh any discussion? [4:30] >> Just to be clear. So Mrs. Lane gets to [4:32] vote on this portion and she is you are [4:35] not you voting on LW wall constructors [4:38] LLC matters. [4:40] >> Okay. [4:42] Uh any other discussion? All in favor [4:46] say I. [4:47] >> I. Any opposed? [4:49] Thank you. Uh okay for the second or [4:51] second vote. Um if you're inclined then [4:55] someone a motion and a second to approve [4:58] uh payment of the LW wall constructor's [5:00] invoices and authorize those claims [5:04] under the claims approval and from which [5:06] if she is inclined Mrs. Lane will recuse [5:10] herself from any consideration. [5:13] I'll recuse myself for any consideration [5:16] of El Wolf constructor's [5:18] um payment approval or claim approval in [5:21] the town checks. [5:23] >> Okay. With Colleen recusing herself, I [5:25] would make a motion to approve [5:29] uh [5:31] all matters involving the LW wall [5:34] constructors LLC, [5:36] >> including payment of invoices and the [5:38] claims um register. Yes, including that [5:43] >> second. [5:45] >> Uh any discussion? [5:48] All in favor say I. I. [5:50] >> I. Any opposed? Thank you. Uh we'll now [5:53] open up for public comments which will [5:55] be limited to three minutes. So, anyone [5:58] in the audience have any public [5:59] comments? Sean, can you step up to the [6:01] podium there and make sure the [6:03] microphone is on? [6:06] >> My name is Sean Casmmer. I live at Stop [6:09] 16 in Long Beach. We our family's been [6:11] there since 1970. I had heard that [6:13] somebody wanted to start to basically [6:16] kill deer. And I strongly want to [6:21] push back against that. All the people [6:24] that I know around where I live deer. [6:26] I'm doing like 70 80 hours a week this [6:29] summer behind a computer, which I love [6:30] doing. It's not bad. But when I get out [6:33] and I see like these deers, it's a big [6:35] important thing to me. It's not just a [6:38] little thing. you really get inspired [6:40] and that's why we're here is because of [6:42] nature and I want people to consider [6:44] especially the council if there's some [6:46] way that we can look at the people that [6:48] want to kill the deer and get them to [6:50] move some kind of resolution some kind [6:53] of penalty or ticket if they [6:58] start to bother the deer and people like [7:01] that shouldn't be living here because [7:03] from what little I see cuz I'm so busy [7:06] I'm not as connected as [7:08] there's a strong I'd say 70% at least [7:12] strong favor for nature and for the [7:14] deers. So whoever is wanting to kill [7:18] deer that seems like a little bit out [7:22] from what the majority of people really [7:24] want. And I want to summarize by saying [7:27] that for me seeing nature is like being [7:29] near God especially if you're pushing [7:31] yourself and you got to deal with things [7:33] that you don't really want to deal with [7:35] like politicians or politics. So, in [7:38] that sense, I just want to summarize by [7:40] saying that there's a very strong need [7:43] and desire for nature and to protect all [7:46] the deers. I mean, that's why Moon [7:48] Valley is there. So, when you go out, [7:50] you can actually see some. And I thank [7:53] you very much for your patience. And I [7:55] would really like to consider that if we [7:57] get a lot of push back from these people [7:59] that shouldn't be here, if they don't [8:00] like nature, if there's something that [8:03] we couldn't do that other people in the [8:06] in America have done and take what they [8:08] have done and replicate that here and I [8:10] can research that if if anybody needs [8:12] that. So, thank you so much for your [8:14] time and for your patience. [8:15] >> Okay. Thank you, Sean. And [8:16] >> thank you for your service, too, for all [8:18] the stuff you do here. [8:19] >> Thank you. Uh any more comments, public [8:22] comments in the audience here? Any [8:25] public comments on Zoom? [8:31] Uh, seeing none, we'll move on to [8:34] committee reports. [8:36] Um, police department Chief Swiss. [8:41] >> Good evening. For the month of August, [8:43] the Long Beach Police Department [8:44] responded to 356 calls for service when [8:48] compared to 450 in the previous year for [8:51] a decrease of 94 calls. [8:54] During the month of August, 16 I'm [8:56] sorry, 13 incident reports were [8:58] documented and a total of two [9:00] individuals were arrested. One felony [9:02] arrest for dealing marijuana, one [9:04] misdemeanor arrest for driving with a [9:06] suspended license. Um, no major concerns [9:10] um to pass along from August. However, [9:14] um in the last week, we have been [9:18] investigating three separate attempted [9:22] um burglary investigations from stop 29 [9:25] to stop 31. Um the investigations are [9:28] still ongoing. Um our deputies are [9:32] working with um the Leaport County [9:34] Sheriff's Department officials um [9:36] because we believe our suspect is [9:39] related to one of their recent [9:41] investigations as well. Um, we would [9:44] like to thank um a resident that was [9:47] able to provide us with some security [9:50] footage from one of the locations that [9:53] was very helpful putting together a [9:55] timeline and providing us with a vehicle [9:59] description. Um, based off of that [10:01] vehicle description, we have been able [10:03] to utilize our license plate reader [10:06] system, our LPR flock system here in the [10:08] town and we have since identified the [10:11] vehicle and is assisting the [10:13] investigators throughout the [10:14] investigation. So, um that information [10:17] um actually was very helpful for the [10:19] other authorities as well and um hope to [10:22] give you more information in the [10:23] following weeks, but right now the only [10:25] thing I can say is it's under [10:26] investigation and our deputies are well [10:29] aware what happened there and we are [10:31] actively working on it. So can't say [10:34] enough um making sure that you know your [10:36] vehicles are always locked, no property [10:39] in plain sight and sight in vehicles and [10:41] then also um related to your homes um [10:44] just making sure that you have adequate [10:46] lighting around your home at night and [10:48] if you have a security system at your [10:50] home um especially a camera system just [10:53] every once in a while test it to make [10:54] sure that it is recording and that you [10:57] do have that footage because it is very [10:59] beneficial for us when these unfortunate [11:01] um crimes do occur. It helps us [11:04] immensely. [11:05] And then um next month I will begin [11:08] conversations with the communities of [11:11] the Dunland Beach Association and the [11:13] Town of Michigan Shores. Um the [11:15] contracts, police service contracts with [11:18] both of those communities um shortly [11:20] after the first of the year will be [11:21] coming up for renewal. Um, so I'll [11:23] report back to the town council how [11:25] those conversations go and then um we'll [11:28] have to get uh new contracts for renewal [11:31] um probably in either December or [11:34] January before the council. [11:36] And there is no police commission [11:39] meeting. We have one scheduled for this [11:41] Thursday. However, I'm cancelling it at [11:43] this time. May reschedule. Um but I [11:45] don't have any new business to present [11:47] this week. Um but I may reschedu here in [11:49] the near future. And that's it from the [11:52] police department report. [11:54] >> Thank you, town administrator, Chief [11:56] Swiss. [11:57] >> Couple of things. Um, one dating back to [11:59] August 11th, um, we had the unfortunate [12:03] high winds storm that impacted all of [12:05] northwest Indiana, the town of Long [12:07] Beach. Actually, we made it out of that [12:09] um, fairly well compared to other [12:11] communities to the west. Um, but I do [12:14] want to take a moment to thank our Long [12:16] Beach Volunteer Fire Department. Um, the [12:18] police department. um they worked [12:21] together handinand during that storm. Um [12:24] made a great impact to the community, [12:26] getting the roadways open, making sure [12:27] that our residents were cared for. So, a [12:30] big thank you to our emergency first [12:31] responders. Um to our street department [12:34] and water department team, um they [12:37] worked for weeks after that storm just [12:40] cleaning up our community. So, a big [12:42] thank you to all of the um public uh [12:45] works members for all the work that they [12:47] did cleaning that up. uh Melrose Park [12:51] last week. Uh the cleanup there was uh [12:54] completed and we're very pleased with [12:56] the overall work that was done to clean [12:59] the rubber matting and the park [13:01] equipment. At the community center, two [13:04] new heat pumps were installed in the [13:07] gymnasium. They still have a little bit [13:09] of work to finish. Um some sheet metal [13:12] work needs to be completed. Um both the [13:14] units are functional currently. However, [13:17] there's a few punch list items they need [13:18] to complete there. And then lastly, just [13:22] want to get information out on the fall [13:25] leaf collection. That will be on next [13:28] month's agenda in front of the council. [13:32] Tenatively, we are looking at November [13:34] 2nd through December 4th. It'll be a [13:37] fiveweek um cleanup throughout the town. [13:41] um working with Tom and Healey's [13:43] Landscaping will be submitting a [13:45] contract to the council prior to your [13:48] October meeting. [13:50] That's all I have. [13:52] >> Thank you. Volunteer [13:54] >> say just one thing. I think um and maybe [13:57] you mentioned it, but there was a group [13:59] of people I think Dave Alers and a [14:01] couple others who actually put their [14:05] personal numbers into I think you called [14:08] it we care and that I I'm trying to [14:11] remember who else it was. Um but that [14:13] was really very nice of you to do that. [14:17] >> It was and they um I know posted it on u [14:21] we sent a mass email out social media. [14:23] Um, I figured Chief Elers was going to [14:26] talk about that, so I didn't want to, [14:27] >> sorry, [14:28] >> steal his thunder there, but hopefully [14:29] he'll touch on that for us. [laughter] [14:32] >> Volunteer Fire Department Dave. [14:37] » Good evening, everyone. This is a report [14:41] uh for the first eight months of [14:43] activity in the town of Long Beach. As [14:46] far as the fire department's concerned, [14:49] year to date, we're at 82 fire calls. [14:53] were up um 8% 76 the same period last [14:58] year 57 of the calls have been in Long [15:02] Beach, 19 in Dulan and six in Michigan [15:06] Shores. [15:08] The breakdown uh for the month itself, [15:11] we had one fire call and that was a [15:13] mutual aid uh assisting uh Michigan on a [15:17] residential fire. [15:19] We had nine [15:22] hazardous conditions, which ties into [15:25] what Mark was talking about August 11th. [15:28] Um, trees, power lines, I'm sure there [15:33] may have been some that we sort of tried [15:36] to take care of that weren't even called [15:37] in. And then we had eight false alarms [15:41] for a total of 16 calls in the month [15:45] itself. [15:47] Number of members showing up for fire [15:49] stands at nine members. [15:52] We go to medical, we're I guess it's a [15:55] good thing we're trailing than what we [15:58] were last year. 66 year to date compared [16:01] to 77. [16:03] 65 of the calls have been in Long Beach. [16:05] One was in Dulan [16:08] uh as a mutual aid request. [16:12] The breakdown itself for the month, we [16:15] had one respiratory respiratory call, [16:19] two personal injuries, two sick persons, [16:24] and two unconscious victims and one [16:27] medical alert [16:29] for the eight that took place in August. [16:33] Average turnout of personnel, [16:36] five members. [16:39] Our year-to- date overall response time [16:42] for fire stands at 5 minutes 16 seconds. [16:48] Medical is 4 minutes and 37 seconds. Our [16:53] members have donated [16:56] 2,848 [16:58] hours uh year to date. And I'm going to [17:04] I'll come back to [17:06] uh that August 11th event. One of the [17:09] things that we're [17:13] be before I leave the department, one of [17:16] my goals is to challenge the department [17:20] to be [17:23] a class [17:26] three department from an ISO standard. [17:29] The town used the fire department used [17:31] to be class five 10 is sort of you [17:35] really don't have a fire department one [17:38] only a handful that achieved that um we [17:43] moved up to four and I can't remember [17:46] how many years ago and I want to [17:48] challenge the members to go for three [17:52] class three and to me that is in and of [17:57] itself [17:59] If we can achieve that, we're a great [18:00] department now, but if we can track [18:04] things a little differently using [18:06] software and everything comes down to [18:10] being able to track what happens in the [18:13] fire department from the minute a call [18:15] goes off until you come back and [18:17] everything in between. Every time a [18:19] member walks in that building, I want to [18:22] know what are you doing? Are you going [18:23] to fitness? Are you going to work on the [18:25] trucks? And the more we can keep track [18:28] of that utilizing software, [18:31] I think we can achieve this. I mean, we [18:33] are a tremendous department now, but I'd [18:37] like to be able to say we're a class [18:39] three because the difference between [18:43] a higher number class and where we are, [18:47] hundreds of dollars as far as what your [18:50] uh homeowner's premium is. the the lower [18:54] the number ISO, [18:57] the insurance company will look and [18:59] hopefully lower your premiums. So, [19:03] that's a goal to shoot for, but for me, [19:05] it's personal. I know we can do it. I [19:08] know we're already there, but we have to [19:11] prove it in [19:13] numbers. And that is one of the things I [19:16] am going to strive for. And I hope I can live long enough to achieve [19:22] that. Coming back to what Mark talked [19:25] about, I was going to and I know I've [19:28] said this before. It's not I'm trying [19:30] not to blow smoke up his skirt, but he has provided so much personal [19:37] opinion, so much leadership to this [19:41] community, to the residents, to the [19:44] council, [19:46] to the employees, the police officers, [19:49] more so than the town manager, [19:52] because [19:54] we have such a unique relationship with [19:57] the police. now and it's [20:02] we want to help each other that night. [20:07] Let's see. Matt Dispro, I think, was [20:10] out. [20:11] I mean, maybe some other officers came [20:13] in. I'm not sure, but I I just I look [20:18] back and I think, man, this is the way [20:20] it's supposed to be. And that's how I've [20:23] always envisioned it for this town. [20:26] not where a small group of people have [20:28] their [20:30] fifoms. [20:32] It's where we're working together to [20:34] make this the best community we can. [20:38] And I'm starting my blood pressure is [20:39] starting to go up. But I just I'm so [20:42] thankful that Mark is part of our team [20:46] and I personally thank you from the [20:48] bottom of my heart. [20:49] >> Thank you. [20:53] Any questions? [20:56] No. Thanks, Dave. [20:58] And thank you, Mark. Uh, fire commission [21:02] is going to meet this Thursday, uh, at [21:05] 400 p.m. right here in this room