September 21st Town Council Meeting

Jerry Bragg called the meeting to order with a reminder to silence mobile devices.  He then led the opening prayer and the pledge of allegiance.

Diane Burton then led a public meeting for the 2022 Budget.    There was a four percent increase in the general fund; a total increase of $24,644.00 for the year.  Clyde commented he believed the animal control officer is underpaid, noting the police must handle animal control matters as there is no one willing to work the position.  He believes a decent wage would help alleviate that problem.  He also noted there are no funds allocated to help the police reserve department purchase equipment.  They pay for their own guns and uniforms.  He noted there has been a high turnover lately among the reserves, and the Fire Department provides a clothing allowance.  With adequate compensation perhaps they could be retained longer.  Diane said Matt could get some numbers together and they could look at adding to the public safety budget category.  The budget adoption meeting will be held on October 19^th at 5:30. 

Council then moved on approval of the minutes form 07/20/2021 and 08/17/2021.  Clyde made a motion to accept, and John Walstad seconded the motion.  It passed 5 - 0.

Council then moved to approve the claims, with Ed making the motion and John seconding it.  It also passed 5 - 0.

Council then moved on to old business.  Tony Akles with Strand & Associates gave and update on SWIF (State Water Infrastructure Fund.) Hope was not Hope was not selected in the round one grant.  Round two information will not be released until March. 

Akles then moved on to a CCMG paving update. The next round of awards has not yet been announced; it will be late October of early November before they are announced.  He then proposed they train town manager Frank Owens to do the road evaluation and approved asset management plan next year.  He would rate the roads on a scale of one to ten.  This rating must be done by December 1st to qualify for grant funding.

Mr. Akles then moved on to the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACES) park award.  He would like to submit the town’s park project for an award.  If selected the town would get a plaque.  The award will be made next year.  He will start on the process this week unless there are any objections.  There were no objections. 

Scott Andrews then presented updates to town ordinances.  The first was a recreational vehicle parking.  It would be modeled after a Columbus ordinance.  No regulations currently exist.    Changes would be made to the existing weed control ordinance.  It would be given more teeth with stiffer penalties.  Residents would still be charged the cost of mowing for the first offense, but an additional $100.00 per repeat offense with and additional $200.00 after the third offense.    The update also allowed for the addition of court costs and attorney’s fees if necessary.

Mr. Andrews then moved on to a public notice for unsafe buildings.  It would follow an Indiana statute and allow for the condemnation of an unsafe building without a court appearance.  The ordinance would add the current building and zoning officer as the enforcement officer as no code enforcement officer currently exists.  Clyde felt it needed to be implemented immediately for buildings.  He also wanted more teeth in the junk vehicle ordinance.  He questioned the ruling there be no more than two recreational vehicles on a property.  He felt it was not right to tell property owners how many they could own.  He also asked what the fee is, as it needs to be a high dollar figure.  They just had six junk vehicle complaints comply, only to be replaced by seven more violators in the same month.  Scott then asked if the unsafe building ordinance notice had been sent out.  It had not been.  Diane will resend it, and it will be reviewed at the next council meeting.  David Clouse noted only one notice is sent out per season, so the language of the ordinance would have to be changed to fees per time mowed.  Clyde asked if RV campers had to be licensed.  Ed mentioned the lot with a camper, trailer, and a boat all sitting on one lot.  It looked like a mud lot. 

Council then moved on to new business.  A health insurance renewal from Northpoint was up first.  It was presented by Billy Kirkham.  The renewal date was October 1st.  The premium decreased this year, and the other quotes he got in were higher.  The renewal mirrors the plan currently in existence.  The deductible did raise by a couple of hundred, and there were minor changes to the prescription plan. A individual deductible had been $2,800.00 and would be raided to $3,000.00.  A family deductible was $5,600.00 and would be raised to $6,000.00.  Prescription prices would be raised by $50.00 for all levels. Clyde motioned to accept the renewal.  John made the second, and the motion passed 5 -0.

