Common Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening everyone. Welcome to the regular meeting of the city of Charlestown common council. Today is August 4th, 2025. It is 6:30 p.m. We will begin our meeting with our custom of standing the pledge of allegiance 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. Thank you all. And for tonight's invocation, we have Pastor Shay Allen from First Baptist Charletown. Lord, good evening today.

Good evening. Appreciate you guys allowing me to be with you tonight. And I just want to say you before I pray that we pray for you guys all the time. We're grateful for all that you do for our city. So, let's let's pray.

Uh, Father, I just thank you so much. Uh, Lord, we thank you for our town. Uh, Lord, we know that every blessing that we have comes from your hands, God. And Lord, we're we're grateful for each and every person uh that lives in our city. Lord, I'm grateful for every person that serves our city. And God, we just uh come before you first just thanking you tonight uh for all the gifts that you've given us. Lord, you've blessed us in such incredible ways. Lord, we we praise you for the growth that's happening. Um God, and and Lord, we pray that that Charle Town would be a city uh where so many people um God of of every age, Lord, of every background uh could come and be welcomed and loved, God, and experience uh success, Lord, and that they could thrive. And God, I just pray for wisdom um over the group tonight. Lord, we pray for wisdom over this meeting. Uh Lord, we know that your word says that we can ask you uh for wisdom, God, that you give it freely. And so we do that. And Lord, we we thank you for all the ways that you're working. God, I thank you for each person uh that serves and is seen here tonight. And God, we just ask that you be honored, that you be glorified, and Lord, that you'd help us to continue to look to you and God to give you the praise and thanks. We pray this all in Jesus name. Amen.

Amen. Thank you so much. Thank you. Tonight's meeting is being live streamed by under production multimedia as required by state code. We'll have our roll call. Bo Bertram here. Ron Levens here. Shannon Elder here. Brian Hester here. Chuck Eaton here. Let the record show that Mayor Hans and clerk treasure Don Kumor are also present as well as our our dual attorneys, the extraordinaires, Michael Wilder and Perry M. Good to see you, gentlemen. Good evening. All right, we got an agenda that's been provided. I need a motion to approve. I make a motion. Motion by Ronnie Evans. I'll second that. Second by Shannon Elder. Any edits to the agenda? Hearing none. All in favor say I.

I. Any opposed? That's unanimous. You have your standing business which includes the approval of your prior minutes from July 7th current claims and peril allowance packet from June 30th to July 7th. Need a motion to approve. I make a motion. Motion by Ronnie Levens. A second. Second by Shannon Elder. Any questions? Hearing none. All in favor say I. I.

Any opposed? That's unanimous. Do we have anyone I think we have anyone signed up for public comment tonight? Look like it. Um, legislative youth advisor is just getting things under her belt. So, she will be back. She is planning a fall fiesta. She's not here. So, I'll just kind of give a quick We did this last year. Had pretty good turnout at the depot. We'll have more information at the next meeting on that date. I think it's later in September, but I'll make sure that Carrie includes everybody in the email. They had mariachi band. They had dancers. I think the dancers are coming back. They're doing some stuff. And she coordinates all of that. She's also working on an initiative to try to get more spectators to these soccer games. So, she's going to be working on some things to try to ramp up the crowd and get them going. So, she's she's being active. I'm proud of her. All right. As far as mayor's comments, I have, as promised, thanks to Donna and her staff who work very diligently on this to get this to you in August. Um, so there's three here for y'all. And if you'll go ahead and pass two, you can always give copies to the attorney if you'll pass those down. Um, so this is the I'm giving you the draft budget. I stress draft budget. Um, this is the line item budget and I include a memo as always to explain what what was changed. I just give this to you so that you have it for the month to look over it. If you have any questions about this, you can ask me, you can ask Donna. She's always happy to sit down and go over this with you line by line. The anticipation is that we will advertise for our public hearing at our September meeting, which will need to be on Wednesday the 3 because of Labor Day. So, we'll have it Wednesday the 3rd at 6:30. Um, we'll advertise for the public hearing. I'll do a brief kind of state of the city. I always try to do a quick summary of where we are, what projects are in the works, where we're going um with that and that way the public can hear that first reading of the budget and then the adoption is usually at our October meeting. It gives us plenty of time to get this done before the

