Common Council - Regular Meeting

Heat. Heat.

Okay. is 6:01 p.m. on Tuesday, January 13th, 2026. We will call the common council meeting to order. Let's stand and say the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Roll, please.

Front of you are the minutes from our last meeting on December 30th. Were there any changes or corrections? There should have two. Any other changes or corrections? Okay. Do I have a motion to approve of the noted change? Second. Motion by Jennifer, second by Chad. Further discussion. All of the usual sign. Excuse me. It is unanimous. [clears throat] Okay. [clears throat] Next up, we'll open up the floor for nominations for the council president's position. Do have any nominations for council president?

I would like to nominate. Second. Have a motion. Second. Is there any other nominations on the floor? Got a motion to close nominations. Close nominations. Second. Second. Those in favor of Dan retaining the title of council president, raise your right hand, please. Turn over. Thank you. Congratulations. Turn over Christmas lighting awards to Jennifer.

All right. go around here so everybody can hear and it can be recorded. Uh, basically I want to thank the community partic for participating in our annual Columbia City Municipal Lighting Awards contest. Uh, most of you might have entered and didn't even know that you were entered. And probably when you saw a sign in your yard, you didn't know that you got more than just a sign in your yard. You also get some prizes. So, I'd like to name the winners for this year. The Northeast Some of them are not here. So, uh, Northeast District winner was Erica Smallwood at 134 Hilltop Drive. Uh, also when I name your name, just go ahead and come up here and stand and we're going to get a picture. The Northwest District winner was LS Fuentes at 524 North Elm Street. The Southeast winner is Jeff Michael at 809 East Business 30. The Southwest District winner is Amanda Pratt at 702 South Line Street. here. Okay. And then the overall winner is Kathy and Tony Johnson at 1422 Glenwood Drive. Perfect. Congratulations.

Thank you for your participation. We really appreciate it and uh look forward to seeing what you have cooking up for next year. Thanks, Yes, that's great. Thank you so much. Okay, next up is the second reading of ordinance 2025-27. Do I have a motion to read by title only? Motion by Jennifer, second by Dan. Further discussion. All those in the usual sign. It is unanimous. Please read ordinance 2025-27 by title only. number 2025-27 vacation doesn't

and this is for the ballards who are in the audience. Um we talked about this last time pretty in depth but uh if you have any questions regarding the vacation of that triangle parcel if you will for that. Okay. Uh hearing none. Can I have uh a motion to approve ordinance 2025-27 on second and final read by Ryan

seconded by Jennifer. Further discussion in favor of the usual sign and those opposed Jennifer and Dan approved. Uh okay. We're going to move some things around here. So, I'm going to move ordinance 2026-1 up in the line just so you're aware for your calendars, if you will. Uh, so this is uh so Nathan, that's you. You want to go ahead and um come on up and talk about what you're what's in front of us here. I will note that this is the uh zoning map. Amendment for 875 North State Road 109. [clears throat]

Sure. Uh Nathan Belure for everybody's record. Uh so this is a request uh for reszoning from R1 to GB for Hajes. Uh well it's filed by for landing Hajes but for the Hajes landscaping property management property. Uh portion of it overall is just over 11 acres. portion of it is already zoned GB. Uh that dates back from the 1990s. Uh what this would do is reszone the rest of the property. Uh that has been added on to that over the years. Uh the Hajes recently bought some extra acreage that kind of triggered the need for reszoning the entire thing. Uh this was at the plan commission for their uh public hearing last week. I received a favorable recommendation uh a unanimous favorable recommendation uh to come to you. It was an 80 vote with one abstence. Uh I'll let the petitioner speak a little bit more about the nature of the business. If you want to know more, they are here. Uh we did have some remmonstrance as well. Um if you have questions about that, I think they're in the audience as well. Um but that's just the high level summary of this. Any questions.

Questions of Nathan. Thank you, sir. Thank you, Landon. Come up. Is that what you're wanting to do? I guess [clears throat] um what we're looking to do 875 North State Road 109 city Indiana 875 North State Road 109 city. Thank you.

