City Council - Regular Meeting

of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Bow your heads. This Lord, we come to you today just asking for your guidance and protection for all those within the city. Please guide us to make the right decisions for everyone within us. In your name, amen. Amen. Okay. First item on the agenda will be public comment here. Nothing second. Good girl. Good girl. Moving along. We'll do the minutes for May 13, 2025. I guess we should roll call. Got it. You got it. Okay. [Music] Motion to approve the minutes. I have a second AC. All in favor? I oppose. Motion carries. Okay. to be claimed May 14, 2025 through June 10th, 2025. Have time to review. Any questions, corrections? Motion, please. Motion to accept the claims. I second those. Second again by Stacy. All in favor? Oppos? Motion carries. [Applause] Okay. Council members, any business?

Thanks so much. We'll move on. [Music] Yeah, we can. All right. Have to bear with us and old business. Then we have uh Brandon from Mcron Associates here to discuss a little bit of the right stuff. with a discussion about the past couple of months. You would stand open. So last time just kind of a bit of time we came came down here in February this year looked at the the rate study our first draft of it just to try and understand the operating costs and revenues and um you know that lease agreement kind of floating around um you know that idea. So I just want to talk about that today. We we firmed up the numbers a bit. The last time I did a PowerPoint today, I just got my computer set up and we can just look at the schedules from the rate study. You guys got most of that information already. Um I do have some hard copies if anyone needs those. Um just let me know. But um just we'll have those those scheduled up here on the screen. So I just want to be transparent. There was a a pretty significant change from when I talked with you all last and that was on the property tax levy in this fund. So that was something I was not aware of but that changed from 24 to 25 when we did our rate study. We're looking at operations through the end of September which mostly aligns with 24. So when I look at the 24 budget the sanitation fund was projected to receive about $175,000 in property taxes. So that is what I use in my model in our

first draft of the rate study. Well, I found out after the fact that the property tax levy decreased in this annotation fund from 175,000 to I think it's closer to 82,000. Um so it's about a $90,000 difference. And the reason why that's significant is if that money is not coming from the property taxes, then in order to make it up, it has to come from sanitation funds, which results in a larger increase on the sanitation funds. Um, and I believe that was just kind of moving funds around from from general fund or from the sanitation fund over the general fund. So, um, you know, in order to make the budget work for for 25, you know, was not involved in those conversations, but as we move forward, I just want to make sure that that that number was still good. I I talked with Chris from there and, um, we we sorted through that. So, um, again, I just wanted to make sure that that was, you know, known and aware before I get started because these numbers are it's larger increases that would be needed in order to cover operations in a lease. And the reason why is because that money is no longer coming from property taxes. It would have to be made up elsewhere, which in this case, it's either sanitation fees or property taxes. This is a unique fund where they get kind of get to have that option with both. Fortunately with sanitation fund revenues, you know, you guys, the council here in the city has the power and, you know, the the ability to change that. Whereas with the property taxes, it's it's very restricted. It's typically a 4% each year increase. and and based on the recent legislation, not sure if how much you all talked about the SP1 changes, but what we're seeing with our clients in future years, if if those a those assessed values are going down due to

different deductions and exemptions that, you know, the state is changing. If the AVs are going down, then that means the tax rates are going up. Or if the tax rates stay the same, then that means the property taxes are going down. It's a it's a three-way math equation. and and for the most part we're seeing property taxes are likely to decrease for cities and towns due to the changes with the legislation. So more information I think is helpful for you all is that when you're going through this process on sanitation fees, this is a great opportunity to try and get ahead of that especially because this is a fund where if you have more revenues to work with in the sanitation fund and that's going to free up funding for the general fund and and some of those other city funds. So, let's take a look at page five here um from the rate study. This is the operating budget that we're working with. So, um nothing's changed here, but just wanted to to give a refresh. We're we're basically taking the 2025 budget that was adopted last year, and then we're creating adjustments for 2026 and 27. I believe that if the city were to go ahead and do an increase in sanitation fees, we want to make sure that those fees can sustain operations for the next few years, that's why we're using a couple years of inflation. Some of these other line items seemed reasonable based on what we saw in previous years and left those the same noted as such. Um, we're also aware that there is likely to be employee and liability insurance increases that are above and beyond what we would expect for typical inflation. We've included that here as well. So, where the budget for 2025 was $485,91, we would anticipate a budget closer to 530 grand for, you know, 2026, 2027. So, we move on down here to the rate

impacts. Um, basically I'm showing two options here. One is the op the operations only option and then the other one is the lease option. So just to try and compare those that top line of proforma operating dispersements that's from that previous page basically the operating budget. Then the garbage truck lease which is the the main difference between the two options. Do you want to do the lease or not? We've we've got the quotes. It's about a $400,000 lease, five years. That's the payment and that's how much would be needed um you know in order to to make those payments. And then um working capital, that line item is basically for either working capital or depreciated items. Mo most of the cost within the sanitation utility is going to be on operations. However, we do want to anticipate, you know, if there's any unanticipated cost, we want to make sure that that's accounted for here. The reason why those two numbers are different, um, is one, if if you've got a new lease truck in option two. There's a preventative maintenance contract included in that. So, that $79,779, that does include preventive maintenance. Therefore, we felt that it made sense to reduce that working capital amount. you don't need as much to pay for a new truck, right? Versus, you know, the truck that you have now after talking with Chris, the annual costs and that is upwards of 15 to $20,000 a year. We felt that $25,000 a year would be safe to cover that and to provide working capital for any other unanticipated costs that are that we're not looking at here at this time. So, the bottom, you know, below that is pro- former revenues. you know these amounts here basically the the funding you have to to work with in this fund um sanitation fees and dumpster fees we

