Common Council - Regular Meeting

What is camera.

Okay. 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 14th, 2026. We'll call the common council meeting to 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 one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all

here are the minutes from our last meeting on March 24th. Were there any changes or corrections? Hearing none to approve

second by Jennifer seconded by further discussion in favor of the usual sign. It is unanimous. Uh next up we will open the floor for public comment. Um if it's if it's an agenda item or non agenda item um Okay, next up is Columbia City Connect presentation. Whoever wants to go.

Hi, I'm Thank you for the opportunity to be here. My name is Nikki Kester and I'm here to share an update on Columbia City Connect, what we accomplished in 2025 and what we're looking forward to in 2026. Columbia City Connect is a 501c3 profit organization. We are designated through Indiana Main Street and affiliated with the National Main Street Center. That means our work follows a proven nationwide approach to strengthen downtowns through economic development, historic preservation, and community engagement. Columbia City Connect is one of more than 1600 Main Street communities across the country. All of these communities are share a common goal of preserving historic downtowns as an economically vital center of the community. So while our work is local, it's backed by a much larger movement and framework. At the local level, our role is to activate downtown. We focus on creating experiences, supporting businesses, and giving people more reasons to come downtown. 2025 was a year of growth and momentum, and I'd like to share a few highlights that show the impact of that work. Uh I think everybody has had a chance to review the annual report we sent out. Um, one of our standout projects for 2025, and my personal favorite, was Windows into History. The project was funded through grants from Indiana Humanities and Indiana Landmarks, and it brought local history to life through storefront displays. It launched with a walking tour with esteemed local historians as our guide. It received regional attention with WOI coming out to cover the project, and it was a great example of how we can combine history, storytelling, and walkability to create a meaningful downtown experience. There's still one of the decals on several places around town, but on city hall right outside features our mayor, our very first mayor. Um, we also hosted a steamroller party as part of First Fridays funded by the Indiana Arts Commission. This was a really unique large-scale public art experience that drew people in, not just locally, but

from outside the community. In May, we introduced the Launchpad, our youth entrepreneur entrepreneurial market. We offered free booth spaces for young families, giving them a chance to sell products, test ideas, and gain real world experience. Um, we also partnered with the Columbia City Lions Club to grow wheels of Whitley County. What started as a first Friday feature expanded in 2025 to a standalone event. Uh, the growth shows strong community interest and allows us to create a larger economic and tourism impact. Another new event in 2025 was the flower crawl. This encouraged people to visit multiple downtown businesses in a fun, interactive way. And finally, we also made progress with downtown wayfinding signage. These signs help visitors better navigate downtown and discover businesses in key locations. Uh overall, these efforts increased visibility, brought more people downtown, and created new opportunities for engagement. And most importantly, they continued to build momentum for long-term economic vitality. This year, I'm really excited. Um, we had our new initiative, Foodie February in 2026. Uh, it's a month-long event to support local restaurants during a slower time of year, and we had a great response. Over 800 receipts were turned in, and even the Fort Wayne News Channel 15 came out to cover it with multiple live news segments. Uh, it's a fun but intentional way to get people dining local. And we're also proud to share that in May, Columbia City Connect was awarded National Main Street Status. Uh this recognition reflects the strength and consistency of the work happening here at the local level from events and business support to historic preservation and community engagement. It means we're meeting national standards in how we approach downtown development. It also helps position Columbia City for additional opportunities, including increased visibility, stronger partnerships, and