if [21:07] anyone's interested. [21:09] Uh, Nerpsy, Colleen, [21:12] >> um, Nerpsy meets quarterly. So, our next [21:14] meeting is November 17th at 9:00 a.m. [21:18] >> Okay. Public works, Kendra. [21:22] Our next meeting is um September 28th. [21:26] The last meeting before that was June [21:28] 22nd because we as well public works [21:30] meets quarterly. [21:32] Storm water board Cindy [21:34] >> um storm water board is going to be [21:36] meeting on Monday, September 28th at [21:39] 8:30 a.m. [21:41] >> Thank you. Park board Kendra. [21:50] So, the garden walk date has been set [21:53] for June 26, 2027. Summer camp has ended [21:57] with 140 total kids. First Saturday Arts [22:00] has started. Um, the park department is [22:04] moving ahead with getting more finalized [22:06] quotes from RVI, the uh company they [22:10] chose to help with the tennis court [22:12] pickle ball park um rehabilitation. [22:16] They're looking to raise $100,000 for [22:18] that. Hoping to get 50,000 or more from [22:20] residents and then a matching grant for [22:22] 50 [22:24] uh Melrose Park. Mark already touched on [22:26] this and just want to thank you Mark for [22:28] coordinating all that. Um and it's not [22:30] an easy job. So that's all cleaned up [22:32] now. Power wash the equipment and as [22:34] Mark said the clean that poured rubber [22:36] surface mat. [22:37] Um ongoing stop maintenance at 19 and [22:40] 23. Um, apparently Ellen may touch on [22:43] this, but at 24 there's a black locust [22:46] tree coming down. Um, some maintenance [22:48] to a bench at stop 16 and um they're [22:53] also looking at replacing um maybe [22:55] working with Cindy on this, the [22:57] replacement of the beach signs, the stop [23:00] signs um not the red car stop signs, but [23:03] stop two or stop 1923, those type thing [23:06] signs. Um, so they're looking into that [23:09] and also looking at a new swing set at [23:12] the upper Melrose or Triangle Park over [23:14] there at Stop 20, which is not the main [23:17] Melrose Park, but the one on um I forget [23:20] those streets up there. Um, it's just a [23:23] little small area right now, but they're [23:25] looking at replacing um the swing [23:27] [clears throat] set up there. [23:29] They're aware of the benches in the main [23:31] park that need repair, and they're [23:33] working on that. Um, invasive cleanup is [23:36] still going on by PZOS, which is the [23:38] third party um, contractor company [23:41] they're working with to help control the [23:43] invasive species at stop 24. And I just [23:46] want to give um kudos again to Paul and [23:49] Zach on the park board for leading the [23:51] huge project on the courts tennis courts [23:54] remodel and for just their open [23:56] transparency and help holding extra [23:58] workshops um this whole time to answer [24:01] people's questions along with tons of [24:04] emails and just lots of great [24:05] communication gathering feedback from [24:07] everyone. And the park board next [24:09] meeting is September 22nd so next week. [24:13] >> Thank you. community center. Anita, [24:18] >> the community center did not meet uh [24:22] Labor Day, September 7th. The update on [24:25] the vinyl flooring at the two entrances [24:27] to the building, which will really clean [24:30] things up. The carpet will not be a [24:32] mess, will be taking place in the next [24:35] two weeks, week or two. Um and our next [24:39] there have been other uh repairs that [24:41] have been done but um nothing [24:44] significant to report and our next [24:46] meeting is October 5th [24:49] >> at 2 p.m. [24:50] >> Thank you. Budget and finance Meg. [24:54] >> Budget and finance met on September 1st [24:56] and went through the 2027 budget. We [24:59] went through each fund and discussed any [25:02] outstanding items. The budget was [25:04] noticed. Then on September 2nd, I had it [25:07] got it entered on I believe the 1st and [25:11] the first reading in the public hearing [25:13] will be held this evening and then the [25:15] totals were distributed to council as [25:17] part of the meeting packet. The August [25:20] town and water bank wrecks are [25:22] completed. The Bank of New York [25:24] apparently the after the Indianapolis [25:27] office closed or not office but [25:30] location. So we our contact stopped [25:34] responding and uh long story short we [25:37] just don't he used to email the [25:39] statement so that we didn't have to wait [25:40] on the one that comes physically in the [25:42] mail but this la this month and last [25:44] month we've had to wait. So once New [25:47] York bank wreck is completed after we [25:50] received the statement then I'll [25:51] distribute financials including the cash [25:54] allocation report the revenue expense [25:55] reports and fund projections to the [25:58] department heads and council. [26:01] The, as I said, the first reading of the [26:03] budget is this evening with the second [26:04] reading and the adoption scheduled for [26:06] the October 12th council meeting. And [26:09] our next meeting will be held October [26:11] 6th at 10 a.m. [26:13] >> Thank you. Human resources, Cindy. [26:16] >> Uh, human resources uh did meet on [26:19] Monday, August 17th. Um, [26:23] uh, chief reported on the open billing [26:25] inspector position. there was some uh [26:29] lengthy discussion about uh adopting an [26:32] AI policy for the employee manual and [26:36] that discussion is going to continue at [26:39] our next meeting which will be Wednesday [26:41] September 23rd at 9:00 a.m. [26:44] >> Thank you. [26:47] >> Uh tree board Ellen, [26:51] » the tree board did not meet this month. [26:53] We're going to be meeting in September. [26:55] The only thing we're working on now is a [26:57] list of trees that I work with Chief and [27:00] Tom Dolph and then we'll decide, you [27:02] know, um which ones are coming down. I [27:05] know some people are concerned about [27:06] certain trees and we listen to [27:08] everybody. So, um and Kendra, stop 24, a [27:13] black lost is falling down. Did you just [27:16] say that? That was on um Yeah, I was I [27:20] thought you would have more information [27:21] than me. They said that [27:23] maybe the Pisos uh people gave them that [27:26] information. They said it needed to be [27:28] removed that it was dying. [27:29] >> Oh, I you know I'm not not thinking stop [27:31] 24. Yeah, that part of that was an [27:33] invasive thing. Janu Janice would [27:35] probably have the most information about [27:37] that because she worked she goes over [27:38] for all the times they're there. Okay. [27:40] All right. I'll look into it though. [27:41] Okay. Okay. All right. [27:42] >> And um that's it. [27:44] >> Thank you. [27:48] Uh, the building commission met on 8:21 [27:52] and [clears throat] 911. Permits [27:54] approved. 2528 Lakeshore Drive for a [27:57] landscaping plan. 1503 Lakeshore Drive [28:00] for a new addition. 2016 Golden Gate for [28:03] a rebuild of existing entry stoop. 2964 [28:07] Lakeshore Drive for an addition over a [28:09] garage. 2816 Elbridge for remove and [28:13] replace decking. 2113 Lakeshore Drive [28:16] for a new septic, [28:18] 1414 Lakeshore Drive for sand removal [28:21] and regrade. And I just want to state [28:24] here that all of the sand removal [28:26] projects involve meeting with the comm [28:30] the contractor has to meet with the [28:31] homeowner and the uh and the building [28:35] commissioner, Larry Wall, before [28:36] anything is started. They've got to take [28:38] pre- pictures and post pictures and they [28:41] meet with Larry F. [28:43] uh project is completed. Uh 1416 [28:47] Lakeshore Drive sand removal and [28:49] regrade. 1420 Lakeshore Drive sand [28:51] removal and regrade. 2011 June Drive for [28:55] a pool. They received a variance uh but [28:58] from the BZA. [29:00] 2010 Lakeshore Drive sand removal and [29:03] regrade. 2016 Lakeshore Drive sand [29:05] removal and regrade. 2234 Lakeshore [29:08] Drive Sand Removal and Regrade. 2230 [29:12] Lakeshore Drive Sand Removal and [29:14] Regrade. 2206 Chasselton Kitchen and [29:17] Deck Edition. 2520 Shorewood, a [29:21] perimeter fence around the entire [29:22] property. Uh most of it will only be 4T [29:27] tall. Uh portion of it will be 5T tall. [29:32] Uh 2943 Lakeshore Drive, extend [29:35] retaining wall to enclose a wash out [29:38] area. Uh Larry Wall recused himself. [29:42] 2925 Lakeshore Drive, demolition of an [29:45] existing house and deck. Larry Wall [29:47] recused himself. 2306 Lakeshore Drive, [29:51] new beach stairs compliant with the [29:53] shore protection standards. 2922 [29:56] Lakeshore Drive, switched plumber on a [29:58] new home. Larry Wall recused himself. Uh [30:01] the APC requested a recommendation from [30:04] the building commission for setbacks in [30:06] business zoning districts. The building [30:08] commission recommends they be the same [30:09] as residential. [30:11] A stop work order was issued to 1528 [30:14] Lakeshore Drive. A wall was built on top [30:16] of a deck not included in the permit and [30:19] it violates view protection. A motion [30:22] was made to start the process to set a [30:24] public hearing to address continued [30:25] violations with this contractor. [30:29] Uh that was it for the building [30:30] commission. [30:32] and BZA met on August 12th, 2026. [30:36] 2011 June Way Drive had a public [30:38] hearing. Their variance was approved for [30:40] a pool in the setback. 1701 Story A had [30:44] a preliminary hearing. It was set for [30:46] public hearing on 9926. [30:50] Uh the 9926 public hearing was cancelled [30:52] due to improper notice by the applicant. [30:56] Any questions? [31:00] Thank you. Uh APC Anita [31:03] >> Advisory Plan Commission met on August [31:07] 17th. [31:09] Um there was uh the three [31:11] representatives of McKenna who were [31:14] working with us on the update to the [31:17] advisory to the um comprehensive plan uh [31:21] were with us on Zoom and we went through [31:24] what they have provided us um based on [31:27] our feedback and uh they will now be [31:31] making additional changes to the draft [31:34] of the update to the 2016 comprehensive [31:37] plan. Um, so far we don't have it, but [31:40] um, that should be coming to us and [31:43] hopefully it will be considered at our [31:45] next meeting, which will be a week from [31:47] today, September 21st at 700 p.m. [31:52] >> Thank you. We'll move on to unfinished [31:55] business, uh, new salt storage building [31:57] construction update. [32:00] In recent weeks, I have been in [32:02] communication with both of our [32:05] contractors that were awarded that [32:06] project. The state of Indiana um [32:10] Homeland Security Division has our [32:12] certificate of design release for [32:15] review. Currently, um the town had to [32:18] file a variance for the foundation due [32:22] to the fact that the salt building is [32:26] not a typical um residential or [32:29] commercial foundation. So therefore, it [32:32] required a variance. Um it's just a [32:35] matter of policy with the um more or [32:38] less building commission homeland [32:40] security division. We're just waiting [32:42] for that variance to come back and then [32:44] our completed CDR will go back to the [32:47] state for review and hope to hear [32:49] something in the next two weeks. Once [32:51] that is released, then the contractors [32:53] will give us an updated timeline on [32:55] construction. [32:57] >> Thank you. Uh Marsh paving project [33:01] review of quotes from Rereath Riley and [33:02] Milestone Paving. [33:06] >> This particular project we have been [33:08] working on since the spring of this [33:10] year. Um those of you who have traveled [33:13] out to Marsh Court um would have seen [33:16] the poor condition that that roadway is [33:19] in currently. We've received [33:22] information, photographs, emails from [33:25] residents along that corridor as well. [33:28] Um part of the overall issue with [33:31] Marshia Court is over the years the [33:34] garbage trucks and recycling trucks have [33:37] gotten larger. And these large trucks [33:40] when they turn the very tight radius on [33:42] Marsh Court as you're traveling into [33:45] Marsh Court making that first lefthand [33:47] turn, that radius, um I just drove it a [33:50] week ago is now becoming even worse than [33:53] what it was 2 months ago. Um with all [33:55] the heavy rains that we've had this year [33:57] as well, um what asphalt that was [34:00] remaining there is all washed out. Um we [34:02] are now down to the bare earth and sand [34:05] that's there and um it is just a [34:08] complete muddy mess through there. We [34:10] have a drainage structure that is about [34:12] at the halfway point of Marsh Court as [34:15] well. Um it is undized. Um it is aging [34:19] and is not performing in the manner that [34:22] it should. Um therefore it's been [34:24] recommended to replace that particular [34:27] drywall drywall structure there. um [34:31] they're going to be replacing it with an [34:33] 1825galon [34:36] brand new dry well to include um [34:39] concrete on the approaches leading to [34:41] that drywall system. Just the storm [34:44] water work alone on that roadway is [34:48] going to run approximately [34:50] $35,550. [34:54] um that includes the concrete work [34:56] around the structure and then um the [34:59] 23,250 [35:00] for the drywall drywall itself. We have [35:04] solicited two um separate quotes for [35:08] this project. The first was from Rereath [35:11] Riley Construction. The second was from [35:14] Milestone Construction. We have reviewed [35:17] and compared both quotes for the scope [35:20] of work. um the shoulders and the [35:24] radiuses that I described earlier. The [35:27] proposals from both of these contractors [35:30] is to remove any of the existing asphalt [35:34] to a depth of 15 in. We will then rather [35:38] than replacing that with asphalt, they [35:41] would pour concrete in these areas. um [35:44] concrete will sustain much longer the [35:47] impact of these heavy trucks traveling [35:49] through those radiuses and um that will [35:52] be done at both um the first lefthand [35:56] turn and then the left I'm sorry the [35:58] second lefthand turn as you come out um [36:01] going back onto Mount Clair. So, when [36:04] looking at both of these, um, the lowest [36:08] quote received was from that of Rereath [36:10] Riley for $132,650. [36:15] And then the proposal received from [36:20] um milestone construction was $138,889. [36:26] Um that difference [36:30] um [36:32] we tried did not try on this one to get [36:35] three. Um we were only able to get two [36:37] quotes on this particular project. So [36:40] but I think that we're still under [36:41] 150,000 [36:44] or is it required? I'm sorry. I'll turn [36:46] over. [36:46] >> Sorry. You have to solicit three. You [36:48] don't have to receive three. [36:50] >> My apologies. Um we only received and [36:53] solicited two on this. Um, so yeah, [36:57] that's kind of where we're at on this [36:58] one. So I guess [37:02] um we're getting at a time crunch [37:05] because the mills will start to close in [37:07] November and um the construction season [37:10] will close upon us soon. So [37:14] yeah, and just by nature of process, but [37:18] you are required. So, you know, maybe if [37:21] you have not to add to your meetings if [37:22] you have to have a special meeting if if [37:24] something comes up, but I would at well, [37:27] you're required to invite even if you [37:29] don't get at least for the record be [37:31] able to establish that you've requested [37:33] three. [37:36] >> Where is the funding coming from for [37:38] this? Megan and I spoke about that [37:41] earlier, but she can touch on that from [37:43] the various paving projects in that. Um, [37:46] I did I guess going back to I originally [37:50] did get three quotes. Indiana asphalt [37:52] was also they quoted it. However, they [37:54] couldn't do the drywall work. So, [37:59] >> I do have, so now that I think about it, [38:01] I do have a quote from Indiana asphalt [38:06] and uh Indiana asphalts um was only for [38:10] the re the milling and the resurfacing [38:14] and um I'd have to pull it up on email [38:16] for you, but it was in the 60,000 range, [38:20] but it did not cover any of the storm [38:22] water work. it did not cover the [38:24] extensive work at the corners for the [38:26] concrete and the buildup of the radiuses [38:29] as well. So [38:30] >> yeah, so I I would say as long as that [38:32] gets put in the record with these and [38:34] because it wasn't responsive to the [38:36] specs that were sent out in the request [38:38] that you could go ahead and and that [38:40] would be a formal one as long as chief [38:42] were to provide that to me to put in the [38:44] record. [38:47] I spent a lot of today working on the [38:49] capital plan to confirm the questions [38:52] that would arise tonight with some of [38:54] these projects and our overall uh we [38:58] would we would be okay to afford this [39:01] project. So we've got uh additional [39:06] paving money that is available due to [39:08] the fact that we are submitting the CCMG [39:11] grant for Lakeshore Drive but we are not [39:13] actually paving this year. So we did not [39:15] need to come up with the match that we [39:18] would have needed to which was [39:20] originally on the capital plan if we [39:22] were paving this year. Uh we also have [39:25] money left in riverboat and [39:30] uh [39:32] also seed it has 50,000 in paving. So, [39:36] um, and I think we're getting towards [39:40] the end of any hospital bills related to [39:43] paving because they will be submitting [39:45] the grant. So, there will be additional [39:48] engineering costs for each phase of the [39:50] project [39:51] when we do pave. Um, and we will need to [39:55] just kind of keep an eye on the paving [39:57] in the next each year to see what we can [40:00] afford with the grant being a million [40:03] and then our match being $250,000 [40:06] to make sure that we can afford to do [40:10] the entire amount of the grant. [40:12] Hopefully, we can. Um but for this year, [40:16] if we do that project and if we do the [40:20] town signs, uh we are still positive by [40:23] $25,000. That's assuming we spend every [40:26] penny of our projects on the capital [40:30] plan, which you know that includes [40:32] $100,000 for community center. They [40:34] usually don't spend that full amount. Um [40:38] I we were out of internet for the last [40:41] hour of the day today. So I will send [40:43] this out to council just so you have the [40:45] updated version. Um but I am comfortable [40:49] with this project. [40:52] >> Okay. As I [40:53] >> Oh, so am I. [40:55] >> As I look at the um estimate received [40:57] from Indiana Asphalt, which is their [41:01] estimate number 426 [41:04] um just for the mill and repaving of the [41:10] roadway. That's removing the existing [41:13] um pavement [41:15] um taking it down 4 in. applying 2.5 [41:20] commercial binder with 1.5 of commercial [41:22] surface. their quote for that and again [41:26] this isn't they weren't able to put in [41:27] that large dry well they couldn't handle [41:29] the storm water working in that there [41:32] that particular quote was 57,750 [41:37] and when you compare that to the same um [41:39] item of scope of work with wreath Riley [41:42] which is number one under roadway mill [41:44] and resurface [41:46] um their quote for that particular work [41:49] is 54,140 [41:52] is the lump sum there. Um, so Ruth Riley [41:55] obviously came in um, you know, $3,610 [42:02] cheaper just for the asphalt work there. [42:04] So, and again, as we address this [42:07] project, we've heard from the homeowners [42:09] the storm water concerns were a major [42:12] part of this um because that roadway [42:14] floods out in the lowest portion of the [42:17] road. um our plow drivers um this past [42:20] winter um had difficult time plowing [42:23] that particular roadway um because of [42:26] the condition um the large divots that [42:28] were in there um there's large sections [42:31] of the asphalt that are completely [42:33] missing there and um that's why we were [42:35] wanting to address this this year. A [42:37] matter of fact, um, one of the residents [42:39] that I spoke to on the very end of the [42:42] roadway, um, she tells me that this was [42:45] on the town's, um, scope of work on [42:48] their capital plan some years ago. She [42:51] said maybe 5 to seven years ago, and she [42:53] was disappointed that the town didn't [42:55] address it then, and she was excited to [42:57] hear that we're looking at addressing it [42:59] this year because she travels that [43:00] roadway often. So [43:03] >> I can add to I I just forgot that we [43:05] also have storm water funds [43:08] >> but towards that project as well. [43:10] >> Okay, [43:10] >> that's a [43:11] >> I just Oh, a quick just some a couple [43:14] quick comments. One, um I I'm not I [43:18] don't know how long this will take, but [43:20] just that there are a few things I mean [43:22] hopefully the residents will understand. [43:25] one that, you know, it'll be closed off. [43:28] So, their trash and recycling may have [43:31] to be redirected. And they also talk [43:34] about tree trimming or tree removal. So, [43:37] if things are being widened or [43:39] something, they may have to help with [43:42] that. I'm I'm just mentioning that um [43:45] just because they may have to be [43:48] >> very true and all good points. Um when [43:50] we met with both the contractors out [43:52] there, we are hopeful depending on [43:54] construction schedule that we would um [43:58] schedule the work after the Tuesday [44:01] recycling and start that work then so [44:04] it's completed by the following Monday. [44:06] But the concrete work that's going to be [44:08] done there, we will at least need to [44:09] keep it closed for probably a good week [44:11] to allow the concrete to cure before [44:14] vehicles can start driving over it, [44:15] especially the heavy trucks. So, [44:20] >> okay. I would make a motion to approve [44:21] the RET Riley uh proposal for $132,650. [44:29] » I'll second that. [44:30] >> Any more discussion? [44:34] All in favor say I. [44:36] >> I. Any opposed? Thank you. [44:41] AI generated information policy. Cindy, [44:44] I think you said that's going on your [44:46] next HR meeting. Okay. [44:48] >> Ongoing discussion. [44:50] >> Okay. Thank you. [44:51] >> Just add one item to that. Uh [44:55] once HR [44:57] reviews more like further the AI policy [45:00] that was proposed, we will also have K [45:03] plus our IT provider look at the policy [45:06] and give us their any suggestions they [45:08] have as well. Okay. [45:12] Thank you. Town signs, welcome signs, [45:14] and masonry pillars. Pendra. [45:17] >> Yes. Um, so tonight I'm asking for a [45:20] motion to approve construction for the [45:23] welcome pillars, we're calling them, at [45:25] Chastelton. Um Cindy and I have been [45:27] working with Mark on this and we came up [45:30] with what I think will be a really [45:32] beautiful [45:33] um [45:35] entry way there and we can put it on the [45:39] website later if this is approved and [45:41] going to move forward so people can look [45:42] at it since we weren't able to load it [45:44] tonight. But everyone here on the [45:45] council I think saw the email that I [45:47] sent the picture of how that should [45:49] look. I mean it's not going to obviously [45:51] be exactly the same. That's not [45:53] Chastelton Road. It's in the picture, [45:55] but it's the best I could do. Um, so [45:59] Mark helped a lot with this and [46:01] discovered after talking with Nipkco, if [46:03] we did solar lights um on there, we'd [46:06] save about $1,200 a year. So that was a [46:08] really great recommendation. And we [46:10] think we can match the lights on top of [46:13] the pillars that the existing pillars [46:15] have around Long Beach. So they'll still [46:18] look the same, but they'll be solar. So, [46:20] this um proposal would we would run [46:23] conduit up through the um pillar so that [46:27] if future use it would be ready for [46:28] electrical if we needed to if if for [46:31] whatever reason the solar lights didn't [46:33] work or we just wanted to um change that [46:35] up. So, right now the solar lights turn [46:37] off about 3:00 a.m. So, they're not [46:38] necessarily dusk to dawn, but they would [46:41] turn off about 3. Um [46:45] so, let's see. Um, I'm the motion I'm [46:49] seeking to approve would be for a total [46:51] of I'm asking for 35,000. The total cost [46:54] of the pillars is 31,500, but I want to [46:58] build in a little bit of a cushion there [47:00] in case we need it. And also, one thing, [47:03] not in the hard quote, cuz it would be a [47:06] different company, the actual sign [47:08] inside the brick pillar that says um [47:11] like Long Beach or established 1921 or [47:14] welcome to Long Beach, whatever we [47:15] decide. that is a um different material [47:18] that has to be put inside the pillar. So [47:22] the masonry guy would not do that. So I [47:24] think the 35,000 would still um provide [47:27] enough cushion to just you know have [47:29] that all in there. So [47:32] I guess first I'll entertain any [47:34] questions. [47:35] >> I got a question. Who's doing the [47:36] construction? [47:37] >> Bob Salot or Salot. He has to he's not [47:39] registered right now but of course we [47:41] get the permits and he be he would get [47:43] registered but he's done a lot of work [47:44] for the town over the years. He just [47:45] happens to not for 2026 have his [47:47] registration. But [47:49] >> he's Tom's worked with him a lot. He's [47:51] done almost all the pillars that we've [47:53] ever had to reconstruct when especially [47:55] when contractors back into them. We have [47:57] to redo them. So, um, and I've I've [48:00] worked with him before on some other [48:02] stuff. He rebuilt 18 was the last pillar [48:04] that I was involved in doing and he did [48:06] that a great job on that. So, [48:08] >> the pictures look great. I thought, um, [48:11] Chris, is this something we have to get [48:13] three [48:15] If you have not, there should be [48:17] >> have. Yes, we've probably tried to get [48:19] like 20 quotes. [48:21] >> Yeah. I mean, one quote was uh 60 grand. [48:23] No, one quote was [48:26] >> 120 grand. 60 grand each. So, [48:28] >> I would just make sure you submit. [48:31] >> Can you share [48:31] >> along with this to make sure that has [48:34] for the record [48:37] >> even if you solicited to and didn't get [48:39] back. Yeah. But the record just needs to [48:41] show [48:42] >> the companies that I talked to. or or [48:44] that you've solicit. Yes, that you've [48:45] reached out. [48:46] >> Okay. [48:50] I can do that later though, right? Okay. [48:52] Because I have them somewhere [48:54] because this has been going on for three [48:56] years, I think. [48:58] Um [49:00] >> can I make the motion to approve the [49:02] funding for the signs? [49:04] >> Meg, do you want to weigh in on um [49:07] >> Yeah. So, it's the same as with the [49:08] Marsh Court that we do have funds. Um [49:12] the park project is also on the capital [49:16] plan and but that takes us into the [49:19] negative. So the signs did as well but [49:21] the cost of them has been cut in half [49:23] for this year. I think if you guys do [49:25] any additional work that would be [49:26] carried into next year. So uh we can [49:29] afford this this year. Um if council [49:32] wants to proceed with it [49:36] and I'll just add too I don't since it's [49:38] what it's September right now. if we [49:40] approve, he still has to do the permits, [49:42] has to probably get approved in the [49:44] October building commission meeting and [49:45] then we're into November, December with [49:47] the weather. So, this very well may not [49:49] be able to start construction till [49:51] spring. So, I don't know, Meg, if [49:52] that'll throw things off, but um you [49:55] know, like to get going as soon as [49:57] possible, but it might roll over into [49:58] the other year. [50:00] >> Yeah. No, that should that should be [50:01] okay. [50:02] >> Okay. Okay. We've got a motion. Do we [50:04] have a second? [50:08] I'll second it. [50:10] >> Any more discussion? [50:13] Uh so the motion is to approve 35,000 [50:17] for to move forward with the signed [50:19] project. [50:20] >> Um all in favor say I. [50:23] >> I. Any opposed? [50:25] >> Yes. [50:26] >> Okay. Passes [50:29] 4 to one. [50:32] uh road salt quotes for 2027 snow [50:35] plowing season. [50:38] >> All right, this um I'm going to give you [50:40] a little bit of history going back to [50:42] last year. Um last year we all know was [50:45] a challenging year with the weather that [50:48] we faced um here in northwest Indiana [50:50] with the snow and the cold. Typically we [50:54] purchase our annual supply of road salt [50:58] on a annual basis we would go through [51:02] 700 to roughly a,000 ton of road salt. [51:07] Historically the town of Long Beach has [51:10] always purchased treated road salt. Um, [51:13] the reason that we purchase treated road [51:15] salt is [clears throat] that anything [51:18] under 20° of temperature that begins to [51:21] go into the negative, the treated road [51:23] salt, [clears throat] excuse me, will [51:25] work, I believe, all the way to about [51:27] -20. [51:30] This year we were notified by the [51:31] Indiana Department of Transportation [51:33] that Leaport County was excluded from [51:37] the state's uh quantity purchase [51:40] agreement with the supplier Cargill Salt [51:44] and that we were unable to get treated [51:47] road salt through them and that we were [51:49] on our own this year to find a vendor to [51:52] supply treated road salt to our [51:54] community. I have been working with the [51:57] town of Trail Creek, the city of [51:58] Michigan City, and we have all been [52:02] struggling trying to get quotes. Um, we [52:05] have secured some quotes, but it was [52:07] difficult at best to get them. We [52:09] reached out to six different vendors. We [52:13] reached out to Mid-American Salt, [52:15] Cargill, Indiana Salt Supply, Ninja [52:19] Salt, Morton, and Midwest Salt. Um, the [52:24] city of Michigan City has been a [52:28] previous client of Midwest Salt and they [52:32] were able to actually secure um treated [52:36] road salt with Midwest Salt. [52:39] I did speak to Midwest Salt today um [52:42] because they were nonresponsive to our [52:45] request for quotes. So, prior to [52:48] tonight's meeting, I thought it was at [52:49] least worth a phone call. Um, it was our [52:52] last ditched effort to try and get [52:54] treated road salt for our community [52:56] because as of today, there is not a [52:58] single salt supplier out there that will [53:00] sell us treated road salt. They will [53:03] only provide us with untreated road salt [53:06] which will take us