have made an adjustment for customer growth from September to today it's about 1 1500 customers is the the direction that we received so we made an adjustment for that and then the the major line that I I mentioned earlier is that property taxes that was $175,000 in 2024 and 2025 That's 82,851. That's what was approved on the 2025 BGF budget order. So using that amount that that makes a big major difference here in the revenue shortfall. So basically the the difference between these two options that bottom line on the the change in residential bill. 2250 is would would be able to cover your operations and provide working capital. 2570 that's going to provide your budget, your operating budget and then the lease payment uh for the next five years. And I believe that's a revolving lease. So, you know, gives you an option, you know, in future future years to to be able to um you know, renew that. So, comparing these two options, basically a $5.75 increase, that's going to give you enough for for budgeting here in the next couple years. If you guys want to do a lease, it's about an additional $3.20. Um, the next couple pages here that you that you would have in your in the report that I sent to Chris is the cash flow. Basically, you just want to look at the next five years and just make sure that that cash balance is getting back up to where it needs to be and just that's more to check and just make sure that that all makes sense, which it does. Um, page ner there's the rates and charges. So, just a a quick little story and then I'll I'll wrap this up here. So, when I when I first moved moved out of graduated from college and moved into my first apartment, I found one of the cheapest apartments in Noblesville where

I I lived at the time. It was great because it was really cheap there, but a couple of cons there was no washer dryer and there was no trash service. And I thought that, oh, this is a great deal. I'm getting such a good deal on this rent. But but there was no trash service because it it was in a really cool area in Noblesville in downtown. It was on the second floor. So where the bottom floor was a retail store and we had a nice view over the downtown area. Really cool. Um but there was no trash service and I didn't realize how big of a deal it was until 10 or 11:00 every night. I was taking my two or three trash bags like I was Santa Claus running around all these dumpsters and and dropping trash cuz that was my only option. So I was looking back, you know, if I if they had told me that, hey, 25 bucks a month, you can get your trash service after doing that for a couple months, I would have said heck yeah. So just thought it'd be kind of cool to share that with you guys. But um again, you know, back back to the numbers here, this is kind of what we're looking at. I think, you know, an increase of 575, I think that's going to get you to where you need to be to be honest. And then option two, if you guys do want to do that lease, basically that extra 75 $80,000 a year, that's going to make up that lease payment. Um, I do know that it's interesting that something Chris told me when we've been working on this is that the last rate study that was done by a different firm, I'm not sure who, but that was a handful of years ago. And if I remember correctly, Chris, that number was about $22 a month. No, I think No, we went to 15 if I'm not mistaken. So, do you remember I think we we decided on 15, but I think the proposed rate at the time was close to 19 somewhere in we were we were four we were close to $4 to5. What what they

decided to go to difference? I mean, how when was that? That was 17. We went low. Yeah, we and I don't, you know, again, I I think it was we went lower than what we were supposed to. Yeah, it was quite a bit lower. The reason why I brought that brought that up and I I think it's important because in 2017 the rate recommended was $19. Now, basically the rate recommended is 2250. So that's a basically a $3.50 change. And the $22 rate is to make up the shortfall. Correct. Yeah. So with that cheap I mean what what this is showing here in option one 116,840. I mean it's basically we're taking your operating budget and that and that working capital is you know not typically included in budgets. Um frankly because it doesn't mean to be but I I think it should be just because um you know they're no one is perfect at at budgeting. Um, if you know anybody, please let me know. Give me their contact info. So, um, you know, and that that is going to include maintenance on your current vehicle, which is older than what what it would be, you know, if you guys are getting a new lease. Um, so basically what this model is showing is that the revenue shortfall 575 is just to make up for increases that are to be expected here in 2026 and 27. Um the difference here I mean if you're taking that that 25 budget which is about $485,000 you take that against the 532 that's about 45 grand that would you know cut into that 116. So part of when I was looking at this with Chris was just wanted to make sure that you know the the utility is hanging on here in 2020 you know 2025 which it is. We we talked

about the settlements and um you know kind of where those cash balances were. Fortunately, the utility does have sufficient cash balances to be able to you know sustain any um you know if there's more to be spent than is brought in. Um but that can only go on for so long, right? If you're the you're spending more and bringing in then eventually those things keep eating away that cash balance. Um, so I I do think it's important here to, you know, strongly consider option one if the lease isn't on the table. If it is, then, you know, that's obviously going to be additional in order to, you know, have that ability to um, you know, be able to afford that lease. And I I think particularly this is a good time before things start to ramp up with with SP1 here the next few years as city resources become limited. This is a way to to try and combat that early where most communities what I imagine is I'm not going to hear from them for three years and then they're going to start calling the phone and and trying to figure out what the heck to do. And you know this would be one option for you guys as well is not only to to you know look at the sanitation fund but this is also going to be something that's going to be helpful for your general fund as well. I mean and if this were to be ever a standalone fund we basically had to take those four lines there and just remove those. So that would be an additional $100,000 a year of revenues that would have to be made up by sanitation fees. I I don't think that that's um you know really realistic at this time due to where the rates are now and what kind of increase that would be. That would basically be doubling that option one increase adding an additional hundred $100,000 a year of revenue shortfall. I don't think that that's there's really

