City Council - Regular Meeting

time to call the uh April meeting of the uh common council of the city of Anderson to order. U want to start out first by welcoming you folks that are here from the public. Thank you for your interest and uh thank you for coming out of a very beautiful spring day in to spend it with us. So anyway, we do appreciate folks that are interested. Uh we have an agenda of different things tonight. Uh not a lot and we will get to those uh issues uh following the invocation by Councilman Turner and the pledge of allegiance by Councilman Turner. Double duty.

Let's go. Will you please stand? We can bow our heads. Dear God, pray for wise guidant guidance for our nation. We know that without it we will fall. Please grant us the wisdom to seek out and listen to the counsel of many counselors so that we may achieve victory. help us to work together towards a con common goal and make decisions that are wise and best for the interest of Anderson, Indiana. Thank you. Now I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America to the republic for it stands under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you.

All right. Yep. Okay. I I'm asking for council's consent to call the ro. Yeah, I think we should do that. That's good thinking. Will the clerk call the role? Councelor Turner present. Councelor Harless. Councelor Dixon, I'm here. Council Freeman here. Council Wagner here. Council Landers here. Councelor Cole here. Councelor Newman. Yes. President Graham here. Uh Councilwoman Harless did call me this afternoon and said she couldn't make it tonight. Okay. Okay. Very good. Um what about uh we have some minutes to be approved. Mr. President.

Yes, sir. I would ask the approve the minutes of the regular meeting of March 12th, 2026. Second. Councelor Turner. Yes. Councelor Dixon, yes. Councelor Freeman, yes. Councelor Wagner, yes. Councelor Landers, yes. Councelor Cole, yes. Councelor Newman, yes. President Graham, yes.

Minutes to be approved for the March 12th meeting is passed. Very good. Uh we're going to, as I uh started to indicate, would like to move the economic development ordinances to the top of the line so we can hear them and folks can move on. Uh do I have the consent of the council to do that? Yes. Which ones are you referring to? Ordinance 126 and resolution 226?

Can Can I make a suggestion? the the ordinance 3425 only has one reading left and they came in last month. I didn't know if we could go ahead and hear that first since it's only got one reading and then get it done so that if they want to leave they can. It's all right with me. Does the council agree? Agree. Okay, we'll move on with 3425 then. Ordinances with first and second readings approved. Mr. Styers. Well, we need somebody to introduce it. Oh, very good. Okay. Uh, which one we talking about? 3425. President Graham introduced ordinance 34-25 for his third reading.

Second. Ordinance 3425 an ordinance amending ordinance number 1141 ordinance 2439 and ordinance 30 39-63 of the city of Anderson Madison County Indiana with respect to a change in the zel map as to certain real estate as here in particular described Mr. desires.

President Graham, council members, uh last month, if you'll remember, we did table this uh due to a handful of questions that came up and we didn't have the proper officials here from the developer to answer those questions. So, we'll jump right back into it. Um petition, I'm sorry, ordinance 3424 submitted by Redwood Apartments Neighborhoods is for a zone map change from R2 to R4. It's the colored map on the wall. It's the area with the dash black line in the arrow in the middle of it. Um, in late January, the plan commission voted five to nothing in favor of this zone map change. City council has approved two readings of this uh same ordinance by a vote of nine to nothing. The affected site again in the box is on the southwest corner of Lindberg Road and South Scatter South Rangeine Road. It does contain a total of 40 acres. The site abuts the pre-existing Madison Lakes Apartments. We know it mainly as Autumn Ridge Apartments from years ago. It is located to the south. The project consists of 200 singlestory housing type apartments with attached garages. uh three retention ponds, private streets, sidewalks, uh built-in fa two phases over the course of probably six, seven, eight years. It does have two entrances, one on Lindberg Road, one on Rangeline Road. Uh these apartments are next door to the former Dolphin Club to the west and north of is north of the Rozelle Johnson Funeral Home. All city utilities are available to the site. Staff notes adding 200 new one, two, and threebedroom apartments uh to the city will go a long way in rectifying the shortage of apartments that we have here in the city that Kim Towns and the uh

Anderson Housing Authority director spoke of some months ago. As far as the surrounding zonings, uh to the north and south side of this proposed reszoning, it is zoned R2. It's a church to the north and the uh apartment complex to the south. Dolphin Club, which is zoned R3, is to the west. Uh past the city limits out into the county, um is property zoned R2 in the county. Uh there's also additional airport property to the souththeast. That property is zoned I2. Comp plan classifies this 40 acres as lowdensity residential, which is typically single family homes. This project involves a denser type development of apartments, which means the resoning from R2 to R4 is in conflict with comp plan. The comp plan is in the process of being updated. It should be completed, we're told, between June and July of this year. Certified letters were sent out as required on time. Legal ad was published in a timely manner. Plan commission approved the reasonzoning again by a five to nothing vote. Four of the members were absent. I believe it was during our snowstorm a couple of days after that. So, we had some travel problems for some people and we had two city officials out of town. So, a total of four were absent from that meeting. Uh, additional facts about this proposed development. Rental rates depending on the number of bedrooms will range anywhere from $1,600 a month to $2,600 a month. City engineer has submitted a letter. It's in the packet that's on your your DAS there. Um the letter does speak to his support for the traffic layout, the private streets that are being proposed. Uh we do now have you'll have a copy in your packet also that says um grant of Rightway, I think something to that

effect. but they have hammered out uh an agreement for uh storm water easement through the airport property uh to the east down to White River. So, storm water should not be a problem any time uh regarding this project. Redwood, I'll note and then I'm sure the developer will talk about it some more. They have existing Redwood apartments in Noblesville, Westfield, Greenfield, Planefield, and also in Indianapolis. We have two representatives here. Uh you know Joe Sikos, he is from the Clark uh Quinn Law Firm. And then we also have Greg Thurman. He is here from the Redwood Apartment. People you guys draw straws. See who goes first. Uh good evening. Joe Cos with Clark Quinn Law Office at 320 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis, Indiana. Um Tim has done a great job introducing this updates. We do have an agreement with the airport for drainage easement and uh we do have Greg Thurman with Redwood here this evening. Be happy to answer any questions.

