[0:01] [music]

[0:08] » It's called the meeting to order. >> The Vernon Town Council met on August

[0:14] 5th, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. with the following members

[0:18] present: Don Gerould, Chad Heffernan, Tim Berry, and Rich Stevenson. The

[0:23] minutes of the July 1st meeting were read. Rich made a motion to approve,

[0:27] seconded by Chad, and passed. Motion made by Tim to approve the around

[0:33] 22,000 flood reduction program for all three

[0:37] ponds. That was seconded by Chad and passed.

[0:40] Appraisals to be set up for properties on East and West Barnhart for potential

[0:45] selling. Pavilion gutters were updated. Avis to

[0:49] replace the lights and/or switches, and planning on painting the pavilion roof.

[0:55] And it also suggested the windows be replaced. With nothing further

[0:59] discussed, Tim made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Rich, and passed.

[1:04] » Any additions or corrections? Being none, we need a motion to

[1:10] approve the minutes as read. Do I hear a motion?

[1:12] » I'll second. >> I have a motion and a second. All those

[1:15] in favor signify by saying aye. >> Aye.

[1:18] » Aye. >> All vote.

[1:21] Opposed likewise. They're passed.

[1:30] Lori. >> Um,

[1:32] oh wait, go ahead. >> Oops.

[1:35] So, I'm just here if there's any questions regarding the fire district.

[1:40] Um, I can help answer any questions.

[1:44] It's my only purpose in life right now.

[1:51] » No, I think everything's moving along. So,

[1:55] you know. >> I guess I do want to just check and sure

[1:57] that I sent out the ordinance to everybody

[2:01] just for review. I'm not here today to collect that. I just wanted to make sure

[2:04] everyone got it.

[2:07] I think the email's correct, so I know Lebanon and Avon and Minerva got

[2:11] got those ordinances to be reviewed. >> Okay.

[2:17] All right, got it. I'll get it to you.

[2:26] » Sam? >> No, I'm just here.

[2:30] » You got anything, Sam? >> I'm just here for the meeting.

[2:34] » Okay. I'll bring it up. You want me to kiss

[2:39] up? >> Oh, sorry.

[2:41] Mike Clendenen from Boone County Council, first district. I think it's

[2:44] important to engage the community you hope to represent, so

[2:47] here I am. Can't be here in person, I'll try to

[2:50] follow up online, so hopefully you'll be seeing a lot more of

[2:53] me. We'll see. >> Thank you.

[2:57] Great.

[2:59] » Mike Keen. >> Uh

[3:02] So, the fire department had talked we were going to win the uh

[3:09] district takes over. We're still going to have probably, what

[3:14] do you say, Sam? 15, 16 probably guys on?

[3:17] » Yeah. >> And we were going to move to the

[3:19] upstairs of the station now.

[3:23] And that's kind of that's cluster, I mean, one, it's the

[3:28] upstairs. Two, it's small, and we just got word that

[3:34] we're supposed to get, we'll see how as long as they get everybody hired that

[3:38] they are planning to, we'll have four

[3:40] full-time guys at the station come January 1st.

[3:45] Which means we're running out of real estate down there.

[3:50] And was wondering if there was a possibility of taking over the EMS

[3:55] building being that with the two bays there's room for training.

[4:01] There's room for in the

[4:04] uh for a meeting room.

[4:07] Uh the Lions Club could still use it for their They do their drive-thru dinners

[4:12] at the station now. And

[4:16] they won't be able to once the district takes over for that. So, give them

[4:20] somewhere to be. And

[4:24] any other I mean >> The Red Cross The Red Cross blood

[4:26] drives. >> They won't be able to do that down

[4:29] there.

[4:32] Because it's for us cuz originally we was going to try to

[4:38] get everything set up over there for us. But with them having trying to find

[4:43] enough room for four ti- four people I just don't see

[4:50] going to be any room. Where the EMS building's already set up

[4:54] for training. I got the big screen. I don't know if any of you

[4:58] guys has been in there, but the one end they got the big screen and

[5:03] for all your training and everything. And

[5:08] I talked to Sam. He could tell you a little bit more, but

[5:12] he's qualified to do CPR training. And once we

[5:19] get that If we get that building

[5:22] he can train well teachers down here to the

[5:27] school or just the general public that would like CPR training.

[5:33] Where over here there

[5:36] we're pretty much I think it's going to be women to

[5:39] maybe not the first year, but I pretty much guarantee

[5:44] » I I see I don't see us putting money into that

[5:48] when I don't know that it's going to last that long.

[5:54] » They hit hit hit me up about it the other day and I talked to Renee. I said,

[5:57] "Hey, what are your thoughts? Have they talked to you?"

[6:00] She seemed pretty open to it that they share the building, but I told

[6:04] somebody along the line, I said, "I don't know what if there's any concrete

[6:08] plans on us staying here

[6:11] cuz we had talked about moving down there, but are we staying here?"

