Common Council - Regular Meeting

Heat. Heat.

Jeff, I need to reset the camera. Okay. 6 o00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 10th, 2026. We'll call the common council meeting to order. Let's stand al to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Roll call, please.

Here you have the minutes from our last meeting on January 27th. Were there any changes or corrections? Hearing none. Can I have a motion to approve?

Second motion by Jennifer, second by Tad. Further discussion. All those favor sign. It is unanimous. Next up is public hearing for the vacation of the public way. Uh so this is in regards real quick. This is in regards to um the property located on street. So there is an ordinance that's in front of you as well. We have the public first. But before that, Mr. Would you like to come up and just describe to the council what you what you're asking for, what you plan to do?

Okay. Don't need to name uh Scott, 4455 North Airport Road, Columbia City, uh representing properties. Um we bought a piece of land and we with the purpose of developing it possibly putting a duplex on it or something of that nature. And the alleyway that goes through there would be property that you would use. Correct. It would give us more flexibility on where to put a duplex or multiple duplexes.

Any questions? We will pause the city council meeting and open the floor for public hearing regarding the uh property petition. Does anybody have an interest in speaking on that topic? Hearing no one, we will conclude the public hearing and reopen the city council meeting here. So, have a motion to read ordinance number 2026-6 by title only.

Second motion by Jennifer. Further discussion shall sign. It is unanimous. Please read ordinance 2026-6 by title only. Ordinance number 2026-6 vacation of public.

Again, this is the ordinance that vacates that alleyway. Any questions, comments, concerns regarding the comments.

I'd like to thank you for taking that along, Mr. Okay. Do we have a motion to approve ordinance 2026- by second by Tad? Further discussion. All those favor. It is unanimous. We'll move that to second reading at the next meeting. Okay. Great. I don't think you have to be here for that. So, thank you so much. Okay. Uh, next up is the public hearing for the municipal rate changes. Um, because we have four rate changes that are going on. Uh, we're going to if the council is okay with it, we'll do a public hearing with all for all four. So, we'll open the public hearing and then I'll talk and I'll, you know, get an opportunity for each of those utilities rather than opening. That makes sense.

Okay. Okay. So, we will pause the common council meeting and we will open the public hearing on the uh utility uh rate changes. Uh so, the first one will be uh for the electric utility. Is there any public comment on the electric utility? Okay. Uh then next up is the water utility. Is there any public comment regarding the water utility?

Yeah. So, the last Uh the last council meeting we discussed that let me get that for you real quick. Uh for water uh the current water bill goes from 3451 to 3657. So it's $26 for 2026 and then uh goes up to 3904 in 27 and 4166 in 2028. So in total over those three years, it'll go up and what's that? 15. So there's not a percentage attached to it. Well, so overall what we what we had proposed to us by Baker Tilly was that um that you that it would be an average of about 3 and 12% per year over all the city utilities. So um electric is a 1% but sewer is so for for water it's uh again from for the $2 says, it's that's considered 6% um and then 6.75 and 6.75 for that total of uh what I say $7 and change for water

for sewer. It's uh 4% 6% 7% for storm water. Um, again, keep in mind because this number is going to sound high. We're going from $10 to $13. That ends up being a 35% increase. It's $3. But because the rates being what it is, 35 and 11 and zero. So, it goes from $10 to 13. So, to $13.58 $157 and that's where it stays. So it doesn't increase in 2028. So overall um so overall the 2026 increases for water, sewers, storm water and electric ends up averaging at 3.64% % and then 2027 is 3.54% and then 2028 is 3.35%.

Comments on water. Would you want to talk? I got some more but I don't know when you want to hear. Well, so you want to come and talk to the microphone and give your name and address please. Name and address, please. My name is Mike Gar 440 Deer Path out in Brennan's edition. I guess I just want to know what's being done about the brown water coming all the time. Sure. Sure. I'll let Mike show to answer that question.

We had a problem. We redone the builders and got a new media. Um, and when the media, we were told we had to keep a a pouring level in the builders and the level they said turned out to not be high enough. So that's what created the problems. It was seed was seeding the filters. We didn't get the seated right. So are you having ground water at your house, Mike? Yeah, I had this morning. Okay. Yeah. Everybody else has been complaining all summer. So what's going to do?