So, what we're doing just expanding the area that we have to grow our business. Um, when we bought the land originally, it was for landscape company. We've started to diversify a little bit more, add some things to it. We were able to buy some land behind us. Our property has been split zoned. Um, not quite sure, like I said, like Nathan said, it was quite some time ago why it was split zone, but it had been at some point. Um, with the growth and what we want to do, we were still able to put up the greenhouse that we put the way it was zoned. We would like to put up an operations bond and that's what's requiring the resoning. Um it just makes sense. Um I think in in my not only listening to Nathan's um staff report, but looking at what the comprehensive plan was, how it was designed, the overlay that was given. It was a great presentation at the uh um meeting um to show that that land was, you know, originally designed and and put into that comprehensive plan for that GB growth. So, that's all we're asking for. The entire property that we have is is reson we are in a kind of a valley right there where traffic comes over that hill. A lot of times people turning into our turn into our property are stopped at the bottom of that hill for northbound or for southbound traffic. This uh land actually wraps all the way around the neighbor to the south of us and comes back out to give us more frontage on State Road 109, which is of course part of what we're asking to be reszoned to. That we can turn that into a second egress for us that has a line of sight up and down 109 is going to make things

a lot safer for us and for people that come to our business to be able to to see and to turn and to be seen setting their way to turn. So, we're really excited about that. We have had conversations already with the special um project manager with INDOT and that's in motion as far as the qual or what we need to do to make sure that that there's already a curb cut there to make sure that we do everything that they would require to have that driveway access. Um, as our business grows, I think that'll be import we can, you know, it's going to be a little bit safer and that's essentially what we're asking for. I don't think it's a reach. It's not stop zoning. It's within, we're asking within the parameters of what it was originally set up for. And uh it's actually connecting two areas now um that are zoned, one GB and the other one GB. This is just going to be a bridge in between a couple properties that are already zoned that way. questions from the council.

So, hey Thor. Um, so you were going to put just a single building in that I guess the larger area of the the property or the Oh, I guess it's two different.

It's it's two. Yeah, we have not um we have not got to the point or I don't know when we will to have it replatted um due to um convenience of of not needing to replat it. I don't know that we will um but if you look at the old split on the plat is about where and I can point it out to you like be right on the border where those two plat are where those are separate plats.

Ideally, are you hoping to have those? Well, I mean, we're we're way behind the power curve right now as far as having um things ordered for it to put in there, but we're hoping that we can do a lot of maybe plug raising yet this year to have some things available. Um but again, to have the public have access to the greenhouse where we're building it, we would need to have that GB zoning. We can still have the greenhouse there under the zoning that's currently at. That's the reason that we've uh we got a permit and we've already started to put that up. We're not trying to get, you know, the cart in front of the horse here. Um we could still use it as land is zone, but we just couldn't use it to its full potential. What we hope to do.

When you say potential, like retail. Yep. Retail sales. um you know a variety of plants, vegetables and of course flowers that we wanted to have in there available. So a lot of it will still come down to the storefront but there's this gives us the flexibility of you know somebody wants to go back or if we want to make that into a place up there where people can come up and look at what we got and not be moving everything then that makes the GB zone makes that possible. I apologize would you because I think this is another key piece to it. Would you go into the barriers that you're going to put for neighbors?

Yes. And that was part of the land agreement purchase when we bought the new land is that our neighbors to the west. Of course, we've got a natural barrier along the north side of it with a tree line and and there's a ditch there, but the tree line is is a pretty good barrier. Maybe not so much this time of the year, but it's still pretty good thickness there. But to the west and the neighbors that we bought the additional property off of, we had um several several meetings with them to um share with them what we were going to do, where we were going to put greenhouse, where we're going to build the barn. And our agreement with them is too that we're building a um I call it a beauty mount. He corrects me and calls it a dirt mount, super mount, privacy mount. We're going to build it. It's probably going to be 10 to 12 feet high. And then we're going to plant our green giants along the top of that to give them the barrier that they will have there. Now to the south, um that tree line that's there with even with the new development, I think is going to continue to be there. I would hope um I think most of that tree line to the south is on the property still owned by the people that we bought property off of that probably wouldn't be but may be taken down when that So that would be a border there. The only other real um close neighboring proximity to us then is kind of like the two acres that uh Craig uh Aspen owns in that little postage stamp that we wrap around now. And uh um we've got a pretty good relationship with him and try to do things that aren't intrusive to what his plans are. I do know he has recently purchased a new property too and I think he's going to be moving. So but his as as it is right now.

What's your timeline for the drive? I'm assuming it's going to be right across from Cambridge crossing. It's going to be somewhat across from it. And when I talked with um can't think of his name right now within that's one of the things he suggested that we try to get it as close to coming across from Longfellow

as we could and I told him that the only real obstacle that we have to that is the fact that the neighbor we bought property off of had to maintain that 50 foot strip and that 50 foot strip is going to come right up to that too. So, um he looked at where that curb cut that apron um is already and he didn't think especially with the widened or that um turning lane or not turning lane but the additional lane width there would help with a lot of that. Now, our plan is they told me at at INDOT that they thought that it would be a maximum of 45 days for them to do everything that they needed to for us to put in the drive.