[6:15] I said that was the big >> Good question.

[6:20] » Okay. >> No, I don't we I don't really know

[6:22] because I guess

[6:25] our decision will have to be made off of whatever the district's decision is

[6:31] as to how they want to approach it. Whether they want to take this over.

[6:35] » Right.

[6:38] » Well, now it's up to you guys. The district ain't got anything in this

[6:42] building. They've got it in that building.

[6:46] But this building is >> As far as I know, all their plans are

[6:52] in that in that footprint, so

[6:56] just put it all in that footprint. Yeah.

[7:00] As I said, does Brian know any more than we do?

[7:02] » Yeah, can I add a little So, I will say the district has not had any interest in

[7:07] this building. Uh their focus is is truly on the fire

[7:11] department and they are curious what your plans are for the EMS building. If

[7:16] there's a way maybe to share part of that. Um when I

[7:20] say share, talking about supply storage. Um

[7:25] I mean, the options are possible, but so I think they'll

[7:28] probably further discussions or questions about what plans are for the

[7:31] EMS building. But right now, all the focus is is on the fire and and making

[7:35] sure that's remodeled and suitable for living conditions.

[7:40] » Okay. Well, from my end who's going to pay the insurance and and

[7:45] the upkeep on the building down there? >> Well, we're going to try to figure

[7:49] something out.

[7:55] » I mean

[7:59] from my side, that's one of the things I'd be concerned about.

[8:06] You know, if it's temporary, that's one thing. If it's

[8:11] if it's not, that's the reason we I would we we probably need to know what

[8:16] their what their plan's going to be.

[8:20] I mean, if it's all going to be over there, okay.

[8:30] » When you're talking about if the district's

[8:34] going to be partially down here on the

[8:38] the paying everything or just the volunteers theirself down here?

[8:44] » You mean down there? >> Yeah.

[8:48] » Well, surely they're going to pay for the volunteers.

[8:53] » I have no idea. If the district has anything

[8:57] to do with the Inverness building, that'll fall under the district

[9:00] insurance, utilities, all that.

[9:04] » Okay. Well, no, that's that's

[9:09] See, that's probably a workable situation.

[9:14] And it would be better if it was temporary rather than permanent.

[9:24] » Just curious, so if you don't use that building

[9:28] for the volunteers and the training and the district doesn't do anything with

[9:35] that building, what would you do with that building? I mean, wouldn't it sit

[9:40] empty anyway? Wouldn't you still have to pay the insurance

[9:44] » I'd move town stuff into it. >> Okay.

[9:47] » Yeah. Yeah.

[9:50] And the whole premise of this thing is everything's supposed to be in one

[9:54] location.

[9:58] » Well, it sounds good. But how you going to

[10:02] » Well, our >> bring all the volunteers to the fire

[10:05] volunteers. The first four people here having living quarters.

[10:10] Building's only so big unless they're adding on to

[10:14] a bunch.

[10:17] » So the the big thing, I guess, that I guess we're kind of confused about is

[10:21] not like there's going to be trucks sitting down there or anything. This is

[10:24] more for the community side of the fire department as well as training.

[10:29] So, if we could, you know, have that building, we could use the bay portion

[10:34] of it where the ambulances park as an indoor training ground for physical

[10:39] training stuff. You know, we could put props in there, be out of the weather,

[10:42] stuff like that. The back side is a fully equipped training room that the

[10:47] EMS has spent a lot of money on over the years to build up to be a great training

[10:52] room. And then down here at the fire

[10:53] department, they're turning our training room into the living quarters.

[10:58] Uh then also, like Rick mentioned, the

[11:01] Lions Club does their pull-through dinners consistently at this fire

[11:05] station. That won't be a thing anymore. All the community events, like the

[11:09] community side of the fire station is done. Now that is a fire station that

[11:13] makes runs. That's pretty much it. It houses

[11:16] firefighters and makes runs. So all the extracurricular events that

[11:21] go on at the fire station will likely not be a thing anymore.

[11:26] So, when Rick's saying the Red Cross stuff, they currently do that at DMS.

[11:33] Community CPR AED classes can be held there.

[11:37] And then like we said, the trainings that require you to

[11:40] sit through PowerPoints and do that kind of stuff could be held down there as

[11:43] well. That would be more of like the quote-unquote community center side of

[11:49] the fire department that we've been doing for years.

[11:53] » Right. No, I I get it. I just

[12:00] I guess my concern is what our cost on it is.

[12:08] I mean, if it's going to be covered by the district,

[12:14] I don't have a problem with that as long as as long as they don't work at all

[12:18] while >> I guess right now I don't see a

[12:20] difference. There won't be any more cost to it. Like what it is right at this

[12:24] moment, I guess. >> would be more cost to it because if I'm

[12:27] going to have to pay insurance on it, I'm already paying for fire protection

[12:32] through my taxes. That's what I'm saying.

