Board of Works & Safety - Regular Meeting

All right. I want to welcome everyone this evening to our Bedford City Council meeting, Stonegate Arts and Education Center, 9315th Street on Tuesday, December 16th. Ryan, would you please lead us in prayer? Heavenly Father, we thank you for this wonderful time of year that you've created for us and that you've given us the ability to enjoy this weather uh that we've had and that the team members of the city has done a great job keeping everything clear and that you'll allow us to meet as families and have a good uh holiday season with all of us and keep us all safe in our travels and uh let us do the good work for the city tonight. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Amen. Kathy, would you lead us in the prayer? Excuse me. The pledgece 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. Calling our meeting to order. We have approval of minutes from November 18th, which was a regular meeting. Motion to approve the minutes as presented, Mr. Mayor.

Second. All those in favor signify by I. I. I. Anyone opposed? Thank you. Old business. Third and final passage. Ordinance 23-2025 amending zoning map Darcy and Caleb Bell 1613 East Street from B2 to R2. And Kevin's here if there are any questions or if there's any discussion. Any complaints or anything? I'll make a motion to pass the third and final passage. Ordinance 23-2025. I'll second.

All those in favor signify by I. I. Anyone opposed? New business. Do we have election of president for the council? Currently, Judy is president. Council. Council, I'll turn it over to you to conduct. Okay. Uh well, we can first of all open the floor for nominations for president. So if anyone would like to make a nomination, they're welcome to. I Okay, Judy's nominated. Do we have any other nominations? I would like nominate Ryan Griffin.

Okay. Any other nominations? I'd entertain a motion to close nominations. So move. Second. Okay, we have a motion and a second. All in favor? I I Okay.

Um because we have two nominations, what we'll do is um present each candidate for vote. The candidates can vote. Um nominees I should say, can vote. So I'm make sure Judy and Ryan can each cast their vote. Um, so we'll start with Judy since she was nominated first. All in favor of Judy serving as president for 2026, please raise your hand. Okay. And all those in favor of Ryan serving as president, raise your hand. Okay, we have four votes for Ryan and three votes for Judy. So Ryan will be the president for 2026.

All right. Thank you, council. Congratulations, Ryan. Moving on to business, we have resolution 11-2025 encumbrances. Billy,

yes. Um, we do have a few incumbrances for next year. I'm sorry. Um, and these are some items that have not been received. So, we have an invoice for 2020 five to be paid in 2026. Um, the fire department has an invoice um to Indiana door for a door repair for $1,960. They also have one for repair on a ladder one truck for $1,595.90. Um, the fire department also has one for a PTO replacement on ladder one truck for $4,291.94. And the fire truck fire department also has the um extrication um equipment for $35,788.40. Um the police department would like to encumber $27,000 for the police new hire uh sign on bonuses. the MVH Street Department uh $49,21325 to Ruxford Ford for a 26 Ford F350. And uh the MVH fund also $226,179 for Premier Truck Group to purchase the 2027 Freight Liner and the parks department. Uh $15,000 to Flynn and Suns for trail repair at the garden park. So those are the total incumbrances for 25 to go into 26. Okay, thank you, Billy. Uh, most of all

of those are pretty self-explanatory. I do want to hit on the garden park. That's something that they had talked about doing back some time ago, and for whatever reason, had never been accomplished. If you're familiar with the garden park, there's a a track around the park inside the fence that's just gravel. And they had been planning on taking and black topping that for some time uh for wheelchairs or different things if people wanted to go up there and have access to the park to be able to get around a little bit better and also just for some of the older people if they want to go up there and walk. Uh, from that standpoint, uh, does the council have any other questions on anything else that's listed that they would like for have a discussion on or more information? And my my reason for breaking this down and doing this is I'm just going to entertain one motion to adopt all of these incumbrances at one time.