an appetite to do that. Um but just to kind of give you some context, um it's it's unique that that you know this is a fund that is flexible with the property taxes and the um the utility revenues, but you know that's definitely a good thing because it's provided a lot of flexibility for your budgeting. Um, but particularly with SP1 coming up here in the next few years, this is a a good opportunity to try and get ahead of that as well before um, who knows what's going to happen because that seems like every time you look at that thing, it changes. But at least for now, we know for sure that that those uh homestead those exemptions and deductions that's going to reduce the AV therefore that reducing property taxes unless all the cities and towns decide to increase their tax rates as much as possible on the option two. Sure. Where we lease the truck, do you show that we retain our current trucks truck? Yeah, that's not that's that's not anything. We're not trading trading it in. But but if we did lease the new one, would we keep the old ones? Yes, cuz we're going to we're going to try to put tippers on that as well. Arms on that one as well, but we're not going to put that in a finance cuz we got a coil on that is about $14,000 to put arms on that truck so we can use that for a backup. Yes. I will say to your your point um you know the rates have to be sufficient to be able to make the lease payment. Yeah. Be like if you were going to get your mortgage and you said well I'm going to make more money next year and you know they're the banker going to tell you well I'm going to find you today. So um you know that when we're looking at this lease payment it's an annual lease. So

any kind of increase would have to be sure to be essentially adopted and then after 12 months would be able to be kind of one to one with that lease payment at least um preferably more and that's where that working capital kind of comes in but um you know to to your point that the rates need to be sufficient to be able to afford the lease payment um and then you know depending on Chris and I had conversation with him on the phone him and his associate we discussed it last week or week before. I won't even explain it to the fact that this increase is not just for a trash truck. Yeah. It's for the shortfall that we've let go in the past plus the additional for the truck which is $3.20. So I know when people think that we're raising rates $8 and something just to cover our trash truck. Really? We hurt our results. We've killed ourselves in the past by not keeping up with the well and the 82. I mean the other thing you have to keep in mind is that 82 that has come from tax base that we can see a little bit of a loss in that under Senate Bill one. So yeah, I mean that's just something you to keep in mind. This is looking at like the percentages of folks who pay monthly versus those with late payments. How does that come into play? Realistically, it's going to I mean it'll I don't it's not going to pay it. That wouldn't I mean on either of those options. You mean late? So people to pay versus if we have the late payments and Sure. So expectations versus reality here. Yeah. back. I can take a look here quickly at the um the income statement just to try and see kind of what to answer your question part on the other tracks truck is Chris brought it up that we we're retaining that truck also for dumpsters. I was the reason I was asking was we're bringing on a new

truck is it to where we could sell one of the trucks we're using now to help offset some of the costs. I don't know you get enough to I don't know that you get enough to offset much and I I definitely know it wouldn't be all. Yeah. No. Well, I'm just saying I and the back of this lease you know maybe a little bit but I wouldn't think on the fifth year of the lease also on the back page if you look the at the payment that you received back at the end of the lease is 97. So that trucks are actually not that's one of the other things with this this option is that the preventive maintenance cost is figured into that. They will come here they service the truck that way because it does have a $97,500 buyback at the end. So my thought our thought process and talking to them is if they're doing the maintenance I mean outside of us you know doing something that's stupid major accident that trucks they're responsible for it that truck's going to have its full value at the 975 the next and we've had this conversation over and over and over is the fact that regardless of which way we go on the truck we're going to have to have one of some kind. Did we source additional clothes? Yes, we've we've talked to a couple companies and they're all Yeah, just they're in this ballpark. That's what I had written down too bring up is right before I came on like two and a half years ago, um we had two different companies that quoted and they were both higher than where we would go now. Two years ago, we we looked at outsourcing. They would be even higher now, I would imagine. Yeah, it was. And then we'd have no control. But the outsource rate. No, no, I know that. No, I know. I understand. I'm just saying that the

other thing is we wouldn't have any control. Looking at that before, yeah, we we we ran we had a talked to a couple and they gave us a couple quotes and they were I think both of them higher than what with the truck. So, okay. So, we've we have received additional quotes for other trucks. Yes, we have. We we've talked we've looked at a couple national account as well. It's all source. Well, yeah, this is this is it's a national. I do think I know it's a huge jump, but I do think it's important for us to have preventative with a new truck because I can all the maintenance that we have had to have happen in Houston was what 25,000. From a financial standpoint, we are this is year six or seven. So we, you know, we bought it, leased it, uh, financed it for 5 years, and we've been able to stretch it for two, but, you know, I don't know that the payment the yearly payments up to that, but we're we're spending quite a bit of money and if something large happens. Yes. I mean, and we were doing that even before we the financing was over, you know, hydraulics. It was just brought up in the board of works meeting the day that he has to have some work done to this other truck. Yeah. Brakes and drums. Brakes and drums. That is the closest service area for the this company or for the truck. Where would be where would we service it? They would come here. They come on site and service. They come on come on site and service it. I mean, if it's something major, they would take it back to best best company. I think I think they have uh Columbus um Columbus Indian and Louisville. Yeah. Yeah. So, okay. We have some options with that. It's just that we put ourselves in a bind. Yeah, that's a sign for sure. that

we really shot ourselves in the foot back whenever that was 2017 or whatever whenever we went low on the increase, you know, and part of the additional cost within the sanitation is a finan from a employee perspective. Every almost all of our street sanitation department comes from sanitation due to those that were here when uh state pass the MBH the 50% restriction of what we take in um you know I've had to to make our budget work and we had extra e extra money you know through MVA so we've been able to our budgets probably $30,000 a year more than what we bring in, which is never a good business model. The only thing that saves us right now and and you know, I I say this to Shane all the time, is the mowing and the tip lots. We're we're bringing in and that that's getting less, but we've been bringing in an extra $30,000 a year because it's extra work for them. And I and I understand that, but it has in that sense. It hurts us. It hurts. It does. I mean it's it's you know yeah it's never I mean it's never a good thing to have to have not been to this but it's reality it's reality absolutely it's part of it do you have on there for either option um how long this rate would hold this level for or so that's kind of where the cash flow comes into play so let's let's just look at option two for example.