Very good. Questions from the council. I did receive the email on the airport's approval of easement and I appreciate that very much. Simple title search. That was one of my major concerns. Ours too. So it was it's a good step in the right direction. Other members of the council questions excited about this be good.

Yeah, the drainage easement it was had to happen. Um I had made a just a comment at the last meeting. Um uh just encouraging you uh as developers when you have openings for a local skilled trades person that you consider folks from our area. We have some great companies that have skilled people and it's it's always great to see some local folks get a little work out of those type of of of developments. Secondly, I want to thank you for investing in Anderson.

Absolutely. Um it's um it's it's really kind of interesting. I I used to be in real estate and a long time ago because I'm old, but um uh you know, people are just I know shocked by like rent prices and purchase prices and but the thing is if they if you were building a single family house, the selling selling price for that probably going to be $300,000 in that market. So, it's just an adjustment to the times uh that we live in, but uh we all appreciate your investment in our community. Yeah,

we're looking forward to it. And I know there was a comment last time. First of all, I'm sorry I didn't make it last meeting. I tried to be in three places at once. I still haven't figured it out. So, I apologize for that genuinely. But um choosing Anderson is um a matter of a metric for us. I don't just throw darts on a map, right? Okay. I've built 40 of our Redwood neighborhoods in the last 12 years. Wow. The metric is based on income of households with 75K or more, number of residents, and the age of the housing stock. Yeah.

Which is in greatly in our favor in this particular town. Yes. Now, I've built Redwood neighborhoods in um Danville, Indiana, 10,000 residents, successful. Uh Avon, 20,000 residents, very successful. The other communities that were mentioned, um all mostly smaller communities than what Anderson has to offer. So, we're we're set up pretty well here as far as our metric that we use and have done or have used that for over 30 years in 200 different communities in 10 states. We'll be fine. We'll help this housing stock in this community.

And you're close to the This is People don't think about it, but how close that is actually to the interstate. Well, that's And if you And if you That's where I throw the dogs, right? Exactly. Exact. and think about that spot and how close it is to the interstate. It's very close to the interstate and um plus I mean if you drive up and down 69 I mean that that housing is just getting closer and closer and closer and so this is I mean a great location for Anderson because it's in Anderson. It's not on the edge of Anderson closer to the interstate. So I'm very excited about you coming to the area. We're in Fort Wayne and we're going to connect the dots right down every major city coming down the highway. Love that. It's really simple.

You know, you're allowed to build more than one here if you want. You know, I I remember um being on the council back during the um uh 200 what 8 through 12. No, I was a border works then, but we had no we had no new housing permits for one solid year issued in Anderson. That was what year? That was 2000 sometime during 2008 2012 through the crisis probably the early ones eight or nine I imagine but not one and uh you know when we see developers like you uh it's just I think it's just a good sign

I do too of how far we've come as a community. Yeah. We got a ways to go yet too but we're going to get there. Yeah. Yes. Yes. President, I may have not heard this uh president ask your question on consideration of hiring treesmen and other people here in the city. We hire local. So, our leasing agent will live somewhere in Anderson. Our maintenance folks and the our uh technical folks will be from Anderson. It's it's a simple equation because within three miles we'll get nearly 100% of all the folks that want to participate in our in our development. That's great. And we own these. We don't we're not just developers. We're builders and operators.

Yeah. We've owned our communities for over the 31 years we've been building them. You know, one of the questions that we get as members when we see a project like this, we we have had and this leads to, you know, we want to do our due diligence as a council for the community, but we have had two recent disasters with multif family apartment buildings that just horrible situations and and they ended up in bankruptcy. It's going on for 10 years. It's just been a mess. Um, so that's the reason you we have questions. Yeah. And thank you for We have bench strength in our pocketbook. Yeah.

And that's I think that should be obvious if you do some research on us. Can't wait. When are we going to cut the ribbon? It'll be about six months by the time we get permits. Good. Good. Any other questions for council? If not, questions from the audience. Please come forward to the microphone. Give us your name and your address. I can't talk all night. I got a grand

name is Levita Glaze Brooks. Address is 934 Fremont Anderson, Indiana. Close your mic. Okay. I'm sorry. No, you're fine. Did you catch my name? I did not. This is Glazbrook. That is correct. Did you need the address, too? This um this is actually a question for you. It's I have several questions. You said that you're building a multi-purpose um complex, correct? Will you be reszoning? I'm sorry. He's not building.

Okay. I'm sorry. I must miss misspoke. The question is this. Will you complete your entire project or would you res at one given time if you change the plans? Let's say I'm given a number of 200 and you only can build a 100. Would you reszone for commercial or not? Oh, no. So, it'll be it you're going to do the entire That's a crystal ball. Yeah. Come on forward, sir. Yeah. You have to be in and Tim, I feel like you should could even answer that. I mean, that's very complicated to do. Yeah. There's a process. Anyway, there's a process if that would was to occur. I haven't done that yet.

Approximately 90 days to get through the resoning process before the plan commission. Then it comes back before the east people, the city council all over again. A lot of tedious work uh that you probably want to try to avoid if they can. Oh, I I was just looking for a promise to make sure all all the ones that were built. I'm not commercial, but it it doesn't matter if you build commercial, but like you said, it may take tedious time, but you could reszone it at any given time. Well, that's anybody's right. That's anybody's right, but it's a tedious process to go through.

Okay. And um another question I would like to ask is that if you're looking for other locations, will you be looking locations inside a little bit further into the Anderson area or not? Uh we'll see how this goes. We throw um I I think the term is the old military term is you shoot a bullet and once it's successful, you fire the cannons. So if it's successful, we grow locally.

Okay. I'm sure it will be successful, but you know, there's many towns up 69 from here to Noblesville, which is where we're currently uh as far up 69, I think. But, um, yeah, when we're successful, we often replicate that in the same in the same town. Okay. Well, he answered my question. I just wanted to make sure that because it was brought up to the last meeting or was it the last meeting or meeting before someone says hey is there possibility that a reasonzoning could occur and the answer was unable to be asked at that I mean answered at that time and the thing is is this if you're going down that 32 and we know how how 32 is um growing

right and the things is is like right now I'm grateful that you are here in the Madison County area but I would like to also So, see um if you have any other opportunities to look forward to inside of Anderson because Anderson still has vacant lots, vacant land just and and you can put a new build on those, too. That's all I'm asking. Thank you. And maybe to cap it off, Mike just whispered whispered in my ear that to attempt to reszone that farm field to a business or an industrial zone class would be an obvious spot zone, which is something that's a no no. We never hardly ever do.