It's it's the resolution. So, it's all I typed it all in one resolution. Okay. Uh, Mr. Mayor, I'd move for the approval of resolution 11-2025. I'll second. Okay. All those in favor signify by I. I. Anyone opposed? All right. Ordinance 24-2025, amending zoning map reszone of property at 253539th Street. requested by Brian and Janetta Norris DBA Chili Red Investments LLC from I2 to R3. Kevin, before I get started, I

and I know the paperwork that you have of this plan is small, so I have larger views of the complex and apartments. If anybody wants to see those, I can Now it's a little easier. Okay, this is a request from Brian and Janita Norris who are here this evening if you wish to ask questions of them to reszone the property that they own at 2535 39th Street. Um reszone it from industrial I2 to residential R3 for the purpose of building town houses on the property. The property is approximately 6.45 45 acres altogether. On October 14th, 2025, a preliminary hearing was held with the planning commission for the request. The request is approved and moved to a public hearing. Prior to the public hearing, notices were sent out to adjoining property owners and advertised with local media. On November 12th, 2025, a public hearing was held with the planning commission for the request. The board and the public were presented with preliminary plans showing the outline. Sorry. Showing the layout of the roadways, sidewalks, and units that were being planned. There were 10 members of the public that spoke regarding this project. Six members from the 39th Street and Hillrest neighborhoods, Hillrest Circle neighborhoods spoke in opposition to the

plan. Four people had questions and concerns repart regarding uh matters about storm water runoff, utility services, increased traffic, noise, and crime. After discussing the request and hearing from the public, the commission voted to table the request to the December 9th meeting so a complete set of plans could be presented that addressed some of the concerns from the neighborhood. On December 9th, 2025, the commission was presented with a complete set of plans, part of which you see in front of you there, uh, for the layout of the property and what the townhouse units would look like. The buildings sizes will vary from two units to sixunit buildings. The units will be singlestory, 576 ft, one-bedroom units with laundry rooms. The layout would be similar to what you would find if you went to Rididgewood Apartments. They're on Plaza Drive South behind Lowe's or the Shady Brook Apartments on 30th Street, if you're familiar with those. The plan roadways will remain privately owned, which means the owner will be responsible for the maintenance and upkeep. The complex will have a private trash service as well. Uh there'll also be a mailbox cluster for all those units uh near the office that they have. Um, speaking of which, the on-site office, they have planned or they have a plan for set office hours for the office staff. Storm water, which was one of the primary concerns in the neighborhood, um, for the property, naturally flows to the northwest away from 39th Street. The roadways will have storm drains that flow to a fenced detention pond on the northwest section of the property. believe that detention pond is approximately 120 by 200 f feet. Pretty

large pond, but it's fenced in. Uh utility services will come from and go back to Industrial Park Drive through a utility easement that has been secured with Air Master, HVAC, and Electric. They own property on Industrial Park that butts up to that. Planning Commission listened to the neighborhood residents that previously spoke with concerns for the project who said that sorry the planning commission listened to one of the neighborhood residents that previously spoke with concerns for the project who said that his concerns had been addressed. No other members of the public spoke at the December 9th meeting. The board asked if anyone had contacted the plane department about the request since the November meeting. I relayed that one person called on December 9th to confirm the request for the was on the agenda for the meeting, but that person did not attend the meeting that night. Uh, a neighbor called in opposition to the plan. And another neighbor that's close by who originally opposed the request had no longer was no longer opposing uh the request after hearing the detailed plans. They would rather see the apartments on the property versus what could be there with the I2 zoning. After reviewing the complete set of plans and hearing from the Norrises and Travis Norman, Travis Norman of TNG Surveying, the commission approved the request for reszone, sending the request to the city council for final approval. I now ask the council approve the reszone of 253539th Street from I2 Industrial to R3 residential.

All right. Thank you, Kevin. Council discussion, questions, input.