So, as you know, there's some challenges there because there's a ravine that we have to put a tile in and then of course we're going to have to build that up. Um, so we'll probably start working on that as soon as the weather breaks or as soon as we get time to do that. So, I think going to be fairly it's going to be as soon as we can get INDOT to approve it. Okay. And and then we can get it done Lon's going to do the work on it. So So midsummer is or I would hope I would hope early summer. Okay. Early summer, don't you think? Other questions?

Okay. Thanks, guys. Good evening. My name is Isaac Renegger and I live at 10001 North State Road 109 which is just north of the subject property. I pre previously submitted written objections and exhibits regarding this petition and I won't repeat them here unless asked. I respectfully ask the council to evaluate this petition based on the city's currently adopted comprehensive plan and future land use map because that is the only land use policy that is officially published and reasonably relied upon by both residents and businesses. At the planning commission hearing, it was stated that a future revision of the future land use map should be updated in response to the commission's decision on this petition. I want to respectfully emphasize that resoning should be evaluated against the adopted plan as it exists today, not used to shape future plan revisions retroactively. Until a formal amendment is proposed and adopted through the public process, the current future land use map is the policy the public and private sectors are entitled to rely upon. For the record, my objection is to any commercial expansion beyond what the future land use map intends. Any questions? Anybody else wishing to speak on the hearing? None. Conversation among the council on you want to read it first. Okay. I to read ordinance 2026-01 by title.

Motion by second by all those in favor of the sign. It is unanimous. Please read ordinance 2026-01 by title only. Ordinance 2026-01 and ordinance amending the zoning of certain property from the R1 single family residential district to the GB general business district.

Conversation by the council on the ordinance and the resentment request. I'll just discuss respect that a lot growing comprehens. But at the same time situation to grow and it's going to happen. It's not going to create a lot of noise. my opinion comprehensive plan right on the head. when you have a change

order to make something very supportive very expansion probably areas I'd like to I guess back up what you said there. You did a great presentation. It was very professional and well done. But I do feel like the opportunity to be able to services for your property without having to I agree. And then because it is sandwiched between the JB that kind of natural progression business and resial Any other comments?

I I I appreciate you coming in and I agree with others out there. I look at that that plan as a fluid fluid documents change right so although for me personally it's a guideline I don't look at it as break it. You can't break something. So, I appreciate you coming in for me for small business. Comments. Okay. Then I will make a motion.

Okay. I have a motion by Ryan and seconded by Brent to app. 26-1 reading. Any further discussion? All those in the usual sign. It is unanimous. We'll move it to second. Thank you. Appcate. Okay. Uh next up is uh utility rate commission and Baker Tilly presentation on utility rates. Uh so come on up. And uh we all have the packet in our Dropbox so everybody should have access to it. However, if you'd like to put it up, so that's okay. So we can obviously post it all.

Perfect. And we have we do have I don't know if anybody wants don't want will It starts on page 16 of your good mayor.

Perfect. All right. And I will So, good evening, council. I'm Ian Stall with Baker Til, manager at Baker Till, a staff consultant that has has he's been in the weeds of the project. So, so he is here with me um presenting Brent Duncan. So, um, so with this rate plan, I'll stick to to kind of the summary we have together. So, in the rate plan packet that I have in front of me, and you should have in front of you, it's pages one to three to kind of provide a summary. I can go through all 40 pages as much as you'd like, but I will save you a little bit of time and give you the summary of of kind of everything that went into this. So, we've been working um for for over six months now in developing this plan and looking holistically at all four of the utilities. Um, as well as working with utility management and understanding the capital needs, the the operating costs of of running the utilities because certainly our two of our biggest uh costs of operating utilities are OPEX and your capital improvements which are infrastructure needs are are always out there and never slowing down unfortunately as we've seen in the utility environment. So, taking all that into effect, we've been working very closely with with Leslie and mayor and developing a rate plan that is going to hopefully minimize rate shock as well as gradually improve utility balances to get in compliance with with minimum required reserves as part of bond covenants and things along those lines. So starting out on page one here um just want to start in on the summary of key changes. So so ultimately here with this rate plan what we looked at is is how do we create a sustainable approach to our utility rates while minimizing rate shock. So really looking out for um kind of those residential, commercial, industrial bills and and making those impacts as as meaningful but as uh least amount of impact as possible while still operating our utilities. So with that we devised a plan from beginning in 2026 through 28. So a threephase in approach

similar to what we had looked at back in 2022. Um and what that three-phase approach between all the utilities we are looking at about a 3.51% um average annual increase per year. So kind of that um looking at that impact and what that meant in terms of dollars is about $10 per month per year to be clear. So that's about $120 in total for the average residential user of an increase in 26. Same increase in 27 and 28. That equates to that 3.51%. That's for entirety of the year.

