Board of Works & Safety - Regular Meeting

I want to welcome everyone this evening. Our agenda, we have a public hearing and our regular meeting of the city of Bedford Common Council here at Stonegate Arts and Education Center, 93115th Street. So, starting off, we will have a public hearing consideration on water rates. Misty.

Uh, the proposed water rates were published on October 10th um in the um Bedford Times mail, the Herald Times. Um, this is the um water rates that we had asked about. Um, actually they are a little bit higher than what we're going to present with the ordinance. Uh, with the rate chart that it was, uh, the rates have went down a little bit than what was published. You can publish higher but you cannot publish lower. Um these were the new rates that we are asking uh to be approved to fund our our water utility. We have some projects that need to be done and and the rates are low compared to other communities and

Okay. Thank you. Misty Greg you want to conduct our public hearing please.

Thank you mayor. We will now open the public hearing for consideration of the water rates that have been published. Um the new rates that Misty just described. If you have a comment to make about that topic, you're welcome to come forward, state your name and address, and you'll have two minutes to address the council on that particular issue. Okay, seeing that there is no one here to make a comment on that, we will close the public hearing and proceed with the agenda. Thank you. Heath, would you lead us in prayer, please?

Yes. Heavenly Father, thank you for this day. Thank you for this opportunity for us to come together as a council and represent the citizens of the city and the city's business. Please give us guidance this evening as we go over our city's budget and other issues in front of the council tonight and give us the wisdom to make the best decision for our citizens. Lord, thank you for blessing our community with the fine people that live here and the fine public servants that represent it and just continue to be with us every day. In Christ Jesus name we pray. Amen. Amen.

Brad, would you lead us in the pledge, please? Pledge to the flag 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. We have approval of our minutes from September the 16th.

Motion to approve as presented. Mr. B. Second. All those in favor signify by I. I.

Anyone opposed? Thank you. We'll move on to old business tabled ordinance 16-2025 appropriations and tax rates adoption of budget for 2026. So as you know from our last meeting in our discussion on these this evening to pass these we will do uh all three passages tonight due to the fact that it needs to be completed. Billy, do you have anything to add? Um on the ordinance 16 2025, it was reduced $150,000 with the adjustments that um were approved at the last meeting. But other than that, the rates did not change. The rates are advertised high. They will be lowered once the official assessed value is completed at the state level.

All right. Thank you, Billy. Does the council have anything for discussion? There's nothing for discussion. Uh when appropriate, if there's a motion, I would accept. Mr. Mayor, I move for the approval of ordinance 16-2025.

I'll second. All those in favor signify by I. I. Anyone opposed? I would entertain a second motion. So move second. All those in favor signify by I. I. Anyone opposed? I would entertain a motion to suspend the rules for the third and final passage. Mr. Mayor, I move to suspend the rules for the third and final passage. I'll second. All those in favor signify by I. I.

Anyone opposed? Okay, I would entertain a third and final passage. So move second. All those in favor signify by I. I. Anyone opposed? Thank you. tabled ordinance 17-2025 approving base salaries for police, firefighters, appointable officers and employees of approving additional compensation of elected and appointed officials for the year 2026. Billy, do you have anything to add? No. All right.

Well, the ordinance does include the $3,000 stipen. I will add that. Okay. And that does reflect the council not getting a raise. Right. I'll make a motion we approve ordinance number 17-2025. I'll second that. All those in favor signify by I. I. I. Anyone opposed? I would entertain a second motion. So moved. Second. Motion by Judy, a second by Brad. All those in favor signify by I. I.

Anyone opposed. I would entertain a motion to suspend the rules for third and final passage. Motion to suspend the rules. Second. All those in favor signify by I. I. Anyone opposed? I would entertain entertain a third and final passage. So moved. Second. All those in favor signify by I. I. Anyone opposed? Thank you.

Tabled ordinance 18205 establishing the salaries of elected officials for the year 2026. Anything, Billy? No. Um, it's identical from the ordinance for the salaries from 2025. Okay. I would entertain a motion. I'll make a motion for ordinance 18205 establishing the salaries of elected officials for the year 2026. Mr. Mayor, I will second the motion. All those in favor signify by I. I. Anyone opposed? I would entertain a second passage.

So moved. I second. All those in favor signify by I. I. Anyone opposed? I would entertain a motion to suspend the rules for a third and final passage. Mr. Mayor, I move to suspend the rules for a third and final passage. Second. All those in favor signify by I. I. Anyone opposed? I would entertain a motion for the third and final passage. So move. Second. All those in favor signify by I. I.

Anyone opposed? Thank you. All right. So, moving on. We're ready now for we need a second and third final passage on ordinance 19-2025 amending 155.07 and 1558 of the Bedford Code within professional residential PR districts. Does anyone have anything for discussion?

Kevin, did you get any feedback from anybody? There's nothing further. I would entertain a motion for the second passage. I make a motion to pass ordinance number 19-2025 amending section 155.017 155.018 of the Bever city code. I'll second. All those in favor signify by I. I. I. Anyone opposed? I would entertain a motion for the third and final passage. So move.