access to funding and resources that can continue to move our downtown forward. We're also introducing a new event this year in honor of America 250, Star, Stripes, and Symphony on Thursday, July 2nd. This is designed to be a large-scale community experience that brings people together downtown to celebrate our nation's history through music, performance, and storytelling. The event will feature patriotic musical performances by the Witco Marching Band, Indian Springs Middle School choir, a Dixie Land Band, and the Whitley County Choir. It will also include civic readings and character performance, including Sherbusco, fifth grade student, reciting the preamble to the Constitution. Herald Company performers presenting the Declaration of Independence, Mrs. Abigail Adams reflecting on the founding of America, and President Abraham Lincoln delivering the Gettysburg Address. At its core, the event is about bringing people together, celebrating our history and our community in a meaningful and memorable way. We've also introduced a new tool called Manage My Market for First Fridays. This helps streamline vendor registration on the back end, making it easier and more efficient to manage events. On the guest side, it allows us to create interactive maps so visitors can easily find vendors, activities, and businesses they're looking for. It's a big step forward for our organization and the event. So, um, at the end of the day, a strong downtown supports strong local businesses, drives economic activity, and builds community pride. And downtown is the heart of Columbia City, and this work helps keep it vibrant and growing. Thank you for your continued support of Columbia City Connect. And I'm happy to answer any questions.

Questions for you. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. It's a group of volunteers and they're amazing. Yeah, that's what I was say. I think you guys do an outstanding job. Thank you. I think it really is remarkable. everything that goes on.

Thank you, ma'am. Thank you. Appreciate it. Next up is 2025-27. Mara, I don't I don't want to put you on the spot here, but you want to talk a little bit why we're doing

We can if you'd like to. Yes. Okay. Uh so I have a motion to read corrected ordinance number 2025-27. It is unanimous. Please read ordinance 2025-27 ordinance number 2025-27 referencing ordinance number 2025-27 vacation

so this was an ordinance not prepared by me and so I did not realize incorrect and So, I went back and um have the correct legal description in here now that I thought, but the main thing was I'll also note that one of the question marks that I think Marcia and I kind of had convers phone with the ballard's neighbor, Mr. Clipper. We didn't have anything in writing about him%. So, anytime we, you know, we're going to give a piece of property, both property owners on both sides are entitled to 50% of it, right? So, I talked to Mr. Clifford just to get his perspective on it. He had said, "I want to wave my right." Basically, we didn't have any writing. So, that any questions for Mara about this ordinance or we still need two.

Um I don't care. Yeah, I mean you can e only because uh they are waiting to move forward and get things done. Is there a preference for you?

Just wanted to make sure. Okay. Okay. Um, do you guys have anything else to add besides what you've already said at this point? No. see if we need to do anything else. Okay. Okay. Okay. So, hearing that, uh, can I have a motion to declare an emergency and approve ordinance corrected ordinance 2025-27 on first and final reading? Motion by Dan, second by Jennifer. Further discussion. Oh, I'm sorry.

Oh, I thought you had a question. All those signs. Okay. So, Jennifer Dan approve and thank you. Okay. So, now what do the need to do to move forward? So, this needs to go through and then back. Okay, that clear as mud.

Okay. Okay, thank you guys.

Okay. Uh let's see. Uh next up is ordinance 20 sorry 2026-9 amendment to the zoning classification. Nathan, I'll go ahead and have you come up and describe it first. Sure. For the record, Nathan Ber, planning director. Uh what this is is a resoning request uh 26 CZ3 uh for 304 North Main Street. It's request from R1 single family zoning to R2 two family uh zoning. The uh applicant is requesting this primarily to allow for a duplex. Uh the house that's been there that's on the property has been in existence since I think 1880. Uh probably in the 1940s, as best as we can tell, it was split into multiple apartments. Uh up until the most recent previous owner who used all four apartments essentially as one. uh by that usage as one functional unit. Uh that removed the grandfathering that it had the legal non-conformance as four units. Uh under R1, uh the applicant uh is requesting to change it from up to four units down to two apartments, get the zoning and alignment to allow for that. So effectively, this will go from what used to be four apartments about 10 years ago to two units now as a duplex. The R2 zoning uh reflects that. R2 also reflects the development standards of the overall area a little bit better. Uh even though most of the area is single

family in terms of use, the actual lots that are there uh better line up with R So, if you're looking at this as just this lot, it's primarily for the use. If you're looking at the overall area, it better lines up with the actual lot sizes of of the neighborhood. So, this does come to you with a unanimous payable recommendation from the plan commission last week. They did have one condition that might be worth exploring uh more in terms of how we deal with it, whether it's a zoning commitment or whether we let it stand as a condition. And that is that uh the condition is uh that it would be for no more than the duplex uh use. So didn't want it to be again further carved up uh with variances or anything like that. So, uh, kind of goes without saying, but they wanted to make sure it was very clear in that recommendation. So, that's a nutshell of it. If you read the written staff report, I went into way longer detail. Uh, you come to expect that of me now. Uh, but this one uh in particular was uh deserve to know that extra detail. So, any questions for me? The applicant is here as well if you have questions for them. questions for Nathan. So it was a multiple and then it went to single now it's double.