So, it would be very difficult to convince a board and a council to to go along that line. Thank you. Anyone else from the audience wish to uh make any comments or ask any questions? Question. Question's been called. Councelor Turner. Yes. Councelor Dixon. Yes. Councelor Freeman. Yes. Councelor Wagner. Yes. Councelor Landers. Yes. Councelor Cole. Absolutely. Yes. Councelor Newman, yes. President Graham, yes. Ordinance 34-25 has passed its third reading. Thank you very much, gentlemen, and best of luck. Thank you. Thank you.

Okay. How you want to do this? What do you want to move ahead? We need to uh move to Steve, Mr. President. Steve, did you want to do the ones that wanted the three the 126 26 26? Well, is he taking care of he's good? All right. The fellow was just here. Yeah. Steve All I'm talking about policeman there. Oh, okay. So, you now y'all move along. I think he lives across the street from where it is and he's been in conversation with the Yeah. Yeah. They've been in constant conver Yeah. He's good with all of it. I got a a new grandbaby and I want y'all socializing. Not socializing. Yes, sir.

This new grandbaby's turned your hair gray off. Well, don't worry about my hair, buddy. Very good. We'll move on to introduction of ordinances. Mr. President, I'd like to introduce ordinance 1-26 for its first reading. Second.

Ordinance 1-26, an ordinance designating an economic development target area for David Readington. Council President, members of the city council, thank you for uh hearing this request. Uh this is a economic development target area, residential abatement for 4328 West 38th Street. That's that's 38th in Leighton if you want to uh orient your mind accordingly. Uh this is for a single family residence. Uh it is currently under construction. $150,000 is the target uh construction cost and we're requesting a six-year abatement because it does constitute infill housing. Uh Mr. Readington is unable to be here, but his representative Andrew is here this evening to answer any questions you might have. And if you are so inclined, I would appreciate your willingness to consider suspending the rules and giving this three votes. So, Andrew, why don't you come on up and uh if you got questions about this single family residence, please uh please go ahead and ask Andrew.

Thank you.

Now, you're the developer. Good evening. Yes. Builder, huh? Builder. Builder. Builder. Developer. Yeah. Yeah. Same thing, ain't it? Thank you for coming up. Yep. Yep. Do you have any questions from the council? What's going to be the price of that? Uh the structure itself is probably going to appraise for around 150, but it's also got 2 and a half acres and there is a pole barn on the property as well. It's the barn that has Indian painted on the side of it on the horse. It's I hear it's a landmark. It is. Yeah. We're trying to talk them into painting it on side of the house now because it's covered up unfortunately. Well, it's really something, isn't it? Mhm. really is.

Yep. This is actually the gentleman that owns it, David Readington. He's an elderly gentleman and this is a bucket list item for him. He's never owned his own house. Oh, that's great. So, kind of honored to do it for him. Sure. Sure. That's awesome. Well, thank you for coming in to answer our questions. Yeah. Um, that area I would just Well, excuse me. Any other members of the council have any questions? I'm sorry I jumped the gun there. Are you okay on drainage? Oh, yeah. It's on high ground.

Okay. Actually, one of the issues we ran into, and I don't know if you're aware of this, is the the whole lot is filled. And so, it took me two months to get through the uh health department because we couldn't put a septic on the property. So, we are one of the first residencies that is is allowed to have a holding tank that's been approved through the health department. So, it proved proved to be challenging because I was the first. I know they use those holding tanks for industry and there's a few of them around, but this is the first time that they allowed it for our residents and they just made that an available option I think within the last year and a half.

Terrific. Yeah. So, and it's just, you know, it's just him. It's a 2500gallon tank. Oddly enough, uh, when we installed the tank was right when we had about four inches of rain and a 2500galon concrete tank will float. Oh my god. Nobody had ever seen it before. Wow. You seen fiberglass ones and plastic ones float and we never thought in a million years to fill it half full of water and it it floated. Well, that's probably going to be that's new and and there'll be more of them and they'll probably be calling you want to know about it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. U I just wanted to anything else from the council members. Any questions from the audience about this ordinance? Very good. Question. Question's been called. Councelor Turner. Yes. Councelor Dixon.

Yes. Councelor Freeman. Yes. Councelor Wagner. Yes. Councelor Landers. Yes. Councelor F. Newman. Yes. President Graham. Yes. I heard baby talking. Can I Ordinance 34-25 has passed its first reading. Mr. President, I'd ask for the second reading of ordinance 1-26. Second. Ordinance 1-26, an ordinance designating economic development target area for David Readington. Any questions? Any questions from the council or any questions from anyone in the audience tonight? Question. Questions been called. Councelor Turner.

Yes. Councelor Dixon, yes. Councelor Freeman, yes. Councelor Wagner, yes. Councelor Landers, yes. Councelor Cole, yes. Councelor Newman, yes. President Graham, yes. Order 126 has passed it second reading. Councilman Freeman, I'd like to ask for a suspension of the rules for a third reading for ordinance- one-26. I second that. Answer Turner. Yes. Councelor Dixon. Yes. Councelor Freeman. Yes. Councelor Wagner. Yes. Councelor Landers. Yes. Councelor F. Yes. Councelor Newman. Yes. President Graham. Yes. Rules are now suspended.

Mr. President, I'd like to ask for the third and final reading of ordinance 1-26. Ordinance 1-26, an ordinance designating the economic development target area for David Readington. Very good. Any questions? Questions been uh any questions? Last chance. Question. Questions been called. Councelor Turner. Yes. Councelor Dixon. Yes. Councelor Freeman. Yes. Councelor Wagner. Yes. Councelor Landers. Yes. Councelor P. Yes. Councelor Newman. Yes. President Graham.

