May 19, 2021 at 4:41 p.m.
Town Council Meeting 05/18/21
Council President Jerry Bragg called the meeting to order with a reminder to silence mobile devices. Bragg then led the opening prayer and Pledge of Allegiance.
Minutes from 06/16/2021, 04/20/2021, 04/26/2021, 04/28/2021, 04/29/2021 and 05/05/2021 were then up for approval. Clyde Compton moved to accept them, John Walstad seconded the motion. It passed 5 – 0.
Council then moved on to approval of claims. Ed made the motion to approve, John seconded the motion. This motion also passed 5 – 0.
Jerry Bragg then moved on to old business. The town manager position was the first item on the agenda. Bragg revealed the council had narrowed their choice down to one candidate, Frank Owens. Clyde motioned to hire him; John seconded the motion. Town Attorney Scott Andrews clarified the motion needed to be Frank was to serve at the pleasure of the council. The motion passed 5 – 0.
Steve Robertson then presented the CCMG (Community Crossing Matching Grant) update. Project 2020-02 with Robertson Paving is underway. Papers have been filed and the bond has been issued. They will coordinate with David Clouse to get items out from under the street before paving begins. Ohmer asked about an ending date for the project. Scott Andrews replied they would have 120 days from the notice to proceed to complete the work.
Steve Robertson then notified the council INDOT says the 2021-02 CCMG grant will open up. The first week of August will be the filing deadline. Hauser Drive is on the list of bad roads needing paved that did not make it into the current round of paving updates. He offered his assistance in completing the application. The towns portion of the cost would be twenty five percent, with the state picking up the rest. Several roads would be included in the next round of paving. Schafer Drive will get overlaid. He also stated Cross Street would now qualify to be paved. It is currently gravel. Sidewalks can also be included if they are attached to a street. Twenty-five feet on either side of the street would be included. West Drive would be included as well as Harrison Street up to Mill Street.
Clyde recommended all the streets on the list get included in the paving proposal, especially the roads right off State Road Nine. They are in the town’s commercial district and are needed for commerce. Their visibility as people drive through town looking left and right also makes them a priority.
Ohmer Miller asked if 775 E was originally chipped and sealed and whether it would be paved or chipped and sealed.
Clyde asked if the dollar figures presented by Robertson were at the current rates. The sheets presented last years paving cost per mile. Clyde feels while the streets are rated and the funds are available as many as possible should get paved.
Ohmer felt Cross Street is not a street, but and alley. John asked if Cross Street was eliminated from the list could Union be paved? Steve recommended other streets that are more frequently used than Cross be paved. Steve said he would put together a cost and email out a table.
Susan Thayer Fye gave a Main Street Update. The first cruise-in was May 2nd. Despite rain early, many of the participants stuck it out. The next cruise-in is scheduled for June 4th. The next Sunday Social is scheduled for June 6th. She asked for permission to use the square on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce for Arts and Antiques August 28th from 8:00 am till 4:00 pm. She also asked permission to close the inside row of parking on the north and west sides of the square for used as vendor unloading and customer parking. Clyde made a motion to approve the request. Ed seconded the motion. It passed 5 – 0.
Fye then revisited Joe Dodd’s planting proposal from April. He would like to install a small garden to anchor the southwest corner of the square. Clyde asked who would do the work? Fye replied Joe will donate the plants. She thought the FFA would be willing to do the work, but she had not asked them yet. Ed moved the garden be installed with Clyde seconding the motion. Ohmer had a discussion point. He wanted to know the impact Heritage Days would have on the planting. The vendors set up there were a concern for him. David Clouse asked who would be responsible for maintaining the plantings. Ohmer Miller abstained from the vote. John voted no. Ed voted yes. Jerry voted no. Clyde voted yes. With the vote being 2 – 2 with one abstaining Diane Burton was called in to be the tie breaker. She voted yes and the motion for the garden passed 3 – 2.
Matt Tallent then presented an update to the shelter house / park guidelines. Hoosier Security dropped their price by $250.00 to beat Tarkington Technologies price on the video surveillance system. He then moved on to the internet upgrades necessary to run the system. Xfinity would charge and additional eighty dollars a month for a dedicated server. A Mifi unit from Verizon Wireless could also be utilized at a cost of thirty dollars a month. Jerry asked for a motion. Clyde said it was needed for the security and safety of the children in the park. Verizon was chosen for the internet. Ohmer asked how far the internet would go out. It would be a public network, Tallent replied. Clyde asked if the cameras would go beyond the square. Matt replied they would also show the storefronts around the square. John seconded Clyde’s motion. Diane asked if the council was okay with the funds coming from EDIT. Council was and the motion passed 5 – 0.
Jeff Yarnell then came before council for a park request for the Endowment Celebration on August 21st from 11:00 till 2:00. They wished to incorporate local business for food and would ask local businesses to have food ready for fifty guests available inside the square. This way local businesses wouldn’t have to be shut down. Ed asked if the food would be in the shelter house. Jeff replied it was planned in individual pop up tents. Ed asked Dave’s opinion on the grass on the square being ready for that. He said it would be, just please don’t make lines on the grass, use the sidewalks for that. Clyde made a motion to approve the request with Ed seconding it. The request passed 5 – 0.
Yarnell then moved on to a park request from Student’s Fund of Hope. Friday, September 10th had been approved for the annual movie night. They would like to move it to September 17th due to board member conflicts. Jerry asked for a motion. John made the motion. Clyde seconded it. It passed 5 – 0. Ed asked how smoke on the square went. Jeff Yarnell said it had gone well, and though the final numbers weren’t in yet he felt it raised a few thousand.
Diane then presented quotes for banners for the new light poles and plates for the new planters in front of businesses. Quotes for the banners were $93.00 per banner with a $60.00 set up charge. Jerry asked for a motion. Ed made it. Ohmer asked if we would be ordering all 32 banners now or just a sample. Diane replied just 16 would be ordered for now. The motion passed 5 – 0.
Diane then moved on to the new flower box inserts. Stephanie Long couldn’t make the meeting, but has send a cost of $45.00 for two inserts. Each planter requires two inserts. Discussion was tabled until Stephanie could bring visuals.
The meeting was then opened up to questions and comments. Trena Carter provided the cost for the income survey required by OCRA for the water main project Community Block Grant. The study would be in the $750.00 to 950.00 range and no more than $1,000.00. The first step in that process would be requesting approval. The numbers from the permanent residents of Miller’s Merry Manor would also be required. Clyde made the motion. Ed seconded it and it passed 5 – 0.
Clyde announced the annual EDIT scholarship recipients. They are Trenton Tharp and Courtney Nicholas. They received $1,500.00 each.
Jessica Brown asked who was responsible for paving the section going back from State Road Nine to Majors, Napa and Snappy Tomato as is was in really bad shape. Council responded the property owner was responsible.
Jerry Bragg then presented Trena Carter with a plaque for her faithful services rendered upon her retirement. She was an integral part of the Downtown Revitalization Project. It would not have happened without her expertise. The fire department also had a representative from the fire department on hand to thank Trena for helping with the grant that procured engine number eleven. Working behind the scenes for years with no need for recognition, Carter was visibly touched by the tribute. She replied she had enjoyed working with Hope. It reminded her of her the small town she grew up in. She said even though Hope does not always welcome outsiders we had made her feel welcome. Carter then got a ride around the square in the new fire truck. Cupcakes from Willow Leaves were served.
Meeting was adjourned.