So as I understand wanting to go to double officially but yeah so the previous owner while they used it essentially as one one family they never took out the extra kitchens. They never did anything or did very minimal work to remove the structural component of it being separated out. So the is looking to take out uh or at least um remove the additional units and just take it down to two apartments. So, effectively creating a duplex. Just anecdotally adds

Yeah, the kitchens look like they were probably redone in the 40s. I have another question. So the external is not going to change in the house. It's just what's done inside internally to make it. Uh parking question came up at the plan commission. There are at least five paved off street parking spaces uh on the site currently. So the minimum parking requirement would be four. So they meet that requirement. So, currently there's only one family there. Uh, I'll let the applicant uh clarify that, but there should only be one family living there. Yes. I Well, I don't know if he has a rent.

Thank you,

Mr. Name and address, please. Uh 0765 West 0 West North Range, Indiana. Yeah. Um there's still three kitchen int. There's u I've I've done over $100,000 worth of expenses on improving it, removing the third meter, took it down to two meters. Um, a lot of homes have two kitchens, you know, so one of the units would have two kitchens. Uh, doesn't make sense for me to rip that out yet and stuff. I brought that old house back to a very nice condition. No one's living there at the moment. A couple years ago, I tried to sell it. U, but they had it listed for sale by owner, but with with an R1 on there as it was and me having bought it only because it was nonconformed and uh confirmed that way before I bought it. And then two months later, petitions filed by the neighborhood and they did something they never done before in history. They took it from from nonperform status to to an R1. So, yeah.

How long have you owned the property? Since I bought it 17. A tremendous amount of work. It's listed on the MLS. You could you could see photos of the whole house. Spend over 10 grand just in sanding, refinishing the floors and dug up stuff, pulled up flooring that and found nice original hardwood floor under and stuff. done a tremendous amount of work to it.

The wiring was redone. There was a permit pulled in 1997 where they redid the knob and tube wire to to insulate wiring. There's also work done that was um in I think there was 2008 I saw that there was some work done on it and I had a home inspection done just uh in December and uh he found nothing wrong with anything as far as electrical anything like that. Of course I knew he would point out the roof because there's a few shingles blown off but there's no leak in the roof. Yeah, the one's not connected. I didn't literally remove the meter, but it's cut off. There's no the city cut it off. I'm only getting two bills now instead of three.

It's been that way. Yeah, electric. Has it been single family?

Well, couple months after I bought it, like I said, you know, yeah, I submit the hearing of the uh the results on the uh uh meeting that we had when the neighbors filed the uh petition and yeah, of course, I hired an attorney because there was a lot of lying under oath and you know, one claimed that there's still old knob and tooth wire there and you know, the council member the board just took people's word for what it was. I guess I guess just one voted two families haven't lived

since 2017. There was a brief time brief moment of about six months that there was someone in the back unit when I got when I brought in a family for the front. So there was an overlap a little bit and then after that six months, let's say 2018. Yep. Since 2018, it's been single family only. There hasn't been two two units rented in the same building.

There there was there was a friend of the family that was renting from me that stayed in the back part of it, but the doors were open and they were living as one. The people in the front part were not paying their rent. She wanted to bring in somebody else yet, a friend of hers to help with her on that, but I collected the rent from her personally instead of relying on the on the other one in the front. I might add one more thing. The house was built for two people. It's on two lots.