[12:42] » I guess you're paying insurance on it right now,

[12:46] right? >> [clears throat]

[12:47] » Yeah. And if you keep it without us going in

[12:50] there, you'd still be paying taxes. >> I'll still pay insurance on it, but I'll

[12:55] use it. >> Got you.

[12:56] » Oh, okay. I was I was hearing what he was

[12:59] saying here. >> What were you saying? They weren't

[13:01] » Yeah. [clears throat]

[13:04] » Yeah, for the board, I suppose. No, that's from the town's side. That's

[13:10] basically we're done there. That would be my take on it.

[13:16] » Well, I guess I'm not 100% but I I would say if we're

[13:22] forced to stay into this building with them with no room and nothing,

[13:28] that we will lose more volunteers than

[13:34] and you guys are just as well as us we're going to suffer

[13:39] by it because you're not going to have the manpower.

[13:42] » And that was my concern about it was if we don't have a place for them to

[13:47] actually keep the volunteer fire department going, I'm afraid we're

[13:50] pushing them out. That was why I was very much entertained

[13:53] by the idea.

[14:04] » No, what Brian says it is is on the insurance

[14:11] That's I I would assume we would be fine with

[14:15] it, but if we're going to pay the insurance and

[14:19] the upkeep and the lights and the heat we're going to use it.

[14:29] » Yeah, we aren't asking you to do like a takeover or anything. We're just

[14:31] thinking if there's a way we can make it it's not going to be the rural volunteer

[14:35] fire department, it's going to be a community building.

[14:38] And our thought is that everybody that has, you know, like this building's used

[14:43] by the Lions Club, it's used by the Chamber of Commerce, it would be a

[14:46] similar style thing unless you guys had a better plan for it.

[14:51] Cuz we don't want to see another building sit vacant in town and

[14:54] that building's currently used for stuff and this building's currently used for

[14:57] stuff that won't be able to be anymore. So, if we could kind of

[15:01] do something like that, that'd be nice to keep the community side of things

[15:05] going.

[15:08] » And so, Brian, you said that they would just be maybe wanting to use that for

[15:12] storage, part of that for storage is possible.

[15:16] » There's all the options are open. There's just

[15:18] » No real plan for it right now, so.

[15:21] » Further, >> yeah, but right now it's

[15:24] the big question is, we know that the fire station

[15:27] um will be part of the district. The town will

[15:30] lease it or bill of sale whatever has to work.

[15:34] Uh EMS just waiting on confirmation that that's also what the town wants to do is

[15:38] to lease that or or have hand that transfer it over to the district with

[15:44] When I say transfer it over and lease it, it's always a stipulation of if it's

[15:47] never been It's not going to be used for the district for the fire station or

[15:51] training facility or whatever they reverse it back to the town.

[15:55] Um which is what Pueblo is going to be

[15:57] doing. So, if if the EMS building is something the

[16:00] town also wants to transfer to the district, then

[16:04] then that can happen. I think that there should be some collaboration though

[16:07] between the district and what the town wants it to be used for. So, if the fire

[16:10] department wants to use it for for things, I think that needs to be

[16:13] part of the conversation uh before we turn anything over.

[16:17] » Right. I agree with >> All right.

[16:19] » Yeah. >> Is there any truth to the rumors we're

[16:21] hearing that there might be four? >> Yeah.

[16:24] » People have done that the first time. >> The plan is four. Uh it is contingent

[16:28] upon getting 15 to 20 civilian paramedics.

[16:31] But, the battalion chief will be stationed out here.

[16:35] Um they're going to put a battalion chief

[16:37] in each corner of the county and one in the center or

[16:40] east side. Um

[16:43] and then with the three firefighter medics out here, that will give you your

[16:48] four.

[16:54] Pueblo has three assigned to it. When I say three, it's for 24 hours, you

[16:59] need three. >> Yeah.

[17:06] » And when it comes to the civilian paramedics, uh they

[17:09] we're looking at the the areas that need the paramedics the most, which is out

[17:14] here. And so, that's where those those

[17:17] positions be filled first uh before they spread the paramedics out

[17:21] to other other other areas of the county.

[17:31] » Cuz it would be To me, it would be nice if

[17:34] some of the the uppers would come out and maybe sit

[17:38] and talk with the fire or even the town or whatever.

[17:43] Cuz we had the meeting over here and since then

[17:48] I haven't heard nothing. And one of the main comments was is

[17:53] we're going to have to get the warrior in on this

[17:56] getting these trucks figured out, so we and that's been

[18:02] what? A month, 6 weeks ago? >> 6 weeks.