So a lot of numbers here but basically kind of you want to look at that bottom line. So basically you know we're we're here we're already halfway through 25. So I'm looking at this um at the top left there just kind of wanted to know these are 12 month periods right? So 25 through 30, but you know, kind of imagine if the rates were adopted next month to be build the following month to be collected the following month, it'd be closer to September, right? So basically, we have all your revenues here at the top and then those two kind of indents, the rate adjustments. Basically, that's where that kind of that rate increase comes into effect. Then your revenue requirements. Um, and this in this option here, the the funding from the Parker refund, I believe that's what that was, um, would offset the trash cans. So that's taken out of the lease. That's why the lease is 79,000, not 100,000 and some change. Um, so then basically where you have 26 and 27, your proform operating dispersements, that's right, that's for 26 and 27. And then there's increases that I've assumed after that for 28 2930. So what if you're and I'm pretty aggressive with this to be honest where I'm I'm assuming large increases in your operating budget in 2029 and 30. Um let's see what percentage I 4% inflation which is a bit more than average inflation. Um, and basically what that bottom line is the ending sanitation fund cash balance. So your your question, does this keep you guys level? It keeps you level for a few years and then as inflation starts to eat away at your budget, it's going to that that cash balance starts to decrease. Then you would do another

increase and that's kind of how it would flow. But again, pretty aggressive with the operating budget for those future years where I'm assuming 4% inflation when maybe that might be closer to two or three. And we were told, I think we were told 17 or maybe it wasn't even when we did our rate years and years ago when Roger and I were on council that really on a rate study, you're looking at a lifespan of about three to five years. Would that be correct? I mean, yeah. And that and that's that's why I did five right there just because I want to check. Yeah. I just want to check and make sure. And we I can certainly recommend to adopt a budget for $598,000. But I don't think that really makes sense for today because that's five years down the road. But an increase for two or three years that kind of puts you in the middle. And this there's a lot of assumptions that go into this, but basically just want to make sure that if you're going to increase your rates, just want to make sure that it's enough so that you don't have to come back in a year and say, "Oh, shoot. We need to do another five or 10%." So, you know, that's that's not that's why I was asking anyone this three or four years. Yeah, I'd say three to five years. And then and that's where, you know, at that point you I would recommend to look at the rates. Doesn't necessarily mean you need an increase. Typically, you know, you need an increase if your cash balance is starting to drop. But if you're operating if you're the operations are are under control and um you know, you're that cash balance is staying relatively stable. When I say cash balance, I mean the operating fund. I mean, I I believe that you guys should be getting the fund balances every month and you don't need to look at it monthtomonth, right? effective, especially if you're, you know, if the city were to go ahead and adopt an

increase. But, um, you know, after three, four, five years, you want to just, that's how you monitor it is that operating fund. And, you know, if you if you think that there might be something that needs to be looked at, then a rate study would recommend it. Um if the operating fund is in the you know in the black, if it's it's doing well, um you guys are saving money for for other you know projects. Maybe you guys maybe the sanitation, you know, maybe the you know the budget isn't coming in quite as high which would be great because that would free up some flexibility in your general fund with those property taxes that could you know potentially be allocated from one fund to the next. So, a lot of factors, but yeah, 3 to five years and um you know, at least that would be a good benchmark for at least looking at the rates and just saying, hey, where are we at? Doesn't necessarily mean every time you need a rate increasement. Most city in town like you know, but um you know, it's always good to to um you know, just to try and and check on that three or five years. So that's second recommendation. Any other questions on this? Can you take it back to the main slide? Sure. Has the option option here? Yeah. Did you guys get copy? Yes. [Music] But yeah, so like the mayor said, I think the 575 that would be an increase to to help you get back to whole and then there would

be an additional 320 and that's going to give you the lease payment on the new truck. Um, so if you know if the council and city did decide to move forward, um, I could work with Josh and and help, you know, get an ordinance put together. We're basically going to have these rates and we start the process of introducing adopting public hearing. a couple. Any other questions for Brandon? I know sometimes we got to make decisions not favorable to everybody. So to me, we've got to do what we got to do to I mean it's part of the business, you know. We got you can't go can't sing. Yeah, thank you. I think we have to make sure that and I'm actually looking at this right now. They think that it's important for us to also make sure that if there are those who are, you know, having any issues with, you know, the payment increase or what have you, that we provide them with the resources necessary to, you know, be able to utilize um other areas to pay those utilities, whether it be 211 or I can if you want me to, but all into the communication for whatever we

do, you know, if and when, you know, no sticker shock, things like that. What's the timeline you're thinking on implementation of this if we do decide to do it? So, how long does it take to get everything prepared for the ordinance and whatever we need to do? Well, we just draft it and then we have to have the um hearing public hearing and it's typical process for ordinance passage. We have it on the July docket. So it's you would typically introduce it and then have the public hearing at the second for the second reading. Any comments, y'all? You feel comfortable with the necessary evil? I think the same. I mean, it we have to do it in order for us to be able to provide the services accurately in the community. But at the same time, um I think that it's a smart decision for us to take the preventative lease option just because in the long run if things do happen, I would be very fearful of us having a very large payment on our hands if something were

to happen. That's my thought. I mean that was when we spoke with past that was one of the things at 97 they said you know this has the built in preventive maintenance and they'll come here which is again to me I guess my thinking is they're taking care of it they take care of everything everything's covered except for a drastic if we was to wreck the yeah if we were to wreck the truck or something everything's covered for five years at home. And two, we ran into issues in the past where something has happened and we've been scrambling to try to find funds. That's that's the issue. We've not been able to pick up what we've had to rent and that's outrageous. Well, I I've said for a while I I like expendure plan for every maintenance and ongoing issues. But you know when we have to what was we had to have the truck weld was it a couple years ago? Yeah. Yeah. 11 that was 11 or 12,000 that each one it adds up quick. It adds up very quickly. It's like silver there's mochi fix to anything and you have to have it. Yeah. I mean you have to have sanitation. You have to have several things. Yes ma'am. And I like personally like the arm options because it's going to cut our time in half of of the pickup. It's going to be cleaner, healthier, safer. Um, and as you well know, right now we've got three people on the truck and we can cut this down to one which will help something else. Yes. Or leave us some We do not have the inmates at this time. You know, I don't know when we'll get them. So, we're kind of strapped on what's going on with that. Well, that's