Two families or two? No, the one house

was built for two families. You know, Dr. Kitskar built it back in 1880 for him and his butler. So, there was two separate living. So, get go it was two two residences and as far as density goes that's the only house on that half of the block on the other half of the block there's two houses so I mean and I poured a parking pad there first thing I did is to get the vehicles off the street and get them off in the alley got a nice big parking pad there took off took down the old carriage bar and took all the lumber home build another barn with it.

The alley. Yes. Pretty much parallel. Thank you. Yep. Okay. Uh public comment. Anybody like to speak? Come on up for council rules. Three minutes. But if you'd like, Okay. Five minutes, sir. And you're on. Okay. I've lived real close to this house. Sorry. Name and address. Gary Kessie, 107 East Jefferson Street,

and I share a property line with Elmer's house for about 80 ft. But I've been there for over 26 years now, and I've seen a lot of folks come and go and One of the things that um I can say when it's an owner that's there or I'm going to say primary before Elmer, they took very good care of their place. The renters have not done that and don't normally do it. But I'm pretty uh pretty pnicity about the yard and how things look all around me. And I'm standing here also representing the people who are immediately around this property on our side of Main Street and they're not here for some various reasons of work shifts and other things and by the hospital. So I'm speaking for all of us but we all wanted to stay in our one family unit. And I do have a question. It's about 3,000 square feet. Do do any of you think that there could be two families living there sharing 15 well to 3,000 square feet. Well, it's not very much when it comes down to 15. Not much at all. But that's just um my opinion on that. But all the neighbors have talked to me about it and they want to be basically a one family unit like all the other houses in our neighborhood and we all get along very well closely over the past close to 30 years and we want it to stay that way. To me, there's no common sense involved in wanting to change it to R2 unless it's for the betterment of the

neighborhood for the folks around. Why? change it if it's not going to make something better. And I just don't see where it can be better. So that's what that's our stand on that. And uh I know that Nathan did talk about the density of the general area, the neighborhood. And and I drove around and a lot of houses are spread out pretty good, but these two great big houses that are close together are really close. And I did submit some pictures, which I'm sure you saw that. They're in they're in their county.

It's very unusual that houses this big are that close because the other house next to Elmer's house is about 4,000 square ft. So for the reasons I talked about is that we really care about our neighborhood. And yes, I've mowed that yard at Elmer's house a hundred times when there's been people there that don't take care of it and they either ask me or I just go do it. Now that was I did that myself. So everything looks good and u these things are important to us. Um and I think the single family dwelling which it's been for a lot of decades has served very well and should continue. And I might be wrong but I thought I heard Elmer say in our last meeting his intent is to change it to R2 and sell it and leave town. So to me, we're the ones that live here. We're the neighbors. And so I don't see where that's relevant. But that's basically what I have.

Any questions? Thank you. Any other members of the public?

Kimberly Susher, 181 North Lexington. Um, I didn't plan on speaking, but just a couple of quick things. Elmer is planning on selling it. I have it listed. Um, as far as it being taken care of before, I had it listed then, too. Um, it was not taken care of before. It had to be the last home on my route that day. I had to go home and shower when I was done. When Elmer took over the home, he has turned this home into a beautiful place. Um, pristine, clean, absolutely gorgeous. 3000 I apologize. I don't remember exactly what it is. The way this home is laid out, easily two families. Um, multiple entrances, entrances and exits. Um, and having it listed for approximately 5 months with the way it's set up, it is just not selling the way that it sits. So, going back to what it had been is, in my professional opinion, the ideal way for it to go. As far as what is best for Columbia City, I've lived here most of my life. Um, and I I think this would be ideal whether it's a rental home or single family. The yard may or may not be taken care of. It doesn't matter whether it's rental or single family. You could have an issue regardless. So, that shouldn't be an issue. In my opinion, that's the direction it should go.

So, only question I have is based on what you said, just make sure the reason that you believe that it's not selling because it's listed as R1 instead of R2. Is that what you're trying to say? It is um you know that is I would say one of the reasons it's not selling because there are multiple kitchens. There's multiple electric meters on the side. It is set up to have more than one family live in it. So when someone comes in to see it, they immediately think, you know, on the positive, maybe they could have family move in with them and be a multigenerational home. on the negative. We need to go in and take out some of these. I just want to make sure Yes, absolutely. Question for the council.

