Town Council - Regular Meeting

Okay, I have 7 o'clock. We'll go ahead and open the uh special adoption meeting. All three council members are present, Daniel, Jim, and myself. I will make a motion to suspend the rules according to IC code 365-2-9.8. 8 for the council to consider adopting ordinance number 20 25-4. Do I have a second?

Jim Wolf second that motion. All those in favor say I. I. Motion carries. I will make a motion to pass ordinance 2025-4. Same ordinance. Jim seconds that motion. All those in favor say I. I.

I. Thank you vote on the second motion. Oh yeah, sorry. It was pretty pathetic.

Okay, so the motion carries to pass the ordinance. I will now close the adoption meeting and open the regular meeting. this. You guys need this sign and you definitely need to mark how [Applause] used to carry your pan around all the time in a little pocket right here. That's what I like.

Did you mark on there?

Oh, shoot. I just signed in your spot. Let me just mark that out. All right. Okay. So now we will open regular meeting saying three board members are present. Uh first on the agenda is approval of minutes. And there is a correction on there. I accidentally wrote Mr. Schultz name incorrect on the back. So that is to be corrected to Mr. Keith Schultz. And I also spelled his last name wrong too. With the correction, I'll make a motion to accept the minutes.

Second motion by Jim to accept the minutes. Second Daniel. All those in favor say I. I.

I. Next is payment of claims. I'm sorry. Second. the uh claim for the Christmas lights is on there. I wanted you to be aware that's per contract. It's been paid out of economic development. So, it's on page three. You know what day exactly you're going to be here to just show up once?

It's usually um like around Thanksgiving because the Christmas walk used to be closer to that time. Were they earlier last year though? They might have been but they don't give me a date. They just

thought it was early last year. Yeah, we have that stretch of stretch of good weather. I'll make a motion pay for town. Second motion by J second. All those in favor say I. I.

You guys hear that sound right? No sound. Okay. Next will be the town Marshall monthly report.

I do have stuff to say. I know. That's why I'm asking. I just didn't know if you guys have anything about the report. Well, we'll pick that up.

Okay, perfect. Uh just there's some minor things, some major things, whatever. Um, just curious if we could bump vacation days from 12 to 15 and PTO from 64 to 80 just for a couple perks for the job and then get them all the days and hours of the first of the year so it's easier for Karen to keep track of. Karen and I have kind of discussed it and she thinks it would be easier for her not to have to keep track of them monthly. So that's really easy one. Uh, the next one, not so much. Our computers, my two computers in the back are not compatible for Windows 11 and they just stopped covering Windows 10 today. So, I got some quotes. She got some quotes. Uh, Bishop from Florida went with sound advice for all his laptops and desktops. So, we called them today. Uh, it's going to be about 110 or I'm sorry, $1,10 per computer for mine back there. They'll come in and switch everything for us for like 135 an hour. Mine's not going to be as bad as hers. I don't need as much stuff switched over. Um, she did set up security for hers for an extra year, but I figured if we're going to get them all done, we have soundies come in and just do them all the same. But we're looking at right around probably altogether 25 to $3,000 to get my my stuff done in the back. So that's

So what I'm hearing you say is that you need a new computer. I need two new computers. You need two computers and then I will need one three computers. All of they're Yeah, they're not compatible with Microsoft 11. They It says that on there. I have tried everything. They're like a,000 bucks a piece. Uh, I got 1010 per computer and then for them to come switch everything over for us would be 135 an hour. How much would it cost to switch yours over to switch over? Yeah, cuz yours has got a lot more. It might take a little bit more time. I have a lot of things um on the Microsoft 30 365. So shouldn't be that should be

it should but I'm you know for the things that aren't on there. Do you have the money anywhere? Um we looked at his appropriation. He's fine for office supplies. We have to do a transfer but we've got the money to transfer to that to do it. I'll make a motion we get the I'll second that. We have a motion we get two or three. All three. All three computers. Jim second that motion. All those in favor say I. I. Motion cares. Was it that? No. Don't keep asking for stuff.

You're done. Right. Right. Um I keep getting emails from the academy. They are way short on EVO instructors. So I didn't know if it would be okay for me to go down and help out. I think they're short the next month and a half like 30 some EVO instructors. Just like three days. It's actually a week, but if you tell me to go three days, I'll go three days and then work the other two or whatever. I'm cool with whatever. And I will let you guys know when I'm going and what I'm doing and whatnot. That's okay.