all with the county. So, I'm not making no comments on that. Probably not a good time to um I just uh I just know sometimes we have to make decisions. It's not likable. But sometimes we got that's one thing I do know when Chris when I was on the council, we did hear from from Mayor Campbell that uh sometimes we had to reach back to see if we had a spine because we had to make decisions not favorable to everybody. So, we've had to do that in the past and I know it's not something that we all want to do. Well, it affects this, you know, this this affects everybody sitting here. This affects research. We're all going to have to pay this. We've done a lot of research on this trying to see if we could even outsource it. We were at a $35 rate to outsource it. It was just outsourcing was not we were going to kill the residents in the 35. I dealt with outsourcing at um like and some of my side stuff for work is terrible and you're at the mercy of them. Yeah. And again, they don't pick up. You can't do anything about it. You're not They're going to be calling in here and they're going to be calling you and you guys, why don't you pick the trash up even though you don't have anything to do with it? So, uh, I just need to vote. Will the board is willing to move forward? Form a motion move forward. You don't need a motion. So, this would include the totes. Yes. said he had in there that wanted to cut the cost uh some of the money we're going to recover from the solo project on the harbor funds and we talked about uh you know council's willing spend I think it's $130 $150,000 whatever it is to buy the totes okay how many are there per household you get one per household they're 96 gallon totes

So I mean they're I know I set I think right now I set like a 45 gallon trash can out and I have a couple bags inside. So in theory I mean a 90 so it should cover most households and you can purchase still have ordinances in place. So, if someone, let's say Mike needs to uh he can purchase one that it would cost him, there would be we'd have to look at an extra fee for the extra. So, we're going to have to look at some options there to see. I know Joel and I discussed this the other day, whether we should charge for an extra one or char or let them have that and charge an extra fee for the two pickups. Now, what do we do? Because I know this happened in the past. I'm not saying that it is now, but say one of the sanitation workers were to crack one of these, who replaces that? Well, if we crack it, I'm sure we'll have to replace it. Okay. I'm not we're not going to hold that to the to the tenant. But these cans were the heavy duty cans. They were really thicker. Really heavy duty. Yeah. Cans. I thought they were very nice cans. So 90 gallon. They were. Of course, I let these guys pick the color, which I wouldn't favor the color, but that's okay. Color perfect. We had to go with Kentucky blue. We But that's okay. They were nice cans. I have to say that they were heavy duty. The cans are nice. We miss whistle. They didn't have respect. The color of these kind of spray paint or something. It's a fine. It's a fine. $1,000 [Music] in my house. Not too many city lights. It will have the red emblem on it. No, wait. So, we're getting our emblem on

it, too. Now, if we took that off, would there be a lesser cost? No, it's No, it's not. It's not. There's nothing that's okay. That's in because they will my understand best will number the cans. So when they pass them out, we will have a list of serial numbers. Serial numbers of who's can we'll have they'll have we have a master list of you know who's can. Okay. So again, thanks Brandon. Well, and I think it's the welder board just kind of move on try to see what we can do for Yeah. The only other request I had and I keep saying is that we have better recycling services. That's all. Thanks, Brand. Thank you. Okay. Any other old business? Okay, moving along. Going to new business. Kelly, looks like you're on the list. Up next, if you would stand up and state your name and your request and just stand here. That's fine. That's fine. Um, my name is Kelly Hans. I'm the executive director of Holding Space Recovery Project. Um I know some of you guys here and I don't know some of you guys here. So we have a certified recovery community organization. We are actually located here in Austin um on 31 and we we do a couple of um of different programs out of there and one of them is our IRA program which is um integrated re-entry and correctional support. So we have a team of peers that works inside our um Scott County Jail. Um we get that funding through Mental Health of America and they fund our program 70%. Um and then they want 30% to come from the community. So all of the IRA sites around um we request 30% from their

communities. Um so and I kind of did a cover letter for you guys. Um um we have requested I've already went in front of the county commissioner. So, we've requested a 25% through our county commissioners last year. I went to them for the full 30%. Um, and so now I'm coming to you guys. Um, I'm going to come here and then Scott City Council for that other 5% which will be 2.5 from you guys, 2.5 from Scottsburg, and that total is $8,936.35. Um, does everybody have one of these? Yeah, you pass in there. I guess I should pass these. Don't even know if I made enough copies. Yeah, you should. Okay, you have and Lindsay couldn't be here with me tonight. She had a family emergency come up. Um so attached in here um I have on the back side of this on the behind the letter is like our total operating budget in the state come up of that when we originally launched our IRA program in 2022. So the total is $357,454 um and then 250,000 of it is provided by um MHI and then our county we are um asked to get the 107,000 um and then I kind of did the breakdown of what I requested from the county and then what I'm requesting from both city councils. Um, and behind that is the abatement strategies. So, like the restricted opioid settlement funds. Um, and I highlighted I hope um I think I got everybody in color here, but I kind of highlighted where we what we do um