Thank you. member of the public Would you like to talk before we do it? And I have pretty much added at the same time. house my opinion that was screwed up years ago and I don't know in that time period wasn't that kind of screwed We have an opportunity fix.

So I respect what you know personally. So that's why due respect to That's why

I don't get a vote in this but Nathan question I keep coming back to her trying figure out is as I look at the zoning map of the area that we're looking at here. Um, how is this not spot? I'm not trying to play one side or another. I'm just trying to understand because I know we've had, you know, generally speaking, we've had a consistent policy of we try really hard not to spot zone. So, right, I just want to make sure that I understand what the planations

on. So, spot zoning versus a spot of zoning is kind of the question. And so stop zoning with negative connotations means that you're giving undue preferential treatment to a particular land owner that you wouldn't give to others in the same condition. Uh whereas a spotted zoning means there's something particular about a piece of ground that warrants it being treated differently. In this case, I would say that the fact that we have a historic residence on the property might be that distinction. I will also say that we have other similar spots of zoning in the in the city. Uh in the staff report I pointed out about four I believe three or four uh that are similar cases where you've got R3 among R2 or even R1 for example. So it's it it's it is difficult um to make that distinction but that's that's how

other comments this is. and my district. So, I've got my neighbors that have concerns, legitimate concerns. So, I have to kind of stay with my constituents and say, "I understand your concerns, but I'm also struggling What are these concerns addressed by resilience isn't necessarily going to reduce the fact that it could be history. So the historic use of that the concerns that they have the current in my opinion didn't seem to follow that But again, trying to figure out which part of it should have not affecting a lot of times looking at things and yes everything may not be positive but does it truly have merit

concerns about motion to read ordinance 2026-9 please read ordinance 2026-9 by title Ordinance 2026-9, an ordinance amending the zoning of certain property from the R1 single family resial district to the R2 two family residential district. They might want to talk about further than what they already have details for discussion after

the vote. We can do whatever you want to do. Yes.

Okay. So then hearing no discussion additional discussion. Do I have a motion on ordinance? by further discussion signify oppos. what kind of and I know we can do that. But I would like also to know what kind of action you take to eliminate it as it is set up now for free even though turned off the still located there. So it does have the potential of having three locations in it. What are your plans for eliminating that

option from the property? It has to rewire because the meter is intact, but the box is empty. No breakers. So, no one no one has ever done the work that I've done to that property. I've done a lot of work. I I you know I was when I bought it I bought it specifically because it was um I received a letter before I bought it. I would not have bought it had I not received the letter that state and I have the letter from

well I guess the if if it did sell the new homeowner would have to bring in a licensed to rewire to get that box up and running again to connect the meter. I I condensed the wiring from the three boxes to two boxes. That meter is still out there, but it there's no need for it. They shut it off.

I understand that. So I want to know from him what his promise is stated how we're going to eliminate something going further than I guess

well so that I was just I was just thinking that myself is that if there is still a third meter on this property and it is one of our Then to me the natural reaction we need to pull the third meter off the house so that it does create a scenario to come and get a permit. Now with that being said there's you guys can correct me if I'm wrong but there's nothing that says that you couldn't attach to one right here. Oh, I'm sure there are absolutely

three. Well, I mean I mean we have apartments where you have multiple that are all attached to one meter and maybe the landlord actually pays the bill and passes on the cost of the scenario. Don't get me wrong, his answer is deal. Okay, thank you everybody. I appreciate that very much in the conversation. Next up is ordinance 2026-10. This is another correction. Have a motion to read ordinance 2026-10 by title only by All sign ordinance number 2026-10 city of Columbia City Indiana or amending the rates and charges for the city of Columbia.