down to that 20° [53:08] temperature. So when I spoke to Midwest [53:10] Salt today, he could not give [53:13] Superintendent Dolph and I a guarantee [53:16] that they could sell us treated road [53:18] salt, but he said that we could supply [53:21] you with up to 700 ton of untreated road [53:24] salt. And the price for that would be [53:28] $15,468 [53:30] a ton. To put that in perspective, last [53:34] year we were getting treated road salt [53:37] at roughly $90 a ton. [53:42] He did tell me today that if I am able [53:45] to treat the salt for you, add an [53:48] additional $15 to that, that would take [53:50] us to $16,968 [53:54] for treated road salt for this year. Um, [53:57] we need to order approximately 700 ton. [54:01] So Tom Dolph and I began to strategize [54:06] how can we address this concern for the [54:08] town this year. We are currently sitting [54:11] on approximately 250 to about 300 ton of [54:16] treated road salt that's left over from [54:18] last year. Um we have it at the street [54:21] department facility. It's under tarp and [54:23] some of it is in our aging salt barn as [54:26] well. Tom and I have discussed that he [54:29] is going to move the treated road salt [54:31] that he has in the salt barn over to [54:33] where we have the other treated road [54:35] salt tarped and we're going to treat [54:37] that like it's gold. [54:40] We're going to let it sit there and [54:42] we're only going to touch it unless the [54:43] temperatures we see in the forecast are [54:46] going to be severely cold and we're [54:48] going to try and utilize as a latch last [54:51] um ditch effort for the town. [54:53] So getting back to how do we get the [54:56] additional road salt that we need to [54:57] meet about our thousand ton that we use [55:00] annually because we're sitting on about [55:02] 300. We need to order about another 700. [55:05] So we did get only um two other [55:09] companies that were responsive. One was [55:12] Ninja Salt. Ninja will sell us untreated [55:16] road salt at $130.82 [55:19] a ton. And then the other is Morton Salt [55:23] Supply. Um they actually were the most [55:25] responsive. Um they were replying to our [55:28] emails consistently and actually we have [55:30] a contract um here tonight at our [55:33] meeting that they provided. They were [55:35] able to provide us untreated road salt [55:38] for $125.35. [55:42] The other issue um Superintendent and [55:44] Dolph and I met this morning is if the [55:47] town were not to move forward this [55:50] evening and executing and awarding a [55:53] contract um which we recommend that we [55:57] um recommend to the council tonight that [55:58] we move forward with a contract with [56:00] Morton Salt for 700 ton of salt at [56:04] $125.35. [56:07] As part of that contract, [56:10] we are required to begin accepting salt [56:15] as early as October [56:18] at our request. However, all 700 ton [56:23] must be purchased by March 31st of 2027. [56:27] Superintendent Dolph and I discussed [56:29] that we don't have any concerns with [56:31] taking the 700 ton because we'll more [56:33] than likely go through that and maybe [56:35] even more depending on the weather that [56:37] we have coming. Um, I will caution the [56:40] council and share with you that if we [56:42] don't execute a contract with a salt [56:44] vendor, we may be stuck in a position [56:47] that no one will supply us salt or they [56:50] will at a cost of probably greater than [56:53] $200 a ton. Um, so it is the [56:56] recommendation after meeting with [56:57] Superintendent Dolph today that we [57:00] recommend to the council this evening [57:02] that we move forward with the Morton [57:05] contract, $12,5.35 [57:08] per ton for 700 ton. And that allows us [57:12] um the security and peace of mind of [57:14] knowing that we can at least get the [57:16] treated road salt for our winter snow [57:18] plowing needs. Now, if we go through [57:20] that 700 ton and the 300 ton that's [57:23] under TARP, um we'll just have to [57:25] solicit um quotes from the vendors that [57:28] are out there, come back to the council [57:30] with proposals. Um I'm hopeful that El [57:33] Nino hits this year and that we don't [57:35] need the thousand ton. Um but again, as [57:39] you know, our current salt barn only [57:42] holds a little bit over 200 ton [57:44] undercover. the new salt barn will hold [57:47] um in excess of 400 ton um which is [57:51] good. So, so whatever is left over this [57:54] year once that new barn goes up, we'll [57:55] at least be able to have it under cover [57:57] for next year. And then we're hoping [57:59] that the state QPA comes back around in [58:01] 2027. Um again, we're not the only um [58:05] city or town that was excluded. It was [58:07] all of Leaport County and there were a [58:10] couple other counties throughout Indiana [58:11] as well that were excluded this year. Um [58:14] when I asked INDOT for an explanation, [58:16] they couldn't give me an explanation. [58:18] They just said that they thought it was [58:20] because of the um supply and demand. [58:23] There is not much. Um I will tell you [58:25] Midwest Salt shared with me today. [58:27] They've ordered two additional barges. [58:29] They know what the cost of that is [58:31] coming in. The quote they gave us today [58:33] was based on those prices of the new [58:35] barges that are in route to um Illinois. [58:38] Um, so again, it's just it's been a [58:40] total struggle getting these quotes for [58:43] Road Salt. Um, so I recommend tonight [58:45] that we at least move forward with [58:47] Morton. One of these other companies [58:48] that are still out there that hasn't [58:50] responded, they could respond next week [58:53] and maybe a few dollars less or a few [58:55] dollars more. Um, I don't want to risk, [58:57] you know, us putting ourselves in a [58:59] position that we don't have any salt for [59:01] the season. So, I know it's a long u [59:05] explanation, but that just kind of [59:07] paraphrases all the conversations I've [59:09] had in recent months. Um, honestly, this [59:12] goes back to about May or June when we [59:15] started researching salt quotes. [59:19] >> Thank you. [59:22] » Any questions? [59:25] Mark, did you say that the this is [59:27] untreated and then to treat it [59:30] ourselves? [59:31] >> To treat it ourselves, which we're [59:33] hoping not to do. Tom estimates it could [59:36] cost us [59:38] 50 to 60 cents a ton because we would [59:41] have to buy the brine and then obviously [59:43] we've got, you know, time inhouse that [59:46] we would have to um do to treat all of [59:49] this. Tom hopes that we don't have to do [59:51] that. Um but he is preparing to research [59:55] the cost of the brine. Um he has done [59:57] this before for the town. Um he says the [1:00:00] town's been in similar situations before [1:00:03] where we've had to purchase the brine [1:00:05] and um mix it ourselves here. Um similar [1:00:08] to like what Midwest said earlier. [1:00:09] Midwest said they would charge us, you [1:00:11] know, $15 a ton for them to do it on a [1:00:14] large scale. Um just to put this in [1:00:17] perspective, we're ordering 700 ton. The [1:00:20] city of Michigan City is looking at [1:00:22] 3,500 tons. So that's why they're able [1:00:24] to get what they're getting a much [1:00:26] larger quantity and they're a previous [1:00:28] client of, you know, this vendor as [1:00:30] well. Trail Creek, they're in the same [1:00:32] position as us. Um they're struggling to [1:00:34] find quotes as well. Um so yeah, [1:00:39] I'm sorry. So you [1:00:40] >> Okay, I would make a motion to [1:00:44] >> Yeah. So, the recommendation would be to [1:00:46] move forward with approving the contract [1:00:48] with Morton Salt and then authorizing [1:00:51] the town council president Schmidt to um [1:00:54] execute the contract with Morton Salt, [1:00:56] which actually the deadline for us to [1:00:58] resubmit is tomorrow afternoon. I have [1:01:01] to have this back. They would only give [1:01:03] us 7 days on the quote as well. That's [1:01:06] how fast they're selling the salt right [1:01:08] now. So, this quote is only good until [1:01:11] close of business tomorrow. and I [1:01:13] received it last week. [1:01:15] >> Okay. I would make a motion to uh move [1:01:18] forward with a Morton salt. [1:01:20] >> I'll second that. [1:01:23] >> Any more discussion? [1:01:25] All in favor say I. [1:01:27] >> I. Any opposed? [1:01:30] >> Thank you. Uh storm water fee increase. [1:01:34] I think we were waiting for a [1:01:35] recommendation from budget and finance. [1:01:42] » Yes. and we we worked on the budget and [1:01:46] really did not talk about this, but uh [1:01:50] Tristan and I and Mark have all talked [1:01:52] about it and [1:01:54] the amount of phone calls and uh the [1:01:58] need for storm water projects is very [1:02:01] evident. So Mark, I don't know if you [1:02:04] want to touch on all the specific areas [1:02:08] that need work and also [1:02:11] just all of our paving projects. So [1:02:13] Lakeshore Drive, each phase is going to [1:02:16] have storm water work to the tune of [1:02:19] thousands of dollars. So um I think the need as anything nothing is costing [1:02:27] less as we do projects. So, um, did you [1:02:31] want to add anything? [1:02:32] >> Sure. Um, just starting with phase one [1:02:35] of Lakeshore Drive, phase one has [1:02:38] approximately $300,000 [1:02:41] just in storm water work. In phase one, [1:02:43] phases two and three are estimated to at [1:02:46] least be um near that or slightly under [1:02:50] the $300,000. [1:02:52] We have um aging dry wells um that need [1:02:56] to be addressed across the town. Um, one [1:02:58] in particular is at Indianapolis and [1:03:01] Hidden Hills Trail. Um, we have one [1:03:03] there that we actually need to go in and [1:03:06] probably add probably a 2,000galon dry [1:03:08] well beside the current one that is [1:03:10] there. Um, so there is storm water work [1:03:13] throughout the town. I've spoken with [1:03:16] our street superintendent, Tom Dolph. [1:03:18] Um, there is much more storm water work. [1:03:21] He would like to um take on projects [1:03:24] each year. However, we are limited with [1:03:26] the amount of funding that comes in [1:03:28] currently at the $15 a month per [1:03:30] household. Um, we're looking at, and [1:03:33] Megan and I had discussed um looking at [1:03:36] the possibility of raising it to $20. [1:03:38] So, it' be $5 more a month for a total [1:03:41] cost of $60 per home um per year to do [1:03:45] some of this additional work. and then [1:03:47] um we can prepare for you some um [1:03:51] additional material to assist you in [1:03:55] knowing some of the projects that are [1:03:57] coming up in the next 5 years um to help [1:04:00] better understand the need for the [1:04:02] increase. So, so we can work on that and [1:04:05] get that to you. [1:04:07] >> Okay. So, that doesn't need a motion [1:04:08] tonight. [1:04:10] >> No, I just think that it's good that we [1:04:12] have it on the agenda for discussion. um [1:04:14] come back with some additional [1:04:15] information on future capital [1:04:17] improvement projects and then um at some [1:04:20] point um ask attorney Willoughby to, you [1:04:23] know, work with the council on a [1:04:24] updating of the fee structure. [1:04:28] Do [1:04:28] >> you know how much additional funds a $5 [1:04:30] increase would give us? [1:04:33] >> Meg, have you looked at those numbers [1:04:35] based off of um what we're bringing in [1:04:37] currently on the household number? [1:04:39] >> If I do, [1:04:40] >> I know we had it. I just don't have it [1:04:42] with me. [1:04:45] It's [1:04:50] » and one of the things is every year on [1:04:51] the CCMG paving projects um we have [1:04:55] storm water work that's done with every [1:04:57] single paving project. Um and that also [1:05:00] helps pay for this part of the you know [1:05:02] CCMG match as well. So [1:05:06] >> it [1:05:06] >> okay [1:05:07] >> I roughly it would be 70 around 60 to [1:05:11] 70,000 a year based on [1:05:14] I believe our billing I think it's 1237 [1:05:19] but it could be like our trash is a,083 [1:05:23] I think so that is [1:05:27] 60 almost 65,000 so roughly that 65,000 [1:05:33] a additional. [1:05:35] >> Correct. [1:05:35] >> So, so by raising it to $5 a month per [1:05:38] household would bring in the 65,000 [1:05:41] additional. To put that in perspective, [1:05:43] the Marsh Court project that we just [1:05:46] approved um this evening just for that [1:05:49] one single 1825galon [1:05:52] drywall structure there. Um that work [1:05:55] again came to [1:05:58] 35,550. [1:06:02] So half of what Meg has just shared with [1:06:05] us would get us this one dry well. And [1:06:08] there are numerous dry wells throughout [1:06:10] the community that we've been trying to [1:06:12] improve. Um this year I will say in my [1:06:17] six years I have been overwhelmed with [1:06:19] storm water calls because we've had a [1:06:21] heavy amount of rain this year and we've [1:06:23] identified areas that need work. Um we [1:06:26] have a few homes that are taking on [1:06:28] water in their garages just because of [1:06:31] the dry wells are und sized and then [1:06:33] it's flowing over into you know the [1:06:35] residents um driveways and that those [1:06:37] obviously are priorities. Others we're [1:06:40] getting, you know, I have a puddle at [1:06:41] the end of my driveway. Tom and the [1:06:44] engineers are telling me that if that [1:06:46] puddle, you know, is gone 24 hours after [1:06:49] a heavy rain, that's really not a [1:06:51] concern, an immediate concern. I try to [1:06:54] explain that to some of the residents, [1:06:55] but you know, a lot of times that isn't [1:06:57] what they want to hear. They want to [1:06:58] hear, "I want that puddle gone at the [1:07:00] end of my driveway." But more [1:07:01] importantly, we've got to address the [1:07:02] serious concerns first. Not saying that [1:07:05] theirs is not serious, but there are [1:07:07] priorities. And obviously, as you can [1:07:10] see, it's quite expensive for storm [1:07:12] water work because a lot of this we [1:07:14] can't do in-house. It takes heavy [1:07:16] machinery. um these 1,800-gallon [1:07:19] drywalls, we don't have the equipment to [1:07:21] lift them and place them into the [1:07:23] ground. And then there's, you know, [1:07:25] significant trenching that needs to [1:07:27] occur and we have to bring in outside [1:07:29] contractors to do this type of work. So, [1:07:31] >> and just what you're saying about um [1:07:34] residents, I know that you've met with [1:07:37] uh Commissioner Wall and Tom Dolph um [1:07:42] about a neighbor of mine on Florond and [1:07:44] she's been looking at the problem for a [1:07:47] minimum of two years and she's ready to [1:07:50] move forward with what she can do to [1:07:52] mitigate it, but she'll be looking to [1:07:54] the town for help with her her issues [1:07:57] and like I said, she's put out and is [1:08:00] going to put out a significant amount of [1:08:02] money. But then you talk about what the [1:08:04] town will have to do to help. So, [1:08:08] >> as I have been learning more about the [1:08:11] town's storm water infrastructure, I'm [1:08:14] seeing the history of the town. Um, our [1:08:16] newer paving projects, the large round [1:08:19] cylinder dry wells, typically from 500 [1:08:24] to 2500 gallon are placed under the [1:08:27] surface of the roadway. And that's where [1:08:29] we capture a lot of our storm water. And [1:08:31] that what I'm seeing is the history of [1:08:33] the town is many of our drywall systems [1:08:36] are from the 40s, 50s, and 60s. They're [1:08:39] bricks. And those bricks were laid into [1:08:42] the ground in a small 4tx 4 ft area with [1:08:46] a catch basin on top. And then once that [1:08:50] storm water gets into that catch basin, [1:08:52] there's nowhere really for that water to [1:08:54] go. where in a dry well system that kind [1:08:57] of cylinder timble is just surrounded [1:09:00] with two feet of of rock and then that [1:09:03] allows the water to disseminate out of [1:09:05] there where these old brick systems that [1:09:07] are very aging in the town. Those are [1:09:09] the ones we need to tear out of the [1:09:11] ground, need to get the new dry wells [1:09:13] into. So those are the ones that we have [1:09:15] to address moving forward in that cuz [1:09:16] we're finding many of the old ones just [1:09:19] cannot keep up with the amount of of [1:09:21] rainfall that we get and they're [1:09:22] collapsing, falling apart. the bricks [1:09:24] are aging. So, [1:09:27] >> okay, let's leave this on the agenda for [1:09:30] uh October meeting [1:09:33] um for more discussion and if you guys [1:09:36] want to discuss it again at budget and [1:09:38] finance. [1:09:39] >> Yes, I will add it to our agenda. [1:09:42] >> Okay, moving on to new business. Uh [1:09:44] combining the park lots. [sighs] [1:09:47] >> Uh Joy, we did a [1:09:49] >> interest [1:09:50] >> conflict of interest statements. [1:09:52] >> What? conflict of interest statements. [1:09:55] >> Oh, here you could pass the that to [1:09:57] Joey. [1:09:58] >> Your yours changed. [1:10:02] » Okay. Thanks. [1:10:04] >> Okay. Conflict of interest statements, [1:10:07] Chris. [1:10:08] >> Um, thank you. So, [1:10:11] hopefully I don't get emotional because [1:10:13] this one is a little bit of a sensitive [1:10:15] issue or I'm out of line, but it won't [1:10:17] be the first. Uh, recently it was [1:10:19] brought to my attention. I'd like to say [1:10:22] from as a result of those who had good [1:10:24] intentions, but it appears keyboard [1:10:27] warriors or people who had bad [1:10:29] intentions filed a complaint alleging, [1:10:34] for lack of a better description, [1:10:35] misconduct on the part of council member [1:10:39] Lane, um the or clerk treasurer, and the [1:10:44] building commissioner, all alleging that [1:10:46] they have conflicts of interest, haven't [1:10:48] complied with the law that came to light [1:10:52] um because of mailing by whoever [1:10:54] submitted it confidential confidentially [1:10:58] had a mistaken address to which they [1:11:01] addressed the package to and it got [1:11:02] returned to the town hall because that [1:11:05] same person or persons put a return [1:11:08] address of the town hall as if it was [1:11:09] sent from here and it was sent to [1:11:12] various state agencies or county [1:11:15] prosecutor seeking investigations etc. [1:11:18] Since then, I've taken the time to do [1:11:21] some due diligence, have assured those [1:11:23] who have inquired that there no [1:11:27] intentional acts here. Um, but [1:11:32] one thing that came to light which I was [1:11:34] unaware of is we all know Larry Wall, [1:11:37] he's the building commissioner and has [1:11:38] been. We all know that his daughter is a [1:11:41] council member. We all know his niece is [1:11:43] the elected clerk treasurer. [1:11:46] What wasn't aware or on every the front [1:11:49] of everybody's mind is at the end of [1:11:52] 2024, approximately December 23rd at the [1:11:55] council's year-end meeting, there was a [1:11:58] renewal and a contract entered into with [1:12:00] Larry Wall for two years and then two [1:12:03] subsequent automatic renewals. That was [1:12:06] after Colleen Lane was elected but [1:12:09] before she took office. That is all [1:12:12] legal. [1:12:14] Mag Collins is a niece, but she doesn't [1:12:16] approve any payments, etc. So, Colleen [1:12:19] Lane did not participate in granting [1:12:22] that contract, nor does she have any [1:12:24] say. However, I also learned or was [1:12:28] reminded that Colleen Lane works for [1:12:32] Elwall [1:12:33] Constructors LLC. Why that is important [1:12:37] is [1:12:39] when the contract was entered into, [1:12:42] Larry hired as the building commissioner [1:12:45] wanted and and the the council agreed to [1:12:48] have his company LW wall constructors [1:12:51] LLC [1:12:52] as the recipient of the payment. And so [1:12:55] that's been a couple years ago. And when [1:12:58] Colleen took office, nobody thinking of [1:13:01] that because Larry is the building [1:13:04] commissioner, thinking of him as the [1:13:06] individual. Can't speak for him, but [1:13:08] ultimately I can assume that was for [1:13:10] liability purposes and that's why he put [1:13:12] the company there as the contracting [1:13:14] party. So technically there is an [1:13:17] argument and my opinion is that Colleen [1:13:20] Lane each year should despite the fact [1:13:23] that it's being known file a conflict of [1:13:25] interest statement to make it known. [1:13:27] She's the office manager there. And so [1:13:31] the point of that is to make sure [1:13:32] there's no air of impropriy. She hasn't [1:13:35] hidden where she's worked. Everybody [1:13:37] knows where she works. Everybody knows [1:13:39] where her father works, what he does. [1:13:42] However, there's just a certain group of [1:13:44] people who don't like the walls. It it's [1:13:47] um it baffles me and it's insane because [1:13:52] those who want to allege and make [1:13:54] allegations against Larry just needed a [1:13:57] witness 2018 2019 when all those homes [1:14:00] could have been washed into the lake and [1:14:02] he spent time while he's waiting or post [1:14:06] um you know working to keep living with [1:14:09] the transplant and his family made bones [1:14:12] on seaw walls and he didn't take any of [1:14:15] those contracts. And yet he's out there [1:14:18] for some of the same people who might be [1:14:20] responsible for this complaint, helping [1:14:23] them save their houses and advising them [1:14:25] for free as his duty as the building [1:14:27] commissioner. All of that said, and I'll [1:14:29] get off my soap box on that, [1:14:32] what's before you tonight is to write [1:14:34] the ship. The 2025 we can't speak to. [1:14:37] These are supposed to be filed at the [1:14:39] beginning of the year, but we're going [1:14:40] to file a retroactive [1:14:43] um or what's before you as approval and [1:14:45] acceptance. So, you have conflict of [1:14:48] interest statement for 2025 for Colleen [1:14:51] as council member acknowledging that she [1:14:54] works for LW wall constructors and that [1:14:56] she's the office manager. It has the [1:14:59] amount the contract her Larry or the [1:15:03] building commissioner gets paid $50 an [1:15:06] hour and the total amount paid for last [1:15:08] year is on the 2025 statement and year [1:15:11] to date is on the 2026 statement. I do [1:15:14] not believe that Larry Wall necessarily [1:15:16] has to, but my advice has always been on [1:15:18] these. When in doubt, file one. It [1:15:21] doesn't hurt anything. Everybody's aware [1:15:23] of these. So you have the same thing for [1:15:26] Larry Wall acknowledging that he is the [1:15:29] owner of Elw Wall Constructors LLC [1:15:32] that he is the building commissioner and [1:15:34] surprise surprise the council person [1:15:36] known as Colleen Lane is his daughter [1:15:39] and office manager. So that I believe [1:15:42] brings us into compliance. And again, [1:15:45] it's unfortunate. I um while it slipped [1:15:49] by me where she where Colleen worked for [1:15:52] them or where she was employed and how [1:15:54] that contract was in 2024, [1:15:57] I ultimately pride myself on being a [1:15:59] protector not against those who want to [1:16:02] break the law or have intentional acts, [1:16:04] but to make sure that I properly advise [1:16:06] you and help you make informed [1:16:07] decisions. So, for the public that wants [1:16:10] to beat up the walls, blame me. And with [1:16:12] that, you know, I I'm willing and and we [1:16:16] can I don't want to discuss it tonight [1:16:18] to to resign as the town attorney. And [1:16:21] not making this about me in terms of [1:16:23] what it is, but if there's a failure, [1:16:26] it's on my part. Not on Colleen's part, [1:16:28] not on Meg's part, not on Larry's part. [1:16:31] So, first, I would ask that you consider [1:16:35] approval of those conflict of interest [1:16:37] statements that are before you. And if [1:16:40] you all you're doing is voting to accept [1:16:42] them. And then between Meg and I, we [1:16:44] will get those filed with the county [1:16:46] clerks and that will take care of it. [1:16:48] And then every year after that, anybody [1:16:51] who has the same or sit similar [1:16:53] situation, it is in the handbook. It is [1:16:55] a policy. It is state law. [1:16:58] And I do think those who had bad [1:16:59] intentions and rather than be human, [1:17:02] rather than care about your town and try [1:17:04] to improve it or maybe casually mention [1:17:06] it to anybody, you rather be a keyboard [1:17:09] warrior. So here we are fixing those and [1:17:12] again blame me for that. So that's the [1:17:14] first part. Then I'll I'll go to the [1:17:16] next item. [1:17:17] >> Okay. I would make a motion to accept [1:17:19] the conflict of interest statements from [1:17:21] Colleen Lane and Larry Wall. [1:17:24] >> I'll second. [1:17:25] >> Any discussion? I just want to say [1:17:28] thanks for Chris for the uh explanation [1:17:31] and transparency and then thanks for [1:17:33] explaining. [1:17:36] >> I'd also like to say um that council [1:17:39] members as well could have uh picked up [1:17:42] on something like this. So, I I [1:17:45] appreciate that you say you're the town [1:17:46] attorney, but it is something that I [1:17:50] think all of us have probably [1:17:52] experienced filing conflict of interest [1:17:55] forms throughout our careers. [1:17:59] And um I would also take responsibility [1:18:02] for not picking up on that as well. [1:18:08] >> Any more discussion? [1:18:11] >> Do I need to recuse myself from this? [1:18:13] You should. That would be appropriate. [1:18:15] >> Accuse myself from this vote. [laughter] [1:18:17] >> Okay. With the exception of Colleen. All [1:18:20] in favor say I. [1:18:21] >> I. Any opposed? [1:18:23] >> And Meg, you have the signature copies. [1:18:26] >> Great. Thank you. [1:18:28] >> All right. So, the next line it'll see [1:18:30] asinine, but to clear the record, you [1:18:34] paid um let's see here for transparency, [1:18:38] which is important. [1:18:41] In 2025, the total amount paid to LW [1:18:43] wall instructors. [1:18:51] Well, I don't have that. [1:18:54] 96,000. Do you have that Meg in front of [1:18:57] you? There are two. [1:18:59] >> It's on there. [1:19:00] >> It is, but I have the same copy. [1:19:03] It's Oh, good game. [1:19:06] No, it's not on that one. [1:19:10] Sorry. [1:19:14] Nope. [1:19:16] I'll read it. Let me pull it up here [1:19:18] because I have the exact numbers. [1:19:25] » Yeah, that's sort of. All right. So in [1:19:28] 95 or sorry 2025 [1:19:32] you paid LW wall constructors the total [1:19:35] sum of $96,952 [1:19:40] and then in 2026 year to date of [1:19:43] $69,133.33 [1:19:48] based on [1:19:50] what I will say is my oversight. [1:19:54] Colleen should not have participated in [1:19:57] any of those any votes that would have [1:20:00] resulted in payment because of the [1:20:03] nature of the way things are done and [1:20:04] you don't have everything itemized and [1:20:06] that's not making an excuse. [1:20:08] It is clear why those would [1:20:12] slip by or not be noticed in approvals [1:20:15] because they're in the form of a check [1:20:17] register and you're not seeing all the [1:20:19] invoices or addressing them [1:20:21] individually. [1:20:23] The reason I've asked this agenda item [1:20:26] to be on there is so that you can take a [1:20:28] vote, if you're inclined, to void out [1:20:32] your pre the council's previous approval [1:20:35] of all payments in 2025 [1:20:38] and 2026 year to date. The reason why [1:20:41] those years or dates are important is [1:20:43] because that's so far the am the tenure [1:20:46] of Colleen Lane as a council member. So [1:20:50] to write the ship, to be transparent, to [1:20:53] make sure that the record accurately [1:20:56] reflects what has happened, what should [1:21:00] happen, and what will happen going [1:21:01] forward is to make sure that she recuses [1:21:04] herself [1:21:06] and to then you can consider those [1:21:08] without her input. And again, she's the [1:21:10] office manager of LW wall constructors [1:21:13] LLC. All things that have been known, [1:21:15] but we want to make sure. And again, the [1:21:17] public isn't wrong to make those points. [1:21:21] But maybe sometimes it's not what you [1:21:23] say, it's how you say it. So the the [1:21:25] intention of doing these is to and we've [1:21:28] consulted with the town's financial [1:21:30] consultants, otherwise looked into this. [1:21:32] And again, we thought this was the best [1:21:33] route to correct the record. So, I would [1:21:37] ask that you consider taking a vote to [1:21:40] revoke the council's approval for all [1:21:44] payments to Elwall Constructors LLC for [1:21:47] the calendar year 2025 and year to date [1:21:50] 2026. [1:21:52] >> I'll [snorts] make that motion. [1:21:54] >> Pardon? One except for those that were [1:21:57] approved earlier today where Colleen [1:21:58] recused herself. [1:22:00] >> I'll second that motion. [1:22:02] >> Yep. And then Colleen, [1:22:04] >> I'll recuse myself. Yes. [laughter] [1:22:08] >> Any discussion? [1:22:10] All in favor say I. [1:22:12] >> I. Any opposed? [1:22:14] >> All right. So now your options are this [1:22:17] is to are to consider those without [1:22:20] Colleen's input and ratify and approve [1:22:24] all payments made to LW wall [1:22:25] constructors for 2025 and yeartoyear [1:22:28] date 2026. [1:22:31] Oh, [1:22:32] >> to ask well I want to give you full [1:22:34] disclosure options. You can feel that [1:22:37] there was malfeence here and something [1:22:39] done wrong and decide that you want to [1:22:42] seek repayment or reimbursement from LW [1:22:46] wall constructors [1:22:48] or take no action. So I want to make [1:22:50] sure you have all of those out there so [1:22:52] that again that transparency and you get [1:22:55] to decide how you want to move forward [1:22:57] from there. [1:22:59] I would make a motion to reconsider all [1:23:03] the payments for to L wall constructors [1:23:07] in 2025 and 2026 [1:23:11] >> having Colleen recuse herself [1:23:13] >> then so approval of those. [1:23:15] >> Yes. [1:23:18] >> All right. I'll recuse myself from the [1:23:19] vote. [1:23:20] >> Yes. [1:23:22] >> Any more discussion? [1:23:24] All in favor say I. [1:23:26] >> I. Any opposed? [1:23:29] >> All right. Thank you for indulging me on [1:23:30] that long- winded [1:23:32] >> Chris. Um, [1:23:34] >> thank you for the resolution [1:23:36] of it. [1:23:38] >> Uh, moving on a new business we have [1:23:40] combining the park lots. Um, [1:23:44] across the street there's four four [1:23:48] different lots and in an effort to uh we [1:23:51] are changing the zoning for parks. [1:23:55] actually