November 1st deadline. This year is tough. This year is tough. The Senate Enrolled Act One is really hitting us. Um all we've asked for with this budget, we we always factor in a 25% increase on all of our insuranceances because we never know where that will come in at. Um that's the bulk of it. We did put in a 19th police officer that will be funded from the pilot from River Ridge that you guys approved at your last meeting. That'll be completely funded through that. And when it comes to cost of living, we've been fortunate to be able to take care of our employees every year. And this year, we're not able to do as much as we would like. I had them run the numbers and the math just didn't work other than the 1%. So, we are I am recommending a 1% cost of living increase. It's not full cost of living and it's the best we could do. That is completely dependent upon Donna, correct me if I'm wrong, that is completely dependent upon our ability to get that growth appeal.

So, this is the final year Senate enrolled act one does away with that growth appeal that we've been able to receive every year because of the quick growth that we have. Um, this is the last year we can apply that we do qualify. We are submitting for it. If we are given the full amount, it would be about $350,000. But that raise is dependent upon that money. If we don't get that growth appeal, not only do we not get the raise, but we will have to cut substantially from what's already here. I went through line by line and highlighted some things that we have to cut would be the first things to go. Um, we'll just have to see how things play out. As you can see in there, we have reduced budgets. So, Donna's office has reduced their budget. I reduced my budget. Several of them have gone down. You'll see a rise in the police budget because of the additional officer. But again, that's different. We also moved the two administrative people over to the CCD fund for the police. So, I mean, they've her staff have been really creative about how to fund these things and this is the best we can do this year. We're not having a big increase. So, we're not adding any other positions. We're not doing anything like that. In fact, we're probably retracting a bit. So, um the position may be approved last year for parks. I still haven't hired for that position. I'm waiting to see how this plays out. If we get the growth appeal, then we'll move forward because the staff really needs that extra person. But if we have to do without, we have to do without. Um it's really just kind of a wait and see game. Um I hope at the next meeting Baker Tilly will actually be here to make a short presentation to you on the 5-year projections of our income. They gave us a very rough draft, but they said it's not complete because they want to run it through their model. They're working on an actual model that will show the full effect on our tiff

districts and on our local income tax because one of the shifts that's happening with this is the way the legislation stands right now. we will have to adopt a local income tax to replace the county one. It's not really a new tax. It's just more local control over that tax and that'll be effective 2028. So, they want to run all that through the model to see what that rate would need to be um to help us stay afloat. So, that's kind of where we are. Again, I'm happy to answer any questions, but you just got it. You've got a whole month to look at it before I ask you to take any action. And then even after September, after first reading, you still have another month before we adopt it. So do feel free to reach out to me or Don or both of us and we'll be happy to sit down and go over it with you. Okay? And that dismal news is all I have. Um I will say we came through the storm quite well. So we got within it's been a wild weather year, y'all. We burned through almost our entire overtime budget in January with the snow and ice. Um, and then we had that massive flash flooding that hit a couple weeks ago and Monday night storm popped up out of nowhere and did a lot of damage, but our crews got out. They responded as always. They got all the bulk items, all the bulk debris picked up or a few limbs here and there because some people just started cutting over the weekend, which we understand. So, this week, of course, they're picking up at no charge for that storm damage. Um, just continuing to get the lay of it. So, um, I think that's all I have. Open it up for council comments or any questions for me. I have a question. You know, you do the city does a a trash trip of like one week where you can

Mhm. two weeks in the spring and one week in the fall. Okay. I didn't know if there was a plan for doing the fall. Yeah, we do we do it every year in the fall for one week and two weeks in spring. I've had some people ask me about just making they try to advertise that. I want to say he's got that schedule for September. They should be starting to average. It should be we try to get it done so that it goes out with the August billing. So that the August billing will go out the end of the month, the 28th. So, it should be in there. No. Okay. Just um talked about I guess we were there at the uh grand opening of Christianity Parkway. Yes. Got a lot of comments about that. A lot of people are pretty happy that they're able to go in kind of the back way. Beating 62 and 3. Um

and I know it looks it looks really good. I know Pike Street's now removed. So, just kind of want to put that out there. But, uh, the Parkway, a lot of people are really happy with they're able to go into the backside and get out of there a little bit quicker. And I think I think CMS is seeing a big difference as well in their pickup traffic.