with our IRA program, how we fall into the unrestricted funds category. And you can kind of go through um they're uh front and back on all of the pages in our program and what we do and with re-entry how we kind of fall into the restricted funds. Um I also attached in here our scope of work. So what um our grant when we work through MHI um what our what is expected of us in our organization and our team. So like the reporting um and what goes into the state. So I put the scope of work from MHAI in there and then I also at the very back of it I attached um of course when we did this it was through the end of April. um our year will end June 30th and so I can give you those numbers but from July um when we launched um in there um Thrive had this contract up until July of last year and then Holding Space was able to get it and keep it within the community. So, we just kind of did a breakdown of numbers for you guys so you could see what we've done in the dough, how many people we've seen, um what we've been able to do in there, and kind of give you a a narrative so you can kind of see what we've done over the last year um with that. It just threw a lot at everybody. if you have questions, um I will do my best to answer them. I will say I I myself believe this is an important program to have and I don't know if you guys are familiar with MHI but you know they're they're amazing to work with. Um so like as far as funding goes and everything like that, that's not anything that would ever go away from this program and um heavily regulated. I know that that's something too we want to make sure that

whenever these services are available that they're done correctly and things like that. So, um you know, as far as like my background goes to know how you guys are doing things and and what that looks like, I I do think it's very imperative for the community to have peer navigators, um case managers, all that stuff. And then also working with the sheriff's department to make sure that these things, you know, are rolled out well. Um, so myself I I'll just say like I don't feel like that's a crazy ask. Um, I think that is necessary. Chris, what is our restricted view balance? Uh, as of end of last month coming out, but nothing's coming out restricted. We're at 21,91645. So you got to find stuff to do this. Should have asked for more. You're fired. Is this something you think is like an annual thing now? She knows it is restricted. I mean this is this is restricted. I mean that's there's not a lot we can this definitely fits within what we can do. There's not a lot we can do with it. So and I had a conversation because that was one of the questions when I went in front of the commissioners and I've had some other um conversations. Um there's been a lot of changes at the state level. a lot of well even at the federal level like um funding um taken from different wherever um so MHI and when I say MHI I mean Mental Health of America Indiana um um they are looking at different federal and state grants to kind of to see if

they can offset some of these costs so it's not when you get into communities like ours in Scott County we are much smaller than some of the other ones so Delaware County gets a lot lot more money. Um it's a much bigger jail. There's a lot more money rolling through there. And then when you get into the smaller towns like us in Davies County, we kind of struggle to come up with that 30%. So they're trying to find ways where it's not so hard on us smaller communities to do it. They're looking on the administration. It could mai could have funds increase and be able to allocate more at some point. So, what's will the board? I'll make a motion. I have a motion to approve. I hear a second. Second by Stacy. All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. Thanks, John. I'll send your number on. I'll send you an agreement. Yeah. Josh, if we get that back to Josh, I'll Okay. One of the things that we do, I should have said this. One of the things that we've done over the last year with our county commissioners and our county council um is and we don't blow up emails. So like every other month we just kind of do like a quick like this is what we've done over the last couple months is how many people have came through. This is how many people went to treatment and like and we just send an email out to them just kind of let them know what we're doing to keep them posted. It's your guys's money. So we we are willing to do that as well. We just throw you guys on the email as we send those out so you can kind of get a report every couple of months as to what we're doing. Appreciate it. Sounds good. Thank you very much. Okay. And next item will be ordinance 2025-05 about the 2025 comprehensive plan. Amy, you've got the floor. All right. So last month we did the presentation and kind of went through

things and then I know you all should have received a PDF of um I think a couple days after that meeting of the comprehensive plan reply back to your questions. Let me know get those answered. Um so the plan commission forwarded a favorable recommendation with um a few of the minor minor kind of tweaks or changes to that plan. Um and we went through those last month too, but I'll just recap them. Um but it was again adding a residential growth area to that future lane use plan and then updating the outline of that. Um adding a gateway on 256 on the east side to that transportation map. And then so just a small doesn't change any intent but adding advisory where we put plane commission to specify we advisor. We are not an area plane commission here anymore. um which you guys used to be when you're with the county. And then um tweaking some of the language on like how often you're going to review the plan, just being more periodic. So it gives you flexibility and we'll add the current zoning map to the plan even though that's going to always be changing. You know what I mean? Especially as we review the ordinances here, but um so I can pull the presentation up if you need to. I really think it was um I know Stacey and you all were the ones that maybe hadn't sat through a lot of the you know the conversations and dialogue so I feel like I probably addressed questions from the others as we've gone through that process. I'm happy to talk through those to you all too, but um want to make sure that the questions and if not um no I read through all of it um and I had some notes but I think you know overall as far as like the objectives go um the goals I think that you know those are good. Um, and I I think for us I want to make sure that like we are all

in alignment on what we do moving forward because in other like um in some of our meetings some of the things that have been mentioned in here don't uh align. So I think that that's important. So but you also mentioned in this comprehensive plan that we have workshops and things like that set up. I just want us to make sure that we hold ourselves into the bargain. That's the biggest thing. But as far as the comprehensive plan goes itself, I think that it's good. Um my daughter was the last two and a half weeks in Colorado. I need that whole expensive, but I've got the summary here. I'm ready to make a motion unless somebody has more questions. Favorable motion. Motion approval. Second. Motion a second. All in favor? He's over this. That's why I was given time. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. I You good, Mike? Okay. So, any ns? Motion carries. Thank you. Perfect. And if um we can get a copy of that resolution, we'll just tuck it in there usually just for easy reference or we get it by we can get a copy of that. That'd be super tucked in there. Copies everything sent over to you guys. I'll get you a copy. Thank you so much, Chris. Um, and then just as a recap again, I know there's some that are on the committee, but we're working through the ordinances currently, and we have one more committee meeting. We've had five, maybe six um of just working through all the ordinances, zoning, and the subdivision control ordinances, which you don't have subdivision control ordinances right

