[0:24] All right. Okay, it's 6:00. We'll begin meeting

[0:27] tonight. If you please stand and join me for the pledge.

[0:30] I pledge >> allegiance to the flag of the United

[0:33] States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under

[0:39] God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

[0:44] » Thank you.

[0:49] August 24th, 2026 City Council meeting will begin with roll call. Please,

[0:53] Shirley. >> Mayor Griffith.

[0:55] » Present. >> Councilman Hale.

[0:56] » Here. >> Councilman Wall.

[0:57] » Present. >> Councilman Pledge.

[0:59] » Here. >> Councilman Curtis.

[1:00] » Here. >> Councilman Baker.

[1:02] » Here. >> Councilman Rinaldi.

[1:03] » Here. >> And myself.

[1:04] » Thank you, Shirley. Has Council had a chance to review minutes from our August

[1:08] 10th meeting? If so, I'd entertain a motion to approve.

[1:11] Jared makes a motion to approve. Any other seconds?

[1:14] » [cough] >> Comments? All in favor, show of hands.

[1:17] Motion carries 5-0.

[1:21] Other agenda items. First, we have the Historic Preservation Commission

[1:24] ordinance. Uh any comments, Kayla, on uh revisions

[1:29] from our last meeting? >> The only thing is that I made the

[1:32] changes that we discussed uh as far as how many members would be

[1:37] um on the board. So, there will be five voting members. That was changed in

[1:40] section 3B. Um and then, as a result, I had to

[1:44] change the term in 3C, where um the initial members the two members will

[1:50] serve 1 year, two members will serve 2 years, and one member will serve 3

[1:55] years. Just to get on rotating basis and then

[1:59] um as we discussed as far as you would like the rules [snorts] to come back

[2:04] through the city council and be approved by the city council

[2:09] before they're actually enforceable and that's in 3F that those have to be

[2:13] ratified before they um

[2:18] So those are the only changes that were made to the work class.

[2:20] » Uh the motion was made like in our minutes from last meeting it said three

[2:25] appointees by the mayor and two by the council and I noticed that's changed.

[2:29] I didn't know why. >> I meant to touch base on that. So state

[2:31] statute requires all of the members to be appointed by the mayor and then

[2:35] approved by the city council. So that's why that's in there like that.

[2:38] » Okay.

[2:41] » [snorts] >> And we have three non-voting members.

[2:44] » Correct. Three non-voting members which stayed the same as the last time.

[2:47] » Yeah. >> Um those are at the discretion of

[2:50] the council. Um so those do not have to be residents inside of the city limits.

[2:55] Um [clears throat] that was one other thing that we discussed about

[2:59] um I had to leave it as residents. State statute requires they have to be

[3:02] residents of the city of Mount Vernon um to be voting members but the non-voting

[3:06] members do not have to be. >> Yeah.

[3:09] Yeah. Shane, three or four years, can this be

[3:13] rescinded? >> Yes.

[3:15] » Okay.

[3:20] » Any questions? >> Would we have to Would we have to pay

[3:23] back $2 million if we did?

[3:27] » That I have not looked into yet.

[3:31] » Um any other questions for Caleb? >> Yeah, can it be amended at any point

[3:35] within the three years and if the council were to see fit, what's the

[3:39] amendment process look like for this particular ordinance and statute?

[3:43] » Um as far as the amendments, I think

[3:45] there's your best bet is to amend the rules and

[3:48] guidelines rather than necessarily how the commission itself is formed.

[3:54] Um I don't imagine you'd want to change members later on.

[3:57] » No, no, no. The The rules. >> The rules is the

[3:59] » Could be amended. [clears throat] Okay. And finally, it's my understanding that

[4:04] we could pass this tonight. >> Okay.

[4:08] » There's been some I I I think most of you know I've been having conversations

[4:12] with many of the people here in this room trying to set uh aside some

[4:15] » [clears throat] >> fears and concerns about the ordinance

[4:17] and how this works going forward. So, um obviously your your options are to

[4:22] make a motion to approve the ordinance uh or to table it for another 2 weeks.

[4:27] So, uh you can continue to have discussions.