I I I have no problems with you going for the week. Um it helps out training obviously. All right. Um, I do have one more guy that wants to come in as part time, but according to the rule that Karen has said, if we go to the fifth guy, you guys would have to offer comp or overtime to me. Is it possible just to offer comp knowing that I'm going to keep the schedule that I'm on and work my 40 hours without overtime and get this other guy hired? If not, I'll work with what I got. And then

who's the other guy? Darren. Bishop's going to come back

in November. He's going to work midnights, some midnights. So, we'll have someone on from like 11 to 3. And um I'm good on hours and pay for part-time. I still have plenty. That's October. Uh the only catch is that we go we just switched RMS to Caliber Mobile. And now Caliber Mobile and RMS are separate, but they work together because it's all we're all online now. Everybody's online. Um, I'm going to do some checking, but I think I would have to pay because Mike only got so many licenses for that. We're actually working, my part- timerrs now work under just CAD, so they can't run any IDAX. They can't run license plates or anything. They have to do it through dispatch, but they can still get on CAD and see where all the calls and stuff are. I would have to pay for the RMS, which is $192 for the year for my one guy until the county decides they're not going to pay for it. or something.

So, how big is the comp time going to be for you, Karen? It's going to take me some research. It's going to take an amendment to the salary ordinance to do that. Um, and then contacting Keystone to figure out how to facilitate them. So, there's going to be some there's going to be some um because we've never done that before. So, there's going to be some learning on my part to

and like like I told Karen with the comp time, really the only time that I will run into it is at the end of the paid period because it ends on Saturday. If something comes in on a Friday or I'm working on the Saturday and I have to work more hours than the 80 hours, what do I do with the extra hours that I get because I don't get them next week? I think I've ran into that twice maybe since I've been here. So, okay. My suggestion, we'll table the extra guy, the PTO vacation date so we can get together and talk. Okay. And then we'll get back with you. Perfect.

Yeah. Just info. Uh the 17th through the 23rd, I will not be here. I uh we leave I'll be here Friday and Saturday not here but I'll be in Indiana Friday and Saturday we leave for vacation on Sunday and I'll be back Wednesday. Sorry you didn't give us a month. [Music] Other than that that's all I have.

How things going? Great. Um, I feel like traffic's really slowed down coming through. As you can see, my numbers keep going down steadily. I don't know what my part time I don't know if dispatch is giving me just my numbers or if my part-time guys are actually included in this. I asked for them all, but I don't know. So, I'm hoping I can figure it out with this new CAD that I can just pull everything like so.

I think I think so, but we've also been told on other side. Um, I do want to bring up just in case you guys are confronted with it out in public, the county is only coming to Burlington for emergency calls. If it's not an emergency call or if it's not in progress and I'm not on, they're pending it for me for the next day. There's been a couple questionable calls that I felt that probably should have went home, but they didn't. But and we just had that in Camden today. Yeah. So just in case you're confronted with it out there, that's what is going on if they're trying to figure out.

Is that like a new policy or something? I don't even know that it's a policy. A policy, but it's unwritten. Yes. It's they're doing it with all the small communities. It's got a police department. They are doing it. Yes. Like why? Even Florida. They're doing it in Florida. Yes. because it's a culmination of a lot of things. The sheriff's department is being stretched to his limits. Yeah. So that's how they're trying to combat some of that. So if it's not an emergency call, which I've had a couple that I feel are probably right on the edge of being an emergency, not an emergency call, but something that needed to be taken care of like now instead of waiting for me on Monday.

So I just wanted you guys to have a heads up. So, if you're at the gas station and someone comes up to you and says, "Hey, I waited 6 hours for a cop and nobody ever came and finally chain called me on Monday." That's why I have had somebody ask me about that, but it was not on the call. They were just asking about it. I flat out told me to call a sheriff. They're responsible if we don't have somebody on the fence. That's I mean I feel like we've had the most coverage we've probably had in a long time with my two part- timerrs that are working and me here every day and but if a call comes in there they're not urgent you're going to have to wait for me or hobs or whoever comes on. Make a motion approved.

Second by second.

I been here since 9:30. No. All right, guys. Thanks, guys. See you. It's you. It's up to you. Well, we got the new batteries put in the speed sign out here. It's working supposed to. My trim saw works great. Does it? Yep. I've done a lot of trimming around town. Yeah. Been getting leaf back ready to go. Um pumps are working good. Feeling pretty good. No, we needed to have that pipe cleaned out from the outlet out there to the pond.