Uh so I know there's been a lot of conversation. Marcia, you want to take this? This should be pretty straightforward and I do request um Baker Tilly thereus that they were supposed to calculate the minimum rates on evidently and so they based it on that one penny higher uh to do to calculate the rates. And so they've gone back and recalculated those rates as exhibit shows. This is just for those minimum rates. All the other correct um so it is one penny less. So we're just correcting it to make sure that it's cleared up. So I've been in touch with reached out to me since it's going down. I don't need another public hearing or anything else and I try to put that in the warehouses questions. Second

motion by second by approve ordinance uh on emergency basis on first and final reading. Okay. Further discussion next job descriptions. Uh so have multiple job descriptions here. First one is storm water supervisor. So Mike, do you want to talk a little bit about what you're doing with the position description? Well, right now we have a storm water supervisor, but in the future if we would replace him, I'm not concerned that he has a WT3 or a DSL immediately when we hire because in that position I'm I'm actually looking eventually to look for a a possibly a a person that knows how to use every phase of the equipment. I mean, bulldozer,

more of a dirt mover than

Yes. Somebody that knows what they're doing, knows how to delay water or water maintenance, also storm lines at at the level that it's supposed to be. And that the right now it states that they have to have a WT3 or a DSL. We're stating here they have to be able to get to get their WT3 in five years and a DSL in two years. They have to have it at that time. But we can go ahead and hire them as a storm water uh supervisor. And they would be in charge. They wouldn't be in charge of operators when they're doing the operation job or that, but they would be in charge of anybody out on the job site when they're doing storm water or water mainland. With the present description on our other ones, job description, there's no way we could hire someone that's qualified to dig, you know, and that because we could never pay him enough. So the way that we could possibly pay a little more is if we put him in as a storm water supervisor.

So So Mike, just to be clear though, the WT3 and the DSL licenses, those are specific for drinking water systems. Yes. Not necessarily for storm water. That's for drinking water. So just so the council understands, that's the delineation of the reason why. Now, it'd be nice to have those. We want We want the person to get it, but like if we have someone to put their app in that has the experience in the excavators, the big ones like we had to rent when we were working on Eagle Park and stuff like that that we have a guy capable of doing it that has done that in the past and can work on storm water work too.

Yes. And that that's what we're looking at is someone who does storm water work and water. Does that the compensation once they get those. No. Well, well, no, wait a minute though. But there's a range. There's a range. There's a range for every position. So, theoretically, yes. I mean, if they're getting more licenses, they're going to bump in inside that range. Is that just that range? It wouldn't be like they would bump significant.

Because right now, even the people that come in and then they get their WD3 and then they get their DSL, they get bumps with as well. But yes, so it's within the range. Any questions for Mike? Okay. Do a motion to approve the position description for second. I'll give it to Jennifer. Further discussion all the usual sign. It is unanimous. Thank you. Next up is administrative secretary for police. Do you want to delay? Okay.

You didn't know what's going on. There's also deputy chief. How about we move that to the next meeting?

Okay. Then you have a letter from or a note from Lesie regarding the utility office uh department position descriptions and again I think she says it well where a lot of these have been updated for over 20 years. So probably time to make some adjustments. So in the ones that you have that are highlighted that have highlights in them that is the old job description and the ones that do not have highlights is the new job description. So, um, would you like to take these individually or would you like to take them in? I don't care. I just preference. Okay. So, do I have a motion to approve the head of maintenance, the deputy, treasur, customer service, custodian, Accounts payable clerk, bookkeeper, utility billing clerk and cashier take all those consideration. It appears to me

I'm not anything changes? Yeah, I mean at the end of the day with these job descriptions, if there's anything outside of a little bit of wording or things like that, obviously the council needs to get on that. Yes. Yeah. The range doesn't change. The range you approve doesn't change. Just changing the language. Okay. So, is that a motion to approve? Second by further discussion. usual sign. It is unanimous. Okay.

Thank you guys. Okay. Reports. Nathan, while you're here, you want to have a report? Yep. Uh so handful of things. The comprehensive plan should be up for public uh released for public review tomorrow or Thursday. I think our last executive uh call is tomorrow. Y uh so that will be at the plan commission for public hearing, formal public hearing at their main meeting. Uh Walmart, their new pickup edition, which is about 4,000 square feet, was permitted a couple weeks ago. So that's going to be uh to do up on the northeast corner of Walmart.