[18:06] » And we haven't heard one thing about signing for the use of the trucks or

[18:13] or anything. >> So, the there's more plan meetings for

[18:18] out here. The first meeting we had was more of

[18:22] the goal was to receive the information from the volunteer side of what they

[18:25] want the structure to look like and what what means most to to the volunteers.

[18:30] And since then it it's not a it's not easy decision to make right away.

[18:34] Um if it was, the district would just say,

[18:37] "You're doing this and this is how we're doing it." So, what they've done is

[18:39] taken a lot of feedback and there was good feedback from out here

[18:43] uh into consideration to look at the legal side of stuff, to see what

[18:46] precedence been set out there, see what insurance says we can and can't do. And

[18:50] so, all that stuff's been happening behind the scenes and I think we're at a

[18:53] very good spot where we can come out and lay out a preliminary structure of what

[18:58] the volunteer side looks like along with career and see how well that's

[19:03] is received and if we need to make any tweaks, we would

[19:06] go back and make some more tweaks on that.

[19:08] Uh regarding the buildings and the apparatus, um

[19:12] there is uh the district just asked yesterday to get a list

[19:18] of the buildings, the apparatus and

[19:20] equipment of what the the department, the town

[19:24] would like to transfer over to the district and then get that list put

[19:29] together and then between the the attorneys of the

[19:32] district and then also the attorneys of the town and the fire department, all

[19:36] the entities that own this equipment can work together to get that agreement in

[19:40] place of what that transfer looks like. Right now we just need the first list to

[19:45] start.

[19:48] » Transfer meaning no consideration? Is that what everybody's doing?

[19:52] » Uh I have actually a phone call on Friday

[19:54] morning with the attorneys to to ask because they're they're they're saying

[19:57] for the real estate, typically it's a bill of sale with the the exception in

[20:01] there of >> Right, a reversion.

[20:03] » Yep. Yep. Um the equipment and all that is more of of just the

[20:08] the transfer of ownership whatever they call that.

[20:12] Uh and then we can set that price for whatever it is. I think most everyone's

[20:15] going with a dollar. Um I did have questions about leasing

[20:19] because a lot of the other departments do a lease program.

[20:22] Uh all the townships, I'm sorry, have a lease program with with the districts

[20:27] and that's what they want to talk to me about on Friday morning to see what that

[20:29] lease would look like. >> So when it comes to the real estate

[20:35] do they lease or is the lease like $1? Is that what it is?

[20:38] » $1, yeah. >> But do then does the district then pay

[20:42] for the upkeep and so they would take care of the HVAC and all of the

[20:46] » Yes, everything. The insurance, for example, PO, I think they sold

[20:51] theirs, but their sale to Southwest Fire District was

[20:56] contingent upon that station is no longer an operating fire station that it

[20:59] would revert back to the township before the price that they paid for, which was

[21:03] a dollar. >> Got it.

[21:14] » No, I don't think that it would probably be a problem to do that down there. I

[21:19] just I'm just looking at it from the

[21:22] from the side that

[21:26] if we're raising their taxes to take care of certain things

[21:34] » [clears throat] >> we shouldn't have to spend any more

[21:37] money. That's what my point is. >> But I guess if I look at it the way

[21:41] you're looking at it and if it's your point of view

[21:45] » that's that's different.

[21:48] » But if I look at it the true point of view, I'm paying taxes, why in the hell

[21:52] should we even volunteer then? Cuz we're paying

[21:57] we're paying just as much as everybody else and we're still volunteering.

[22:02] So, by looking at the way you're thinking

[22:06] is yeah, we

[22:09] » The way I'm thinking is I'm looking out for the taxpayer.

[22:13] » Yeah. And so am I and you got to do with

[22:17] whatever you can do on the tax side of it far as making

[22:22] things but I'm just thinking the same thing is

[22:28] we're paying the same amount of taxes everybody else but yet we're still

[22:32] volunteers and we're getting pretty much nothing for it.

[22:40] But yeah, we can go on. I think we've

[22:46] beat this one enough that No, I don't know until we can find out

[22:49] from the administration. >> we

[22:51] we see what you know, is this a year thing or is it

[22:55] a five-year thing? >> I mean, I guess for us

[22:59] we were looking at it like separate from the district, I guess.

[23:04] » Why would that Why would we do that? >> You mean the building? This building?

[23:10] » It it would be I mean, cuz the volunteers and the paid

[23:16] guys are going to be treated different. I I I mean, it's given.

[23:20] » I mean, we're still we're going to be separate entities at the end.

[23:22] » Right. But

[23:29] » So, if Wait. So, is it in the plan for us to lease

[23:33] that building also for a dollar? The fire and the EMS building? Is that

[23:39] what the intention was originally? >> No.

[23:43] It was all going to be under one building.

[23:45] » just that building. >> Yeah. [snorts]

[23:50] » But Brian, you said that they've been [clears throat] asking about this

[23:53] building and the fire and the EMS building.