[4:30] Um some of the changes that were talked about as suggestions within the

[4:34] ordinance are just not legal They don't align with state statute and can't be

[4:38] done. [clears throat] I mean, it is what it is. Uh so, that's up to you. I guess

[4:42] I would open the floor for any business owners who want to comment uh and maybe

[4:46] touch on something that wasn't touched in 2 weeks. You're welcome to come up

[4:49] and and voice your concerns, opinions, etc. Or anyone else for that matter.

[4:54] Anybody have a comment on this that they'd like to say?

[4:56] » I'd like to make a comment. We just got this and I think this is too important

[5:00] to rush through and I would like to see us move it for 2 more

[5:04] weeks and then can we have an executive meeting with Caleb to go through this

[5:09] fine-tooth This This is a lot of pages and I just want to make sure we're doing

[5:13] the right thing. I have a concern.

[5:15] » I I don't know that we can have an executive session on this topic. I'll

[5:18] defer to Larry, but if that's a motion to table it for 2 weeks.

[5:23] » I'd like to make a motion to table it for 2 weeks and really look at it a lot

[5:27] closer cuz it's I just basically got a chance to look at it

[5:32] now. I mean, just walked in. It's It's too much information to me to to

[5:38] rush through it. >> Well, the only thing that changed was

[5:41] the the number of members. So, we've had it

[5:43] for 2 weeks. And that's the only change that was made

[5:48] from 2 weeks ago at our meeting. I thought Autumn did a wonderful job of

[5:52] explaining that this is simply creating the commission. This is not creating

[5:58] any of the ordinance language for what would be monitored on our historic

[6:06] preservation. >> I can comment more on what that process

[6:08] looks like if you want. Just to reaffirm if you weren't here

[6:12] last time. So, this ordinance is just to seat the commission.

[6:16] And then from there, once the commission is seated, there will be focus groups

[6:21] with the downtown business owners, downtown building owners, city council

[6:26] to really set those guidelines. So, the guidelines are the rules, not this

[6:30] ordinance. This ordinance is just how the commission acts, how it's seated.

[6:34] So, like with Jared's question of if we can amend something. So, let's say today

[6:39] the commission wanted to or if the commission wanted to do this, but then

[6:43] in 3 years they don't want to do it. That comes in the guideline, right?

[6:47] And then when those commission guidelines are amended, they'll come

[6:51] back in front of city council again. So, yes, this is just to seat it. And

[6:56] then the guidelines are where it will come. So, a lot of suggestions that have

[6:59] been given from business owners are when I showed them to Caleb, they come more

[7:04] into play with the guidelines versus the actual ordinance because the guidelines

[7:08] will be what the commission is following. And so, that's when community

[7:12] members come in, they say, specifically downtown building owners,

[7:17] what they would like to see if they want there to be rules around paint colors or

[7:21] if they don't want rules around paint colors, stuff like that.

[7:24] » Thank you. >> Yep.

[7:25] » Thank you. >> Yes, ma'am.

[7:27] You mind coming up and stating your name?

[7:31] Thank you. >> My name is Tammy Harper. I'm just

[7:35] [clears throat] asking, can we just wait 2 weeks because it is a lot of

[7:38] information. People um, as uh, us really just got the actual papers

[7:44] tonight. Um, so we haven't had time to talk to people. A lot of people aren't

[7:48] even aware of what's going on. And if it's not that big of a deal, um, as

[7:51] people are saying, then why not wait? If we can't undo, why not wait? If it's

[7:56] only 2 weeks, if it's not that big of a deal, I don't see the problem waiting.

[8:01] And that's all I have to say. Like I said,

[8:02] » Thank you. Excuse me, I didn't catch your name,

[8:05] please. >> Tammy Harper.

[8:07] » Okay, thank you.

[8:13] Is this a a window or a timeline on this?

[8:17] » Um, Teresa from Oprah's actually here. She

[8:21] might be able to answer that question better.

[8:24] Um, she is who works for um, Oprah on State Level

[8:29] I'm sorry, I didn't hear your question. Jack, can you re-ask your question?