I'm sorry. Say that again because I don't know that I know about this. Walmart is adding a dedicated uh pickup area rather than having pickup out grocery pickup. My immediate thought went to truck pick Walmart pickup trucks. Okay, I'm sorry. I'm with you now. I'm good.

They're being built in anyway. Uh no, yeah, grocery pickup. So, all of the pickup only spaces out front are getting shifted to the north side of the area. So, lots of stuff happening there over the next few months. Five below was permitted for remodel at the old family dollar. So, that's for coming. Um, we had several we had three different minor flats at the sub at the plan commission. Thank you. Uh, so they're all minor plats. Perhaps the most notable are three lots over 200 on the east side of 200 east uh across from what will hopefully be the cider mill which is the big major plant. uh in the same area, same developer, but different uh different market. And then finally, Nikki didn't mention it when she was presenting, but there is a historic walking tour that the museum and Columbia City Connect are putting on on the first Saturday of May. Uh so that be the second at 10:00 at the courthouse square. Uh the route is different from last year. The route is to go northward along Chanty Street up to Smith and Suns and over to Smith and Suns. Uh they've been gracious enough to give tours of their building itself and then from that point on uh it'll continue on down south uh south on Main Street uh and have two routes. One will be shorter basically go to the courthouse and the other will go on down to the river itself and check out buildings along the street. So last year was weather the same this year. Uh Bren can attest I've been out giving

impromptu tours uh to practice as well. So hopefully hopefully have good turnouts in town. We've got one area yet to do and it's out at the out around the high school which we will do Thursday evening. We'll come in in the evening to do it so we don't interrupt the school with water or possibly low pressure which we've done before. Also, one of my employees tax both and this last week. Thank you.

I want to first thank uh the street department, electric department for the trees. I know neither one are here, so please pass that along to them. We hit a little wall with some bad weather, but we're getting back at it. I think We have a couple down take a little win from tad sale and RFP for the jail is approved. So hopefully we'll be moving that off of our utility poles here soon. I think Mayor M told you, but we did receive word that we've got community crossings uh to finish up Westgate phase three and home safe next doing a downtown clean up from 9 to 11 Saturday morning.

Question we had some issues with the flooding that came about. We had to shut off the grinder pumps, the sewer injections so that uh so we had closed bathrooms for a couple days. Um we're getting the back in shape for this weekend. We have our first tournament of the year with that pool so we can retile the gentleman's going to be up well this week probably be next week now to fix those tiles that have fallen off. We lost an employee last week, so now we're down two and we had a part time had some health issues over the weekend. So, we're not real sure. We may have to be in the mode to another parttime mower. We're getting the dog park started. As of yesterday, they came out and sting up and going real quick. Uh, April 25th is our opening day for the kids. They'll start at 5 and six. Um, and they'll walk parade down to fields 1 through 4 and there'll be a bouncy house and obstacle course for the kids to play. And so the parents will stay a little bit longer and just kind of have the kids will be holding their sponsored banners on the So, we're trying to bring back what we had a few years ago before the employee that you lost to a different department. Correct.

Correct. Yes. No, that one did not have the health issues. Yes. Yes.

Questions on that. Thank you, Terry. ilities installed access to use any more acronyms. with

I did not say

yes I know I know and they make myself change some valves out on the tank valves got one of those weather. So, we haven't got the other yet monitoring test. We were halfway through it. Uh perfect test running and the last sample was lost by the shipper and made it to the lab. So, we're restarting that test.