Yes. Ordinance uh 1-26 has passed this council on all three readings. Awaits the signature of the council president and the mayor. Mhm. Best of luck. I appreciate that. Thank you. Caras amateur builders. Go out. I'll try. It was nice to meet all you. I appreciate you, man. Appreciate it. Very good. We'll move on now. to ordinate introduction of ordinances. President Graham, I would like to introduce ordinance 6-26 for the first reading. Second.

Ordinance 6-26, an ordinance enacting and adopting supplements to the code of ordinances of the city of Anderson, Indiana. Paul can speak on it or I can. I don't care. Yeah. This is just is this just our yearly Yeah. update of the uh ordinance book um where we just add all the new uh ordinances that have been adopted in the past year by this. Very good. By this council questions of Miss Prilles by the council. We we do this every year have for a long time. Very good. Is there any questions from the audience here this evening? Questions. Questions have been called. Councelor Turner. Yes. Councelor Dixon. Yes.

Councelor Freeman. Yes. Council Wagner. Yes. Council. Yes. Yes. Councelor Cole. Yes. Councelor Newman. Yes. Councelor Graham. Little there. Just a little. Not bad. Ordinance 6-26 has passed its uh first reading. Mr. President, I'd like to introduce Ordinance 626 for a second reading, please. Second. Ordinance 6-26, an ordinance enacting an adopting supplements to the code of ordinances of the city of Anderson, Indiana.

Questions on this ordinance from the council or from the audience? Question. Questions been called. Councelor Turner. Yes. Councelor Dixon, yes. Councelor Freeman, yes. Councelor Wagner, yes. Councelor Landers, yes. Councelor F. Yes. Councelor Newman, yes. President Graeme, yes. Ordinance 20 or 6-26 has passed its second reading. Mr. President, I want to Oh, I would like to ask that the council suspend the rules for a third reading for 626, please. Second. Councelor Turner, yes. Councelor Dixon, yes. Councelor Freeman, yes. Councelor Wagner, yes. Councelor Landers,

yes. Councelor P, yes. Councelor Newman, yes. President Graham, yes. The rules are now suspended. Mr. President, I'd like to um ask for third reading for ordinance 626, please. Second. Ordinance 6-26, an ordinance enacting and adopting supplements to the code of ordinances of the city of Anderson, Indiana. Any questions on this ordinance? There's been question. Question's been called. Councelor Turner. Sure. Councelor Dixon. Yes. Freeman. Yes. Councelor Wagner. Yes. Councelor Landers. Yes. Councelor Cole. Yes. Councelor Newman. Yes. President Graham. Yes. I

think that's the first 6-26. 6-26 has passed. The council awaits the signature of the mayor. Mr. President, I'd like to bring uh before the council ordinance 726 first reading, please. Second. a second. Ordinance 7-26, an ordinance amending 51.53 of the code of ordinances of the city of Anderson pertaining to specific pollutant limitations within the sewer use ordinance. Um Ryan can actually speak to this, but I did just want we are asking for three readings on this given the timing of it. It was supposed to be on last month, but it needs to be adopted um by the end of this month.

Thank you. This is a limit that uh we have worked with IDM and the EPA on in the last couple years. This is for our industrial limits on um the waste of the industries in town. Uh we came up with 21.3 after a loading study to know that everybody's getting a fair piece of it for what the plant can handle and they're um in exce when they exceed it, they will be fined and build accordingly. Okay. Questions for council. When do you say they do you mean each like who like the industries as as we preach

that goes to like Nestle like the industry? Okay. Got it. Okay. I just want to make sure I understood. Okay. Questions of superintendent. Very good. Are there any questions from the audience? Question. Questions been called. Councelor Turner. Yes. Councelor Dixon. Yes. Councelor Freeman. Yes. Councelor Wagner. Yes. Councelor Landers. Yes. Councelor Culp. Yes. Councelor Newman. Yes. President Graham. Yes. 26 2-26 or 7-26 passes first reading.

Mr. President, I'd like to bring before the council for second reading ordinance 726. Please. Second. Ordinance 7-26, an ordinance amending 51.53 of the code of ordinances of the city of Anderson pertaining to specific pollutant limitations within the sewer use ordinance. Questions from the council or questions from the audience? Question. Questions been called on second reading. Councelor Turner, yes. Councelor Dixon, yes. Councelor Freeman, yes. Councelor Wagner, yes. Councelor Landers, yes. Councelor Cole, yes. Councilman, yes.

President Graham, yes. Ordinance 7-26 has received its second reading. Mr. President, I ask the council to suspend the rules for a third reading for ordinance 726. Second. Councelor Turner. Yes. Councelor Dixon, yes. Councelor Freeman, yes. Councelor Wagner, yes. Councelor Landers, yes. Councelor Cole, yes. Councelor Newman, yes. President Graham, yes. The rules are now suspended. Mr. President, I'd like to bring before the council third reading of 726, please.

Second. Ordinance 7-26, an ordinance amending 51.53 of the code of ordinances of the city of Anderson pertaining to specific pollutant limitations within the sewer use ordinance. Questions from the council or questions from the audience? Question. Questions been called. Councelor Turner. Yes. Councelor Dixon, yes. Councelor Freeman, yes. Councelor Wagner, yes. Councelor Landers, yes. Councelor Cole, yes. Yes. Councelor Newman. Yes. President Grant. Yes. Ordinance 7-26 has passed it third reading.

Yes. Uh, President, we got two young people out there. Are they from high school? Are y'all in school? Yes. What school? Stand. Give me a Why don't you come up and give us your name and tell us where who you're representing. I think she said Ball State. Ball State. You look too young to be in school. Are you in school, too? You're not. I don't want to. He's just here for fun. I mean, where else would you be on a Thursday night? President stick around. As a young person, this is definitely where I would have been. You need to have a note that you attended this meeting. Yes, I would like one. Oh, you better get on it. Thank you. What's your major resolution?

Respiratory. Talking to the mic. Public health. Yes. What's your name? My name is Dana Carter. I'm a junior at Ball State University. And I'm majoring in public health and respiratory therapy. Got a girl. All right. Awesome. Well, we glad you came out. Thank you. So, you're So, you will be a senior then after May. Yes. Good for you. Are you from public health? No, I'm from Indianapolis, Indiana. God, she looks like she But you can always move here. This is actually my first time here. Well, good. Yes. I hope you've had a good experience. Yes. Yeah. What got you interested in coming to this council?