Okay. And that helped a bunch. They have a bunch of stuff. Yeah. 40 years worth, right? Yeah. We got a lot of black stuff out there. That was the four dude wipes. Yeah. But that's working good and all that pumps and everything works great. You happy with all that? Yep. Good deal. You ready for wedding? I don't think there's going to be water. I don't either. But you don't come. As soon as we're not ready, it's going to be here. Hopefully, we get some precipitation sometime. Yeah. Sand play sand and Yeah, I got some salt sand. We're good there. I can always go get more.

No, I don't. I don't want to get any more. I want to get this used up cuz some of that's been in there for 2, three years. We're glad we're happy about that. You're not happy about that. Um, next Monday they're supposed to come cut this dead tree. Okay. They thought they called me yesterday. What did we decide on the one out here on 500 a day? Well, I talked to Gary P earlier in the year and he said something about they're going to clean that fence. Oh, that's right. You didn't say that. And I had seen I ask him if he's still going to do that. Okay.

Yeah, that's right. You did say that. That's all you got. That's pretty much it. I am going to check in the price on a couple of tires for the tool cat on the front. When we got that machine, they had turf tires on it and they took them off. So, they didn't have any new ones. So, I'm going to see what kind of deal they can give me over there. They really set tire. We'll see what they say. Maybe Walmart even sells those tires. $134 a piece. That's not those aren't easy.

They're so stiff. Yeah. I think that's it. Guess we'll move on to our first guest, which is Jim Higgins with London White Group. That would be me. Uh, so thank you for the opportunity to be here today. Oh, thank you.

Karen asked me to come up and just to talk briefly about the impacts of Senate Act law, which is a property tax relief bill, how we know it, right, as individuals, but it's also the let's take money out of local government bill, uh, is what I refer to it as. I I I'll break it down into three sections. So So the first piece and I've shared some information with you. I I gave you a a small handout that was part of the coach school um from the DIGF. It's the multi-page kind of PowerPoint presentation.

Yeah. That's for reading at your leisure. I mean, basically what that does is talk about the big changes for 2026 and and what that impacts primarily is the circuit breaker because they changed some of the credits uh that were given to taxpayers on property taxes. They used to be deductions of assessed value. So, think of it as above the line before you figure out what your net assessed is and then taxable. Changed all of those deductions to credits. And so, Now, if you get a veterans credit or an age credit or an income credit, you calculate your tax, you apply it to the circuit breaker, and the credits come off after that at the bottom. So, the net effect is a lower tax bill to the taxpayer. Also, the governor's 10% or $300 credit for every homestead. What that does is it takes your circuit breaker loss that in 2025 was about $130 give or take, which is one of the lowest circuit breaker losses in the state. When when I looked at it, I was surprised that it was so low, but it takes it to over $6,000 is what they're estimating for 2026. So, it's a huge increase of of circuit break. That's the first phase that I think happens that that you'll see in 2026. kind of the second shoe that falls is the change that will happen in 2028 of local income tax because local income tax as we know it today goes away at the end of 2027. It will be replaced by new income taxes um that are still being tweaked and I understand the legislature is going to deal with those come this session. Uh, but I did a really quick analysis for

you on my little twopage handout uh to show that uh you're getting local income tax in 2026 of about $97,000 between the certified shares that the county shares with you for the general fund and your economic development income tax, your your one. As it stands now, when those taxes go away, it can be replaced if the county chooses to, right? You you would ask the county because of your population and not at 3500. So, you would petition the county and ask them to adopt a local income tax. They could make that rate as high as 1.2%. So, I did a quick calculation based on your lit, assuming it's all distributed the same. You would lose $97,000 in income tax. You would pick up $78,000 in income tax. You would lose $20,000.

If they do the tax,

if they do the tax and if they do it at the full level and and this is part of the unknown, right? So, the good news is this doesn't happen till 2028. and and and why I say that's good is because there's this legislative session which is a short session that I think they're going to tweak around the edges and there's the following session which is a long budget se session after a new election of representatives. So there may be some other changes that occur. Uh they've already recognized there are some big problems with with what they did. The first problem in the current iteration is you would have to reauthorize or the county would have to reauthorize the income tax every year. It's not like a set it and forget it. Well, that's a problem for some communities that have pledged that income tax to bond payments because it changes the dynamic and the rating agencies have come in and said, "Uh-uh, we're not buying that." So, I think that's the first change that we'll see come out of this session is that it'll be it'll go back to a Senate and forget it unless you're going to increase or decrease the rate.