Nobody tells. They don't call in. They put it on Facebook. They don't answer Facebook. your guys are.

Yeah, I understand all that. Wait, wait, wait. Conversations. Hold on. I'm sorry. Republic hearing. We got We got to have order here. So, Mike, go ahead. Go ahead and go with your concerns.

I just I just want to make sure you guys pay attention that they're doing the best they should be doing and keeping make sure all the income's coming in. It should be coming in and there's no money being wasted. And here's another picture was taken last week. I assume this is a city meter. It's a fire hydrant meter still on a fire hydrant. It's been five months, so I'm sure it's not what it's been. That's not a cheap meter. I don't know. Is that something?

No, it's probably city water, but I'm just That's a city meter. It's been that's terrible management for that meter to be out there in the winter time. And it's obvious it's not being bu should have been unhooked.

That's all I'm saying. I think there's places you can check to make sure there's not wasteful stuff taking place before you start raising increases just because it's an easy step. I think there needs to be some internal things looked. I'm only speaking on the water. You know, I have no problem with anything else. I understand it all, but I do understand how the water works. So, internally, you got you got your license taken away. Mike, don't even go there. I'll go there if you want. Gentlemen, please. Please. Thank you. You must have an issue. Say something.

Okay. Anything else for water? Okay. Sewer. Is there anybody that like to speak on sewer? Okay. And then I think storm water's last. I think that's the last one. That's the one I haven't done yet. Okay. Storm water. Anybody want to speak on storm water? Okay. I'm sorry. Sorry.

I don't I do have to answer that. We have to wait till the weather breaks. We don't have weather. Then we're going to get out completely and then it should take care of the problem. Okay. So, so we will close we'll close the public hearing unless you have anything else you want to say. Okay. So, close the public hearing on the on the um rate increases and we'll reopen the city council meeting here. So with that um we have the ordinances in front of us. Uh do I have a motion to read ordinance 2026-2 by title only

second by second by further discussion? All those in favor of the usual sign. It is unanimous. Please read ordinance 2026-2 by title only. Ordinance number 2020 6-2 city of Indiana and the ordinance amending the rates and charges for the city of Columbus city. Any questions, comments, concerns about the ordinance? Do I have a motion to approve orders 2026-2 on second and final

read? Motion by second by Tad. Further discussion in the shall sign it is unanimous. Next up is ordinance 2026-3 by title only by second by Dan. Further discussion all those sign it is unanimous. Please read ordinance 2026-3 by title. Ordinance number 2026-3 city Indiana ordinance the rates and charges for the city of Columbia City. Any questions, comments, concerns regarding that motion to approve orders on second and final reading.

Motion by Tad, second by further discussion. All those in favor of the usual sign. It is unanimous. Next up is 2026-4 by Jennifer Dan. Further discussion all those sign. It is unanimous. Please read ordinance by title only. Ordinance number 2026-4 city of Columbia City, Indiana or amending the rates and charges for the city of Columbia City Municipal Sewer utility. Questions, comments, concerns? Hearing none have a motion to approve ordinance 2026-4 on second and final reading.

Motion by second by Dan. Further discussion all those sign it is unanimous. Next or 2026-5 discussion. All those in favor of the usual sign. It is unanimous. Please read ordinance 2026-5 by title only. Ordinance number 2026-5 city of city Indiana ordinance amending the rates and charges for the city of city municipal electric utility.

Any questions, comments, concerns? Hearing a motion to approve ordinance 2026-5, second by further discussion. All those sign it is unanimous. Next up is 2026-7. Do I have a motion to read by title? Motion by Jennifer, second by Dan. Further discussion sign. It is unanimous. Please read or

number 2026-7 ordinance adopting formal rules of behavior for attendees at meetings. Uh so my understanding Some of you worked on this. Uh this has been something that's been in the works for I think months now at least

years years now. Um and so this is effectively we have been councled by uh the state and by cities and towns if you will that adopting more formal procedures instead of the kind of ad hoc as we go. Here's the rules for our meetings and things to that effect. Uh we've been encouraged to pass a formal set of rules for the way we structure these meetings and all that kind of so I don't know I know you worked on this a little bit you spot here but you want to talk a little bit about that or any other council members want to talk about the ordinance itself

really it's something you know we've always organized the meetings in such way but we need to

so So um so this really kind of governs the way that I as a presiding officer would handle business and handle public input and handle all that kind of stuff as well as kind of respectful dialogue and electronic devices when there's a lot for everyone. I will say because we looked at multiple differentities to come up with this final piece to choose what we

just on the phone of her but she's not she's under the weather but she's still here init Any questions? Okay. Motion to approve 2026-7 on first read by Tad by Jennifer further discussion. It is unanimous that second read. Okay. So, uh we're going to go ahead and do department reports and then we'll the floor for public comment because I know some of you probably are here to do some public comment. So, we will have that after department heads. So, Mike, you want to start?