That's correct. The entirety of the year. So on a monthly basis that is about $10 for the average user. And when I say average user, I'll break that down. It's using state standard, that's about for we're talking water, sewer, that's 4,000 gallons of usage in a 58 in meter. So that typical meter size for a resident and on electric we're looking at a,000 kilowatt hours of usage. So that is what is comprised of of that average bill that I'm discussing there. Within this rate plan, I did mention capital expenditures, which are certainly a huge part of our utilities. And in Indiana, we're seeing, and I'm sure you're all well aware, a lot of aged infrastructure, and there's a lot of need out there. There's a lot of uh plants and in infrastructure that are coming to their useful lives or extended and kind of band-aid as much as they can be to mitigate rate increases. So within this plan, we took a a comprehensive look at that and what this entire plan looked at for the four utilities was about 13.6 million of capital needs that um this increase will fund. So in your packets you can see there there's a breakout by utilities. Some are are weighted more than others because sewer costs are a little bit higher. Um we have about $7.5 million over the fiveyear period. Um, so we looked at a fiveyear capital plan, but built into a three-year rate plan, uh, of about $7.5 million of sewage works uh, capital improvements, 2.6 million of the water utility capital improvements, roughly a million of storm water capital improvements, as well as about 2 and a.5 million of electric utility capital improvements. So that was all built into this three-phase rate approach, that 3.51% per year. Moving down on the page here into primary drivers of those rate adjustments. Again, as I mentioned, capital is a big piece of that that we just mentioned. But with this rate plan, we still are assuming, and I know it's a

it's a hot topic right now with SEA1 going around, we're still assuming pilot payments are being made. So supporting the the city funds as much as we can as a utility in paying those payment, what that stands for, payment in le of taxes, um to put it in the longer form. So supporting the city in that measure of things as well as still able to to pay our debt service, our required debt service that we have through the sewage works bonds um and the water works bonds and storm water does pay a portion of those too. So so certainly helping out in that aspect as well as continuing to pay for for operating costs. you know, arguably our largest cost every single year. Um, paying for salaries and wages, your repairs and maintenance, chemicals at the sewage works facility. Um, things along those lines, all built into this comprehensive rate plan. Um, so again, and part of this rate plan, as I mentioned earlier on, was was making sure we're building up in a sustainable way to meet minimum required reserves and work towards recommended reserves. So, when I say required reserves for each of the utilities, What that means is making sure the required reserves are two months of budgeted operating operation and maintenance costs in our in our fund balances. Making sure our bond and interest account and debt service reserve account are are funded and that's what we call required reserves because they're mandated by your bond covenants. When we look at recommended reserves, we add on top of that your capital improvement fund. But our typical recommendation in industry practice is about one year's worth of capital. So bringing that into kind of a a nice summary, what that means for these utilities is we were falling essentially below our required reserves as of the end of 123125 estimated and as of the end of 123124. So what this plan will do is it took a look at that and said what do we need to do to essentially work our way up to

being into those required reserve balances. So by the end of 2028 in this three-phase approach we will be meeting required reserve balances in all our utilities and electric was already above all of those reserves but in each of the other utilities we found ourselves below those required reserves. So within this plan we will continuously work up to be in that uh that good standing and meet our bond covenants and be in required reserve and then continue to work up to recommend reserves down the road. So, moving forward from that on to page two, I want to give some insight to kind of what this looks like. I think it's a good visual in terms of a dollar perspective for those average users. Um, so on page two at the top, as you can see there, we do show, you can see in the far right the net change and then the percentage increase, which I mentioned is around $10 and the 3.51% increase over the course of the three years. So total bill again as you can see in the total bill column increasing about $10 per month for all the utilities um through that three-phase increase. Below in the in the next chart a quick comparison or a bar graph of what that looks like on a utility basis cost. So in the gray you would see your electric utility bill where it's currently at about $145, $34.50 50 cents for water, roughly $10 for storm water, and $75 for your current sewer bill. And what we've shown is just where that uptick would be again totaling out to to your total youth utility bill per month increases. further and a lot of colors on these graphs. So, um, a lot of things going on, but on page three again here, just to give some perspective as to where you would stack up against other communities, um, we've pulled together two different graphs. The the top graph is showing your your sewer, storm water,

and water bills compared to other um communities around here in the state average. We exclude electric just because a lot of communities don't have their own electric utility. So, it's a little bit more of a apples to oranges comparison and you'll see that in the further graph. But you can see here we have built in um it's about three4s of the way through where we're anticipating uh in 2026 the utility to get to which is about $1284 for those three utilities compared to um some of your other neighboring communities. And I will say I always I think this graph is great but it's certainly a a moving target. So can name a number of these communities that are currently working through long-term rate plans, things along those lines. So, that's not to say we we end up here um in in things of other communities and rate increases go into effect and we're not shifting back down towards the bottom part of the scope. So happens quite often just the timing of where projects um end up and I know we're working with with numerous communities and doing new treatment plants and and things along those lines where we're seeing 50 to 100% rate increases. It's just really depending on where each community you're at. So I want to I want to advise that that it's certainly a moving target but things tend to right side as you move down the line and do projects and rate increases. So looking at the bottom part of We do have an electric bill comparison um that maybe paints a little bit of a of a different picture here. We're about halfway through the chart here. Um where in 2026 we end up about $147. So about a little bit past that halfway point compared to some of the other smaller communities that do own their electric utilities. Um but again, the state average based on 2025 is certainly below that in terms of the electric utility. And as you've probably seen with a lot of the forprofit electric