I'll just make a point of input. Um Craig and I both sit on the planning commission and we're in both meetings, the first one and the second one. Um I know the second meeting with the plans that Travis brought in and what the Nort has communicated. I think almost all the concerns that the council had and the large majority of the citizens that were there that spoke against it were answered and were satisfactory to everyone there from our standpoint. Um so I mean our board voted for it unanimously on those grounds. So just a little input from that second meeting. But the first meeting there was a lot more people there. Some of them that went a little farther away than the actual street. um you know with worries varying from some of the things that Kevin outlined there to you know an increase of population in the area as most of any any other thing. But um again we also relayed you know in the current zoning there could be a lot of different things that could go in there that you guys might not appreciate that could increase traffic as well. So that's, you know, how does that concern weigh to what we would want to do as far as the increase in housing in the area? But, you know, that was kind of from a other set of eyes there on the meeting. Kind of just a little sendoffs of what happened over those course of those two meetings.

Okay. Larry, that's your district. Have any of your constituents? I haven't had any reach out to me. Um I mean my concern is this going to be a like is there going to be section 8 involved in this or is it not going to be compliant with section 8? Just asking. Uh their plan is that they would unless something's changed. I mean they would be willing to accept section 8 recipients but with the one-bedroom apartments uh a a section 8 recipient. Let's say if it was a 50year-old female or male, either one, either one.

Um, generally would not be allowed to have anyone else live with them. So, that's going to be the only occupant of that resident or that that unit. Um, as as stated, they're one-bedroom unit. So, it's not going to be one or two people are going to live in there. It's not going to be a whole family. So, and I know we have this in Bedford enough anyway. Is there is it are they going to be animal friendly? is are there going to be pets allowed? I mean, we have enough strays running all over [clears throat] town now. I just I'm just asking that.

Uh I that question was not raised. Um I will say there's plenty of green space around that. There's a 25 ft barrier around all that property in relationship to the other. So I if it were there would at least be plenty of area for them to wander, but that wasn't expressed. I don't know. Um you might have already already said this, but what will the rent That wasn't discussed. Kevin, on the print here, is there just one entrance off off and on? No, there's two off 39th Street in There's two off of 39th Street. Yes. And then all the roads are accessible by fire trucks and EMS and everything in there.

Uh there might be a little question of whether or not the larger truck can get around the one up in northeast corner. It's kind of a sharp band. I mean, they can get there's no doubt they could get on the west entrance. They could get around two there. Uh, I think if I counted correctly, there's two fire hydrants that are proposed for that project, which are two more that are currently on 39th Street. Is there none on 39th Street currently? And this is something that the city will not plow, take care of in the winter or none of that, right? No. No. Just out of curiosity, where's the closest hider?

I believe there's six or seven of them down on Hillrest Circle. Or maybe there's three down in Hillrest Circle. I'm sorry. And seven of them over there around Industrial Park. So, you're not running a line that far. You're going to have to go get it and bring it back. Okay. Any other questions or discussion? Uh, yes. Will the unoccupied apartments be marked as such for our fire department in the event of a fire?

Um, that would be up to the owner. I mean, I I this is a three to five year project from what I understand. So, the 65 units there that you see are not going to be built all at once. So, I'm my I don't want to put words in their mouth or assume too much, but if they build 30 and they're only able to occupy 20 of them, I don't see a reason that they would want to build the other 35. So, um long answer your question. I I can't answer that specifically.

Okay. So, I don't want our firefighters in risk going into unoccupied buildings. Understood. That's the big concern I have with multiple complexes like this. Any other discussion? If not, if there's a motion, I would entertain one. [snorts] I'll make the motion. We'll second. Oh, thank you. Thank you. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor signify by I.

I. I. Anyone opposed? Thank you. I would just like to thank you for your interest in the city of Bedford uh for looking at this project and working to move forward with it because all of us know that we do have of course all over southern Indiana there's a housing issue as far as a a [clears throat] shortage and some of the things that they look for is possibly workforce housing and things and this is something that I think might fit right down that that line as far as to if we have individuals that are needing someplace to live that don't have a large income that this might be a huge benefit to them. So, thank you for what you're doing for our community. We appreciate it.

All right, moving on. Request board appointments and approvals. I can do a second passage. Oh, second passage. I'm sorry. I'll make a motion we approve ordinance 2425 amending zone and reszone of 253539th Street. requested by Brian and Wanita Norse from I2 to R3. I'll second. So you're going to second. So we got the same people on the first and the second. Just flipped them. All right. All those in favor signify by I. I.