Yeah, we're finishing up the inventory. Having a hard time getting also a week ago, we had a main break and we did get a call from the emergency man. saying they wanted the price of it, you know, but when I notified that it was not a main break by the weather, it was because when the valve was installed probably 15, 20 years ago, they put limestone around it, which limestone is a base which ate the bolts. So the top of it come apart. This is the fifth one we've had in probably the last three years. So, I'm sure there's going to be more

question. Thank you, Jeff. Working on getting the bot going for the amphitheater build operate transfer. Uh we started meeting on that. Uh working to get appraisals and demo cost for the jail. Also, same with another property, possible contaminated property in the city on that one. Um, just I'll let Ted discuss about RDC, but we're having a conversation next week with uh Jerry Bushy about what to do, how to tip his property. So, lot of stuff in the right

question. Thank you, Mike. Irish Woodale version back and forth. question.

Thank you, Matt. Registration started for baseball softball in the office that last until March 7th. We had a very successful father dance Friday and Saturday night. Thanks to the volunteers that came and helped clean up and ran pars which is certified operator so that he's able to help out with the pool this next summer and other than that inst New Eagle Park office at the jail.

Thank you. Good training officers also. Officers also kudos to her efforts. This makes my heart kind of happy. All the tornado sirens are working. Facebook doing the maintenance and test them to make sure go through crisis communication last week. Next week.

Thank you, Sean.

We have all ours tested about every last entire inventory of our polls. We have 288ed which means we've been working on that nearly guys. that way. Some job descriptions also responsibilities ago projects all the way radction.

So hopefully get that 36 and 86 weeks. And I did want to just reference the power and I'm just looking over the last three years increases judging by the In 2024 raised their rate by 2 and 12% they rates this year they increased by 2.77% over three years their rates have gone up. They've done a great job. We're not counting on buying off the market. A lot of people are diveful. questions of Sean.

Thank you, Tom.

Well, last meeting I report that we bought ago that turned out to be 11 and we're basically going to part it out. some of his parts to upgrade our breathing air compressor system by the name of Justin who is he works for Justin watches he works for your fire who's also a fulltime firefighter south he and I were talking about he felt horrible we were going to take this thing out it should have some street he took it upon himself to hop on the works. So we found it off your fire back and send it off. Long story short, just came up with a plan to kind of help us get this one that we have up and running on it. should pay for everything that we need to do for 102. I still have a little bit of money left. So, mayor make sure both of them are kept in the loop. Keep them in the loop of where everything's at so that I've never fire. Just want to make sure everybody's aware of what's going on, what we're doing there's no take off to Justin for jumping in with us, doing the extra homework, trying to save us a little.

Um, I think I reported that 101 had some oil and leaks. We're still waiting to get those in. needs to stop plowing snow and breaking stuff now that we get in those little leaks taken care of. Our stuff's not dangered that a company by the name of Convoy Technology had called us. They wanted to mount a camera on a back camera and then another camera at the tip of the ladder and test it out, run a commercial and use it as a marketing thing. They were going to what they mounted to our vehicle they would give us. We finally got everything up and running well enough and the weather has broke. We got that camera up and going. Here in the near future when the weather kind of works out for us, we will be helping them shoot that February 17th is our live day through the winter. We take my hat off to really classes over here for all the full guys. They were advertised throughout the state. Anybody wanted to come to them. The big one was which you have to have that to be the head on show to teach or to have to do an academy for firefighter one and two also for live fire solutions. So um that will conclude on February 17th day school classor youth council please

city and currently We've been talking about going to schools. We were not in very funpring I am joining mayor tomorrow with representative and department check. You have anything?