utilities, there's been quite a quite a lot of increases per se um that have been occurring. And then having your own utility for the electric utility has certainly helped with some of those rate mitigating factors and overall bills on a monthly standoint. So, I'll stop talking there because I have where I'm at the city. So, some of us folks that live in city limits may not have city electric, but just

Yeah, that's it's a very I'll say in a lot of the electric utilities we work with, it is a common of those municipally owned have been quite a bit less than than maybe a for-profit um situation there just because you guys have have managed a lot of those rate impacts and you're um everything is put towards the the constituents and making sure that those are are managing factors not not for profit. So um certainly helps with that that average monthly bill um but but certainly something to take into account. So that I know I've spoke a lot here. I feel like I'm winded after talking. Um, but certainly can can go into any sort of questions you may have or we can dive into any further parts of the report. I know there's there's 36 more pages. Um, but that's the the summary of kind of everything coming together in our findings and kind of working towards that that three-phase increase.

Think a couple things I'll also point out. You know, obviously there is a fair amount of that are looking at and adjusting their rates that these charts aren't necessarily completely up to date on that because it is a moving target. Um, but I I think the other interesting thing is when you look at especially that top chart, you can see where there are some communities that have an investor utility or a private utility for their water. There are some that have a private utility for their sewer, although that's not as as prevalent. But the interesting thing is When you look at that chart, you can really specifically see how many of the communities have been impacted by a long-term control plan. And something we've talked about for as long as I've been here and even before me is the fact that our community was extraordinarily hit with long-term control plan costs that other communities didn't have because we didn't have a whole lot of storm storm and sewer separation. And so over time we have done some of that separation. Some of that we have we have sent a lot to the plant to be treated there. That was a decision before my time and before any of your time. Um a decision to send instead of doing a large separation project send a lot of that sewage to the plant to be treated there. Uh and and while we have done some separation places and even the downtown plan talks about separation in downtown which will divert a lot of storm water from our sewer or waste water utility to the river which is the appropriate place to go. You can still see when you look at those communities the impact of a long and so those are those are charges those are bonds that we're carrying for years, I think. Um, and so we're paying for

them for 30 years. But it also was, you know, a $10 million bid, $8 million. It was those big charges, if you will. So, so that's another thing I'll point out for those charges. But uh I will tell you as um talked about this on my lunch with the mayor last Friday. Uh but this this plan originally we cut a fair amount of stuff out of the plan after having consultation with uh our department has just to make sure that the things that we're going to cut to keep that number down uh were things that weren't absolutely critical. Uh we have kept everything in there. We also have a fair amount of dollars I'm going to call it anticipatory dollars if you will. We don't have the preliminary engineering back for that yet. So we don't exactly know what that cost is going to be. So we took estimates based on what we know of materials and projects now and kind of estimated that

those are plan is figured into this plan. Yes. Um there's many other Again, noted from capital investment standpoint for water and and waste water, storm water, electric it's actually below it's actually below the cost of living adjustment if you will, but um there is a cost increases. So that's generally I guess those are my comments to start. I certainly can answer questions.

They'll be up to speak next. Yes. Yes. And mayor, I think it's a great point. Electric is at is at 1%. So below cost of living and you'll continue to do those. The tracking factor is rolled in, but continue to work with with Chrome on that tracking factor moving forward to to accommodate for those wholesale purchase power costs as well. So So certainly uh isn't a very good standpoint in those. And then getting some of those other utilities that that make up maybe a higher percentage of that rate increase um more in line with with meeting those reserve requirements that are set forth through the

governance. It's nice to see how we step. I think if you not to belage of your report, which is page 30 in your packet, you can see kind of under we're in one of those counties that were mandated to have storm uh projects and storm water mandates if you will and so that's why when John comes and presents every year that's part of the federal mandate so you can see where we are compared to others in the storm water um comparatively there on page of the report if you look on page 25 of the report uh you'll see where we're at regarding sewer and you'll again that impacted the longterm control plan where we're at from again what I asked to do is to is to get some of our neighboring communities as well as similar size communities. So that's why you see the choices that are in there. Um so that's page 25 for sewer. And then uh if you look at page 34 you'll see our water or drinking water

if you will and see where that is comparatively. So it's kind of a mixed bag, right? is below state average. Water is below state average. Sewer is above state average. Storm water is above state average. So, it just it's a little bit of a mixed bag in regards to that. But, but I do think it's it's good to see where we're at.