[8:33] » Is there a time >> a timeline on

[8:36] on getting this and getting to start the grant started and

[8:40] » The only issue would be we're running up against a timeline for the commission

[8:45] members to go to what's called camp. And that is where they go into a workshop

[8:50] and basically learn everything that they can and can't do in the guidelines. That

[8:55] is the end of September. That is the That is why we're trying to

[9:01] get trustee members established so that we can get them sent there so

[9:07] that then they can start knowing what the state and federal level regulate.

[9:14] » Okay. >> in accordance to this grant. The only

[9:17] other thing I've heard was if you want to disband this HPC

[9:22] after, that's fine. But if you're going to keep the $2

[9:26] million, it's got to go through the life cycle of the grant. So until we've

[9:31] closed out the grant, the HPC has to stay.

[9:36] » Thank you. >> And the camp training takes place

[9:39] September 29th. >> 29th, so

[9:42] » Is that every year in September? Um so, yeah. Yeah, cuz it

[9:46] it generally takes place at the sport conservation conference, which is in

[9:50] Franklin this year. >> Yeah.

[9:52] So, the timeline is important and I can't stress enough I I understand

[9:58] um people wanting to wait 2 weeks, but I I

[10:01] I I have to reiterate that all we're doing

[10:05] tonight in passing this ordinance, if it passes,

[10:08] is that we're we're saying that the city is going to establish a commission.

[10:12] We're not establishing guidelines tonight. We are going to establish

[10:17] the [clears throat] commission so we can move forward with

[10:20] generating the map. We can move forward with the the grant that we have so

[10:25] graciously received of $2 million to help said buildings,

[10:30] said downtown [clears throat] area. So, tonight uh

[10:34] I I would move to that we pass this ordinance.

[10:38] » [clears throat] >> There's already a motion on the table.

[10:40] » Um >> Yeah, made a motion. So, we would need a

[10:42] second

[10:45] to consider that.

[10:49] » [snorts] [cough and clears throat]

[10:52] » Motion dies for lack of a second.

[10:56] Do we have any additional motions? >> Does anyone else

[10:59] » The The map's not available until the commission is established.

[11:04] » And we would have adopted the map, correct?

[11:06] » Just like we would have adopted everything.

[11:09] » The city [clears throat] council sees everything that comes through this

[11:13] newly positioned commission, so it will be coming back to us and there'll be

[11:18] many opportunities for public input and discussion and whatnot. This is just an

[11:24] effort to keep us on the correct path to be able to get the people that are

[11:28] seated on this commission the training that they will require so they can

[11:33] understand what they can and cannot do, much like she said. With that said, I

[11:37] make a motion that we accept or pass this ordinance. Does it have a number,

[11:41] Charlie? >> 1032-2026

[11:45] » 1032-2026

[11:49] as written to establish the commission for the historic preservation

[11:53] commission. >> I'll second that.

[11:56] » Motion from Baron to adopt ordinance 1032-2026

[12:01] and second by Jack. Any other questions, comments, concerns?

[12:06] » [snorts] >> All in favor, show of hands.

[12:08] All opposed, show of hands. >> I want to wait.

[12:15] » Motion fails two votes to three.

[12:21] Did I Did I get that right? >> I'd like to wait two more weeks.

[12:25] » You prefer to table it. >> I do.

[12:27] » But it's a good time to do a second on that table motion.

[12:30] » Yeah, I second

[12:32] » I could have done it that way. I apologize.

[12:33] » [laughter]

[12:36] [clears throat] >> I talked to a lot of business owners and

[12:38] had a lot of people

[12:41] told me that

[12:44] they are supportive of the ordinance itself, but they want two more weeks to

[12:49] discuss it with everybody else in the room and everybody else at the table.

[12:52] There seems to be less pushback on the ordinance itself

[12:56] and more about the timeline and the details. While I understand we're on a

[12:59] strict timeline, uh

[13:03] we got to be sure that we get right and I

[13:05] I told a lot of people in this room that I would not vote on it tonight, that I

[13:09] intended to give it two more weeks.

[13:13] So, that's how I made my decision. >> You got to understand

[13:17] » You don't have to answer to me. I'm just saying.