Anyone opposed? Thank you. So now we will move on to appointments. So, I'm going to read through these and if you're one one if you're on a board that you are not interested in being on, then please acknowledge or if there's a board that someone else is on that you are interested in wanting to be on that board, then please advise. Stonegate Arts and Education Center. I have myself Lawrence County Economic Growth Council. I have myself Green Hill Cemetery. Uh we currently had Dan Bortner on that. So that spot will need to be filled on Green Hill. Is there anyone interested in filling that spot?

Uh I I can do that, Mr. Mayor. All right, Brad. My plots there. Okay. All right. We'll put Brad on Green Hill Cemetery. Brad, you're also on the men's warming shelter. Yes, you're okay. You're good with that. BRI Heath. So, I'm happy to still serve on the board. Now, the issue is they're they currently have the meetings on Thursdays, which is just about the worst possible day of the week for me to serve on it. I made a point to like when they've said leave out something really important, I made sure I was there, but there's been a lot of just regular meetings that I haven't been able to make because Okay. of a work conflict that day. So,

okay, Kathy, is that something that you might be able to work with? I'm sure. Okay. Since since you're new on the board and we don't have you any place, if if you think that could work for you, it would be nice to put you in that spot. Is she on our semiquin? Quint Simquin Centennial Commission. Well, she because BARRI is going to be working. She probably isn't, but she can probably participate in that. Yeah. Yeah. Once she gets associated with the BAR, they'll fix her up. Pardon me. They'll fix you up with with next year the the big anniversary for the United States. [laughter]

Just say yes, Kathy. Just [clears throat] say yes. Jump right in there. All right. We got the White River Humane Society. [laughter] We got Ryan. And then on the Boys and Girls Club, we have myself. And we have Heath. I'm staying. You're You're staying. I mean. Okay. If you want an appointment, if you want another board appointment, that's fine. But I don't have any plan. I was on before I was on the council and plan on staying on. So Okay. [snorts] All right. I may I'm going to talk to Frank. I'll see as needed if he needs anything. There's no issue with reaching out, but I'll see if he wants me to stay on there for any reason or if not, then I may step down from that one. Okay.

And and run with the others. I I don't know if it matters, but I am also a vice president on that board. Not sure if that's any No, I don't think it makes any difference from that standpoint. Although, you know, I will, you know, caution everyone to a point whenever whenever we're on these boards, this next year may be a little bit more interesting whenever it comes to our finances as doing our due diligence with any of these boards that we're on as far as to if we provide them with any funds or anything as far as looking at those to address any possible cuts,

excuse me, that we may have to start looking at doing. So, of course, that will be down the road, probably about June or July of next year. So, does anyone have any other questions or discussion on the the board appointments? Okay. All right. Anything for discussion? Yes, I have something. I would just like to thank um the city employees, the parks department. They do a phenomenal job with the Santa house. If you haven't been there, it is so nice. They really do a good job. So, thank you to them.

Okay, Mr. Mayor, I want to thank Debbie again this year for these books. A lot of people see these big thick books. Debbiey's the one that has to put them together for all of us. So, thank you, Debbie. Appreciate that. Say a big thank you to the street department for what they did during these snow events we've had. really appreciate their efforts, too. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

Okay. And and Brad, just as a followup on that, we want to be sure whenever we we talk about the roads cleaning and stuff, and we talk about the street department, always want to be sure and mention on that that we have a lot of other employees from other departments, the parks department, the utilities department, and different places that actually come out and plow snow and put in a lot of extra hours also to keep our roads clear. uh just for our employees benefit because we want to be sure and recognize all of them that participate in that. So, anyone have anything else discussion? Okay. Well, I just want to wish everyone a merry Christmas and and a happy new year to our council, all of our boards, and to all of our citizens. Uh we're very blessed to have this city that we h have here for all of us, and we take pride in working our best and doing our due diligence for all of you. So, thank you. I would entertain a motion to adjurnn.

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