This is the second time you've done this. Yeah, I think that's a really good point that I forgot to mention is is that again three or four years ago now there was a conscious choice by the council to say instead of waiting till the last minute and jumping our you know our sewer rate by 105 and then the next year jumping our electric by $10 and the next year like it's instead of doing that it makes it a lot easier to do little increments along the Okay. Now, as mentioned in my lunch with the mayor program, you know, people are going to be hit differently, right? We have to try to find an average user what that looks like, which has all of our util but no sewer and some in our community have sewer but no water and so everybody all restor But I just say that to say we try our best and I think does show what a average citizen or average customer is going to look like but every bill is going to be different based on what utilities you have and how much you have. So, you're going to have a higher water less electric. But for the public watching a very conscious choice to do minor increments every year, even though it may be slightly harder, it makes it easier on the citizens so that they don't have to gradual

my How much did you just ask me that I didn't figure it all out? Probably neighborhood 2 million, right? So I think people that are watching or listening laterual projects

and something else I've noticed in the past years the cost of really everything especially I've noticed all the different infrastructure that we need to be able to do that. So I think that's a really good point. I'm gonna put you on the spot, Sean, but I know from a truck perspective, from a a transformer perspective, can you can you just highlight a couple I know I'm putting you on the spot, but

even the electric poles, can you just highlight a couple of those? increases you've seen over the last couple years. Mike and Mike and Kelly to a certain extent on the same spot. He talked your, you know, your price increases you're seeing in your different departments and how that obviously impacts the rates. We have to

dramatic. some concrete last night. years ago, you don't see our infrastructure. You know, we supply water to all city residents, not just water, which means we got that we're going to have to put down a new wellund,000 Then we're going to have to build another plant to handle that. There's a lot going on. I mean, the water department has not had moneyures

go and it's going to start and it's not something that we say we can't fix it. We have to fix it. Well, the um filters that we just that we just did, I mean, we had to change all the filter media and that was I mean, yeah, it was like,00 Besides that, you know, we're only pumpion. We're going to have to add, you know, there's a lot of stuff we're going to have to.

So, I think that's the I mean, that just shows you a little taste of what's what we've had. And I I know it's um and I say this, I truly say this with all due respect, but there is a lot comments and thoughts out there that this is just having moments like that, but it's it's not we are investing those dollars in our infrastructure each and every day. When you see a water truck or a sewer truck or electric truck going down the road, typically they're going to fix something or to build something or to improve something. And um and again the cost overall, as Jennifer mentioned, has just skyrocketed on all kinds of different materials. And so we're trying to again

that's and that's the other thing is right at the end of the day, we know we know of many other communities who for the sake of itical expediency and I say that with all due respect but for political expediency we don't make the hard decisions because it's easier to look at res but when their water man breaks consistently or their manhole or you know all those little things that happen along the way fall down things to that effect we have the capital to be able to fix those things But number two is that we're trying to be proactive about how we address those things rather than let them get to that state. So um that's again I'll get off my soap box but I just again three it's a 3.5% increase which is um there's very few things in this world that are only going up by 3%. So now again that doesn't make it easier on the pocketbook. I totally understand that none of us want to do this. None of us want to raise any rates because it's more money out of our own pockets too. But um but again, we also have a fiduciary and a responsibility to our customers to keep those utilities in our department. to do. I think that goes back to department. These guys

increases are

the last of the three. So there was not a rate increase. But I'm gonna piggy back off of Dan for just a second. I don't think it's just our department has been conscious that what they're spending, but them doing so many things in house and working together. They may not look like they like each other sometimes, but they really do all get along well. And they they work together to help each other. And I think that says a lot for the employees that we have and not just the department, but everybody. We're all in this for the betterment of

any other questions for No, I need I sit at a desk all day, so I need this. That's right. Any other questions? Thank you, sir. Thank you very much. You want to come on up? Although everything I had planned. So, you want to introduce yourself? Uh, and I was gonna say that.