Good. Well, and they're going to start work in DOT should start any day on 62 and three down here. They're going to take out that grass area and make a left-hand turn lane onto Charles Town Landing from westbound 62. and they're going to go ahead and put in pedestrian improvements at the intersections because I'm still hopeful that we'll be able to make improvements down Charlestown Ling Road at some point um and connect everybody on that half of 62 over a little bit easier, but they're going to be putting in the AA compliant ramps and um signals and stuff. So,

yeah, they should start that day. Uh they also did a request for INDOT also published a request for proposals on design of drainage improvements down there at that intersection which is much needed if you saw the the problem from the other night. It's been a while since it's flooded that badly thanks to hooks. The tension pond it controls a lot of it but the pipe that goes under highway 3 is just too small. It needs to be enlarged. So they put out a request for design but don't get too excited. The project doesn't they're not doing the project till 2030. They just put out the design for now and that's just the way it works. So

yeah, but they also at that time put in to completely mill and resurface all of three in our city limits as well. So all that'll be done in 2030. Yeah, they patched just those really rough spots. Um and then they're not till 2030. So that's just the way they work. Um all right. Any other questions or comments from council? We have no public hearings. Uh, old business. So, resolution 2025 R8 was tabled at the last two meetings, the urging improved EMS response time. So, I'll open that up for consideration. Didn't know if you had anything you wanted to address with that or

Yeah, I just want to I'll give a just a quick update on u what's happened since the last council meeting. So in July, uh, Councilman Deon and I went to the, uh, EMS subcom meeting and, uh, they had a lot of information. They shared a lot of information. Um, just a lot of their operations. Um, Mayor Pa Hodes, Councilman Deon, and myself. Uh, we met with, um, Hartland, ambulance CEO, to discuss the ongoing young issues. Um Harpland acknowledged the issues and uh they engaged in an open productive dialogue. Um I believe their leadership demonstrated a will a willingness to collaborate on the solutions. Um the July data pull it up here. Um they just re they just recently uh sent uh shows the average response time was 10 minutes and 31 seconds for Charles Town. Uh there were 148 requests, 101 transports. Um so I feel like we're headed in the right direction from June where the time was 11 minutes and 48 seconds. Um during that meeting that um uh the mayor, Councilman Deon and I attended. During that meeting, the CEO announced to us that he was uh he is pledging 14 AEDs to equip Charles Town Police Department vehicles. So, this this totals approximately right around $28,000 that they are donating to Charles Town Police Department. Um I believe that will um improve first response um particularly in areas related to cardiac emergencies.

Uh so last um the last council meeting the a resolution was introduced um and it was prepared you know to push for transparency and some accountability in the response times u and due to the uh positive movement and the recent commitments from Hartman um I I'm going to make a motion that we continue to table this uh we we don't I I prefer not to move forward with it at this time. Um I believe the resolution served its purpose by opening the door to serious conversations. Um definitely some positive progress and commitments from Hartland and um I mean I think it's important that we continue to monitor the situation. Um but um but you know I appreciate Hartland willing to come to the table, have those serious conversations and listen to the issues that we have and uh address them and definitely appreciate the donation um for the AEDs.

They also um they also at that meeting said they're happy to work with us to have a community training. Chuck is certified to train in AED and he said so that he'd be willing to volunteer his time and they'd be willing to sponsor additional volunteers to have a communityled AED training. That way although the ads are extremely easy to use and these are they don't even police cars. We do have AEDs around. So they're at the schools, they're at the family activities center, they're at the um arts and enrichment center. And if someone is experiencing a cardiac emergency, what we're hoping is that this training will help them be less afraid of the AED. They'll be comfortable using it and not intimidated to use it so they can quickly use it in those cases. So, thank you to Chuck for being willing to step in and volunteer his time to train and thank you to Hartland for not only the donation but also uh the donation and training. So, is is the motion to rescend the resolution completely? Is that

um yes, I'm in the motion. Okay. So, do we have a second on that? Second. Is there a second? And is there any other comments?