So, you won't have to go through that gymnastics activity every year. But, I still think there's an issue on what people were told the income tax was going to be and what it's become. Because what they told people was we're going to increase all these credits. we're going to give property tax relief to the taxpayers and we're going to give you the opportunity to raise income tax to make up for that. What they didn't tell you did was they were taking the current income tax away. So, their income tax replacement doesn't even make up for what you had. So, how can you make up for what you lost on the property tax side? I mean, it's a double hit. Uh so I just wanted to make you aware of that. The third thing that I think is there is on the flip side of the page and that is the change of the property tax system that changes the makeup from a residential homestead of what was a standard deduction and then a supplemental homestead deduction. Um, and so I showed an analysis on a $200,000 home of what that looks like today and what that will look like in 2030. Because what happens between 2026 and 2030 is this standard deduction goes down, the supplemental homestead goes up. And eventually what we get to in 2030 is 2/3 of the value of that property will be exempt. So, a $200,000 property is going to assess for a third of that. Additionally, where the change comes in is nonhomesteaded a land, which never had a deduction, is going to wind up between 2026 and 2030. Again, a third go of of their assessed value will go away. So what's going to happen this

year is assessed value will shrink which will drive up tax rates in order to maintain levy. Now that should be okay because you'll pay a higher tax rate on a lower assessed value. So it may be a wash to a taxpayer but where you'll see the impact is in your funds because those are rate control funds. So your CCD fund and your fire

fire fund, you will see those because I doubt that they're going to change those rates that can be adopted. You'll see those decrease by a third over the next 5 years, which is a significant I mean this goes back to their their idea is you just need to learn to do more with less. And I can tell you I had less to start with, right? I mean, you're not the people that they're targeting on the overspending, the the big cities, but they're throwing everybody into a bucket. Um, I think it's still fluid. I think there's still opportunity for change over time, but I think that you just need to be aware of it. I mean, the first thing I think a $6,000 hit, if that's what it turns out to be, uh, and a circuit breaker loss isn't so bad, right? over the course of of a year or two to absorb that. The rest of it, I think we just need to wait and see what it looks like. But others are taking drastic steps because it means tens of millions of dollars to their budget. I don't think it means that much to you, but it's probably just as impactful because your budget's small to start with. So, I wanted to just present that so that you were aware of it, put it on your radar screen, and answer any questions that you might have.

So, it looks like from what you presented here that the best case scenario is that we're going to lose about $25,000 of That's the best case scenario. That's a best case scenario. The worst case is we're going to lose we could lose $103,000. Yes.

I I I seriously doubt that the county doesn't do some type of replacement. They get to adopt their own tax. so that you're about to tax for uh and then it's a matter of how it gets distributed. That's the part that I struggle with because the department of revenue is set up to know what people in the county make when you file your taxes. I don't think they have the software in place to be so granular to say, "Well, this is what the people in Burlington make when they file their returns." And so you're going to get into this when they adopt a local rate. That local rate will get spread across everybody in the county. And then the people that don't live in a municipality, that don't live in Burlington or Florida or wherever, they're going to wind up that tax that's paid by those folks in the unincorporated areas could be captured by the county to fund its operations. So the county may play well here,

right? That they they'll get their 1.2 or whatever plus a piece of the local piece because the person in the township isn't going to pay a local tax rate if they're not in a municipality. So that that'll float in the county. So, the DLGF released two weeks ago its tentative rules for how they view the tax change, but they were very upfront and said these don't go into effect until 2028. There are two legislative sessions between now and then, and do not rely on this as what's going to happen because we know it's going to change. But right now, this is the law, right?

Right now, this is the law. What? So there's the law and then they're trying to figure out how to interpret the law. That's why they got up. I don't see how we can if it actually is the law. They were still doing the thing, but it is the law. So there's maybe they'll change the law.

I think they have to change the law cuz there's some flaws. This was adopted. I'll say this halfhazardly. And and I think the whole idea was to bring property tax relief. That that that was promise made, promise kept. I think when they did it, they didn't think through the impacts and and I think certain people believed, oh, we'll let you raise income tax to offset that. But that's not what happens because they also made other changes to the income tax. So, I think they'll figure it out. I think if they don't get it all figured out in this short session, then they'll figure it out in the long budget session before it goes into effect. because when you talk about in effect January 1st, 2028, that's two full legislative sessions to make changes.