that's in the works at the APC. [1:23:58] Um, but I would like uh to make a motion [1:24:02] that we ask Chris to move forward with [1:24:05] combining the four lots into one across [1:24:07] the street for uh [1:24:11] their new park plan project. And and [1:24:15] before you do that, authorizing the town [1:24:18] president to to work with me because it [1:24:21] it's going to actually be a pretty [1:24:22] simple process, but it'll take the two [1:24:24] of us just notify and communicating that [1:24:27] with the real estate office and then [1:24:28] they can get that done pretty easily. [1:24:30] So, just need your authorization for [1:24:32] both of us to take those actions. [1:24:35] >> I'll make that motion to um move forward [1:24:38] to let Joyce Schmidt work with Chris to [1:24:40] combine the four lots in the park. [1:24:44] I'll second it. [1:24:45] >> Any discussion? [1:24:48] All in favor say I. [1:24:50] >> I. Any opposed? [1:24:52] >> Here's the four lobsters. [1:25:00] » Okay. Uh [1:25:02] now we're going to open a public hearing [1:25:05] for ordinance number 2026-05, [1:25:08] the 2027 budget on the first reading. [1:25:14] Uh [1:25:17] so is there anyone who wants to speak [1:25:19] for or against the 2027 budget in the [1:25:24] audience? [1:25:29] Is there anyone on Zoom who wants to [1:25:31] speak for or against the 2027 budget [1:25:37] proposed budget? [1:25:42] Hearing none, I will close the public [1:25:44] hearing [1:25:48] and I will make a motion that we approve [1:25:51] on first reading the proposed 2027 [1:25:54] budget [1:25:56] as noticed to the taxpayers. [1:26:03] [clears throat] Do we have a second? [1:26:05] >> I'll second it. Second it. [1:26:08] >> Any any discussion? [1:26:11] All in favor say I. [1:26:13] >> I. Any opposed? [1:26:16] Uh, INDOT, update from the August 24th [1:26:19] meeting with the deputy commissioner [1:26:21] about US12 congestion and 2027 paving [1:26:25] project lane reduction. [1:26:31] » You want to take the top on that? [1:26:33] >> Sure. Um the town of Michigan Shores, [1:26:37] their town president, um Diana Dumbre, [1:26:40] actually initiated reaching out to the [1:26:42] Indiana Department of Transportation [1:26:45] and they wanted to address some of the [1:26:47] concerns with US 12 congestion. Um she [1:26:52] actually then brought together a meeting [1:26:54] with the deputy commissioner Matt [1:26:56] Dichley. um Adam Parkhouse from INDOT [1:27:00] who is their community uh kind of [1:27:04] leazison outreach person along with [1:27:07] state representative Randall Novak and [1:27:09] state senator Michael Bahache met with [1:27:12] members from the town of Michigan [1:27:14] Shores, the Dunland Beach Association, [1:27:17] and the town of Long Beach. Um on August [1:27:20] 24th, um INDOT informed us that next [1:27:24] month, October of 2026, they will be [1:27:27] letting out for bids a US 12 um repaving [1:27:32] resurfacing project. This project will [1:27:36] start near Blue Chip Casino. Will then [1:27:40] head east to the Indiana Michigan line. [1:27:44] US12 will be converted from a four-lane [1:27:48] highway to a threelane highway. It will [1:27:51] be one lane eastbound, one lane [1:27:53] westbound with a dedicated center turn [1:27:56] lane throughout that entire stretch that [1:27:58] I just described. Um, new pavement [1:28:02] markings will be in place. Uh, Senator [1:28:05] Bahachic um brought forward a [1:28:08] recommendation near Notre Dame School at [1:28:10] Moore Road in US12 that INDOT engineers [1:28:14] consider placing um school zone signing [1:28:18] in that area which would um lower the [1:28:21] speed limit in that area both in the [1:28:24] morning and when school is letting out [1:28:26] in the afternoon. Um they weren't too [1:28:29] promising on that because they said that [1:28:31] the school property did not touch the [1:28:33] actual highway, but they would take the [1:28:35] information back to their engineers. Um [1:28:37] the 212 um US12 um interchange, that [1:28:41] intersection was discussed. At this [1:28:44] time, there are no plans um immediately [1:28:46] for that interchange there um other than [1:28:49] some um striping work um pavement [1:28:52] markings that will occur in the spring. [1:28:54] Um we did ask if they were considering [1:28:57] any type of roundabout or you know [1:28:59] intersection there. Um they said there [1:29:02] is nothing in the works for the next 5 [1:29:04] years on US12 other than the project [1:29:07] that will start probably in April of [1:29:10] next year and hopefully conclude in the [1:29:12] fall of 2027. [1:29:15] U the speed limit along US12 um that [1:29:18] conversation came up. There will be no [1:29:20] change in the speed limit. it will [1:29:22] remain as is. And um we asked if this [1:29:27] project was uh you know full speed [1:29:29] ahead. Are there any changes in the [1:29:32] works? And they said nope, it's been [1:29:34] approved. It's in INDOT's uh capital [1:29:36] plan and that it'll be letting out again [1:29:39] in October for um bids and then starting [1:29:42] construction in the spring of 2027. So, [1:29:46] um, from the police department [1:29:48] standpoint, I'm interested to see how [1:29:49] the intersection of Carwick and US 12 is [1:29:52] on July 3rd, um, when this actually goes [1:29:55] down to three lanes. Um, they did do a [1:29:57] traffic study, they told us, and they [1:29:59] said that the traffic study came back, [1:30:01] um, with the car count of a normal [1:30:04] volume to support the three lane [1:30:06] recommendation. Um, they did state that [1:30:09] we do have a heavier traffic count on [1:30:12] specific months. Um that would more [1:30:15] align probably with the current [1:30:17] configuration out there that being a [1:30:19] four. Um but the engineers are moving [1:30:22] forward with the three lane [1:30:23] configuration. We will be putting [1:30:26] information out in our upcoming town [1:30:28] newsletter in the spring newsletters and [1:30:30] we intend on putting this information on [1:30:32] the town's website as well to begin [1:30:35] sharing this information with all of our [1:30:37] residents. Um, but I'm waiting for INDOT [1:30:40] to give us the specific language that [1:30:42] they're going to use on their social [1:30:44] media pages so that we use their [1:30:47] specific language when we put it out to [1:30:49] the public. So, if I missed anything, [1:30:52] both uh council representatives um Anita [1:30:56] and Joy were at the meeting as well. and [1:30:58] clerk treasurer measins. [1:31:01] I think um just a couple things. They [1:31:04] really talked [1:31:06] repeatedly about the different studies [1:31:08] that were done which were important and [1:31:12] the safety or the calm lane in the [1:31:15] middle and the traffic studies again. [1:31:18] and they answered repeatedly questions [1:31:22] about the intersection of 12 and 212 [1:31:26] that while it may seem confusing to [1:31:30] people, they really don't have any need [1:31:33] to put hundreds of thousands of dollars [1:31:36] into it because they just don't have [1:31:38] accidents, which to them means that [1:31:41] people at least pay attention there, [1:31:44] which I know, you know, I mean, I do, [1:31:47] but that they just don't have anything [1:31:50] to say, okay, you might not like it, but [1:31:53] people are I that was kind of the gist [1:31:55] of it, right? That people are paying [1:31:57] attention there and it's working. So, [1:32:00] they just don't they can't justify with [1:32:02] the studies that they did on that [1:32:05] intersection doing anything different [1:32:08] with it. [1:32:10] So, hopefully it'll help with the [1:32:12] traffic. [1:32:14] >> Yeah, I agree. But they did make it [1:32:16] pretty clear that their decisions had [1:32:17] been made and uh we didn't really have [1:32:21] any input. It was more of anformational [1:32:23] meeting. [1:32:26] Okay. Uh police department flock license [1:32:28] plate reader policy update. [1:32:34] back um in 2025, [1:32:37] we [1:32:39] signed on with Flock Public Safety for [1:32:42] four license plate reader cameras for [1:32:44] our community. Um that contract for four [1:32:47] cameras is $3,000 per camera for a total [1:32:50] of $12,000 annually. When we initially [1:32:53] um started the installation of our [1:32:55] cameras, they went live January of 2026. [1:32:59] um from the prior to the time they went [1:33:02] live back on December 8th of 2025, the [1:33:05] Long Beach Police Department has had a [1:33:07] policy regulating um the use of our [1:33:10] automated license plate reader system, [1:33:13] which is abbreviated by ALPR. [1:33:16] Um August [1:33:18] 13th, just a couple weeks ago, Flock [1:33:22] Public Safety came out with some new [1:33:25] changes um with their software, with the [1:33:28] administration of how the um data is [1:33:33] saved, how it's researched, some [1:33:35] privacy, some accountability. So, as I [1:33:38] began to read up on this and also paying [1:33:42] close attention to a lot of the national [1:33:45] publicity relative to um flock LPR [1:33:48] systems, I wanted to make sure that our [1:33:51] policy meets um the changes that are [1:33:53] forthcoming. So, in the policy that you [1:33:56] have before you tonight, the council has [1:33:59] um the changes that are recommended by [1:34:03] um Flock Public Safety. one is um an [1:34:07] evidence um mode. Um that particular [1:34:10] feature would allow would allow one of [1:34:12] our deputies to go in and request that [1:34:16] the um data um from a particular search [1:34:19] be saved for a longer period of time. [1:34:22] However, the deputy would have to [1:34:24] account for that request through the [1:34:26] documentation of a case investigation. [1:34:29] having a case report number, all the [1:34:32] other information relative to an [1:34:34] investigation must um back up that [1:34:37] request to save data for longer than the [1:34:39] 30 days that we have in our policy. [1:34:42] Um in addition to that um there's a new [1:34:45] accountability, there's an audit assist [1:34:48] um feature with the system. Um, this [1:34:51] audit assist will alert the [1:34:54] administrators of this software when, [1:34:58] for instance, if we have a deputy that [1:35:02] works from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. in the [1:35:06] morning and we're finding that a deputy [1:35:08] is getting on the license plate reader [1:35:10] system at 10:00 a.m. in the morning when [1:35:13] he's not on duty that would flag it to [1:35:15] the administrators and would then allow [1:35:18] us to do an audit into the searches of [1:35:21] any particular officer. I find this to [1:35:23] be a very beneficial feature because [1:35:25] it's a way of policing the system so [1:35:28] that if we know a typical deputy because [1:35:30] all of our deputies are on assigned [1:35:31] shifts. Um, so if they're on a 6 pm to [1:35:34] 6:00 a.m. and we have a deputy searching [1:35:36] things at 10:00 a.m. in the morning and [1:35:38] he's not working an overtime assignment [1:35:40] or filling in for the day shift deputy, [1:35:41] it alerts us. And so um, that new audit [1:35:45] assistance um, is a very good tool. It [1:35:48] also will alert us if an officer is [1:35:51] running a particular plate um, for more [1:35:54] than a certain number of occasions. Um, [1:35:57] it also has a proactive lockout. it will [1:36:00] lock the officer out and we'll notify [1:36:02] the administration that uh this audit [1:36:05] assist has locked an officer out and [1:36:08] then we can begin to immediately look [1:36:10] into the searches in the system to make [1:36:13] sure that they are legitimate use of the [1:36:16] technology. Um this also requires case [1:36:19] codes for any search. um if an officer [1:36:23] responds to a burglary investigation [1:36:26] um or let's just say even an alarm call. [1:36:29] The deputy pulls up at the alarm and [1:36:31] let's say a red Chevy vehicle four-door [1:36:34] sedan pulls away from the residence as [1:36:36] he's arriving at the alarm call and he [1:36:39] finds something suspicious at the alarm. [1:36:41] that deputy would then want to get into [1:36:44] the flock system and would want to put [1:36:46] the information for that vehicle that [1:36:48] sped away and begin a search for that [1:36:50] vehicle. This now requires um before the [1:36:54] old standards where you could just go in [1:36:56] there and start searching for any red [1:36:58] vehicle. With the new audit assist and [1:37:00] the new accountability system, the [1:37:02] deputy must enter a case number relative [1:37:06] to the search. So, for auditing [1:37:08] purposes, when we go back to look at a [1:37:10] deputy's searches, it should have either [1:37:13] an incident report number, which would [1:37:16] be a criminal case investigation number, [1:37:19] or what we call a CAD number. A CAD [1:37:22] number is our computer aided dispatch [1:37:24] number. Every call that we go on has a [1:37:27] CAD number. It starts out with 2026. [1:37:31] The next two numbers would be for um the [1:37:34] month of September would be 09 and then [1:37:37] the corresponding number of whatever [1:37:39] call it is for that month. Um so this [1:37:41] requires that the officers require case [1:37:44] codes. Um there is also [1:37:50] with that um in the policy you have [1:37:53] tonight the very last section that I [1:37:56] have added is a accountability and [1:37:59] discipline section. Um the previous [1:38:03] policy that was passed by the council [1:38:05] last year did not have um subsection 9 [1:38:09] in there which is accountability and [1:38:11] discipline and I will read that in its [1:38:13] entirety. Abuse or misuse of the flock [1:38:18] technology at any level is unacceptable. [1:38:21] Any employee found to have used the ALPR [1:38:25] technology for purposes outside the [1:38:27] scope of their law enforcement duties [1:38:29] shall face disciplinary action up to and [1:38:32] including termination. Additionally, [1:38:35] employees may be subject to criminal [1:38:37] prosecution if found to have violated [1:38:39] state or federal law as applicable. Um, [1:38:42] so I wanted to make sure that with the [1:38:45] new accountability that we had um, [1:38:47] language in there that also educates our [1:38:50] officers and alerts them to the fact of [1:38:52] the penalties of misuse of this type of [1:38:54] technology. Um, as I indicated earlier [1:38:57] today that, you know, the most recent [1:38:59] investigation was very helpful with our [1:39:01] LPR system and I could, you know, speak [1:39:04] of a handful of other cases tonight [1:39:06] where it's been helpful in the past [1:39:07] year. Um but overall the highlighted [1:39:10] sections that you have on the policy [1:39:12] before you tonight um those are the [1:39:14] amended changes to this policy and I am [1:39:17] recommending um to the council that we [1:39:21] accept the amended policy with the date [1:39:25] of September 14, 2026 as the revised [1:39:28] date for the policy um update and then I [1:39:33] would welcome any questions that anybody [1:39:34] may have as well. [1:39:37] The only um the only comment I had was [1:39:40] um something that I know I brought up in [1:39:42] the beginning which was holding on to [1:39:45] the um data and um and ours of course [1:39:50] calls for 30 days and I just wanted to [1:39:53] mention the um AWS is another [1:39:56] abbreviation that's used which