I do have one. Uh something we've been I've been talking to Josh Haywood who is a director of operations with Hartland a lot in the past month. Uh also with the county health department, couple representatives down there uh just as well as you all have. But talking to Josh, they had some issues with their recent uh headquarters and it was I think it was a position somewhere in Clarksville. Not really sure, but um due to recent issues, they have been looking they had been looking for a place and with the help Thank you, Donna. I got a hold of Donna one night and I want to give a very big shout out to Mr. Gregory, Chuck Gregory with Park Gregory Park Street Auto Body. He is now leasing that to Hartland. Uh lease was signed today and that is their new main office and headquarters. It'll be placed right here in Charleston.

That's fantastic. and the ribbon cutting will be setting up here shortly. We talked a little bit about that, but fantastic. So, H Heartland is I mean, they've become a big time u big time contributor to Charle Town. They're they're wanting to come here. They're putting an office here. All their ambulances will be here. They've talked about the mass casualty bus being in here. And, you know, we talk a lot about Charleston. I know that we uh are the council for Charleston, the mayor for Charleston, the treasure, but this is good for the county. This is right in the center of the county. This helps everybody. It helps Mary'sville, Bethlehem, Otisco, Henryville, New Wash, everyone. So, it's ultimately a good thing. And like I said, they just signed today. So, that's great. Signs will be up tomorrow. That's wonderful.

That's great. That's great. Awesome. Yep. I think it's great you guys working together. That's what it's all about. Thank you guys very much. Wasn't for Mr. Gregory, it it wouldn't have happened. That was about the only place in town they could fit. They've done a lot of He's done a lot of leg work. I think he's been I think he's worked more in the past month being retired than he has in the past couple years. So, give him a lot of credit for that. Ryan, do you have something you want to say? No, I was just say it was really great work to watch these guys go to work and meet with Hartland and get to the core problems and come up with some solutions. It was it was amazing work that these guys did. Really appreciate you guys.

All right. Uh with that said, we have a motion to resend a second. All in favor of rescending this resolution permanently say I. I.

Any opposed? So we'll pull that one off. It doesn't have to be next. All right. Um new business ordinance 2025 111 creating the 2025 tourism project fund. This is the fund that we need to create to receive the money from the Southern Indiana Tourism Grant. They gave us that bond reduction payment of $250,000. We can't get it until we create this fund. This fund is created only for that purpose. when we create it and we provide them a copy of the resolution or the ordinance. They will deposit the money, Deborah will pay out the bond payment, which is right at 250,000 for that year, send them proof of the payment and then that's it. It's closed. There's nothing else that goes into it, but we had to do it. Harry created it. Michael, you had a chance to look at it soon. So, we're all good. Just need a motion to put it forward.

Motion by Ryan Hester. Well, it's a race. It is. I heard Shannon. Any discussion on that? Is this if we get something else from them uh from the tourism, can we use this for that or we do it again? This is just for these fun. Just for the one time. Just one. Okay, that's fine. I don't know if it would work for another time. So, y although I like your optimism that we're money from them. I mean, we can set it up for every year. Um, any other questions? All in favor say I. I. I. Any opposed? Since that is unanimous, I would take a motion to suspend the rules and get this passed on second reading tonight. I make a motion.

Motion by Ron Levens. I'll second that one. Okay, I heard you that time. Second by Chuck. Any questions on the suspension of the rules? Hearing none. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? That's unanimous. So then we'll call for the second and final reading of ordinance 2025 11 creating the 2025 tourism project fund. Motion any question? Motion by Shannon Elder. Second. Second by Ron Levens. Any questions? Last call. Hearing none. All in favor say I. I.

Any opposed? That's unanimous. All right. That is it ladies and gentlemen. As long as you stick around and sign documents and we get a motion to return to go. I have a motion from Chuck Ke. Second by Shannon. All favor say I. I. I did. All right. Everybody sign for