Um, didn't you go to a hearing like with the county where they're talking about this? That was regarding local income taxes for EMS and whether they were going to adopt the rate for that or pull from the the units like but they ended up they're going to adopt a rate. So taxes, county taxes will go up, income taxes will go up to help pay for EMS. That's what that was regarding. So it didn't have nothing to do with this. Okay. Yeah. I was in the comment

a week ago or two weeks ago. I noticed that they said that they're adopting an income tax for EMS for basically not capital equipment for salaries and and all that. Was it part of the law though that that for next year for the 2027 budget there was something with a hearing or an extra hearing that had to be had or something?

So So that's if this lives on right this is the other really bizarre thing. Right now the state gives you u a levy growth quotion like this year your levy could grow 4%. yours doesn't because the county adopted an income tax rate for levy growth. So, you don't see a growth in your levy. You get a property tax payment that makes up for that. Um, but in other communities, they get a 4% levy growth and it's automatic. It just happens. Well, they're saying that what will happen in 2027 or 2028, still unclear which year it occurs, your levity growth isn't automatic. That you could increase your levity by up to 4%. But in order to do that, you would have to have a special public hearing prior to your budget public hearing. And the sole purpose of that meeting can be for nothing more than discuss to discuss the need and get the public's input on increasing the lev and what that would be used for. So when you talk about your budget process, you had your public hearing in September for your adoption today. You would have to have I if we get off of the income tax and you get regular levy growth going forward, you would have to have a public hearing in August to talk about whether or not you were going to increase your levy and that meeting would have to occur 10 days prior to the public hearing and have to be advertised 10 days in advance. So you'd be 20 days prior to that. So, you're back to adding a full month to the calendar, which means Karen has to have her budget work done a month

sooner. And in order to have this conversation, this is what people don't think. In order to have the conversation about, do we need a budget levy increase or not, you would almost have to have two budgets. Here's what we can fund with a levy increase, and if we don't get a levy increase, here's what we're not going to fund. And I think that's a challenge. It's hard enough to do one budget, but then to have to do two and and then have a conversation and then have a public hearing, which I don't know how many people were here last month for your public hearing, but I would venture to say this year for them.

I mean, so again, I'm I'm not quite sure of of why they're doing that, but I think that's another one of those items that could be changed between now and the time it goes into effect. But at this time it would not affect us though because we do have that levy,

right? But but again all those income taxes go away in 2027. So I think you go back to a regular levy cycle. Uh and I don't think they contemplated that your taxes are based your income taxes are based on the levy growth too. That that you're one of those communities that actually have uh a levy growth component in the income tax. So yeah, it wasn't well thought out. It was put together rather quickly and passed without a lot of hearings. So I think it's going to be a fun time in the legislature the next two sessions.

Forgive my hearings, but I think what I'm hearing you say is that once this goes away that we could raise a tax,

you could. Yes, you should be able to. I believe that without the income tax, right, without that piece, I think then you you would get back to levy growth where I think you get hurt. You froze your levy at one time and said, "We're going to make it up with income tax, right? Everybody else's levy has grown." I don't think that you're going to get a catchup to go from here to here, right? Because of where the income tax kind of fed that that piece. because if you did that then the people here would actually see a tax increase. And I so I think that this is part of the the conversation with the legislature. You're hurting communities that chose not to raise property taxes before. It's like we held the line on property tax, now you're taking away our income tax support and now we're harmed because we could have gotten more money. So I I think there are too many little nuances for all the different, you know, the 300 plus cities and towns across the the state in the 92 counties that they didn't work through in a one size fits all. Tell you, 40 years of doing this, this is the worst I've ever seen local government and and without being able to find answers. I appreciate your cander because it really helps me understand it a lot better for sure.

Well, I barely understand. Right. So, I mean that that's the problem. I I thought I used to really be able to put my hand on this stuff and I I can't. And if I think I know in 3 months they're going to meet again and change something else and I'm going to have to scramble to figure out what that does. So, I think just be patient and and we'll figure it all out together, but it's going to be it's going to be an interesting few years.