[13:19] » You got to understand there is a two more weeks and then you're getting

[13:24] a month away from the deadline and then you have to find The mayor has to

[13:28] appoint five people, get them together, and get this all organized.

[13:32] » And they have to be approved by the city council.

[13:33] » Approved by the city council. So, we are

[13:37] We are under the gun. >> You're absolutely

[13:40] » You want to order your next meeting is in 3 weeks.

[13:43] » Yes. >> Thank you.

[13:45] » Yeah. >> Terry made a point the next meeting's in

[13:48] 3 weeks. So, >> Yeah, we meet the 7th Well, when do we

[13:52] meet the 7th? So, what are we What do we meet then?

[13:55] The second Monday of the month. Oh, it'd be 14th. Yeah, 14th. We would meet the

[14:00] 14th and the 28th. So, the workshop's the 29th.

[14:05] There's no reason he can't go ahead and figure out his five members in his next

[14:09] 2 weeks, Barry. I mean, he'll have an idea by then. He can have his that work

[14:14] taken care of. He just has to be efficient. He can't do it.

[14:17] » I think they have to be approved by this council at a public meeting.

[14:20] » Yeah. >> But

[14:22] why can't we bring those names right after we approve this ordinance, if we

[14:26] approve it? Can we not submit another

[14:29] to vote on the five members at point the first meeting that night?

[14:33] » I mean, while I agree that makes sense, I'm not going to waste my time asking

[14:36] people to serve on a commission not knowing if you're going to pass this

[14:39] ordinance by I don't want to waste their time or

[14:41] mine. >> I agree with that.

[14:44] » We're just under the gun, and we've had this this exact same ordinance for 2

[14:48] weeks prior to tonight's meeting. So, it it's it's been out there. We've

[14:54] changed just a couple of things on it. And again, it is saying that we will

[14:57] establish the commission. That is all.

[15:01] » Moving on, the next item of the agenda is ordinance 1031

[15:05] -2026, an ordinance governing and regulating paid leave policy for the

[15:09] city of North Vernon employees as it pertains to

[15:14] Maternity or paternity >> Paternity.

[15:16] » Paternity. >> Parental leave.

[15:19] » Parental leave. you. >> Thank you.

[15:21] » Parental leave. >> Uh before you consider this, this is the

[15:25] first reading. Uh

[15:28] there are a couple of uh errors on the second page at the top,

[15:32] and it should read uh

[15:36] numero uh number one, within 6 months prior to birth or placement for adoption

[15:42] or before separation from employment, employees are responsible for notifying

[15:46] their department head or elected official that a birth or placement for

[15:50] adoption is anticipated. Yada yada yada, the whole rest of the

[15:54] thing. Just changing that first sentence.

[15:57] » Thank you.

[16:01] Okay, so this is the notice the first reading of ordinance 1031-2026.

[16:06] It will be on the uh agenda for adoption at our next meeting unless council so

[16:12] desires to waive the rules and move to the second reading by unanimous vote.

[16:19] We'll put it on the agenda >> 2 weeks.

[16:23] » All right, moving on. Department head updates, Eric.

[16:28] Anything you'd like to talk about tonight?

[16:30] » No. >> Council, anything for Eric?

[16:34] Golf course. >> I sure do.

[16:43] Those of you in here don't know I'm Joe Kelly.

[16:45] » I know who you are. >> I'm director of golf out at co-director

[16:48] of golf out at St. Andrews Golf Course. Uh and I won't take up too much of your

[16:52] time, but Sunday morning, yesterday morning, I made a mistake.

[16:55] And that's solely my fault. Uh we had a schedule we had a scramble scheduled at

[16:59] St. Andrews for an 8:00 a.m. shotgun start. Uh I failed to be there.