[23:56] » Not really asking. It's Like I said, the focus has been on making sure this is up

[24:00] and running cuz they'd like to get the ambulance down here, so it's all in one

[24:03] building. Make sure that's livable. They're

[24:07] I guess the big question mark is is that building going to be also turned over to

[24:11] the district to be able to use. And if so, like I said [clears throat] earlier,

[24:15] if it is, I would make it depending on what you want to use it

[24:18] for, contingent upon they can use it, but also the town wants to use it for

[24:23] whatever. And I I think I think the >> the things that Brian was just

[24:26] mentioning, which is seems reasonable to me.

[24:40] » For example, the Holden fire, uh we're we're looking at building a new

[24:44] This is kind of small scale, but putting a larger

[24:48] uh shed in the back because we have a ton of chairs and tables that are just

[24:52] all over the place in the back room. Need to get those moved out. And they're

[24:56] Holden fire's disabled and chairs. And so, we're building this larger shed, and

[25:01] half of it's going to be where the mower and all that stuff's going to be where

[25:04] the the members that's there at the station will be able to use the mower to

[25:07] grass, but the back part's going to be where all the tables and chairs and

[25:10] stuff that's holding fires that

[25:13] we want to continue using that the district doesn't really have any

[25:16] interest in. Um

[25:18] we're going to store that stuff in in the back there. So, it'll be a building

[25:22] the structure will be covered under the insurance of the district.

[25:25] Um but, we are going to be using part of it for holding fires.

[25:33] » Well, now we'll we'll figure it out. Where I was at was saying

[25:37] You're part of the Holden Fire Department, right?

[25:40] What are your guys' plans for your volunteers

[25:44] coordinating with the career? I mean, are you guys still training in

[25:49] that building? >> Yeah. Yes. Um

[25:53] I know I I hear I hear a lot

[25:58] concerns based upon maybe what others have seen throughout the county over the

[26:01] years when it comes to the volunteers and the career.

[26:04] I'll just say this, I'm heavily involved in the district, and I've been really

[26:08] pushing hard about the volunteer uh presence within this district and

[26:12] creating that structure, and I um

[26:15] if I didn't feel like it was going to be possible, I'm I mean, I'm I'm wasting my

[26:20] time here. I I've been spending a lot of time involved in it, especially with the

[26:25] information that came from from out here with all the the volunteers and ensuring

[26:28] that that continues to be uh pushed forward. And there's been some

[26:33] some push back on some things that, you know, career uh

[26:37] career firefighters are used to doing, not understanding the volunteer side.

[26:41] I feel like it's my role to try to make sure that's visible, and I feel really

[26:44] confident where we're at. So, yes, uh Holden Fire,

[26:48] uh the training training's available out there. Also, there will be uh

[26:53] a schedule to see where the trainings are at in the county. So, if there is a

[26:56] training that night at Hopland, they can go someplace else in the in the county

[27:00] to get trained. Um

[27:02] making accommodations cuz our trainings usually Thursday nights. So, we're

[27:05] looking at doing Thursday night and Saturday morning trainings

[27:08] um out there at Hopland. Not every single

[27:11] Thursday Saturday, but that's when the trainings to accommodate the schedules

[27:16] for the volunteers. Um

[27:19] and uh more more a lot more joint trainings between Laurel Hill,

[27:25] Hopland, and uh possibly uh oh um

[27:29] So, those are those are all the expectations.

[27:34] I don't I I know some people don't believe this,

[27:37] but I I don't see much changing when it comes to the volunteer activity early

[27:43] on. Uh because we have three people getting on a truck, that next truck's

[27:47] got to be staffed by somebody. Someday when we get to possibly six

[27:51] people at a station, uh that's a point where I think it it'll

[27:56] it'll uh make it difficult for the volunteers to make runs because by the

[28:00] time they get to the station, the first two trucks are going to be out the door,

[28:03] and there might not be anything else to take. Um

[28:05] and I recognize that, but I that's probably going to be something that's

[28:08] more 8 to 10 years down the road. >> I'm going to say that.

[28:13] Good afternoon. sandwich

[28:15] Good afternoon.

[28:20] » What did he say? >> So, that that answers your question.

[28:25] » No, as far as if that comes back to the if if that building down there

[28:33] if the if that's going to be the town,

[28:38] we'll put equipment in the two bays that's there.

[28:44] And then the training room could be used for whatever. It will be no big deal.

[28:56] You agree, Rich? >> Yes. Yes.

[29:00] You know, I got I said the whole the whole premise we got forced into this is

[29:05] everything had to be done at one spot. So, now you know, like it's the EMS

[29:10] building. So, now the fire department wants to take over the building for

[29:14] training purposes. Why I mean, if you're training for the fire department, why

[29:18] wouldn't you want to train for the fire inspection with all your equipment on?