I agree. Thank you for coming. Oh, you're welcome. I had to come. I need to see the building. Okay. He helped us get the Did you help get the loan? Right. I did. Yes. Helped us get the loan. You were part of that and helped also with the reestablishment of the cumulative rates that now that you now have. Well, again, thanks for coming out. I appreciate it. My pleasure. Okay. Moving on. We go to Mr. Wells for economic development. Good evening everyone. I'm not sure if you have a copy of the annual email out everyone.

Perfect. Yeah, it always comes up. We're giving it giving the EDC some money. What are you doing with it? This is a recap of the past year, what actions we've done, and James will go into more detail.

Yep. Um, and again, uh, we're heading into the third year of our four-year, uh, contract that the DEC has with, uh, Town Burlington. Um, so the first area, uh, that I'm going to cover is the broadband infrastructure update on that. Uh, we received some questions and thank you, Karen, for passing that along. Um, about, uh, broadband updates. U, so, the EDC continues to work with several, uh, providers to expand highspeed internet access, uh, throughout the town of Burlington. Uh the first one broadband uh Broadway broadband uh uh with Miami C Remc has installed fiber through the town and is preparing for service activation. The company reports that they are currently setting up customer accounts and will be fully operational once power is connected to the main hub. According to their most recent public update, customers may expect roughly a three to four month wait uh before service becomes available. Uh the second provider, Comcast and Exfinity, uh is nearing completion of this network buildout in Burlington and expects to begin offering broadband cable and related services soon. Uh and the third provider mainstream mainstream fiber networks has been provisionally awarded a broadband service areas uh uh areas through state and federal programs pending a final federal approval. Uh no construction timeline timeline has been announced yet um since pending that federal approvement. Uh so overall broadband expansion in Burlington continues to progress over across multiple providers. Um and through the EDC we're going to continue to coordinate with the with them to keep the town council up to date.

Now has any of the because the broadband is bringing in the backbone. That's what's running up and down. Backbone is the mass movement. Now then you have to deal with tapping into the backbone and bringing all it to the the homes. Has anybody been talking to you? None of the companies have been talking. Okay. So, that's one thing we need to do is if they're wanting to distribute within the community, we need to give them a nudge to come in talk with you with you folks on what their plans. is it directly impacts the people you represent. So James taking that as an action item.

Yeah. Um at the broadband uh just to cover more economic and community development highlights um that have strengthened over the year between Burlington and the county as a whole. Uh we've supported the childc care expansion uh that included a $10,000 grant awarded to the Burlington Church of Christ which is being used to update its playground area and serve more local families. We've also engaged with the Early Learning Alliance and the TR Children's Garden Early Learning Center which is adding 60 new child care seats uh countywide. Yeah, it's open to the whole county.

And then on the healthcare side, the Carol County DC continues working with regional hospital partners and local clinics to expand access to urgent care and essential health services for residents. Um and then finally uh countywide uh the Carol County agency is working on a on strategic planning agricultural support through our partnership with the Kinka Keycoy. It's Kurtsy. It's a regional MA. I'm missing the last three acronyms of that um all the acronyms I've had the winner over the last two months of Kurtsy and uh the Carow County EDC's continue to work on initiatives aligned with the central W bash valley regional growth plan to position the entire county for a long-term investment. Um so to just sum up uh Burlington continues to benefit from the active partnership and county level initiatives aimed at improving the areas of infrastructure uh supporting families and child care and enhancing the quality of life uh for the town of Burlington County. So we're going to continue to remain committed to closely working with town leadership and uh the local partners as well. Now, one thing you'll see on you what was emailed to you is the uh leadership. I highly recommend, you know, I'm in the Twilight, so I'm I'm on my way out, but the younger folks and whatnot for taking leadership positions within the county, every two years, they run this structured class on how to and and do that. I'm a graduate.

Huh? I graduate. I I took the class. Good deal. I just like to encourage I would encourage everybody to take it's a good class. Yeah. That you know the board members if they have the time or whatnot do that or any of the influential folks in the town, you know, that the ministers, the whatever, you know, that it's open to everyone. They still on Wednesdays. Pardon? They still do it on Wednesdays.

Uh not sure what they're going to do right now. We're just in the planning. It'll you know it'll happen ne next year. I don't think we had it go this year. It's every two years it runs. But that's a a one it's a very good Kevin you can speak to it. It's a very good structure to get people involved in the community and how to lead. Very good class. I enjoyed it.