Okay. I'm Laura Rich Creek. Um, and I represent the southwest section of the city. I've been in Whitley County since 2000 or so and then I lived in town since 2010. I do want to note that um, I'm taking uh, Lee Bass's position and so to make a Thank you to him for his service and wishing him the best. So the utility rate advisory board meets about once a year to review the information Baker Tilly has prepared and um then bumps the needs of the city and the mandates of the state uh against the budget and trying to understand the rate increase suggested by the experts and then carefully consider if the rate increase should be implemented. Um, if so, at that amount, we had this discussion. Um, and if so, then are there easier ways than others to introduce it to the residents household budgets? Because we live here, as you said, we're considering our own household budgets. This affects those of us on the board the same way it's going to affect every resident out there. It's good to hear the different perspectives of um what this equipment costs and how the prices can go up. I had no idea. Um so the board met on December 3rd and uh we reviewed this. We heard from the mayor um what the department heads have done to trim their budgets and coordinating efforts to keep expenses low. We appreciate those efforts by community members for the sake of everybody. So essentially, I hope I've got this right. The state uh or excuse me, the funds are needed for statemandated updates or changes, capital improvements, repairs, and then financial reserves that fund those repairs. Okay, so we lost one funding source um with the grant for uh Westgate

um a project that we can't leave partially done and prices on materials and labor have increased. And so as a community, we need to pull together when these anticipated resources fall through. Projects still need to be done for the good of the community. So, as community representatives on the utility rate advisory board, we recommend the proposed increase of $10 per month per year for the next three years. And this last little bit is for me, so I feel like I've said it clearly. That's an increase to each resident's utility bill of $10 a month in 2026, $10 a month again in 2027, and $10 a month again in 2028. At which time then we'll revisit all this again. Any questions?

As a reminder, utility advisor board was actually in our staff. It was in our ordinances prior to me coming on. But uh when our city decided to leave the utility regulatory commission on water and electric at that point we effectively revis got the honor to become the person of the utility rate advisory board this year. I also want to point out she doesn't also member of any question you have in Absolutely. We're relying on the experts. So, all right. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Yep.

Okay. Um, so this is the point in time which uh we need direction and that is whether you would like us to uh create the ordinance based on the utility rate advisory board's recommendations. like to do something different. So the floor is open for the first department of things I So I don't necessarily need a motion second. I just need another council so we can generally speak. Okay. So we'll go ahead and create the ordinance and that next agenda.

Okay. on your next agenda. Thank you for your thank you for your leadership in that. This is never a fun thing. This is one of the worst parts of being on council. One of the worst parts of being mayor that we got to do this. But um but the other side of that is I would rather ask those decisions in Indianapolis. And that's what it almost used to be when we were it used to be we would try to overshoot the amount that we knowing that they were going to lower it. So, we play this game of like, well, we really need this. We need this much, but we're going to actually ask for this much. So, we get to that.

Oh, yeah. Thank you, appreciate that very much. Um, we're we're getting close to being done. Can I talk to you after meeting real quick about something different? So, thanks. Appreciate you sticking around for a moment. Okay. We have some policy updates that are in front of you here. Um we have uh first up is the public safety personal days. Um I don't know Gary if you want to kind of take that on.

Sure. So our personal shift in there we had 32 hours 32 hours. 24 hours. I think they changed it by hours because we have eight hour officers, we have 12-hour officers, we have 24hour firefighters. So trying we got well I guess dispatch falls under the other, right? So we're trying to toward it. So it's based on the position, not on

I think they wanted to update that. So youary.

So this is taking basically practice and ensuring that it's in the policy. Any questions regarding policy motion to approve policy 5.9 personal days for the public safety by second by Jennifan. Next up is the immigration reform control act. Uh I I believe that this is just incorporating what state law mandates us to do. Correct.

Yes.

Oh, okay. I'll take any questions on both of them and I'll just Okay. Uh, do I have a motion to approve policy 3.13 and policy 3.14? Motion by Ryan, second by further discussion. It is unanimous. Thank you for that. Lastly, as overtime flex, we are going to table that. Leslie has asked for that to be there. We thought we had done. So, we're going to table that till next. That's okay. Okay. Department reports. You ready this time?

I am. Okay.

They didn't want to get home. Anyway,

um 101, as I reported about a month ago, broke a leaf spring and one of the sections of leaf spring is just missing. So, we took it down to heavy truck. They're replacing broken the one that's missing leaf spring and the other side. So, should be done tomorrow. They said mechanic has an oil leak and leak address. So hopefully in the next week we'll get 101 our new back. The new truck that was on order we got kind of told that could happen anywhere from March. Now that's being held back to June July which none of us are really opposed to because when it got thrown out that it could be here much earlier than expected was the original expectation of getting it was at the end of this year. So there was a little bit of a panic. Lesly just going to pull money out of funds and just pay for it if need be. That's tongue and cheek. Um, it actually allows her to do a better job of seeking financing. None of us are really

and to be clear that doesn't change the price. Also along with that, still looking at all of our options for 800 radios. um the west side of the station. If you approach city hall from the west, you may notice that um we cut the bottom three feet of the metal off of the west side of the firehouse because of damage that had occurred over the last years. We don't look at it electric. There's no other place if it is. But it looked to me it looked like I don't know how anybody would be there. Here we are. Um we are actively taking quotes for post testing this year. So a whole lot more. That's just

question. Thank you. It's not a big deal. Don't feels ladies. Mike, we're still waiting for the PLC to come in for station. Also, the storm on South Street has been completed. Now we just have to wait till the weather gets a little better. And then also we got some sidewalk. Thank you, Kelly. couple days. Thank Try to go around.

question for Kelly. Thank you for a little bit. Maybe take one. I want to maybe for him.