Second. All those in favor signify by I. I. Anyone opposed?

Thank you. We have a third and final passage. Ordinance 20-2025 amending Ordinance 13-1969 as amended by Ordinance 24-20008, Ordinance 27-20009, Ordinance 23-2010, and Ordinance 22-2023 regarding the collection, disposal of trash, garbage, and refuge within the city of Bedford. David's here. if anyone has any questions or has any discussion on this topic. And if not, when appropriate, I would entertain a motion. I'll make a motion for ordinance 20-2025.

I'll second. All those in favor signify by I. I. Anyone opposed.

We will move on to new business. Request approval of using restricted opioid funds for Lawrence County Growth Council. $25,000. Dan. So, we've discussed this a couple of times. uh we were waiting on to see what our revenue was uh because we have another $25,000 that we will discuss in a minute for the Boys and Girls Club. Uh there is approximately 60ome,000 uh in the account. So there is adequate funds for both of those requests uh to be approved. So if the council has any further discussion or questions for Dan, uh please do so at this time. And if there is no questions, I'll entertain a motion to approve.

Dan, where is your attendance at?

We uh for the class coming in, we currently have seven pe 17 people enrolled for that. You know, before we were looking at trying to change the demographics that a little bit before it was 70% 30% in favor of justice involved. This class is about half and half right now. And you know, just as a reminder, uh what this class is, introduction to local jobs and skills. It's three weeks covering construction, machining, welding, and then health and safety uh skills for people to encourage them to move on to get their high school equivalency or get involved with the next level jobs program or get into to one of the trades. It's exposure to to some of the hands-on work that is necessary and needed by employers in this area.

And Dan, how many students do you have from the city of Bedford approximately? Joe, do you know the as far as the makeup inside the city versus outside the city limits? Do you know? Do we track that? Excuse me, Dan. Would you have him step down so people can hear the conversation, please? Yeah. Thank you. We're getting used to it.

Yeah. Um, she does, like I said, she does um track it by zip code, but she all also tracks it by um city, but I don't have a report on what that is. When we looked at it before, it was about 40% um rural and 60% town driven um from from an address standpoint, but it's it's not easy to tell in some cases. Um the resident all we know it's it is Lawrence County, that's for sure. Any other questions we can answer? Not I'd entertain a motion.

I'll make a motion to approve the restricted opioid fund for Lawrence County Growth Council in the amount of 25,000. I'll second. And that motion was for the restricted opioid funds. Okay. Thank you. We have a motion to say all those in favor signify by I. I. Anyone opposed? Thank you. Thank you.

Request approval of using restricted opioid funds from the Boys and Girls Club for the 2026 budget 25,000. I did not ask for them to be present this evening since this is part of the normal budgeted amount that we give them out of the 35,000. uh they were able to work with us to save us the 25,000 uh out of our our general fund by using the restricted opioid funds. Uh so this will go along with the other 10,000 to make their 35,000. It's just helping us with our funds reference to using some of their restricted opioid funds instead of out of our general fund.

Mr. Mr. Mayor, I believe that anything we can do for the children of our community is a positive thing. And I would move that we approve the using of restricted opioid funds at $25,000 for the Boys and Girls Club for 2026. A second. All those in favor signify by I. I. Anyone opposed? Thank you. Ordinance 21-2025 amending animal ordinance chapter 91 animals section 91.01-91.07. David.

Good evening. This change in the ordinance is for the city to adopt a trap neuter and release or return program for the city of Bedford. So the city is proposing a trap neuter return program in partnership with feral cat friends and pets alive to humanely manage free roaming cats in our city. Feral cats friends will handle citizen requests trap the and transport the cats and pets alive will provide the spayneuter surgeries, vaccinations and ear tipping. The city will fund about 15 or more surgeries per month. more is needed, but not to exceed $25,000 per year. We're also providing $2,000 annually to help feral calf friends with overhead costs associated with overseeing this program. We're asking the council to approve the proposed amend amended ordinance which ultimately allows the citizens and feral cat friends to participate in this program which is a practical humane way to care for the cats in our community, reduce nuisent complaints and help stabilize colonies over time. Thank you.

Thank you. Any discussion or comments? Where David? Where do they do they contact them or they contact the city and we set up arrangements for the citizens to be able to drop them off at your house or there there will be um um the feral cat friends will be the point of contact for all this. We will if if we're called, we will then contact them with the information from the citizens that so we're not taking them and delivering them. Okay. We're completely handsree on this one.

I'm assuming they're vehicles or they'll be marked. So if somebody comes and takes a cat, somebody will I don't know the answer to that. Um, I think it's handled with private vehicles. Yeah. Um, so I I would say no, they will not be marked. I've used these guys before at the lake up there when we had an abundance and they do they do a great job. They do a good job. They're very dedicated to this.