Now, one thing that's not on this and I had talked about it and hopefully when they ever they get it done, we can bring it back to the board. But there was a very comprehensive evaluation for SKH Heinix over there to try to bring I would say suppliers whatever support folks to Carol County and they did it by towns and there is a section with Burlington and you can see where as a community how you stack up against the flora the deli the candidates. It's kind of eye opening to be very honest. It hasn't been finalized. I've seen several drafts, but I think it would be very educational for the board to really get a finger on the pulse of where you stand.

Probably not very good. I'm not arguing with you. So that's all I have. I I don't know. Is there do you have any other questions or what their information you would like back from the EDC? We're here to help. Well, I I would like like RMC. I had no idea they were even in Purlington. I had no idea they were accepting customers already. That's the first I'd heard of that. Yeah. See out in home, you know, I live on homestead across

I have the c they had the cable run in front of my place back in November last year. They've been out. It did the drop to my house. I'm still waiting for them to come connect. Oh, so you are hooked up? No, I'm waiting to be connected. It's hooked to your house. Yeah, the the fiber is to my house. You're just not alive. It's well the they allege it's live out there. It's just is to the modem where I can get to with my computer. It's running the line out there.

Yeah, it's a little difficult to go from light to electrical. So anyway, I hopefully you find this interesting and I'm I'm going to be pushing that this is an annual. This is the first time that I know it's it's come to the community, but I'm going to push for it's an annual thing to to come to you a summary of what we did for you. You gave us you gave us money. We We owe you an explanation of what we did.

Agree. Thank you. And thank you again for being our representative. Well, I hear good things about you all the time. Well, you know, I'm up for renewal. Please say you're going to run again. Oh, I already have. It's just you. your organization needs to send to EDC saying this is our you know representative we'd like to have for the next few years just a letter you vote on it yeah you have to vote on it

do we need to make a motion [Music] or do we do it a little bit later. This is 200. Yeah, cuz you go through December, but I know toward the end of the year things get hectic. Not with car. Okay. Okay. Thank you. Thank you.

Moving on to new business. September 2025 payroll allowance docket. I'll make a motion to accept the last for September.

Second motion to second it. All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion. Uh, community crossing grant update. We were hopeful Ken Smith was going to stop by today. We had not seen him, but the the grant opened October 1st for community crossings. You guys discussed about when you guys met doing those portions of streets. Um, and then he was going to get with us um to get the ball rolling on that. He says he's got some stuff ready, but like I said, we thought he was going to stop by today and we've not heard from him. So, the grant is due uh at the end. I think it's October 31st is when it's due by. So hopefully we'll hear something and it'll go through and then we'll see if we get it. So that's the update I have.

Resolution 2025-5 reduction of appropriations. So part of this in anticipation because originally um these monies were appropriated thinking that they might do a community crossing grant this year but with legislative changes they held back on I think it was the July um originally it was July so that got changed anyways in order to um have the money free for 2026 money needs to be reduced for 2025 because it won't be used this year. So, this just frees that money in the motor vehicle highway fund to be able to use towards that grant and that project in 2026. So, that's what this resolution is for.

Motion. So you don't have to do this with So I can make a motion to accept resolution 2025-5 the reduction of resolution appropriations. Do I have a second? So second what did you make the motion?

I made the motion second. All those in favor say I. I. I. Carry. Next is a request, I assume, by Karen to write off two old sewage account balances.

So, I don't know. Do you guys see my email in here? That makes sense. So, these are just old the people have moved. I actually mailed the letters out last year, so they're well over the 180 days. Um, and so the total is $168. And it's $40 on 105 East 8th Street and $128 on 119 Jackson for previous owners. Make a motion we accept the two write offs of the sewage bills.

Jim second. All those in favor say I. I motion. Next is set Halloween trickor treat hours. What was the last year? We did 5 or 5:30.

I think it was 5:30. I thought it was 5:30 and 7:30 cuz we tried to do it before it was dark and it's on Friday this year, right? So, I don't know if there's a football game. There is a home football game probably too. Just keep the sight.

I like the 5:30 because it gets them home early and before it gets dark and have any problems. I only keep it the same too so people won't get confused. 5:30 5:30 7:30 5:30 7:30 actually sure No, it' be home if we're still flying home.

Okay. Any miscellaneous business that we need to take care of? Did you sell your house or buy a house? I did. You didn't buy a house? I haven't sold my house. Oh, I'm still a resident of today. She'd like to buy one. I would like to buy one, but it's not not ready for that yet. Make a motion this meeting. I was looking at that.