now, like how you divide a parcel of. Um, we're working through. We have one more working session on that and then we'll have a draft ordinance for all of that. Um so I'll make sure that when that draft goes to committee Chris you'll be on that. We can you know make sure it hopefully gets to Michael and Stacy too to make sure you guys can look through that. So if you have questions we'd love to get those flushed out and it's you know it's not like it's not a skinny document but um and then we can start to work through that process. But it'll we'll we'll be back here, you know, in a number of months to adopt that as well, just to give you guys a heads up. Sounds good. Thanks. Thank you guys. Thank you. [Music] You provide us with booklets of that. Yes. Um, so what we'll do is we'll give you the hard copy like hard copies. I cannot remember how many I send our contract computer, but we'll send those and then um digital files. I'll usually stick it all under like including all the files, GIS files and stuff like that. So those you here takes a a little bit. We don't print this in house, you know, NC. So thanks. Thanks, guys. Okay, new business. Joe, I do not know. Chris, no. Mike, I was just going to ask about the um the fireworks show. Uh so I know in the past we have been pretty restrictive on who we've allowed to bend. I don't think I think she's kind of kind of loosened up on that. Um, yeah, it's hard to control because you had some vendors wanting to

kind of hold down and not sell the same products they are. So, we had so many requests. So, she just kind of we just got so much space over there. So, we're just going to fill the space. I just know. Oh, well, and I only asked because being on on um being a member of the Lions Club in Scot um I know whenever we had originally put everything together that they had restricted us being or who was coming in so we would be able to make profit so we could provide additional in you know um support to the communities. And you know, one of the things that we get a lot of our funding for the scholarships from is that event specifically. So I know it's going to hurt us and you know we'll probably be able to give away one scholarship this year. I think the last couple years you guys sold out of everything you had. So we didn't have competition at that point. Last year we didn't and I don't know what kind of competition you'll have this year. I just I don't That's what I'm saying. Like I know there's going to be food vendors there. We were the only food vendor. Hell no. Besides from the fire department, fire department, the nurse, we just didn't And I don't know if there's any other food vendors that signed up or not because from what we were told yesterday, y'all may not show up. So, how are we going to turn anybody away? Well, I'm No, I'm saying before we had always been told that there were restrictions that it was basically like the fire department was only, you know, they were let in and we were let in and then like, you know, there was a specific amount and that was why. So for the change it was I'm just letting you know like the the reasoning behind us questioning ourselves into like it it would have been nice for us to have a heads up I guess. I think well that's another thing too vendors pay a fee if they're going to let nobody pays a fee. I mean in the past from what I've been told even the Lions Club actually contributed back for the fireworks for the next year but they haven't done that for quite some time.

They used to because she's got documentation of that. the Lions Club give them money back. Yeah, they give them for the fire. Definitely not be able to do that now. Yeah. I think it kind of depends what we what we want. Yeah. Like do we want bigger festival like from the city standpoint because I represent a lot of those organizations too, right? Um from a city standpoint, do we want a large event or do we want not? I guess that's why we should have the conversation ahead of time and notify people. But like fireman's festival for years, we didn't allow food food vendors and we were smaller and then we allowed food vendors and maybe we got a little bit bigger. I I don't know. But I mean, and to my knowledge, I mean, I don't know of a lot of other vendors that reach out to her to sell foods. I've heard there was someone from Columbus that has stood. So now whether you know this is your state, but at the same time like I'm just saying I know from our standpoint it's going to hurt us being able to provide the additional into it. That's something you have to check with her tomorrow because she handles the vendors and I know that she's been talking to Ishmael quite a bit about it. But then when he told her last night, I don't think anybody had a problem with it prior till last night. Then they said that yesterday we had a meeting yesterday. That's why. Well, and the meeting was because it was on the same night of the fair, not because it was other vendors coming here. No, we had a count we had a a Lions Club meeting. I know, but the meeting was called to to discuss whether you'd come because of the fact that it was on the same night at the last night of the fair. Yes. Yeah. We did not change we didn't change our our menu. The fair moved ours up a week. We can't change ours because that's all for your meeting. No, the fireworks for Yeah, the fireworks meeting. Is that No, we don't have a fireworks meeting. The date. So, the fireworks is on the same night as the last night of the fair. Exactly. Yeah. And there's nothing we can do to change

that because it's always Friday night before. It was already set with us. See, we got to set with the people that's putting off the the display. We got to take the times they have available. So they did not have anything prior or anything toward closer to the fourth. So we started out that way, but we got a better we got better rate fireworks. Yeah. Yeah. And and well that's a different though. That's something totally different than what I was addressing. We can't change we can't change our dates too late. Yeah. No, I I understand that. And I believe the people from the fireworks board changed theirs because they had to change vendors, carnival vendors, and that's how they had to work it. So they changed their date. They moved theirs up a week. The fair. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, I knew that. Yeah. Yeah, they did that a long time. But as far as how many food vendors Stacy, I don't know. I don't how many she has. Melissa takes care of all that. I just think that it would have been nice to have like a heads up especially to but we've had we've had certain vendors up there want to sell I mean they want to kind of promote popsicles or different things. That's kind of how I tell you can't do this, you can't do that. It's gotten out of hand. Not just the food. She's kind of held the food sources down. It's just the little knickknack stuff that she's had a hard time controlling. The glow sticks. Okay. Glow sticks and things of that nature. It sounds like it's this year it's too late to change anything, but we could see how this year goes and face next year and and ours can get we don't have enough space on there to allow Bukus people in there anyway. So, we just don't that also raises why would you increase it and what and I don't think that's that's happened intentionally. I mean, I don't know where all this has come from, but lack of communication. Well, somebody needs to communicate with Meliss Melissa because she hands it at