So, I missed the one back at home and this was the closest one. Okay. Yeah. We'll come back anytime. We're way more fun. Yeah. Bring your popcorn next. Thank you very much for coming forward. Yes, ma'am. C A R T E R. And good luck. Thank you. Well, we need public health leaders. Yes. As we all witnessed during CO. Yeah. Be right in the middle of it. Yeah. Very good. Thank you. Thank you very much. Yes. Good. That's a good thought, Ollie. Okay. We are uh Hey, what's up?

Uh let's see. Introduction of resolutions and that would be 2-26. Mr. Winkler. Well, we got to introduce it. needs to be introduced. Oh, Mr. President, can you I'd like to introduce resolution 226, please. Second.

Resolution 2-26, a final confirmatory resolution designating economic revitalization area for JLBS Property LLC. Council President, members of the city council, I received a call from Brian uh Melzer, who's the owner of the uh business, and he was involved in an accident this afternoon, late this afternoon. He's not going to be able to be here tonight. So, I would like to move forward with this, but it's totally at your discretion. Uh you you had a chance to meet him and hear from him last week or last month rather uh regarding uh the project in question. So, uh, you kind of had an introduction, but if you want to wait until

Give me a I was extremely sick last month. Oh, yeah. I heard. Yeah. So, I and I I would be happy then to if we want to go ahead and open the public hearing if you want to go ahead and move forward. I'd be glad to try to fill in all the blanks. I'm I am very familiar with the project. Any council members have any uh comments? No, I just would like to hear what he has because I wasn't here last month. So, so if you want to open the public, anybody object to this? No. Okay. All right. Can we have a motion to move forward with the ordinance? Make a motion to move forward with the resolution. Comments. Who seconds it? Second. Second. All call roll, please. Well, we call out. He's He's gone. Well, are you just doing We're just doing it public

to move forward. Yes. Well, we Yeah, we don't need to. You want me to go roll? I do. Councelor Turner. Yes. Councelor Dixon, he left. Councelor Freeman, yes. Councelor Wagner, yes. Councelor Landers, yes. Councelor Culp, yes. Councelor Newman, yes. President Graham, yes. Okay. We will now open the public meeting for um resolution 2-26. So, yes, Mr. Winkler.

So, this is this is a public hearing and so we'll be taking questions from the audience as well as the council. So, uh, just to give you an overview, JBS, uh, Property LLC. So, this is a a wonderful company. They've already done a considerable amount of work in our community. Uh, many of you probably had a chance to look at the new apartments that they have uh, renovated on Meridian Street. uh taking one of our uh historic buildings and and and putting u a whole, you know, wonderful group of apartments in there, utilizing some of the uh all of the hardwood that was there and and as much of the original character of the building as they could. Um and I know they're finishing up the ground story, the ground floor as far as those apartments are concerned, and I believe they have all of them leased at this point. But that's been a a very successful project. has brought additional people downtown. They also did the building next to the old Flabjacks on 9inth Street. So, they went in and renovated that building. There's an apartment upstairs. There's commercial space downstairs. Uh and and that is JLBS's niche. They go into existing older buildings and they renovate. They also have in addition to that, and this is the business they're moving to Anderson for this particular project. Um and and that's the square block that sets just to the uh south of the railroad tracks between Meridian and Main Street, the former uh plumbing supply business that was in there. Uh and I think everyone's aware that, you know, there's a series of buildings there um not in great repair, to put it mildly. So they're in the process of renovating those buildings and moving their business to Anderson. Uh that process will involve bringing 56 jobs to the community with a uh annual uh salary

or annual payroll of just over $3.7 million. So these are these are really good jobs, $32 an hour, a little more than that. And they do a a great deal of stone and and custom cabinet work. So, they cut the stone for kitchens, for bathrooms, uh whether it's stone, whether it's granite, uh and they'll be moving that business as well as their redevelopment business to the community. As part of their attempt to uh be of service to the city of Anderson, they have uh been working for Anderson University. Uh so, they have uh two of the dorms there that they're in the process of renovating. They've purchased some property from Anderson University where they hope to be able to again provide some residential opportunities for for the people of Anderson. So, I've been very impressed with the quality of the company. I I've been around them now for almost three years. I've watched what they've done in other communities, Pendleton, Noblesville, uh throughout Indianapolis, and they work in a lot of small communities. Plymouth, I know, uh Wbash, etc. are all places where they've done good quality work taking existing buildings and turning those into apartments and and residential space. So tickled to death to have them in town. Uh and what we're asking in order to to benefit them here is a 7-year 70% abatement for this property. And to give you some idea of what that means, uh, currently those properties, combination of properties, um, is assessed at $339,000. Their estimate is, uh, they're going to be investing another $450,000 in those properties. I can tell you they've already exceeded that number. I'm not sure exactly what it is, but they're well past the 450. But if we were to use that math, they would these and uh our county assessor were to come in and assess them at the full value

that they've spent, those properties would be assessed at approximately $789,000. So if you were to grant this 7-year 70% abatement, that will save them roughly $16,000 a year. Over the course of seven years, it's about $115,000 savings to them. And when we consider the fact that they are well over $2 million as far as investment in the community at this point, they're moving a business. We've got 56 good jobs. This is a growing company. Um, and we get that entire block renovated as part of this transaction. So, that's uh all the information that I have. I'd be glad to answer questions from the community or from council.

Mr. President, excuse me. I have one question. Yes, council woman call. Why why 70%? What was the determining factor on that? I know like the in the housing I understand. Sure. Well, they had they had asked for assistance on some of the other downtown projects that that they have done and we didn't we didn't help them. Um I mean the only thing we've done at this point is put a transformer in to increase the amount of electrical power for the apartments on Meridian Street. So we've been very careful. We gave them a chance to prove themselves. feel like they have proven themselves. So that's why we're asking for a higher number to try to move that needle a little bit and provide them with some savings.