Victoria Bechert from ARA then presented a contract for an income study.  The cost had increased slightly form the estimate coming in at $950.00, an increase in postage being cited as the reason.  There will be a notice sent out on utility bills.  One hundred and fifty surveys will be sent out on October 1st.  The results from the survey will be in by December 1st.  If the numbers are favorable, a round one grant application will be submitted in January. 

David Clouse then presented a street sign purchase in the amount of $5,312.12.  It would be to replace the street signs from Washington to South Street.  One hundred and three name signs would be brought up to code.  They are currently not reflective and not in compliance with retro-reflective requirements.  The signs downtown would have a black square frame to match the recent park project improvements.  South Street and State Road Nine also need bigger signs because of speed limit regulations.  Laws with the new requirements were passed in 2013.  Diane asked about Goshen Meadows.  David replied it had not been updated yet.  Ed made a motion for the appropriation, and Clyde seconded it.  It passed 5 – 0.  Ohmer asked if it was just for signs and not posts.

Matt Tallent then asked for temporary workers for Heritage Days.  No restitution workers are available for Heritage Days to stock the bathrooms and install no parking signs.  He requested them from Jennings, Decatur and Shelby County as well with none available.  The job will pay $200.00 for the weekend.  Matt mentioned taking it form the animal control budget.  Ed made the motion, with Clyde seconding it.  It passed 5 – 0.

Diane then presented a budget reduction resolution to show funds are not being used this year, and they will still be available for next year.  The resolution would fix the negative balances currently showing.  John motioned to accept it, with Ed seconding the motion.  It passed 5 – 0.

Matt Galbraith then presented a plan commission request.  Eugene Petry was petitioning to remove the interior lot lines on lot 93 & 95 on Aiken Street.  He is unable to build where he would like to because of sewer lines.  He would like to move the lines from east to west to north and south.  Council accepted the recommendation of the planning commission and passed the motion made by Ed and seconded by Clyde 5 – 0.

Clyde then asked about allowing the attorney to take care of a certain property located at 544 Locust Street.  There are two campers in the yard with people residing in them.  There are unauthorized & unlicensed vehicles in the yard and a large pile of debris by the fence.  The property owner is in Boca Raton Florida, and there has been no response to numerous letters sent.  Clyde made a motion to authorize Scott to deal with the property. 

Frank Owens was not present for the town manager’s report. Items on the report were an economic development class follow up, videotaping Heritage Days, ordinances on burning/food trucks/historic building maintenance, town hall chair donations, and old fire station information.  Ed commented it was good to see the doors on town hall replaced.  It was decided an executive meeting was needed for the fire station situation.  It was set for Wednesday the 29^th at 5:30. 

Clyde then brought up the parking situation across from El Jefe on State Road Nine.  Large trucks have been backing in and blocking the sidewalk.  Bartholomew County REMC were cited as the main offender.  There have been several complaints by pedestrians who cannot walk on the sidewalk due to the trucks hanging over and blocking them.  Putting in a green space between the sidewalk and the curb was discussed. Parking curbs would trap trash.  The police could paint lines and post signs marking the correct parking distance as a temporary measure.  Ohmer expressed he liked the green space idea.  He moved on that without the temporary expense of lines, curbs, or signs.  Strand will be contacted for a quote on installing a curb and green space. 

Matt Tallent asked if he could waive garage sale permit fees for Heritage Days as in years past.  Everyone was fine with this proposal. 

David Ellis then appeared before council to ask for access to public water.  He had drilled an eight thousand dollar well only to have it go bad.  He drilled a new one and the sulfur has taken over.  He has had to spend two thousand five hundred on a sulfur kit and would like access to town water before something else happens.  The town officials discussed how only having one house on a 4” main would result in stagnant water.  Mr. Ellis commented he must pay town taxes and receives no town services.  He asked to be annexed out if he cannot get town water.  Ohmer motioned for the town to get him water.  Clyde seconded the motion.  It passed 5 – 0 contingent on Scott’s approval. 

The meeting was adjourned.