is Amazon [1:39:59] Web Services and Amazon Web Services [1:40:04] automates the permanent deletion of [1:40:07] footage and plate data, which defaults [1:40:10] to a rolling 30-day window or shorter [1:40:12] depending on local agency settings. So I [1:40:16] think it's important that that um [1:40:20] residents people understand that it AWS [1:40:25] does delete the data as requested after [1:40:30] 30 days as part of their policy [1:40:34] >> but we're only retaining it for 7 days. [1:40:37] >> Well that's being updated. So, there was [1:40:39] an original discussion about 7 days [1:40:41] because that was Flock's proposal, but [1:40:43] Indiana retention laws require 30 days [1:40:48] um with regard to this subject matter [1:40:51] and it could be longer as Chief Yes. [1:40:53] summarized in the policy that you know [1:40:56] investigations and other reasons under [1:40:58] the law which there's some catchall [1:40:59] language in there that might dictate [1:41:01] longer for again valid reasons but [1:41:04] otherwise our policies by virtue of the [1:41:06] state of Indiana dictate that it's 30 [1:41:09] days [1:41:09] >> right and as does AW I mean I'm just [1:41:13] saying I had those anyhow I'm I just [1:41:17] wanted to reiterate that 30 days it's [1:41:20] permanently deleted [1:41:22] And [1:41:23] >> thank you. [1:41:24] >> Just a couple otherformational things [1:41:26] outside of tonight's discussion on the [1:41:28] policy. I think just to share with [1:41:30] everybody is that um [1:41:34] next year you'll probably see July 1st [1:41:36] of 2027 a new Indiana state law [1:41:39] regulating the use of this technology [1:41:41] and I fully support that. Um I know that [1:41:44] um Senator Mike Bohachek has already [1:41:46] reached out to me and Senator Bohachek [1:41:48] along with a few other legislators are [1:41:51] working on proposing um legislation for [1:41:54] 2027 regulating the use of this um [1:41:58] police technology. I strongly support [1:42:00] that because I believe that the men and [1:42:02] women who use this technology need to [1:42:04] have some guidance on um how this [1:42:07] technology should be used and they also [1:42:09] should be made aware of the penalties [1:42:10] for the misuse of the technology as [1:42:13] well. Um so you'll probably see [1:42:14] something forthcoming um next year. And [1:42:17] then this Friday, September 18th at [1:42:20] 11:00 a.m. in St. John's, Indiana, um [1:42:23] Flock Public Safety is going to have [1:42:26] representatives at the St. I'm sorry, [1:42:29] the St. John's Community Center on [1:42:32] Friday and they are meeting with um the [1:42:35] majority of the Northwest Indiana chiefs [1:42:38] um to share some of the changes that [1:42:41] have come forward at Flock and then also [1:42:43] making themselves available for the law [1:42:46] enforcement administrations to ask [1:42:48] questions of them this Friday. and um I [1:42:51] plan on attending that um because I have [1:42:53] been reading over and trying to stay um [1:42:56] up to date on a lot of this information [1:42:58] that's coming out. So, just wanted to [1:43:01] share that asformational for you. [1:43:04] >> Thank you. Uh okay. I'll make a motion [1:43:07] to approve the flock LPR policy update. [1:43:12] >> I would second. [1:43:14] >> Any more discussion? [1:43:16] All in favor say I. [1:43:18] >> I. Any opposed? Thank you. [1:43:23] Request to purchase equipment police [1:43:24] department two taser 7s which will [1:43:27] replace two tasers. [1:43:31] The police department um currently has [1:43:35] the Axon Enterprise Taser 7 and Taser [1:43:40] X2. Um, both of these devices, um, the [1:43:45] newer version is the Taser 7, the older [1:43:48] version is the Taser X2. These are our [1:43:52] less thanlethal options that are [1:43:55] available to our deputies um, to utilize [1:43:59] in the field um, rather than having to [1:44:02] resort to the use of their handguns. Um, [1:44:04] this is a very important piece of [1:44:06] equipment to our deputies. Um, this less [1:44:09] lethal option, also known as an ECW, [1:44:12] which is an electronic control weapon, [1:44:14] allows our deputies to deescalate a [1:44:18] situation [1:44:20] um into [1:44:22] um an area where less or I'm sorry, [1:44:24] where less I'm sorry, where lethal force [1:44:27] would not have to be used. The proposal [1:44:30] that is before us tonight is to upgrade [1:44:35] two of our current X2s. Um, which the [1:44:38] goal through our annual equipment [1:44:40] purchases is to phase out the X2s. Um, [1:44:44] the current X2s that we have, they are [1:44:46] all out of warranty and we want to [1:44:48] replace them with the X7s. The goal is [1:44:51] to eventually have only the X7 in our [1:44:55] equipment inventory. Um, the reason this [1:44:57] is before the council tonight is that [1:44:59] the expenditure um exceeds that of a [1:45:03] $5,000 expenditure. So, we want to make [1:45:06] sure that we have it before the console [1:45:08] for review and approval. For two of [1:45:11] these X7s, the total purchase price [1:45:16] is $6,55122. [1:45:21] That is for the two ECW Taser 7s, the [1:45:27] holsters, the cartridges, the batteries, [1:45:31] and also includes um $69960ents [1:45:36] of software. Um the software is required [1:45:40] for these um because they are [1:45:43] downloadable devices. Um, so when it is [1:45:47] deployed in the field, the officers then [1:45:50] take the batteries from the device, put [1:45:52] it into the charging station. The [1:45:54] charging station is then hooked to our [1:45:56] software system and it gives us a report [1:45:58] of how long the device was used, when it [1:46:00] was deployed, all of that data. also [1:46:05] these devices for information that when [1:46:08] the Taser 7, if a deputy is to um draw [1:46:13] the weapon from the holster and activate [1:46:16] the power switch on the Taser 7 by [1:46:19] activating the power switch on the taser [1:46:23] automatically turns on the officer's [1:46:25] body camera. Um that feature is also [1:46:27] there. And then um we also have that [1:46:30] same feature in our holsters that if our [1:46:34] deputies were to draw their sidearm that [1:46:37] it also activates the bodywn camera [1:46:40] system as well. So if the officers walk [1:46:43] into a a you know hostile situation, [1:46:46] they don't have time to activate it [1:46:47] manually by drawing their taser or their [1:46:50] weapon, it automatically activates the [1:46:52] bodywn camera. So these are very [1:46:55] sophisticated um pieces of technology. [1:46:58] Um they are very expensive as well. Um [1:47:01] but they do come with a 5-year warranty. [1:47:04] So both of the devices would be [1:47:06] warrantied for 60 months. And so we are [1:47:08] respectfully asking that the council [1:47:10] approve the $6,55122. [1:47:14] This would be coming out of the police [1:47:16] department's 2026 [1:47:18] um equipment line item within our [1:47:21] operating budget. And I have confirmed [1:47:23] with the clerk that we do have [1:47:25] sufficient funds to make the purchase. [1:47:29] Thank you. Uh I would make a motion to [1:47:31] approve the upgrade uh of the two tasers [1:47:35] for 65 $6,55122 [1:47:39] from Axon Enterprise. [1:47:41] >> I'll second it. [1:47:43] >> Any more discussion? [1:47:46] All in favor say I. [1:47:48] >> I. [1:47:48] >> Any opposed? [1:47:52] Uh, moving on to directional boring [1:47:55] proposal to authorize the creation of an [1:47:57] ordinance regulating directional boring [1:47:59] in the town rideways. It's my [1:48:01] understanding that someone [1:48:03] bored through one of our storm drains [1:48:06] for our dry wells. [1:48:08] >> That is correct. That has happened [1:48:10] previously. And the concern moving [1:48:12] forward is phase one of the Lakeshore [1:48:15] Drive roadway improvement project. Um [1:48:19] the majority of the new storm water [1:48:22] infrastructure for that project is going [1:48:24] to be underneath the center of the [1:48:25] roadway. Um the infiltration gallery, [1:48:30] what they describe is 7 ft wide and [1:48:33] approximately, I believe, 24 in tall. [1:48:38] in that system will be where our new [1:48:40] storm water will then be disseminated [1:48:42] underneath the roadway and will no [1:48:44] longer fall out to the lake in the areas [1:48:47] where we'll be putting this new storm [1:48:49] water um infrastructure in. The concern [1:48:53] both from the engineering team at HOS [1:48:56] Engineering and our public safety, our [1:48:59] public uh works team is that currently [1:49:03] directional boring for the cable [1:49:06] companies, the fiber companies, the [1:49:08] utility companies. [1:49:10] They will call in for 811, but they [1:49:13] don't notify the town of where, when, [1:49:17] and at what address that they're doing [1:49:19] the directional boring. [1:49:21] We want to encourage the council to [1:49:25] draft a ordinance similar to other towns [1:49:29] and cities, similar to our street cut [1:49:32] permit where we would have a process [1:49:35] that they would have to apply for a [1:49:38] directional boring permit. We would then [1:49:40] have that connected to the IWorks system [1:49:43] similar that we do with the street cut [1:49:45] permits currently with the building [1:49:47] department. And then we would have [1:49:49] historical um data to go back and look [1:49:51] at and making sure that when we have a [1:49:55] directional boring request, we can then [1:49:58] share with them the blueprints, for [1:50:00] instance, of our new Lakeshore Drive [1:50:02] roadway improvement plan, we can share [1:50:05] the blueprints and show them that if [1:50:07] you're going to put in a new fiber drop [1:50:10] at 2400 Lakeshore Drive, you have to [1:50:14] bore down to 4T to get underneath. let's [1:50:18] say our town infrastructure so it's not [1:50:21] damaged. The concern is if we just allow [1:50:24] this to continue the way it is with no [1:50:27] oversight on it. Any directional boring [1:50:29] company once they call 811 and they drop [1:50:32] a new fiber line to or a Comcast cable [1:50:35] line to a home, they could directional [1:50:37] bore at 24 in and go straight through [1:50:39] our new infrastructure. We may not [1:50:41] notice it right away. 6 months, a year, [1:50:44] three years later, our roadway begins to [1:50:47] um heave. Um it begins to maybe collapse [1:50:51] all because of our, you know, storm [1:50:53] water system was compromised and [1:50:55] somebody had bored through it. Tom Dolph [1:50:57] has shared with us um I think it's off [1:50:59] of LMA portal um where we have one of [1:51:02] our dry wells that literally has a three [1:51:05] or 4 inch gas line board right through [1:51:07] the middle of our dry well. And the only [1:51:10] way we found this out was because Tom [1:51:12] was out with the vac truck cleaning out [1:51:14] the dry well and he sent me a picture [1:51:16] and I see a yellow PVC gas line that's [1:51:19] right through our corner of our dry well [1:51:22] and the boring company put it right [1:51:24] through our drywall. Um, so [1:51:27] I was told by our town team that a lot [1:51:31] of these boring companies when they do [1:51:34] have incidents of errors in that, a lot [1:51:37] of these LLC's, they close up overnight [1:51:39] and then the next thing you know you [1:51:41] have a new boring company a few months [1:51:42] later and they're back out boring again [1:51:44] and there's no oversight on them. So [1:51:46] they're recommending to the town that we [1:51:49] come up with an ordinance and direct the [1:51:51] town attorney through the council's [1:51:52] direction to have an ordinance to [1:51:54] protect us. So [1:51:57] >> yeah and some of I mean already [1:51:58] shouldn't they when they register have [1:52:00] bonds in place as well right? So that [1:52:02] might be just need to make sure [1:52:05] that that's adequate and that those are [1:52:08] posted too. So, [1:52:10] >> do they know when I mean is there I [1:52:12] don't I don't know maybe Colleen knows [1:52:14] the answer, but if you're boring and you [1:52:17] hit something like that, do you know [1:52:19] that you've hit something and you just [1:52:21] keep going? [1:52:23] >> So, I had asked [1:52:24] >> I don't know. I had asked that very [1:52:25] question and they said that a lot of [1:52:28] times um you probably would know but a [1:52:31] lot of the boring companies aren't this [1:52:33] is what our team shared probably aren't [1:52:35] going to be forthcoming to say that they [1:52:37] might have went through something and [1:52:39] they just complete the boring and then [1:52:41] they move to the next project. Um, at [1:52:43] least now if we have an ordinance in [1:52:45] place, we have a um like a GIS map where [1:52:50] we can overlay our water lines, our [1:52:54] catch basins, our dry wells, our storm [1:52:57] water lines. I spoke to both [1:52:59] Superintendent Dolph and Superintendent [1:53:01] Ashcraft and both of them have informed [1:53:04] us that they have overlays for the town [1:53:06] so that if we get a boring request, they [1:53:08] can provide the overlay to the [1:53:10] contractor to say this is what you need [1:53:12] to bore around. This is what you have to [1:53:14] be careful of. This is the town [1:53:16] infrastructure that's there. Um, right [1:53:18] now we we don't find out this [1:53:20] information and you know, maybe we need [1:53:22] to charge a fee similar to the $200 that [1:53:25] we charge for the street cut permit. Um, [1:53:28] you know, maybe there's a fee we have to [1:53:30] charge with this as well, cuz there will [1:53:31] be time that the building department [1:53:33] will need to spend inputting this into [1:53:35] eyeworks. Um, our team from both water [1:53:38] and street will need to take the time to [1:53:40] provide documents and information to the [1:53:43] companies. They will need to go out and actually follow up on the boring [1:53:47] request um in the individual areas as [1:53:50] well. So, um, these are all things I [1:53:52] think we need answers to as we develop [1:53:54] our ordinance. And then um the goal is [1:53:57] first quarter of 2027. We would like to [1:54:00] have this in place um starting for you [1:54:03] know next year. So [1:54:05] >> do boring companies right now have to be [1:54:08] registered? [1:54:10] I was going to add Chris, I believe any [1:54:12] util my mic's not on. Just to add, I [1:54:15] believe any uh utilities, [1:54:19] NIPCO or Comcast all just give the town [1:54:23] a blanket bond each year. It's not even [1:54:26] each year. I just had NIPCO update [1:54:28] theirs because it was it was old, the [1:54:30] one that we had on file. So, if NIPCO is [1:54:33] hiring somebody else to do their boring, [1:54:36] I don't know how that works. [1:54:39] Well, we'll have to check that out and [1:54:42] see what their bond I mean it's still [1:54:44] under their umbrella. [1:54:46] >> Trust me, from my private life, I had [1:54:49] plenty of contractors who have even made [1:54:50] mistakes and NIPCO is very harsh on [1:54:53] those. Um, and and the law supports and rightfully so, right, things the [1:54:59] chaos that could be created. So, yeah, [1:55:01] I'll work with you to look, but I would [1:55:02] say NIPCO's if they sub that work out, [1:55:05] it's still their responsibility. [1:55:08] and and this recommendation was our last [1:55:11] um project update meeting for the [1:55:13] Lakeshore Drive paving