So how much would you say and if you already answer this and I miss it, I apologize. How much would you say they've already invested into the city at this point? They're over $2 million total. Now that would that would include the Ninth Street property. That would include everything that they've done on Meridian Street. And in addition to that, you know, the work that they're doing for Anderson University um at at a substantially lower cost than what it would usually be. So, um AU is going to walk away with with two dorms completely renovated.

Uh they've also purchased the uh the former graduate property there at Nursery Road. They've purchased that as well. So, they're they're well over $2 million as far as their investment to date. Great. Other questions of Mr. Winkler? Yes, ma'am. Come forward, please. Last name Cla Brooks. I have one um I have a couple questions. Sure.

Thank you for um bringing a company to Anderson. I'm grateful. But you said the investment. You said 56 jobs. Can I ask can they re um can they put an investment into the education that means D26 or because they do have a skill trade area and why don't we have them actually partnership with them to make sure that the individuals can learn on the job training and also give a added bonus to the individuals if they get the opportunity to have a job first opportunity to work after graduation. Good question. I I would be happy to propose that. I know they do their own training as far as you it's on the job training, but I would be glad to propose that they formalize some sort of a relationship with D26. Um obviously the the construction related portion that D26 currently has as far as residential construction, there might be an opportunity there, but I'd be happy to propose that. Greg, do you have any idea how many unit units they're talking about building far as rental units?

Uh, well, the the ones that they've finished on Meridian Street, I believe they have a total of 14 there. They have the 15th one on 9inth Street. And then whatever they've currently got, they've purchased from AU as far as the former graduate property. I believe it was Raven Apartments. Um, and in addition to that, then whatever they're doing as far as AU and the dorms, I don't have a number there. be rental apartments. No, no, this isn't as I just want to make sure I was No, no, that's that's that's for AU for for their students. Yeah. Not right. Yep. Other questions? Sure. Please. Behind you.

Angie Strickler, 2232 Gregory Gregory Lane 46012. And my question is for Mr. Winkler. I've been wondering this for a long time and so I thought I just need to ask. So when the number like $37 million in annual um payroll is brought up, what does that actually mean for the city of Anderson? Like what why is that number important? So the the number was was 3.7 million. So million I would love I like I like your math but we can't we we can't get there. You

said that it's 3 point Yeah. 3.7 million. So, as I said, about $32 an hour. So, you're looking at, you know, jobs that are going to be anywhere from 64 to $70,000 a year jobs. Um, so you that's that's the first thing we get are good paying jobs that as as Miss Glazebrook mentioned, people have an opportunity to learn. It's a trade. It it's something that you don't necessarily need that college degree. you can learn this trade and make a really good living learning to cut stone and be involved in that type of a of a renovation business. Uh so that's really the main thing that they that they get.

There's no like tax.

Well, there is there there is obviously and and again the way the state of Indiana calculates that employment tax, it's based on a couple different things. If it's someone who lives in Anderson and works in Anderson, then that comes back through the county and then is dispersed through the m municipalities in the county. If it's a person who lives outside of Madison County and works here, then there's a portion of it that comes through. So, it's it's challenging to try to track that and figure out what portion is going to actually trickle down through county government to the city of Anderson. So, you know, the thing that I would offer is what we're getting here are really good jobs that fit our labor force. Um, and that's a that's really important.

Yes. Go ahead. And I think this question has come up before in other um scenarios, but is there I mean, we obviously would like for that money to trickle here. So, how do is there an incentive or is there a way to help that happen? Uh well that's of course governed by the state tax well process. As far as encouraging them to hire locally. Locally. Yes. Yeah. Well given given the nature that you know they're going to be working here. I think you know that most likely happens by almost by osmosis. Um, I mean,

but that's, you know, that's I I feel like the majority of people they're going to hire condos going in and I'm sorry, the new condos going in and so maybe Yeah, I mean, you know, we continue to open up these opportunities for Okay. I the majority of the people and it's it's just a matter of of of common sense for them. You know, they want people that are going to be close,

right? So, the majority of the people they're they're going to be adding will be people that are local Anderson folks. Um, in addition to that, my understanding is that the majority of their labor force, which is, um, prior to this has been outside of Madison County, um, is being encouraged to move here. So that's I I I think we'll see a significant value as far as our labor force and our people in this community. Okay. Thank you. Sure. Any other questions? I just uh Yes, just one um the company called Fab Mhm.

located in the old Kleinhen warehouse. Right. Fabc Fabc. Yep. and they make the aluminum fronts for elevators. All the finishes for the elevators. That project employed what, 30ome people. Uh it's a little more than that now, but when they first came it was it was low 20s and they've continued to grow. And they renovated a building. Yeah, they did a very nice job renovating the building and rebuilding the sidewalk and the landscaping and everything. Yeah. Okay. So, this company is coming in and they're talking about uh what' you say 56 jobs. 56 jobs is the number. So in that one block block and a half

there have been a hundred roughly jobs good paying jobs created buildings renovated. Yeah. I think that May building is one of the old was one of the oldest buildings in Anderson. And just just think of that now. Just in one block downtown that was basically not doing anything except falling apart has now been renovated. Yeah. Created a hundred around a 100 jobs, put several buildings that were falling apart through renovation and we have uh Are both companies now located in Anderson? Yes. Okay. So, they're both located in Anderson. So the local option income taxes,

right, would come back to Anderson. So out of just a block and a half, that just took a little vision from some young guys and the Fab Company. I don't know those folks. Um, that's economic development at its best. Yeah. And that's something we all ought to be very proud of. And we thank you and your staff for putting those together. Well, we're we're tickled to death to have the opportunity and be able to present it to you. But but Fabc again is a company that's you know local mass and county c company but I'm I'm so happy to have them here. Absolutely.

That is a that is a niche business. They're incredibly competitive and they do u redesign of elevators all over the world. Um you know primarily United States but certainly all over the world and they're very competitive at it. So go find some more. Yeah. Well hopefully they're close too. It's nice to have them close and be able to consolidate. You know, a lot of folks will remember the Gentry Cabinet Company. It was in Anderson forever and they revolutionized cabinets around here. Well known, well respected. My mother, she had some Gentry cabinets and she was very proud of those. Thank you very much. Welcome. Any other questions? You wish to speak? Sure, please.