So, uh, we did the final interviews for the amphitheater for Eagle Park on the company that will be doing the building and financing of it. We had two incredible firms and uh, right now it's we're still debating it. So they were that close winner working with a couple other projects but other than that just

thank you Mike 10000 And she met here for 30 years and part of the building is on third and new damage before that last month and one. So they're just and they're outside.

Haven't heard anything yet.

All right, we'll get that we'll get that out to them. I can't promise it's going to be right at the end of the month, but try my question. I think it's important to know just especially because we have new council members is that um when we built the new line for Steel Dynamics that was that was that was a big deal for them. It's a big deal for our utility in a positive way I think. But um one of the parts of that deal was they SDI contributes every year additional amounts for the maintenance of that line. And so the report he's talking about is every year we give them a report of how we utilize those dollars that they give to us to help their line if you will. So that's when he talks about the report on four facultures clean responsible for that. So basically anything that we do expenses wages.

Thank you Mike. Sorry for that. I think it's important for them to understand

we're busy getting acclimated ideas and putting the baseball softball together soon. Um we have sold out of father tickets on Saturday. Um, and we have uh very few left for Friday. So, we anticipate being sold out by the end of this week. And then that's what we're we're all busy on is getting decorations and getting the the castles, you know, anything else that we need to make for the dance together and put a plan together as to when it be taken down. All right. Officer Jans Officer training well at the jail. They're both doing a little bit better than Bedwell, but not much. So happy with their progress. Officer Garmin, Officer Blocker, and Officer down there. Tornado sirens have been repented. However, motherboard get it out there motherboard which should be here soon. I don't know.

Both police dispatches coming up in 2026. Lot of people looking forward to that. Holidays were safe. Very little issues around holidays. I think that We do have a community. We got this little thing here. We're going to be building Lego police more. February 22nd question. Thank you. [clears throat] semeaches.

My name is a sophomore. I'm part of the council. Last week we went to elementary school and we were able to help with the Christmas party. We were able to play games with them and have a few different stations and we were just able to give them like a fun time before Christmas break and then we were able to take a tour of the courthouse which is here in town and it was very nice to be able to see like all of the judges in the courtrooms and we were able to meet like some of the people who worked there and like did polls for the elections and we were able to see the room where they kept all the records and we were able to talk about how different it was moving from records to technology that worked and we were able to just experience Thank you,

Marca.

Couple of things for your information. Um, we are we had a great conversation today about kind of future with Westgate. We there is a bill going through the legisle right now that could free up an additional 75 million um to go toward an additional round this the regular round of processing. So we had today to kind of plan for that if there is a call will be a fungate for that purpose and that excuse me and then if for some reason we wouldn't get funded for that we'll go right into the July call which is the normal call. Um one way or another we're get done because we have commitment to them we've done the three phases. We just need to finish the fourth phase. Uh so we made sure that kind of any intel we had from other communities as to why they were weren't funded which most of them tick issues trying to find ways to applications out. So so that's that. Uh we are having a conversation tomorrow between me and Ship and writer as well as Oprah to figure out what downtown revitalization grant looks like and how we may be able to enable that with crossings in the future and all that kind of stuff. Trying to get that all lined up. We do have a city blood draw on Thursday. So all of our employees that are part of the program will be doing that. And then as a reminder, I'm I'm gone home next week. I'm out of town. So, go Hooers. And uh then when we get back when I get back, I'll be spending the first day with with youth council. The next two days in Indianapolis, I will be back.

Uh and then we'll be at city. So, have a really busy week of the 26 there. Really looking forward to city retreat. I got almost everything ready to go. So, I know by the end of this week with that

um Okay, thank you. Uh redevelopment today have a lot of things that we're working on. Most importantly is the jail project is something we're going to cancel the RP that we have work with another organization that'll cast a wider net so we can have a higher likelihood of getting other investors, developers involved with that project. So, we'll reissue one another.

I appreciate you bringing that up. I forgot. I need to notify the council that works over the commission because they have a lot more flexibility in that negotiating for those proposals. They were already kind of leading that process anyways, but transfer property. We will be transferring the property over. We have a great audience that probably doesn't want to say anything else. So, we will call the meeting. Thank you.