No. Okay. Um, a couple of things for your information. Uh, yeah. So, tomorrow I'll be in Indianapolis. Actually, I'm down there. Anyways, and then represent set up this meeting. So, it works out really well. Um we have next Monday is uh we're closed for president of president's day and then next Wednesday I'll be done again because we have our legislative dinner that night. We have a board of directors meeting before then so that's kind of what's happening. I will not be at the next meeting because I'll be in Washington DC for our with Sean for the Indiana Municipal Power Agency's fly with our representatives and senators about municipal power and specifically about making sure that some of those federal policies don't trickle down to us. So it's it's always a time well spent. We do get a fair amount of work done out there which is a good thing. So fly out Monday afternoon, fly back Wednesday. Besides that, I think that's probably right. So Jennifer,

there's actually a lot going on right now, but I did want to mention it together in one location. We'll announce it at a later date, but the date September 12.

All right. We had redevelopment meeting today and uh just some updates on some things. The old LML property we As Chip would say, 99 it could be two%.

We're waiting on one more soiling recommendation. We've been jumping through these fires for years, but we're like that close to getting that turned loose so we can actually start it. Um getting appraisals for the Van Beer and Washington Street site. doing a project there. Uh the former Whley County Jail, we are getting I should say we Chip is getting different on having that site torn down possibly to see how much that would cost. Would they say they one guy said want to go past the floor?

The first floor is so well built they would like to stop at the first floor and see if the you know another company can build from the first well just for clarity sake for the RFP it's so that there's information in that RFP for that we've done some of the due diligence not that we're going to go and spend the money on demoing the building

so that use that property for a project they will know the costs that are involved in if they want to keep it as is or if they want to demolish it and build it from scratch so we have all the options on the table and Smith Brothers. We're getting a couple two different sets of appraisals for that property. So then we can and demo and and demo and appraisals for those. So um and then also we we voted to approve a tip district for complex that could possibly in the near future.

I have nothing. Okay. So, I can't live another home super I know one of the concerns Police substantially larger part of being So again, it's not so much appl

Okay, we will open it up for comments. Maximum of five minutes preferably. Uh you need to give your name and address a home address on there uh before you start speaking. And just as a record, it is it is a public comment, not a necessarily a question and answer time. You can ask questions. The council can choose whether or not to answer those questions. That's kind of the procedure throughout the state of Indiana. With that, we'll open the floor. Is there any public comment? Come on up.

My name is Andrew. North. I don't do a lot of public speaking, so please don't make fun of me. Don't laugh. Uh, just thank you guys for letting me be here. It's the first time I've ever took any initiative in something like this. So, um, I want to talk about backyard chickens. I know you guys have heard this in the past and I know it's your favorite topic. So, here we are. Um, I know you've heard pros, cons, this, that, what they can do, what they can't do, what people like, what people don't like. I'm not here to talk about that. You've already heard it a million times. I actually kind of developed a plan, a blueprint sort of of like a registration process. Um, a uh tagging process, um, who or what entity would handle that? what would happen if you had to end up chasing chickens outside of police force or anything like that. Um I don't know if you want me to go through that with you all or if you would like to look at

Okay. So uh I got a registration system. Um you know you would uh give your the name of yourself, the owner, address, contact information. There would obviously have to be a limit. Um I know like he said he's check cities. I check cities. usually in the four to six range, some as high as eight, but it's usually never more than that. Um, you you would give the intended use for the chickens. Um, and then you would have a signed compliance agreement uh document with the city stating what it's for, what you're doing, how many you have. Um, you could submit the application online or in person. The city, you guys would obviously have to, you know, review zoning and ordinance compliance. Um, With that, I feel like there obviously has to be regulations, fencing, um, fenced in coops, runs, things like that. Chickens can't go free room. So, like you said, we can eliminate them getting out if that were to happen. Um, they'd be tagged with either a ban or if they want to go the extra mile, you can chip them. I mean, that's up to them. Um the tag number, owner registration number, breed, um hatch year if that's possible, health notes about the rule, anything like that would get entered into like an Excel spreadsheet of sorts into the system. Um the city would maintain a database concerning the registered household, number of chickens, tag numbers linked to the chicken and owner. Um there'd be inspections, a history of the inspections, violations, warning that along with owner. Um the oversight who would oversee it could be public health department, code enforcement, animal control. Um there could be a role designated as a poultry program coordinator. They would talk they would process the registrations,