[17:04] Um Straight up, I overslept my alarm. I'm

[17:07] not going to lie to you guys. I'm not going to try to beat around the bush. I

[17:11] slept through my alarm and didn't wake up in time to uh to get there to hold

[17:14] the scramble. Um

[17:17] It's no one else's fault but mine and I'm owning up to it and putting it on my

[17:20] shoulders. I want to apologize first off to Clayton

[17:24] Webster and his event. That's who was holding

[17:27] the event. I want to apologize to him and everyone

[17:31] that made the drive, sacrificed their Sunday morning to come out and spend it

[17:35] on the golf course and I was not there to provide that for them.

[17:38] I want to apologize to the mayor, the city council

[17:42] and Bryce Raitzsch and

[17:45] obviously my actions reflect upon you guys and upon the city and upon Bryce

[17:49] and I've put and I duly apologize for uh

[17:54] any kind of scrutiny I put you through or anything like that. Obviously it was

[17:57] never my intention, but it happened. I made a mistake.

[18:00] Um Now I take pride in my name. I take

[18:04] pride in St. Andrews Golf Course. I take pride in this community and this and in

[18:09] this city. I really truly do or else I don't know if I would have applied for

[18:12] this job. Um, and I [snorts] I let you guys down. I

[18:16] let everyone down. That does not reflect my standard. I hold myself to the

[18:20] standard to a higher standard. Um

[18:24] And our golfers and our city, everyone should expect that out of me and I felt

[18:29] I was made a bad decision, bad choice not to

[18:32] wake up. Um

[18:34] and that's what happened. I just want to move forward, put it behind me,

[18:38] apologize to everyone in here and everyone that was affected

[18:42] Sunday morning. Um

[18:44] I will work as hard as I can and do anything in my power

[18:48] to earn back uh

[18:50] the trust that I lost this past weekend. So, I'll leave it at that.

[18:55] » Any questions for Joe? No. Thank you, Joe. Appreciate it.

[19:01] Standing up, owning your mistake. It

[19:05] Sometimes things are out of our control, but I appreciate what both you and Bryce

[19:09] have done and what you have brought to the golf course this year. And although

[19:16] yesterday was disappointing, it it doesn't diminish the good that you

[19:21] have done in your position out there. So, I

[19:24] appreciate it, and I know you'll learn from it.

[19:29] » Chief [clears throat] Master? >> Uh some of you may or may not have

[19:32] noticed we've been working a special campaign enforcement out in the school

[19:36] zone. So, officers have been coming in early in the morning and

[19:41] stopping for speeding

[19:43] school bus stop arm violations in school zones. That's all being paid for by our

[19:48] uh the grant which we received through

[19:50] Operation Pull Over. So, if you see some extra officers in the school zone,

[19:54] that's what we're doing. >> Thank you.

[19:59] » My mom enjoys everyone getting pulled over from her back porch in the morning.

[20:03] » [laughter] >> Thank you for that. Elise?

[20:06] » Yeah. >> Bobby?

[20:08] » Uh not a lot. Uh just the normal things

[20:11] happening at the park right now. We will uh come this Sunday be hosting now that

[20:16] we're kind of in the fall season for travel sports. Uh first tournament just

[20:19] on Sunday. And the unique thing about this is uh it's the first one that will

[20:24] be hosted by USA. They will have a sports, and it's going to be fast pitch

[20:28] tournament on Sunday. So, we'll see how that goes, and we'll start

[20:32] giving you guys updates on a little bit something different at the park. So,

[20:35] yeah, it'll just be Sunday. >> Cool.

[20:38] » Thank you. >> Uh I'd open it up for any additional

[20:41] public comment. Yes, Jeff. >> I know I'm a public comment.

[20:49] Took a long time to get some of these buildings out of the way.

[20:54] Yeah, you guys are doing a good job. Reason I don't show up in the three

[20:57] months in the wintertime, you guys need a break.

[21:02] Thank you. >> Thanks, Jeff.

[21:05] » What do you like having to up with two of me in this town?

[21:09] » When does the three months start? >> [laughter]

[21:12] » When it comes. >> I think I

[21:16] I just like to add I think I can speak for all the council back this

[21:21] ordinance. Like I know most of you in the room and building owners and what

[21:24] you've done in the investment you have made in our community and how vital and

[21:28] important that's been and it just assure you that

[21:33] I know this is coming from a politician but our intentions are true and you know

[21:38] for those that who have invested in the community at the end of the day this

[21:42] should be a good thing that protects your investment and there's certainly no

[21:46] ill will here my office is open if any of you want to come and talk about it

[21:50] I'd love to have a conversation with you. So you know don't feel like

[21:55] anything's trying to happen behind your back you're always welcome to come see

[21:58] me my door's open for all of you. So thank you for what you've done.