Yes, they are. Yes, they are. When appropriate, I'd entertain a motion if there is one. I'll make a motion to pass ordinance 20-2025. 21-2025. I'll second. All those in favor signify by I. I. Anyone opposed? Thank you. We'll do a since that is an ordinance, we'll go ahead and do a second passage. Mr. Mayor, I move for a second passage of ordinance 21-2025. Okay,

I second. All those in favor signify by I. I. Anyone opposed? Then we will address the third and final passage at our next meeting. Thank you guys. Now we're on to ordinance 22-2025. Establishing rates and charges amending water rights ordinance. Misty,

you have before you ordinance 22 uh 2025 uh increasing the meter rates per 1,000 gallons um at different increments depending on how many gallons are used and then also the minimum charge um for the size of meters uh that that is in front of you. Also, um there is a monthly charge for private hydrant rentals, uh a 4 in and a 6 in hydrant as well. Those are the uh rates that we are asking to be increased at this time. The uh last ordinance rates that were increased were in 2021. Um on for an example, uh based on 4,000 gallons of 5/8 meter, the current cost now is 2534. Uh if these rates are approved, it would go to 3334, which is an increase of $8. Um I also did an average of 5,000 gallons. Uh currently, it would be 3131. Uh with the new rates that are included there, it would be $4119. So that would be an increase of $9.88. Um it obviously would be dependent on how much water is used and the size of the meter as far as the rates um that are there. Misty, you said our last increase was in 2021.

2021. Yes. So, um if these rates are approved, uh it would be on the January bill due February. Um if it is approved in November for the second or the final passage on the ordinance. So, so with our last increase being in 2021, what's a estimated number, the the percentage the increase in percentage of cost? You think you've seen a 10, 20, 30% increase in in in producing water in the water department?

Mainly our our chemicals have went up. Um, electric power have went up. Um we have some projects um a water man to move due to INDOT for a storm sewer out on 58. Um we have uh filters that need new media. So there's a lot of costs that are additional that don't happen all the time but uh we do have quite a few projects like that that need to be done and and the revenue is not there to do them at this time. Okay. So chemicals, wages, utilities, insurance

the whole Yeah. besides additional projects. So I would add also we had not build for a 3/4 meter before. Our 5/8 and our 3/4 were the same cost. Uh so we do have one 3/4 meter in our system. So we have added the 3/4 meter on a minimum charge there. Uh with the gallons allowed of 2,975 and then the uh minimum cost $2529. So that was not on the previous ordinance for the 3/4 meter. And I would also add that uh when we talked about with the public hearing, the rates uh proposed in the public hearing were a little bit higher than what the ordinance is now. Um when we uh prepared uh the rate structure for Baker Tilly um they look at the the water rates and the sewer rates and they calculate a uh rate chart for us and so that's why the rates were a little bit lower than what was actually published.

Did you say there was only one 3/4 inch meter in the whole city?

There is a a whole full 3/4 meter. Yes. One I've got some numbers here I'll read off to you right quick just for your information. And I know that we've seen these before, but I think this this comparison kind of explains where we're at with the city of Bedford. Uh on the water rate comparison that we did back some time ago, all rates were based on a minimum size of 5/8 meter using 5,000 gallons. Some of the other entities may have raised their rates since this was done. Uh I'm not sure if they have or not, but at that point in time whenever this was done, the city of Bedford was at $31.31. East Lawrence was at $4755. Olitic was at 4717. North Lawrence was at 8533. South Lawrence was at 11039. And Mitchell was at 6136. and we're at 3131. So, I think that information with the comparison kind of tells the situation that the city of Bedford's in compared to our our water rates and trying to do the job that we need to do to supply water to all of our customers. Just for your information,

mayor, what was East Lawrence? They had East Lawrence listed at 4755.

Missy, do you know prior to 21 when the last raise was part of that? 2012. 2012. So basically a long time. Yeah.

We did we did the one in 2021 and we knew that the utilities company was was struggling uh with the revenue that we were receiving. We did went ahead and did the one in 21 and we talked about going ahead and doing another one in 24 and we kind of held off there for a period of time because of COVID and we had a lot of businesses that were shut down and different things that was taking place. So we weren't proactive during that time due to the the time that we were dealing with COwise we would have probably had another rate hike in in 24 would have been my guess. Mr. Mayor, I'll make a motion to pass ordinance 22- 2025.

I'll second it. All those in favor signify by I. I. Anyone opposed? I would entertain a motion for a second passage. Some moved. Second. All those in favor signify by I. I. Anyone opposed? We will address the third and final passage at our our next meeting. Thank you. Thank you. Councelor Billy, either one of you have anything that address. Okay. Does the council have anything for discussion?

Yes, Mr. Mayor. I'd like to thank the fire department for their fire prevention month programs that they've put on this month for our schools. I can honestly say I believe that it will eventually save lives. Thank you. Anyone have anything further? If not, I would entertain a motion to adjurnn. So moved. Second. Second, Larry. All those in favor signify by I. I. Anyone opposed? We stand adjourned.