[29:23] It makes no sense to me.

[29:27] » Is it just it Is it just your thought that it might happen that you'll get

[29:31] pushed out? >> Yeah.

[29:35] » There's really no good place to train you guys.

[29:37] » Yeah. And like if we're talking classroom training here,

[29:41] EMS has a fully equipped classroom. And I'm not saying we want to take over the

[29:45] whole building. Like I said, we want it to be a community building

[29:49] for the community to use. And you can't put drives upstairs cuz

[29:54] people can't walk up the stairs and stuff like that. We can dump a bunch

[29:59] of money cuz the districts already said all they're doing is plain flooring and

[30:04] new paint. That is it. They're not touching anything else up there.

[30:07] And it needs a lot more than that and they are not touching it.

[30:10] So, if the fire department was to spend our own money to remodel the upstairs to

[30:16] be an almost okay similar comparable

[30:21] training room to the EMS, there's nothing that says when there is six

[30:25] people over here, they don't just tear it all out or kick us out and make the

[30:30] upstairs a bunk room like they're doing to the downstairs.

[30:34] Cuz right now there's going to be four guys over there

[30:37] and there's no way you can have more than four guys there without ripping out

[30:41] the living quarters and completely redoing it. It's you can't do it.

[30:47] So.

[30:54] Ideally, it would be fantastic to have everything in the same spot.

[30:58] And if they could, you know, take out one of our bays and completely redo all

[31:03] that the correct way like they should be doing, that would be awesome. But

[31:06] they're not going to do that, so.

[31:10] » Let me let me talk to the EMS before we do

[31:15] anything.

[31:22] They've got a lot of work in that building, so.

[31:26] I'm not going to I'm not I don't want to volunteer something that that

[31:31] will cause more problems. >> I guess if you're asking I I

[31:36] I'll just give myself

[31:44] » I did.

[31:47] Matt.

[31:50] Yes. >> I am representing the company I work for

[31:54] tonight. Um we have a past-due invoice of $8,400

[31:59] for a pole assembly and a hand that evidently was knocked down and it

[32:04] was due on May 23rd. >> It's

[32:08] just sent out with the main into that. >> Okay.

[32:12] » The check was just sent out to Indianapolis.

[32:15] » Okay. >> To my home office.

[32:16] » Okay. >> Yeah.

[32:18] » Okay. Good bye.

[32:21] » Has the invoice been paid? >> No, because this is the the liability

[32:26] one where it was hit by >> Right, but the liability is not my

[32:30] company's issue and >> [snorts]

[32:32] » and you're 90 days past due. My salesman is on $8,400. He can't get

[32:40] his paychecks because they make they get paid on commission.

[32:44] So, this is a huge issue. I always used to order parts for the town in good

[32:50] faith. We were always paid. I actually >> They've always They've always been good

[32:56] with us. >> And and I all and I quoted this.

[32:59] And I would have no idea it was not approved when it was ordered.

[33:04] » I don't have an issue with that being paid. We still can pursue people

[33:07] » No, just

[33:09] just go ahead and pay it. Wherever you can pay it out of and then

[33:14] we will get the money back from the We filed charges on the guy, so

[33:21] Yeah.

[33:25] Okay. That.

[33:29] » Tim. >> Well, I did have a question those two

[33:31] lots [clears throat] on Barnhart. Do I need to order the appraisal or are

[33:35] you doing that? >> You want me to? I can.

[33:38] » I don't care. I don't know which lots they are, so if

[33:41] you want me to do it, I just need to know

[33:43] » the addresses. >> I can get them.

[33:45] » Okay. Okay.

[33:47] » This has to be a licensed appraiser, correct?

[33:50] » Mhm. >> Okay.

[33:59] » Bobby. >> Um do we want to do the budget hearing

[34:04] on the 16th or the 21st of this month? >> I thought we had it scheduled.

[34:09] » I'm just double-checking. Right now, it's scheduled for the 16th.

[34:12] » Yeah, that's what I have. >> What time?

[34:14] 7:00. >> 7:00, same as the

[34:18] » conflict.

[34:21] I mean, it's 6:30, I'm pretty sure. What do you prefer, 5:00 or 7:00?

[34:25] » What now? >> We have to do like the open hearing for

[34:29] the budget. >> Right.

[34:32] On September what now?

[34:34] » 16th or 23rd?

[34:44] » Probably the 16th.

[34:48] I don't know. What is >> Does everyone have to be here? Cuz I

[34:51] have a I >> Got to have a

[34:53] We got to have a quorum. >> So

[34:55] » I can be >> You can be here and Rich can take the

[34:58] minutes for that.

[35:02] Unless Mike makes it gets over it.

[35:06] Starts at 6:00. >> Can you be here at the 16th, Rich?