[22:01] » I'll come knock to you and I mean

[22:06] » What is it? It's just pure coincidence is Charles it

[22:10] is. >> Okay we'll move on then down the agenda

[22:14] we have approval of payroll claims for the August the 14th. Can I say

[22:19] something first? Oh sorry Clay yes please let me see it.

[22:22] » No.

[22:25] So my name is Clayton Lesher. I was the one who was hosting the golf scramble

[22:29] yesterday. I definitely didn't intend on getting this big obviously um

[22:34] I just made the post cuz no one showed up and then it kind of just took off and

[22:37] steamrolled from there. Um So sorry I really didn't mean for it to

[22:42] happen like that. I just got wanted to say something obviously we had people

[22:46] come down from Indian Louisville and this is the fourth time we've done it.

[22:51] » [snorts] >> I like to keep it here cuz I'm from here

[22:53] so I like to keep the business here but this makes it a little bit harder

[22:55] especially with people traveling and um the way the shape the course is and I

[23:00] know that's not completely in control. But, um

[23:05] the numbers just keep dwindling and other courses have reached out.

[23:10] So, that's just where it where it went and why it went that fast,

[23:13] unfortunately. >> So, we understand.

[23:15] » Well, yeah, you had a right to put the post on. You know, we apologize as as

[23:19] Joe does well, but we let you down and we look forward to hopefully earning

[23:23] your trust back and >> Just trying to make it right.

[23:26] There was more to it and unfortunately I didn't know everything and it just

[23:29] people and you have you have a right. >> So, yeah.

[23:33] » Yeah. >> Hopefully we can

[23:34] come to some resolution and figure something out.

[23:37] » Yep. Thank you for that. >> Thank you.

[23:38] » Thank you.

[23:41] » Uh payroll claim $219,382.95

[23:45] for the August 14th payroll. I entertain a motion to approve that. Andrew makes

[23:50] the motion.

[23:54] » I'll second. >> All right.

[23:56] » I'll second. >> Give it back.

[23:58] » Barrett makes the motion. >> [clears throat]

[23:59] » I heard the seconds the motion. All in favor?

[24:03] Uh motion Motion carries five votes. Thank you,

[24:06] Jeff. I couldn't see. >> We have uh two claim dockets, one in the

[24:08] amount of $145,038.29.

[24:13] A second in the amount of $149,461.09.

[24:18] You've had a chance to review these two dockets. I entertain a motion to

[24:21] approve. >> I'd like to say something first.

[24:25] » Before we pay for those? >> Yeah.

[24:27] You can't. We'll go ahead. We'll vote on it.

[24:30] » Yeah. >> I'll make the motion we pay for them.

[24:33] » Jack makes the motion to approve the claims.

[24:35] Pat seconds the motion. All in favor? Motion carries five votes. Jack, I'll

[24:39] open the 48. >> We kept

[24:43] some heat on these claims and we just gave a a uh

[24:49] one big number. This is all the claims here, in here,

[24:55] and here. Now, if we sat down and went through each claim and each payment,

[25:01] we'd be sitting here for a just good hour.

[25:05] So, we do it down to one big claim.

[25:10] This is all these claims are

[25:13] are public knowledge. They You can go down to the clerk's office and pick them

[25:19] up and look over them. If you have questions about them, either Charlie or

[25:23] his staff can answer them for you. If not, you can come to a meeting and ask

[25:28] about them. And we'd love to talk to you about it.

[25:31] So, if you have any problems with them, please do that.

[25:37] » I'm sorry. >> Anything of note in those that you'd

[25:39] like to mention? >> $245,000

[25:42] debt payment, $31,000 for a piece of

[25:47] equipment for the street department, and $20,000 to the EDC. Normal business.