all. She's not going out and solicit who's going to come. It would have been nice to kind of have a heads up and Did anybody check with Melissa? No. Did you ask Melissa? It's always been the same. I mean, but did you ask Melissa she had other food sources? I saw because you said it was hearsay. I mean, I'm asking you a question. No, I have not. Roger. Okay. Then I suggest you approach her tomorrow then because I don't have the answers for that. Okay. I mean to me uh Stacy it's kind of a lack of communications on all parts and not just Melissa's. We're not sending out letter question. Pardon? There was never reason for us to question before. That's Then how do you know there did you ask her when you heard there was other food sources? Did you ask her? We can take it offline since it's Yeah. I mean I've got one thing. I get tired of hearing about the lack of communication, Stacy, when nobody comes in here and talks to us about anything. I'm hearing all this through the grapevine. It's now time to put that to bed. It just happened. No, I'm talking about other things besides the this. I've addressed the other stuff as well. Multiple times I've mentioned it in You have never come to me council meeting, but you've never come to me and talked to me about anything, but you're on the emails with these whenever these things are. Let's go ahead. Let's go ahead. I got Sorry, I got one last thing. Um was approached by a kind of their investments. Uh didn't know we could do this and went over it with Josh. The money that we have on the sewer bonds, we we're required to hold one year back of payment or have it set aside in case something happens to make for our payment. We can invest that money. Uh, it's liquid. You know, something we're having we get to it and Josh could speak more to this. We

when we refinanced in 2015 sewer bonds, we didn't extend the the length of the bond. We just got a better rate. I was adamant that we didn't extend the life of the, you know, of the bond. Uh, got a better rate on it. We're at 3 point I think six. uh we can that money in an account we can draw up to that money or or go back and you guys have given me the permission in the past to invest. I just it's in our policy. I just wanted to let you know that I'm I'm going to Roger and I said in the meeting and I'm going to I think it's a wise thing we can use it either put into sewer improvement or pay down the bond. I don't know how much you know you're talking a percent or two. It's not going to be a ton of money, but anything that we can invest, I think it's a good thing right now. And you can access it. It's liquid. So, I mean, yeah, if I mean, if that money is set aside strictly for, we were not be able we make that payment twice a year. Yeah. So, if we were not able to make that payment, we could if we weren't able to make that payment, we got bigger issues. Yeah. Do you mean No, you forgive me. I just wanted to make make you guys aware. I I like to keep you up to date. Okay. Over the finances. Think it makes sense. That's all I have. Sorry, John. I do not know. I have one other thing. Chris and I and of course we've been discussing this for quite some time. Um we want to establish a insurance committee. So actually I'm going to ask for one person off this board to fulfill that. Um going to try to have one from each department from from the sewer department, the street department together, one from the PD, one from my office, one from Chris's office, and then Chris and I will set in on that and

we want votes. We want a five member panel to try to, as you all know, uh the insurance that we're we're paying astronomical a year for the employees, which I'm all for that as long as we can afford it, but we're at the state now that where we're shortfall of funds. uh insurance rate increases. I'm not saying that we just basically have to reach out and find another uh another agent. I'm basically for all avenues we can cut some some areas talk to the insurance talk to our agent see if there's other options. Mhm. Um we had this in the years past and it's insurance hasn't increased far as Chris has told everyone except for last year the last few years we've seen insurance but with the projected revenue shortfalls moving forward. Um and again not we've as a council's council members and I'm speaking as Roger on here as a clerk treasurer as as working we've tried to get our benefits and stuff to where we keep our employees and I think we have done a a pretty good job of that. you know, this Senate Bill one, I keep bringing this up, is really going to hamper our revenues. So, we just look at all sources to see what we can do to save dollars or save some uh some funds for some of these employees. And we have 25 people that we're paying insurance on, and it's an astronomical number for the year. Yeah, we I mean we're paying I think it's $700 a month. $716 an employee a month. But again, it's not it's just and it's a it's a great benefit. What can we do as and having a committee that somebody you guys what can we do to on having their input as well? Absolutely. And that that's the thing and that's you know I will I sat on the committee when we were

on council and we made a decision it affected the cost of their out of pocket like the copay the deductible it was a 9010 insurance but deduct the co-pay went up and and we got regular coals over it. And a lot of people have doctors. That's the other thing you want to look at. Make sure that you know you're not lo we're not losing coverage. Well, sitting on the council in the past, I've been reluctant to try to to take money. To me, if you take if you have insurance that's paid for by employees or taking money out of their pocket, and I'm not a fan of that, especially back in the past, our rates was low. Our hourly rate was pretty low. I'm not saying I'm not advocating that we do that now. I'm just saying moving forward we may have to come to a point to where subly some of the cost of it keeps increasing have to supplement some of the cost of the employees you know whether we like it or not because you know all the stuff that we do. So we need somebody off this off the off the council that's willing to meet some some during the day. I don't know what days we're going to meet yet, but we got got to get something heading up in our in in the direction of our before budgets to see where we're at and then bring some insurance companies in here and discuss some things. I'm not saying we we're not closing the door to anybody. And I'm not trying to say that Rich is out. I'm just saying that with his insurance company, but I'm just saying that we need to look at all avenues. That make sense? So, does anybody I would say I don't have the extra time right now. I couldn't do that. [Laughter] Mike, I know you're kind of strapped

during the day, aren't you? Yeah. Sometimes that'll be the two at the right probably got the most time, but I think so. So you got you guys to discuss it among you two and then you guys let me know. I don't matter to me. Do we need to do anything on the formation of the committee? It's just I mean really just the committee is just making a recommendation to something the council's going to do anyway, right? Have you thought about taking a person from each like the police department? Yeah, that's we're going to I'll take one from the street department and the sewage together. They'll be together and I'll take one from each offices. They know you can help if you want. Yeah. And that's what they're doing. We're taking Yeah. department we have and let them they'll have input. So you guys let me know what you decide. I don't it doesn't matter just get the ball rolling. Other than that, I have anything nothing else. [Music] Motion to close. Motion to adjourn. Second. A second. All in favor? Motion carries. Trevor. Thank you, sir.