[35:09] » Yes. >> Okay. 7:00?

[35:13] » Yeah.

[35:19] » How about you, Chad? You good? Yeah. >> He said he's good.

[35:22] » Okay. I'm good. So

[35:27] » What time? 6:00?

[35:29] » Or 7:00? >> 7:00.

[35:31] » 7:00. >> Cuz at 6:00 I can make it.

[35:33] » Okay.

[35:44] Allen Street

[35:48] to redo Allen Street

[35:52] and to do it properly.

[35:58] The state will kick in $668,000.

[36:04] But we have to kick in 368.

[36:15] And 200,000 of that is water line. There's no reason to

[36:23] repave the street until there's a water line.

[36:29] Mhm? 200,000.

[36:33] See, the state goes 75/25

[36:38] on drainage and paved. So, our

[36:44] their their share is 668,000.

[36:48] Ours would have been 168,000.

[36:53] But, with the water line we got to pay that out of pocket.

[37:00] And I guess my question Bobby and I just talked about this.

[37:06] There's

[37:09] places we can get the money. Seed is probably the easiest.

[37:16] But, do we want to it's going to leave us

[37:20] without a lot of money. >> Don't use TIF.

[37:24] » Pardon? >> Don't use TIF.

[37:26] That TIF fund, that's infrastructure. >> I I think it has to be

[37:32] in a designated TIF area. >> Does that go

[37:39] Well, how far are we going on Allen Street?

[37:40] » We're going to the forest.

[37:45] » Can you still have that money? >> I'm going to bet

[37:49] you have it there, Tim. >> Maybe.

[38:00] » What Bobby, what are we paying out for water thing? I know you said we had

[38:04] 172,000, right? In the water.

[38:08] » Yes. So, just the water utility right now, it's

[38:12] uh payable I think out of what it is

[38:15] quarter. And then just any uh repairs that we have to do, supplies,

[38:21] uh chemicals. Things like that.

[38:25] » Okay. We don't have a bond.

[38:29] » We do, actually. >> Okay. That was what That's what I

[38:33] thought. >> In July, we just had a bond payment come

[38:37] out.

[38:42] » Do you remember about how much it was? >> The payment was

[38:46] » It's not like >> 40

[39:01] I want to say it was like 45,000. Was the payment that came out. 24,000

[39:06] was principal and 16 something was interest.

[39:11] » And that'll be due again next year. Correct. Every 6 months.

[39:16] » I think it's beginning of the month or beginning of the year, yeah. So

[39:19] » Okay. That's

[39:22] That's We could probably take a little money out of that account, correct? Or

[39:28] not? >> I'm sure there is.

[39:31] » Okay. Okay.

[39:34] And we have how much in storm drainage, too?

[39:39] You I know you gave me all these numbers, but they're they're all home on

[39:43] my desk.

[39:57] » So, the storm sewer balance >> It's 100 something what now?

[40:04] » At the end of July, it was 183,000. >> 183,000.

[40:12] Okay. Part of that is storm drainage, too. So

[40:22] if we took some out of water and some out of storm,

[40:30] probably have to take the rest out of it. Where's the TIFF district? Yeah, I

[40:34] need to get the map out. I

[40:37] » [snorts] >> I

[40:37] » From South Street to Webster. >> I thought we

[40:41] Well, how far? >> To Webster, this intersection right

[40:44] here. They basically do from South Street to

[40:46] the post office. >> Oh, god.

[40:50] If South Street to the post office, we could take money out of it because

[40:54] that's part of it. >> Right.

[41:00] » I just want to make sure that before I tell them

[41:03] we can do it, that we can do it, that we've got the money.

[41:17] » At In-Seeded at the end of July, there's 676,000

[41:21] in

[41:24] » In-Seeded, yeah.

[41:28] » And then

[41:31] » If if I don't really want to drain Seeded

[41:35] because Seeded's easier to when you have emergencies, it's easier

[41:40] to use that money.

[41:45] But we could take some out of the TIFF. We could take some out of Seeded and we

[41:51] could take some out of water and storm drainage.

[41:58] Are you confident that we're okay money-wise?

[42:03] » I don't like spending that much money, especially when we're doing another

[42:06] project with the Columbus and Prospect. So, it makes me nervous to do both.

[42:12] » Okay, well, see that's going

[42:18] I'm trying to remember how much that was.

[42:40] See, the only downside to not doing it

[42:46] is $668,000 is state money.

[42:56] » How much would we need out of like our portion of the Columbus and Prospect?

[43:02] » That'll be 75/25. They're paying 75, we're paying 25.

[43:10] On both of the projects. >> Yeah.

[43:12] » On both of the projects, that's the way they both work.

[43:14] » Yeah. Yeah, that's [snorts]

[43:18] » So, what are we looking at dollar amount for that one?

