Common Council - Regular Meeting

It 6 p.m. on Tuesday, February 24th, 2026. We will call the common order. Let's stand and say the pledge of allegiance.

I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands nationy and justice for all. front of you are the minutes from our last meeting on February 10th. Uh the only change I had I had two changes. was uh under the youth council has at the end of her first name and the second one actually had to do with you and that's when we were talking about chicken there I guess it said he has worked for Jasper you have not worked for Jasper right

okay that's contacted okay that's okay that was clarification I had. Were there any other changes or corrections? Do I have a motion to approve with changes by further discussion? All those signs of those present. Next up is 2026-6. Do I have a motion by title by further discussion? sign. It is unanimous of those present ordinance 2026-6 by title only 2026 vacation.

Okay. So again, uh Mr. Trier is here. If anybody has any questions for him to approve motion to approve by second discussion all those favors

next up. Thanks. Next up is orders. It is unanimous. Please read ordinance 2026-7 by title.

Ordinance 2026 ordinance adopting rules of behavior for attendees. So again, we had good conversation about this last time, but effectively this put schools in place for both the I'll get there. I apologize for my official title. The presiding officer, the public com by to approve further discussion. All those in favor of the usual sign it is unanimous. Next up 2026-8 motion to read by title only by second by further discussion. It is unanimous. Please read ordinance by title ordinance number 2026. restating a chapter 100 title of the code or the city of city.

So this is retreat. This is to add a fee for the street closures. We did have some discussion open discussion dialogue works um so we could at least mle it around for a couple weeks before we come to a final determination of what that So, as you'll see in the ordinance, we're not that

kind of talked about it. I think where we were leaning, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think where we were leaning was kind of block. So if you have one block of downtown, it's $25 or something, right? If you have a block or two blocks and it's something like that, it just has some kind of a standardized fee. Um, with the idea though that if you're going to do a north and south 100, in our conversation, we set aside because it's kind of it beast. Um and they actually do compensate us for multiple things already. Uh first Friday has already worked out an agreement with services and stuff for their events. So we did not to your point we did not differentiate between half day event. I would assume though, but I would assume if it's a multi-day event that would be per day. So $25 for a block if you're having three days. Now it's $75. I I don't know. We didn't get into that. I know we spoke a little bit about this. Are there are there any request?

Yeah. So, if there's additional police coverage or fire cover in that matter, I think that definitely could be something that worked into that fee schedule that again wasn't necessarily contemplated, but Gary, do you want to comment on that? I'll go to you after that. But

yeah, main street guys enjoy going. So if they want Sure. I don't think that's whe disagree. I downtown working there.

Absolutely. And I I agree. I agree. If if they're asking for additional coverage at the event to have somebody actually watching over the event, then I 100% agree that they should compensate. If there's an intersection, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, we get that. Yes. And that has We had a few

I think that's very reasonable to request right so if they request it but for events that are happening downtown that you know they go our officers go and do their rounds they do walk through they go and do their rounds like I think we can all agree that's good but to your point though if they're asking for someone to be at the facility at in that block or in that two blocks or whatever%

I think it's the officer directly that's the same way I apologize but that's the same way that we do for the banks or if they're going to do it they do that's the extra patrol they can sign up for and they get compensated directly We don't

for the parade or the event are two separate things. He's saying the whole event Saturday night of the parade guys around the point Is that something here? Well, if they're being paid directly by the officer keeps us official stands by XYZ. What's the way they're still

our uniform city I know we focus on additional things like it's the same intersection as well. the same scenar. You're not paying

guys. We don't have enough guys to allow to go out. So, we have to hire guys in Police Department. Ours is overtime to the fire department through the fire department to come and block those.

It is not settler. But to the but to your point earlier I think again if it's so for old settlers the old settlers parade is what two hours start to finish let's say right you know that's very different than a four or six or eight hour event obviously during the day and that's the longest parade we have majority of those parades I'm thinking homecoming parade lighted Christmas parade I mean you could say marathon although that apps that That's the memorial they run,

the memorial they run. But again, we're talking about very short time is the longest time frame from a parade perspective. So, you know, again, how do you parse that out of a 15inut homecoming parade versus a two hourg I agree? I think we're on the same page when it comes to that. Again, I think that's where we've differentiated. they're being called in specifically for the event. And by that I mean the actual event, not a parade. Parade is kind of separate. But if it's if it's where they want to have protection or things like that, then that's on their if it's a blocking of streets for that safety. So it's I'm with you. I hear what you're saying. Well, it should what should happen with door is is that it's more structured and it's more of a necessarily.

Okay. So, in front of you is ordinance 26 I had a question. Oh, yes. I'm sorry.

Do we have to passition? So, what you're doing with the ordinance is that there is the same. Okay, I understand. I just want to understand

what is different about this.

So there was there was no reference to add up to works to determine that fee. by Ryan to approve by signing at the next meeting reports Kelly Monday street name signs. as we can maint question.

Thank you.

Currently testing out Motorola radios. We've tested I believe three other brands and next board of work on their findings. 101 is still waiting for repairs for its coolant oil leak leaks. Um, our mechanic had some medical issues and not able to get those done. Um, live burns that I talked about at the last meeting that were last Tuesday went very well. That went in conjunction with our fire instructor 2 class which is now complete. We got a bunch of our younger guys through that course. That way they can help live fire burns training out and a lot of other different types of training. We did that live fire last Tuesday in conjunction with the academy. The fire academy they put on at the high school. Our breathing air compressor is still awaiting. I talked at the last council board of works meetings in reference to a computer that fire from your fire will be here to take a look at that. And we're working with Rainar Do we did work with Rainar Do of our four garage door openers down in the station here. Um had 25 and we found out that we could get parts. We did take quotes to get those replaced. This is shocking to me to have those replaced with similar there was a correct me if I'm wrong,000 difference. So yeah, I found that to be shocking

questions. Thank you. last night went over some eston been working on that contractor come in last year. So we just kind of let the rest of the season and stuff ready about six years. Thank you.