issue tags, maintain the database, coordinate inspections, respond to complaints, um ensure ordinance compliance. Um there would be an initial inspection upon registration. Um complaint based um annual compliance checks to make sure that everything is up to code. You're not just throwing them in your backyard and putting a tire on them and calling it good. Um steps like for enforcement upon like complaints could be like you know an initial warning fees in incurring two to three times and after that revoke the uh chickens and the license or registration of the owner. Um I know there's a lot of people that don't want it. There's also a lot of people that do want it. I don't feel like one vote outweighs the other. I feel like freedom is freedom, you know. Um They want to have chickens and people have to be responsible and respectful and you know it's just like a dog. You got to clean up after your dog. You have to take care of your dogs just like a kid. If you can't have it then you shouldn't have it. Um then I have like a budget and staffing for you here. Um the philosophy that I wanted was selfunding. No money coming from the city. It would all be paid for through household permits, tags for the chickens, that sort of thing. Um, I don't know if you guys seen my Facebook post, but that was a really fun thing to look at. Uh, I don't know if you guys do a lot of uh social media. There's a lot of people that like it and there's a lot of people that don't like it, but I just did like an average of like 200 households at $40 a household. That's $8,000. Um that's just for the registration now with the tagging and that say there's a th000 chickens in total that's 4,000

$12,000 that go into funding everything. Um I have multiple options for staffing and administration. Um optionality would be existing staff and a stipen. Um the duties assigned uh to an employ animal control enforcement or public health. Um, this is all just a blueprint. I'm just trying to give you guys a general idea because I know that you guys have, like I said, heard all here's this, here's this. Well, what are we going to do for it? So, that's your five minutes. Okay.

I don't know. Yeah, I mean if you want to provide an outline to the council any other public comment and address you already know who I am.

I know for the Connie Lutz Connie with a K 602 West Columbia Parkway. No, I do not want tickets. I took an informal poll of my immediate neighbors and I have nine nos, two may butts. Well, with big research. Okay, I'm a little nervous. Know that I don't speak in public. Usually it's on Facebook. Okay, these chickens, I'm sorry, but I have been attacked by chickens in our neighborhood. Now, this has been quite some time ago. I was at the corner of Jeffrey and Isuba walking my dog and I hear all these pucking noises and the next thing I know these chickens come running out at me flapping their wings. Apparently someone over on Holden Road was had them and they escaped. So, I'm thinking if you want chickens, you move out in the country. And that's pretty much all I've got to say, I did take a poll at the square the other Friday night and I did talk to a realtor and he said it could possibly reduce your property value. And I'm just wondering what's going to happen when we have all these stray chickens running around Who are you going to call?

Gary. I bet he doesn't want his officers out there chasing chickens. It's bad enough they have to take care of the dog problem. Right, Gary? The DNR? I don't know. I'll talk to my grandson and see how Levi can would like to be involved in this chicken situation in town. And I know he won't like it. I just wonder about all the chicken poop. Will that be going down the sewers? And I've heard that chickens damage gardens if they get loose. They're a general nuisance. They can be noisy. What about roosters? I don't want to get I'm retired. I don't want to get upd go adopt a dog down at the shelter. Now, that to me is good responsibility for a child or a Let's see. I just wonder. I've had several people that do raise chickens. They're my friends, but they live in the country. And they said this winter's been really hard. They have to go out and clean the coops out. They have to haul the food in there, make sure their water doesn't freeze. I wonder how many people in town's going to be that responsible. Frankly, I can't see it.

And then I have one more issue. I was at the VFW Saturday and of course we were discussing the chicken situation and one of my friends said do you know that you could get now I'm going to try to pronounce this if I have time my

you can get ocular hystopplasmosis from chickens. Now, this friend of mine apparently grew up on a farm and it was his responsibility to go out in the chicken coop and clean all the poop up and he breathed that in and it went to his eyes. He has to go get shots every so often in his eyes. So, I thought, well, I'll put that down as one of my Let's see. Do I have any more time?

You have 13 seconds. 13 seconds. Oh, and don't forget the expense of setting this up. It's not going to be cheap. Some of my friends that raise chickens has told me that. And whatever you do, if you do get them and you live around me, you better have a privacy pass. Thank you.

Okay. Any other public comment? Okay, hearing none. We will call meeting