[43:25] » I don't remember how much it was now.

[43:30] I know it was going to take it out of state.

[44:04] I thought our portion was 140,000 I think.

[44:16] 600 500,000

[44:20] I think. We've got maybe about 500,000.

[44:30] » [snorts] >> I don't really want to let the 668 go

[44:33] by.

[44:37] » But I'm sure >> We could probably take 150 or 200 out of

[44:44] out of TIF.

[44:47] » Okay. >> That's 971

[44:49] I think. >> Okay. So, yeah.

[44:53] As long as we can use I would say a third

[44:59] on in TIF, then I think we should be good.

[45:02] » Okay. Okay.

[45:05] Are you guys okay with doing that? >> Sure.

[45:08] » Good. Okay.

[45:15] Yeah. >> I just had

[45:18] a couple of people complaining about the conditions of

[45:21] the landscaping done in the

[45:24] park. So, everything that you do about the

[45:27] dead display I wouldn't worry about that. It's not

[45:31] » That's the email I forwarded to you. >> Oh, yeah.

[45:36] So, >> I just I got a picture of a tree that's

[45:41] leaning and and dead foliage.

[45:45] » I didn't The only looking briefly through her email and the photos, we

[45:50] could maybe get her them for the garden. For the weeds being too high, but I'm

[45:54] not seeing anything in there. I know she cited the bushes

[45:59] could possibly could on fire, but there's nothing in that the ordinances

[46:04] that I have found that I can compel somebody to rip bushes out for fire

[46:08] hazard reasons. So, I I think that

[46:13] I think you were going to look over it when we needed to make a face-to-face to

[46:17] brainstorm anything further, but I think at most we could maybe hit them with a

[46:20] weed violation ticket for the that's overgrown.

[46:24] But, if they want to let it I know one of the email concerns is they just

[46:28] put a bunch of stuff on like they just redid the roof down there and they have

[46:32] a tree growing onto it. That's a them problem. If they want to

[46:37] spend a bunch money on a roof and then not prune a tree but prune a tree back

[46:41] to keep their investment safe. That's That's a them problem, not a not

[46:46] a town problem. Unless I'm missing something.

[46:49] » That's what town body think you're thinking.

[46:52] I'm just trying to break it >> And the same with some of the other

[46:55] overhanging trees like I know there's I have to get back into

[47:00] the roots of it in regards to I think certain things there can't

[47:04] overhang so far, but how do we judge that? Also, how do we

[47:08] judge that? And some of that is

[47:12] I guess

[47:14] And whatever list that I was going to make doesn't make any point as a town

[47:17] ordinance, but how do how do we judge that though of

[47:22] overhanging and what what precedence are we going to set

[47:26] within judging that in regards to tree overhanging and

[47:33] But, I think that I know the town will easiest one will be the garden, but it's

[47:36] again, it's just you can take a street sweeper and

[47:40] get all that out of there and you know, unless there's something

[47:46] I'm missing.

[47:50] Cuz she sent me an email, called me, and sent me the email with a bunch of stuff.

[47:56] I did look over it. That's the only That's I really jumped out.

[48:01] I can do >> There wasn't nothing that really jumped

[48:03] out there. >> I put some more time into it and sift

[48:06] through them more, but I don't think we have we have tall

[48:11] grass. I don't know if we have enough

[48:16] to cover nuisances for the trees. I just I don't know if we would if we

[48:22] if that's broad enough to cover tree or I get I

[48:26] grass being too tall and how that could bring in other critters and how that is

[48:30] nuisance issues.

[48:33] I can dig a little deeper just to make sure all this is complied.

[48:39] » Joe, no. Uh we're we do have one tree at Central

[48:44] on Webster. It's that the town's going to take take

[48:48] down. It's it's huge.

[48:54] And it's

[48:58] it's hollow.

[49:03] And we got prices from a couple different places, but I

[49:08] honestly don't remember what they were, but Joe and Wiggans was by far the

[49:14] cheapest, and Joe has insurance, so

[49:27] I've got some notices that I'm going to have you deliver hand deliver

[49:33] » [snorts] >> at 409 Elm and

[49:42] but I've got to update the date because Tim sent them to me.

[49:48] And I just printed them today, and you sent

[49:53] them all to me on the 17th. I realized that.

[49:59] So, I will update the dates. And then

[50:03] » I'll follow up with you Friday. >> Um yeah, 202 row just take a look at

[50:08] them ahead of time and 409.

[50:16] » Motion to adjourn. >> Vote to adjourn.

[50:19] » No. >> No, we're good.

[50:21] » Tim makes a motion. >> I'll second.

[50:24] » Got a motion and a second. All those in favor signify by saying aye.

[50:28] Aye. All opposed, same sign.

[50:41] » [music]

Allen County Monroeville Town Board September 2 2026

Transcript