project. The [1:55:16] engineering team at HOS recommended to [1:55:18] us that the town needs to you know [1:55:20] protect our infrastructure. Um you know [1:55:23] next year we'll be if we get the grant [1:55:25] for the CCMG, we'll be putting $300,000 [1:55:28] of storm water infrastructure into [1:55:30] Lakeshore Drive and the goal is to [1:55:32] protect that $300,000 investment from [1:55:34] damage occurring in that. So that's the [1:55:37] whole overall goal of this ordinance is [1:55:39] to protect the town's investment into [1:55:42] our overall infrastructure throughout [1:55:44] the town. [1:55:46] >> So Chris, could you put something [1:55:47] together that we [1:55:49] >> work on it? [1:55:50] >> Okay. Uh to include like they'll need a [1:55:53] permit. [1:55:57] Okay. Uh moving on to wildlife deer [1:56:00] management. Before I turn this over to [1:56:01] you, Kendra, I just want to mention that [1:56:04] hunting is not a permitted use in our [1:56:06] zoning code. [1:56:08] >> What's that? I I didn't hear you. What's [1:56:10] not permitted? [1:56:11] >> Hunting is not a permitted use in our [1:56:13] zoning code. [1:56:14] >> Mhm. [1:56:15] >> But it it is permitted if you're in a [1:56:17] deer reduction [clears throat] um for [1:56:20] the ordinance that was passed in 2021 or [1:56:23] whatever that was. Um, if you're doing [1:56:25] we have a deer reduction ordinance on [1:56:27] file and if that if we choose to [1:56:30] implement that that is bow and arrow. [1:56:33] >> Okay. So, [1:56:35] um, so I was just going to say I'm not [1:56:37] looking to get into a debate. We all [1:56:40] have a difference of opinion and I for [1:56:42] one do not feel um just because people [1:56:45] have difference of opinions they're not [1:56:47] allowed to live in this town. we all [1:56:48] need to find a way to get along and I [1:56:51] for one um feel like the best thing to [1:56:54] do for the town is to implement a deer [1:56:56] reduction program. Um [clears throat] so [1:56:59] I'll I'll read my statement and then [1:57:01] it's a pretty simple um you know yes or [1:57:04] no. I'm not looking to have a big debate [1:57:06] or fight or anything like that. It's [1:57:08] just something I feel strongly about as [1:57:10] we all do and I respect everyone's [1:57:11] opinion. Um not all people do obviously. [1:57:15] So, the deer population in Long Beach [1:57:17] has reached a point where there where [1:57:19] this is no longer simply a matter of [1:57:21] protecting a few flowers or garden [1:57:23] plants. Residents are taking [1:57:24] increasingly significant measures to [1:57:26] protect their property, including [1:57:28] installing fencing as high as 8 to 10 ft [1:57:31] around entire properties. Trees are [1:57:33] being browsed to heights of [1:57:34] approximately 6 ft and landscaping, [1:57:36] vegetation, and other property are being [1:57:38] repeatedly damaged. I have personally [1:57:41] experienced this problem on my own [1:57:42] property with approximately 6 to eight [1:57:44] deer regularly in my yard. Deer have [1:57:48] torn through netting and fencing and [1:57:49] cause thousands of dollars in damage to [1:57:51] trees, grass, bushes, landscaping, and [1:57:54] landscape lighting. This is not a [1:57:56] problem that can reasonably be addressed [1:57:58] through sprays or other plant deterrence [1:58:00] alone. The frequency and extent of the [1:58:02] damage demonstrate that we have a deer [1:58:04] population management issue and we are [1:58:06] in a deer reduction zone. Long Beach has [1:58:09] already established a legal framework [1:58:11] for addressing this issue. In 2021, the [1:58:13] town council allowed hunting within the [1:58:16] town and to recognize lawfully [1:58:17] authorized deer reduction hunting [1:58:19] programs. The town's previous deer [1:58:22] reduction proposal contemplated a [1:58:24] controlled program using qualified [1:58:25] archers, including traditional bows, [1:58:28] compound bows, crossbows, no firearms. I [1:58:32] am therefore asking the town council to [1:58:34] take the next step and determine whether [1:58:35] we are willing to move forward with a [1:58:37] controlled deer reduction program for [1:58:40] the upcoming deer season under the [1:58:42] authority already provided by our [1:58:44] existing ordinances. This proposal is [1:58:46] different. This proposal is specifically [1:58:48] limitated limited to participating [1:58:51] private properties. No hunting would [1:58:53] take place on town owned property. This [1:58:55] is not a proposal for the town to [1:58:57] conduct hunting on public land or to use [1:58:59] public property for a hunting program [1:59:01] like others that have been proposed. It [1:59:04] [snorts] would provide private property [1:59:05] owners who voluntarily choose to [1:59:07] participate with a means of addressing [1:59:09] their deer population on their own [1:59:11] property protecting their own property. [1:59:14] Of course, subject to appropriate town [1:59:16] safety requirements and oversight. The [1:59:19] program would also be privately funded. [1:59:21] Homeowners who voluntarily choose to [1:59:23] participate would be responsible for the [1:59:24] costs associated with the program. No [1:59:27] town tax dollars would be required to [1:59:29] fund the hunt and residents who do not [1:59:31] participate would not be required to pay [1:59:32] for it. At this stage, I'm not asking [1:59:35] the council to approve every operational [1:59:37] detail of the program. If the council [1:59:40] agrees that we should move forward, [1:59:41] these details can then be developed in [1:59:43] coordination with the town [1:59:44] administrator, attorney, clerk, DNR, and [1:59:47] other appropriate stakeholders. That pro [1:59:50] process would establish the necessary [1:59:52] safety requirements, hunter [1:59:53] qualifications, homeowner participation [1:59:56] procedures, notification requirements, [1:59:58] oversight, and other safeguards before [2:00:00] end any reduction takes place. The [2:00:03] question is straightforward. Does the [2:00:05] town council support moving forward with [2:00:07] developing developing and implementing a [2:00:10] privately funded properly regulated deer [2:00:12] reduction program parti program program [2:00:15] on participating private properties [2:00:17] under the authority already provided by [2:00:19] the town's existing ordinances? If the [2:00:22] answer is yes, so I I want to say I [2:00:26] absolutely love the deer. I think [2:00:28] they're beautiful, but [2:00:31] there are so many of them. Um, [2:00:35] I truly would like to look at how many [2:00:38] deer are there versus how many deer can [2:00:41] what kind of deer population can Long [2:00:43] Beach hopefully support. Um, I would be [2:00:49] in favor of a deer reduction program. I [2:00:52] don't know if I would [2:00:56] I don't know exactly what that would [2:00:57] look like. I would definitely be willing [2:00:59] to talk about what it would look like. [2:01:03] Um I know that the DNR does have a [2:01:06] program that um [2:01:10] the the DNR will pay for processing of [2:01:12] the deer and then if the meat is donated [2:01:16] to uh homeless shelters and women's [2:01:18] shelters. So, um, that part of the [2:01:21] program can be like a very good thing [2:01:25] for communities like ours because deer [2:01:27] processing can be expensive. Um, and I [2:01:31] uh there was a couple other things that [2:01:33] I I wrote down. Um, I know that Beverly [2:01:36] Shores does something. I know like my [2:01:40] friend Miles does is it Dulan Beach? My [2:01:43] friend Miles is in a head of the call in [2:01:45] Dulan Beach. I mean, tons of communities [2:01:48] like ours have the same problems that we [2:01:50] do. And I love the deer. They're [2:01:52] beautiful. But I also think that we need [2:01:54] to think about the health of the deer [2:01:58] overall. I mean, the scarcity of food, [2:02:00] you see their ribs sticking out, the [2:02:03] when when the the males, their antlers [2:02:05] are all scraggly, that the genetics [2:02:07] aren't good. Um, I do think we need to [2:02:11] look into a deer reduction program. Not [2:02:13] because I hate the deer and I'm mad [2:02:15] about them messing up my hydrangeas. I [2:02:18] think we need to look at the overall [2:02:20] health of the herd or whatever they're [2:02:22] called. So that's that's my two cents. [2:02:23] So yes, I'd be willing to talk about it, [2:02:25] look into it. [2:02:27] >> Um I would just say that uh the USDA [2:02:30] uses as their safety guideline [2:02:33] uh no hunting within 200 yards of any [2:02:37] residence or any habitable building. So, [2:02:41] uh, because of safety issues, I'll never [2:02:44] vote for any kind of a hunt in the town [2:02:48] of Long Beach [2:02:50] that I mean, I totally respect [2:02:52] everyone's opinion, like I said, but I [2:02:53] would just kind of question that USDA if if they don't allow 200 yards, why do [2:02:59] we have an ordinance on the books that [2:03:00] we would have approved that? I mean, [2:03:02] that doesn't make any sense. And we were [2:03:04] in 2021 [2:03:05] >> allowed on public lands. [2:03:07] >> Oh, right. And this is not public lands. [2:03:09] This is privately funded on private [2:03:11] homeowners property. So it would not [2:03:13] involve um [2:03:14] >> well an arrow can go a lot farther than [2:03:17] someone's property. [2:03:20] » I mean I I it we would have to have you [2:03:24] know a hunter safety course be passed. [2:03:26] We would have to have [2:03:29] >> I have I haven't written down all the [2:03:31] things. [2:03:32] >> Yeah. I mean I' I've been through this. [2:03:33] I've talked to Miles. I've talked to the [2:03:35] all the programs the DNR has been to the [2:03:37] house and I I totally am I'm in [2:03:39] agreement like if I if this were to move [2:03:41] forward I would come back with those [2:03:43] types of answers and anyone who wanted [2:03:45] to help that that kind of stuff could be [2:03:47] ironed out but I'm just like [2:03:49] um taking a temperature if you will of [2:03:52] the town council because um it's there's [2:03:55] no point in you know it's just I I I [2:03:58] felt the same way 10 years ago or 20 [2:04:01] years ago when we moved here there was a [2:04:02] few once in a while it wasn't n't a [2:04:04] problem. I really didn't care about my [2:04:05] hydrangeas. Maybe I'd get another one, [2:04:07] but we can't even. Our dog caught mange [2:04:10] because of the deer. That was literally [2:04:12] probably an8 to a $10,000 pro diagnosis. [2:04:15] So, we didn't know what it was until Dr. [2:04:16] Bailey Bailey figured it out. But, we [2:04:18] can't sit in our yard. They come out of [2:04:20] nowhere. They're in [2:04:23] Anyway, everyone's got their issues or [2:04:25] everyone's got their their love or not, [2:04:26] but I used to feel the same way until [2:04:29] it's just gotten out of control. the [2:04:30] sheer number of them makes it um for [2:04:33] everyone who loves them, there's another [2:04:35] person who hates them. So, I just think [2:04:36] it's it's the five of us responsibility [2:04:39] to do what you feel is best in for the [2:04:41] town or your heart or whatever. And if [2:04:43] the vote is no, we're done, that's [2:04:47] totally fine. I mean, I'll be, you know, [2:04:49] it's not what I want, but that's fine. [2:04:50] It's everyone's got their opinion. And [2:04:51] if it's let's get more information, want [2:04:53] to move forward. And it's an honest [2:04:56] thing because it's a lot of work. I've, [2:04:58] like I said, I've talked to Beverly [2:04:59] Shores. I've talked to Miles. I've [2:05:00] talked to everybody and [2:05:03] I'm happy to do it, but not I don't want [2:05:05] to do it just for I don't know someone [2:05:09] saving face for the next meeting or [2:05:10] something. So, um [2:05:12] >> So, your motion is [2:05:14] >> Well, before you go further, I just want [2:05:15] to add as your consideration and not [2:05:18] everybody's aware there was a recent [2:05:20] case out of Stallbring's court. um Judge [2:05:24] Stallbring so locally that resident [2:05:27] challenged a neighbor [2:05:29] and while I don't agree with all of the [2:05:32] facts and some things that were accepted [2:05:34] the finding was that if zoning so it's [2:05:37] Nermberg versus RER and there isn't I [2:05:40] don't actually have the reporter side I [2:05:42] have the case that I'll share because [2:05:44] I'm not saying that it's right now it's [2:05:47] a reported case that's recent and and [2:05:50] published as of June but the finding was [2:05:54] that because hunting was not a specific [2:05:57] use that was allowed in a residential [2:05:59] district that it was not allowed. Now, [2:06:02] that doesn't mean that your code is [2:06:03] apples apples. I'm just as you're doing [2:06:05] your due diligence, as you said, for [2:06:06] discussion purposes, I'll share this [2:06:08] case. Again, doesn't mean it's dead in [2:06:11] the water. Doesn't mean that even if [2:06:13] that were the case that you guys can't [2:06:14] decide you want to change it. But I do [2:06:17] think that that's a new development of [2:06:19] reported law that didn't exist the last [2:06:21] time you guys had this conversation. [2:06:23] >> But doesn't our code support it the way [2:06:25] our code is written? [2:06:27] >> You're you have a you added for that [2:06:30] hunt, right? [2:06:31] >> But zoning code deals with uses. And so [2:06:34] the issue is whether those reconcile [2:06:37] based on this finding and then whatever [2:06:39] jurisdiction or ability to uh deal with [2:06:44] the deal population under the [2:06:46] jurisdiction of DNR. So you have lots of [2:06:48] things but I just want to point that one [2:06:50] out is [2:06:52] that may say that you need to change the [2:06:55] zoning code to reconcile or have some [2:06:57] exceptions based on that or it might not [2:07:00] be apples to apples. I'm just bringing [2:07:01] it cuz as you said, you're doing your [2:07:03] due diligence and [2:07:05] >> and you know we can see if it's [2:07:07] applicable here. [2:07:08] >> Yeah. [2:07:09] So, um yeah, just to keep it short, like [2:07:12] I said, I would like to make a motion to [2:07:15] proceed with moving forward with [2:07:17] developing and implementing [2:07:19] um a program. again [2:07:25] contingent upon the qualifications of [2:07:28] everything being approved with the [2:07:31] attorney and with with Mark and and and [2:07:33] those sorts of things. Like I said, I [2:07:35] just don't want to waste time going [2:07:36] through that cuz I've been down that [2:07:39] road before. So, if there's a motion to [2:07:40] move forward, um [2:07:44] do we have a second? Thanks. [2:07:45] >> I'll second that. [2:07:48] >> Any more discussion? [2:07:52] All in favor say I. [2:07:53] >> I. [2:07:55] >> All opposed. I opposed. [2:08:00] >> Sorry. Thank you. Can you [2:08:02] >> What was that vote? Two to three. So [2:08:04] two. It did not pass. [2:08:05] >> It did not pass. Okay. Thank [2:08:09] >> you. Voted. [2:08:11] >> Um, [2:08:13] >> yes. [2:08:14] >> Same. No. [2:08:17] >> Okay. Do we have any council comments? [2:08:23] Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion to [2:08:25] adjurnn. [2:08:26] >> I'll make the motion to adjurnn. [2:08:29] >> I'll second. [2:08:30] Any discussion? All in favor say I. [2:08:34] >> I. [2:08:34] Thank you everyone. [2:08:39] [music] [2:08:51] » [music]