I have one question. Carita Wilson, 46016. The only question I have is about the workers. Are they pulling from union or non-union workers or is this their own employees? Uh, a large portion of them are existing employees that'll be relocating here. My understanding is this is not a union shop. Not a union job. And at you know 30 $32. Oh, I don't I just it's a you know I just know how the I just know how union brings brings people in the laborers in. Yeah. So that's why I wanted No, this this is this is as as far as I know there's no union labor involved in this.

Okay. So, and those skill sets would be carpentry, you know, stone cutters, etc. Right. I'm I'm assuming there's a labor union for stone cutters, but I don't know. Carpentry, there certainly is. But yeah. Okay. Sure. Does anybody else wish to speak or issue a comment or get on record? I like to ask question. Y'all need a microphone up here.

We got our steps in today. The question I have is my name is Levita Glbrooks. Is this I would like a promise for them to invest in our youth because when we had General Motors, they had programs where people can take half a day and go and work at their facilities and they also produce the next engineers, the mill rits, the carpenters, the hydraulics, the pipe fitters and all of that. But what I'm asking is if we're going to give them something, it says much is given, much is required cuz please let them know that they need to promise us that they will invest in our youth because our youth we if we're going to do economic development, we need to have them somewhere to work and be able to be proud to be want to live. Even even though they may go to college, they may can go to Purdue and come back and says, "Hey, I've had this experience when I was in high school, went to college. I want to come back and work.

So that's the only thing I'm asking because we don't see those programs on a regular basis where we see companies coming in and investing in our youth. Okay. Well, I can't make that promise on their behalf obviously, but I I will certainly ask them to commit to that. Um, and given the way that I've watched them work with their existing employees, the type of work that they do, I'm I'm confident that that makes perfect sense to them. Yeah. Very good. Anybody else wish to say anything? Question. We're going to close the public. Um, it's uh 6:55 and we will close the public meeting on this resolution. Y very good. Question.

Question's been called. Councelor Turner. Yes. Councelor Dixon. I knew he was gone. That councelor Freeman. Yes. Councelor Wagner. Yes. Councelor Langers. Yes. Councelor Cole. Yes. Councelor Newman. Yes. President Graham. Yes. Resolution 2-26 has passed the council. And thank you. Councilman Freeman.

I have uh just the just to shout out uh our street department. I made a phone call and two days later there were three big potholes on 31st Street that were fixed and all my people called me and thank me and and uh in a day where people are always getting yelled at and we need to pat them on the back. They did a great job and I'm proud of them and I appreciate them getting out there right away to do it. Their snow removal effort was excellent this year too. Absolutely. Yeah. Thank you, Councilman Freeman. Anybody else? All right.

Oh, Andy's raising her hand. I just Andy, did did you want to come up? No, but I got It's being recorded. I can't help it. Angie Strickler, 46012. I I just have a question because on communications, we skipped over the discussion of council rules. It's Is that That's next. It's coming up. Oh, you're going back to it. Oh, I thought you were getting ready to to journ. I know how you are some nights. I'm learning. Okay. Thank you. That's all right. We just doing What are we doing now? We're going to communications now. Okay. I'm sitting right here. All right.

Okay. Uh for the audience, uh we are going to go back now and have a discussion about amendments to council rules. And um of course, you're welcome to stay. It's part of the meeting and um it's basically upgrading the u uh council updating the council on uh things that are in our rules that is I think you'd use the term antiquated. So uh and then at the end of that um we'll uh try to get some consensus on moving forward with this or not moving forward with it. But u let me just say this a month or so ago after become president uh members at least one member of the council uh came to me and indicated we needed to review the council rules and regulations. Now, all of you have received uh packets that have the rules and regulations in it. And so, uh I met with uh the clerk, Sheila Ashley, very gracious uh in uh her and her offices willing to help us with this. And so, I went through the rules just on my own. Um, now I've been a member of the council at the end of this term would be 24 years. So I've been here a while. There were things in our council rules today that I never heard of. It was that antiquated u the log the journal

where it mentions that you know never heard of that. uh simple things like the times we're supposed to have our meetings. You know, for many years it was 7:00. Now our regular meetings are at 6:00 and our special meetings are at 5:30. That that was wrong. uh at uh in most of the um when it talks about the officers uh it gets into the only term that was used was he. Well, in today's world that's not the way it should be.

Things like that, obvious things. Um committees, committee assignments. Uh it used to be and I I first came on the council was this way. We had a number of committees that the president would assign three members of the council for each committee. Well, if I don't know if you you guys have your Well, here it is. Um, is it the standing committee? Yeah. Excuse me. The standing committee. Yes.

Yeah. But but I'm just using this as an example. Where's it at? Here. Yeah. Let me borrow that. We have uh understanding committees. It's uh it is page two paragraph 8. Um we have light and power, water, budget, education, parks, streets, safety, police and fire, health and aviation or the airport. Um but actually under current Indiana law, light and power, water pollution control uh and water are by law under the control of the board of public works. The park or the uh safety police and fire by law are under control of the public safety board. Now the only what we have in that as a council is we will approve their budgets and we will also approve rate increases. Okay. But other than that, you know, and we I think we need to sort that out and decide, you know, we need to know what's going on with utilities. And I believe that's part of our oversight. But whether we need to continue to ask three people to serve on these committees, I don't know. So those are the kind of things that we need to fair it out. Um health, the health board used to be split between city of Anderson and Madison County and we each paid I don't know whether it was 50/50 or however it was. Health boards completely under control of county. we have nothing in the health board uh at all as the we don't approve a budget for them or

anything like that. So, do we need to have a health committee, if you will. Not to say that health's not extremely important. Um but we need to we need to sort those things out as a council and bring these more in line with exactly what what we're doing. So, uh that's the reason I come back to the council. I went through and did about all but about the last three pages. Um, and I found a bunch of things that I thought should be amended or at least thought about. So, come back to the council tonight and asking the council's uh approval uh by resolution to move forward with this. Now, I've been in communication, of course, with council members as recently as I think it was last maybe last Sunday night when I sent out a a u uh email to all members and our council. Um, so they know what I was thinking, but I don't believe it's something that I don't I want council's input. That's important. I want the community to know what we're working on. That's important. And so when I talked with Sheila, Sheila Ashley is um responsible for records for the city of Anderson. And we were trying to figure out a way that we could make um uh proposed amendments so that all council members could keep up with them. Okay? and then we would put them in a package at the end and vote on the amendments to the ordinance on rules. I want a very open process and um we may end up having to have a a meeting or two as we get down to the

end, but I don't want to just log this thing up with meetings that count more meetings for councilman to go to. Uh but I do think it's important we amend our ordinances. Uh and rules is one of those. And so I'm here tonight uh asking that uh I get uh hopefully a resolution or a motion for the council to continue the review uh of our rules for the purposes of making responsible changes. Why do we need a motion? We can just continue. Why can't we just continue? We could, but I'd rather have on record that the council supports it. Mr. President, unanimous consent would work. Yeah. Again, the members present. Yeah. And we have enough.

Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Don't go away, ladies. So, very good. Do we have a motion to that effect? Sure. I make a motion. Made by Jennifer Culp. We have a second. That was Robin Wagner. Robin Wagner. Very good. Do we have a motion and a second? Uh would the clerk call the role? Or just by voice vote. All members in favor of the motion to move forward on consent. Jenn are you consenting? Yes. Very good.

Unanimous among the members that are still here tonight. So, I take that as permission to move ahead of this project and uh fully aware that it's an important project that we need to keep everybody involved in the loop. Any any other any other comments? She come right up. Hold on a second. We have a lady who wants to speak. Come right up. I'm coming.

Carita Wilson 46016. Um, I don't know if you realize that in less than when I started on this project, it was 60 days, but now it's 40 days. In 40 days, we will have over 3,000 youth on the streets of Anderson from 11 to 18 with nothing to do. We don't have We have programs, but they're not enough programs. So, I want you to I'm I'm putting together a project and I'm going to email each one of you and I just want your consideration of looking at the project. We have partners that are ready to jump in and help. And of course, you know, we we're asking for a little bit of money, not a whole bunch, but a little bit.

You need to get the mayor and you need to get We know. Have you met with him? It's on the way. Good. But um and we've talked and we've had community meetings and um it takes two minutes for youth between the the ages of 11 and 18 to comm commit a crime.

2 minutes. And we don't we already have a 13, two 17 year olds and a 19year-old in sitting in Madison County on trial for murder. We don't want that. We don't want to repeat that for this summer. No. We want to give them opportunities, work opportunities as we were talking to Mr. Winkler, uh, Attorney Winkler about, and to get them involved in being part of our community. I met with some of them, and they, their specific question was, "How do we do this? You You're asking us to be community leaders. You're asking us to be involved in the community, but you're not showing us how." So, we want to get some programs started and like I said, we do have some partners that are ready to jump in. We are going to talk to the mayor and I just want you to be aware. So, when you get this email from, "Hey, Carita,"

you don't look at it like, "Who is she?" Is that how your name is? Hey, Carita. Hey, Carita. Yep. That's pretty crazy. Have you ever sent out any emails to us? No. That's why I'm That's why I'm giving it to you tonight. Not Do Do you know if the city is having any of their big things that they do every summer, the big like summer camps and stuff like that that they've done a different They do, but they start at 9 and they end at 3 and the peak hour for youth is 3 to 9. So, you're going to do them in the afternoon. You're one to all throughout the day. We're having phases. Okay. It's going to be phases. We just want to teach them how to be responsible citizens. teach you how to become employees

and give them a and give them a voice at the table because how do we how do we know to serve them if we don't know what they want? You know, um do have you also approached private business? Yes. Have you talked to the Chamber of Commerce, Black Chamber of Commerce? Uh the fellow that was doing an excellent job just left. Witson, you you might want to talk with them. Who? What's his name? Well, he's gone. No. What's his Oh, he's gone already from the It's the It's the Anderson Well, it's called something else now. It used to be the Anderson Madison County Chamber. But I would suggest you talk to them. But I do know this. It's the Madison County Alliance. Madison County Alliance. Thank you.

Yeah. Thank you. The city hires of course summer help and they work in different areas. I my first job with the city was with the water company when I was old lot long time ago but it was it was a good way to start you know because you learn right and you learn you got to be to work on time you got to wear right clothes you can't loaf all day long although we did sneak a little bit of that but anyway they hire summer help and a lot of them do um mowing for example still a up. Uh yeah, and it's good hard job with,

you know, it's it's a good day's work. Um and that program is handled through the building commissioner. You need you really need to talk to to David Iikes and and the mayor and um let us know if we could be helpful in that respect. I will. Uh because like and as I mentioned before, I think a chance to work for a private business. Mhm. You know, city's a good place to start. I really got interested in the city cuz I was at a water company. Mhm. You know, we weren't exactly doing the glamorous jobs as help, you know. Right. And if and I think if they work in within the city, then they take more pride in the city. Absolutely. They take more pride in the city.

Yeah. Absolutely. account and put some of that money in the savings account so they can buy some clothes. You can have them have but I mean yes it's important to teach them to work that's so vital but I mean classes on taxes I teach a lot life skills life skills I teach I teach nutrition I teach you know personal training I teach you know health stuff teaching I I've taught lots of kids you know teaching them how to take care of their bodies so you're willing to mentor this summer right well do that. But I can like direct I mean I just have like because I've worked with a lot of kids that way.

The problem is kids aren't quite ready to hear it and so that's why you know it takes special kids. But um you know but there's also going to be a program through plain song that is opening up some um classes for like music therapy type of stuff that I would reach out to plain song to see what they're already offering. Plain playing song.

Yes. So, a lot of those are for younger kids, but um if there was a grant that you could work with Kirby, I'm sure like she would love that kind of stuff. But, um I just think it's also important for kids to start understanding where they fit in life that it's not just on the streets and their who they are is not just a job. It is so much more community. So, yeah. Well, look for the comm community uh the emails he eyita and I will be reaching out to you guys. Thank you. Make a motion to journ. We have anything else to come before us tonight,

Mr. Chairman? Sir, I second

and Jeff Jeff already seconded, but go ahead. Second. All in favor signify by saying I. I. We'rejourned.