All right. I know a report on the officers down at the academy block sometimes when you go down for make sure they're not forgotten about. They're in their eighth week and they this week they had their specialy week which firearms of operations. They're doing a good job there. Had a few minor equipment issues pretty easy fix and fix a couple things. monitors out ourselves. So, they're going to come in, but that's all under the maintenance contract. So, the city there one brick at a time which was a huge success. amilies comments on Facebook. Proud of our guys there showing up for that day.

Questions. PLC replaced and it's up and running and everything's running back on auto. There is a pump down in the booster station that runs 90% of the times seven days a week 24 hours a day. The only time it doesn't run is another vibration. So I went ahead and ordered a new one and the motor ready as that is. And then also we had aation on theation unit. at the water that went down. It had we've been having problems with it for several years, but it was only in the winter freezer. So, we took it off. Hopefully, we'll have it back up. Question. Thank you, Mike. has been completed. You guys done a great job on that end quote yesterday by the end of the week and then we'll start looking at those see where we're at and we made contact with our contract lab and also our continue to look at issues that we've

been having. So we're take a little different approach on this and try to look organics and that could be on us.

Thank you. Kitchen is springing into action.

We have cat from the uh utilities office that's helping us. I just wrote a note to get with you here couple weeks. Uh tree letters going out tomorrow for some trees removals. Uh amph we had a meeting this week and survey should be complete next week. We got a construction timeline so things are moving there. Marsh and I met with the EPA this week over waste. They want to do more testing. This settlers which is half of the group pay for the testing. So we'll see from there. uh the get the light out team from Mike working with them for a state fund grant which I said earlier we make too much money the city does per person and so it's kind of mess with us still working on liquidating the jail and parking question.

Yeah. Yeah. I've got permission to replace an employee that was let go. So

as I sh working with BSN all systems. We're going to do a whole day of training that soon with the department heads. They're not all going to need to be there, but they feel imperative for them to be there for that training to see if it's something that they

a couple things for you to Uh number one, junk pickup. We have scheduled that for the week of April 27th. Uh in the past, we've done two separate weeks. Now we're all doing it one week accomplished in one week. Some uh conversation with the trash hauler. So the week of April 27th. So telling everybody you have to have your stuff out on the curb by 6 a.m. on the 27th in order to ensure pick up. We're not sure exactly what end of the city they're going to start. Uh so that state of the city address is scheduled for March 13th. So obvious to the chamber and lunch is included in that. And then also we we yesterday was really a good day from a legislative perspective for us. We had there was a really bad municipal election bill that died on the floor yesterday. That was good. There was a proposed amendment that would extend the maxion for an additional year. That amendment was never called pressure by municipalities to their legislators. That was a really good thing. We're making some real good progress on the local income taxes. Uh so after a really tough legislative oh housing the housing bill that was just absolute absolute mess was heavily yesterday where it's all out very good for us as well. So, like I said, what's been a really rough legislative session is finally coming at some positive for us. So, that was a

really big thing. Kudos to the staff for all their work on that. Uh, besides that, having some conversations regarding territory and having multiple conversations with on other topics and things like that. As you may have remembered, I was supposed to be at our Indiana Municipal Power Agency legislative rally this uh today um in DC. Sean is there because he took a different point than I did. So, um I did not end up making it. So, but with that being said, I know we know our team has done a great job and have been there meeting with legislators to make sure that they understand legislative policy changes for electric. So that's that's the whole purpose of um and I've gotten some good updates from him as well. With that, I think that's all I have right now.

Please call it the situ. will fast. So please uh Mike, you correct me if I'm wrong, but I had I had lunch what two weeks ago I think with the water staff and I think they told me every time they've gone out to those calls they've opened up the uh or the meter pit, excuse me, and they've gotten water out of it and every time the water has been clear.

So, it's been inside the home issue. Not saying that there isn't other issues, but generally speaking, when they've gone out, that's been the situation. those res% agree with you. I am with all due respect in public, I was so sick of hearing you out on social media knowing full well that individuals are not calling our city utility office and reporting it and having them come out and try to fix the issue. Thank you for your

I've never seen anybody That's true. That's true. We have no audience and we have no one more thing about mattresses.

Yes. So, we just put out today the uh guidelines for junk pickup. So, yes, mattresses, anything upholstered basically has to be wrapped in plastic. Um it cannot be everything cannot be more than 50 pounds. U there's a certain length. All that stuff is because of truck and because of manpower and all that stuff from the trash company. Those larger things, the appliances, the tires, all that kind of stuff. You got to call city hall ahead of time. So please please uh don't assume. Go on to our city website.net or get on our city Facebook page at city of Columbia City Indiana and look at all the regul because it's not enough

and then it becomes an ordinance violation. So we do have

I think they have to qualify May 1st. May any junkers that want to go out between May and May

but they got by the first anyway. And a lot of those things by the way a lot of the things you put out can be They actually take to the recycle center. They can take a lot of that stuff as well. I don't know about fees, but still. So, did you have something to say or not? Okay. Yes.

Anything else for Okay, we'll call ourselves. Thank you.