January 27, 2021 at 2:59 a.m.
Town Council December Meeting
The meeting began with a reminder to silence your cell phones, the opening prayer and the pledge of allegiance.
The minutes from 10/20/2020 and 11/17/2020 were reviewed and approved. The motion to approve them passed 5 – 0.
An approval of claims was made by Clyde and seconded by Ed Johnson. It passed 5 – 0.
The council moved on to old business and the Downtown Revitalization Grant. Pay application number three for Poole Group the general contractor on the downtown project was brought before the council by Tony Akles of Strand & Associates. It was for $87,804.70 with $24,994.00 in retainer until completion. Trena Carter of ARA is still waiting on paperwork to complete her grant application and asked the pay be contingent on receiving the labor standards documentation she needs. Strand and Associates is also waiting on a lien release. Ohmer Miller proposed the town hold their feet to the fire while councilman Ed Johnson remarked if they are slow in getting us what we need to complete the project, we can be slow in paying them. The project has to be closed out by March per the grant standards. Clyde Compton motioned the town pay upon the receipt of the documents to ARA and Strand. Ohmer seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 – 1, with councilman Johnson being the only nay.
It was also brought to the council’s attention that the sign brackets for the wayfaring signage in the square are wrong. Indiana Custom Fabrication will charge from around $320.00 to $350.00 to fix the sixteen brackets. The brackets were built for 1/8” thick signs while the signs are actually 1/16”. The grant funds are currently maxed out, so the cost will have to come out of the local funds. The motion to pay for the cost out of local funds passed 4 – 1 with Clyde voting against.
Susan Thayer Fye then presented the Main Street update. The Deck the Town holiday decorating contest has begun and will be open for voting until Sunday. The winner will get the leg lamp trophy. She then went over the Doc Sweet memorial funds. Seven hundred and twenty-five dollars went towards buying the bench closest to his office. The remaining money will be spent to replace the aging wreaths around the square. Twinkle lights may also be purchased to put around the bandstand at the after Christmas clearance sales. The next big event on the Main Street schedule, Groundhog Day, is a no-go because of State COVID restrictions. Utopia may still hold it and livestream the event. Susan also informed council that the State sponsored Main Street program will be changing and inquired if Hope wanted to remain a member. A new logo will have to be used on marketing mail and promotions. There will be a requirement for attending community exchanges and the Great Lakes conference. She asked if Hope wanted to remain a Main Street Community. Ed replied the town and the square need to be supported. Ohmer asked what we do other than throw money at it. He suggested we just support the town as individuals. Ed suggested the grant programs available will help us know what to do. Clyde recommends we have other businesses included besides those immediately on the square.
The fence amendment ordinance 2020-7 was then presented for a first reading. Section F regarding maintenance of fences was added. Section E regarding ordinance enforcement was also added. Ohmer motioned to accept motioned to accept it. Clyde seconded the motion. It passed 5 - 0.
Town park rules amendment second reading was then presented. It adds a prohibition for metal detecting. Clyde motioned to pass it with Ed seconding. The motion passed 5 – 0.
Christmas gift cards ordinance 2020-08 was presented for the second ready. All 2020 employees will receive a one-hundred-dollar gift card as a bonus. The ordinance passed 5 – 0.
Jerry Bragg then presented the matter of new park benches again. Stephanie Long of Indiana Custom Fabrication then presented an estimate for replacement powder coated flattened expanded steel inserts to replace the old wooden planks on the benches inside the square and inside the shelter house. Custom fabricated ADA compliant and regular picnic tables were also presented as a replacement for the existing wooden benches. She also presented an option for metal planter sleeve covers for the new rectangular planters as some business owners had not liked their appearance. The covers would feature a metal planks like the new trash cans. The prices for the shelter house benches were $425.75 each, prices on the park benches were $555.73 each, prices on octagon shaped picnic tables were $978.13 each, prices on rectangle picnic tables were $869.25 each and prices on planter sleeve covers was $446.69 each. Prices did not include installation. She provided comparison prices from U-Line and Global Industrial. Ed asked how long they would hold up and what the material would be. They would be expanded metal with all edges end so they are not sharp and two coats of powder coating. Diane Burton asked if the benches would fit on the existing concrete pads. Ohmer asked for the turnaround time. Four weeks was given. Clyde suggested the town choose rectangular tables with no octagonal tables. Ed asked about fabricating additional planter boxes for the west side of the square where the planters do not lay right due to the slope. Ohmer motioned the town move forward with new benches for the shelter house, benches and planter sleeves for an estimated eighteen-thousand dollars using the quantities recommend in the estimate. David Clouse suggested we hold off on a motion until he can assess exactly how many benches and planter covers were needed and where they would be placed. The vote to proceed passed 5 – 0.
Council then moved on to new business. The Liberty Place 2nd replat was presented by the Matt Galbraith of the Planning Commission.
Next up was a donation to the Hope Food Bank presented by Nellie Meek. She proposed town council provided a thousand dollar a month donation for 2021, since COVID has hit so hard. Council voted to provide a thousand dollars for three months, January, February and March.
Diane Burton then presented rainy day transfer of funds resolution 2020-08.
The building and zoning administrator contract renewal was then presented by Matt Galbraith.
Jeffery Yarnell then presented the town trash contract renewal.
The meeting was adjourned.