[25:53] » Tom, can I add what Just the process of paying a claim is

[25:58] that we get submitted a claim by the department head.

[26:02] It's up to each department head to approve the claim for their department.

[26:06] It does not get posted until that claim is approved by the department head. And

[26:11] then we review the appropriation that it goes against to make sure that they have

[26:15] the budget to pay for that claim. And at that point, it goes on the docket

[26:20] for the council's approval. We cannot write a check or

[26:24] pay anything without council's approval of that specific.

[26:28] But it's really the responsibility of knowing the deep detail of each claim

[26:34] falls on the clerk-treasurer's office. So, it's public record and you're more

[26:38] than welcome to come and review it, look at it with us, whatever you want, but

[26:43] that's the process. >> Thank you.

[26:45] » Yeah, thank you for that. Anything else? There's There's a lot of people here.

[26:49] Does anybody Does anyone any other comment they want to talk about, on

[26:52] any category?

[26:57] If not, I'd like to thank everybody for coming. I told somebody today that it

[27:00] might be a full house, and I think it's important that people come,

[27:03] because if people come, they still care. If you look at this, it's an empty room.

[27:08] If somebody's mad, then they don't even care. So, but the fact you guys took

[27:11] time to come tonight, everybody's busy, and I appreciate you

[27:14] guys coming. And uh

[27:17] we'll continue to work through all these things together.

[27:21] » Well, yeah, don't discount the people that are online. They're

[27:24] they're actual people, at least most of them are.

[27:27] » Um >> You're the only one

[27:28] » So, they can make their posts and whatnot, and

[27:31] » [cough] >> however they want to say about tonight's

[27:33] meeting, but everything here is transparent, contrary to what you read

[27:36] online.

[27:39] » I will make a quick comment. We we go through basically the same just

[27:45] [clears throat] to clear the air. We go through basically the same

[27:48] procedure with utilities. We all look at the claim voucher prior

[27:52] to the meeting. If there's any question about any claim, then we talk about it

[27:56] before. And just like Jack said, if we sat there

[28:00] and went through every claim individually,

[28:03] we'd be there for 2 hours, 2 and 1/2 hours,

[28:08] and not necessarily talking about things that

[28:11] we were already discussing prior to the meeting.

[28:15] We'd question it if there's a problem, we'd talk about it, we'd ask

[28:20] the two superintendents or the office

[28:23] manager. Everything's clarified before we vote on

[28:26] it. And it's the same procedure. They can't

[28:30] pay them until we sign off on them. >> Yep.

[28:33] » Thank you, Jared.

[28:36] » Okay, if there's nothing else, I would entertain a motion to adjourn.

[28:39] » I have something. >> All right.

[28:41] » Sally, Sally explained >> I'm sorry. First, let me press.

[28:47] Clerk's >> We have a uh first public hearing for

[28:50] this year's budget on September 14th. Unfortunately, I'll be in France on that

[28:56] day. Um

[28:58] so >> Can we have our meeting there?

[29:02] » But I I'm I'm going to throw out the date of

[29:05] September 28th for the public hearing. Check your

[29:08] calendars, get back with me. Um some of you have asked for maybe a

[29:13] separate meeting just to cover that. We had directly included it in with the

[29:19] general meeting on September 14th. So, if you'd like a separate meeting,

[29:24] consider September 28th, so I can get that published as a changed date on that

[29:29] public hearing. >> Your intention would be the first

[29:32] hearing in the public hearing on the 28th.

[29:34] » First public hearing on the 28th. Adoption is still scheduled for the

[29:38] 14th, and that's completely doable. >> Okay.

[29:43] Legal team? >> Nothing today.

[29:46] » Now, I would entertain that motion to adjourn.

[29:49] » I'll make a motion to adjourn. >> Pat makes the motion to adjourn the

[29:51] meeting. Hear a second? All in favor? Opposed?

[29:55] Motion presented and opposed, or just a lady

[29:58] » Late approval, yeah. >> Meeting adjourned 6:30 p.m. Thank you.

[31:04] » Mhm.

August 24th, 2026 - North Vernon City Council Meeting

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