Thank you, Tom. Everybody's aware that we had 107 Indianapolis for waterway repair. Um I got a phone call today. Got a phone call today. The one part the ending the waterway and swivel swivel $24,000 but in light of what these guys are talking about money that it takes to run. I don't feel so bad about I do but 24 grand for a sw water crazy where we're at world. We really have no choice. We'll have to get it fixed. So, figure it out. And then

cost the mayor and I spoke about

the cost of repairing. I had a ballpark that was much lower than this. Um, you really have no choice. $2 million get a new one. Anyway, I'll keep it posted as we move forward. But just the one part $24,000 question. Thank you. Officer Officer training. schedu. Thank you. Appreciate the clarification. basic training for law enforcement trained

Consolidated school

questions here. after two really good questions. Thank you, Mara. A couple of things for your information. Um, we are working on lots of different projects as you heard. We had a great meeting this afternoon um with our insurance broker I guess which is Gibson. We're doing well with our plan. We're running below cost right now. Things are going fairly smoothly. Knock on wood. So that's that's good. did have a meeting and I had a meeting with commission too much but remediation everything so regarding Smith brother's property we're working on that which is I think we're getting some good headway interesting scenario this past week just want to let you let you be aware of. We had two people submit street closures for the Veterans Marathon. We had two people that wanted to take on Veterans Marathon. Uh Gary and I met with both individuals. Um we're kind of Switzerland in this whole deal because we like it's not our race. We just kind of support it. But both applications kind of came in on the same day. It just it was a lot of weird

circumstances. So, we reached out to Joanne Bird and had asked her like, "Hey, here's what we've gotten. What's your thoughts and you need to go with this person?" So, because we're giving them the paperwork and the website and Sam's helping. So, it made the decision a little bit easier for us, but it was a weird weird situation we shouldn't have been a part of anyways, but we were. So, just want to give you if you ever hear about it. Again, um I think we've got that squared away, but just wanted to let you know about that. Um US30 stuff, just to kind of give you a heads up about that. Uh of course, you probably gone to Fort Wayne, you've seen lots of work being done on US30 over there, over Fort Wayne, Allen County. Um, we haven't gotten any additional let's say plans for US through Columbia City, but I will say uh that I have heard rumbles of planning a med J turn at State Road 5 in Marwell. It's just I heard that I think the last week or two. So that's interesting. Kudos to INDOT on they got they got the curving around our pedestrian island fixed this week which was very quick compared to what I thought it was going to be but they got out there and got it fixed which is great chunks of concrete out of it but they got it fixed and I think they're going to put up maybe some post or something to kind of make sure that their plows don't future So that'll be helpful. Let you know about downtown plan group if you will. Our working we have that meeting coming up on Monday. Administrative professionals day is on Tuesday. So thanks to all our

administrative professionals especially my assistant and lots of things happening but appreciate all your work. Okay, I have two things different this year. One of those being the fine arts program at high school and such fine arts this Friday and Saturday. If you buy your tickets online% a bit county We're sponsoring the whole county project, but we're kind of doing our own city of it. city Facebook page local artist instead of mur travel on campus and make sure that all city of life.

So there will be this month. So we have finished our Well, I had a whole dog took so you the frisbee dogs. So, I'll just talk about the LL building. It's finally test been approved that we've been this has been going on for 10 10 years that I've been on a long time. That's what it is.

This has been ongoing. So now it's approved. They did sign paperwork. So we know the delineation of that where things can be put up. So it's been a long process. I can't take any credit for I'm just reporting right. So there's there's another property adjacent to it that we're working on right now. The Smith property part of that used to be part of the city. Um we're working on that because it's probably more attractive property. those decisions. So could be soon, but it may be more attractive property or something.

Thank you. Thank you. I just want to let you know that down by the JBL we got that connected I personally earlier but I think it deserves a public

involved in many conversations with neighbors as well as Mr. Laru talked gentleman significant meant for people to and one more thing I did witness backwards Yeah, you saw him.

No, he was practicing for his tour.

What time is the tour? Thank you, Brian. Last thing I'll say, I forgot to mention this. Um, I don't know if we've talked about the must meetings. So, this is a new concoction by the legislature to get us to talk about income tax things among the different units. So, must stands for municipal unit strategic task force. And what we're supposed to do is we're supposed to meet this year and we're supposed to talk about income tax amount and how it's going to be distributed and all that kind of fun stuff. I want to bring that up to say I got an email yesterday, I think, from our county auditor was trying to kind of arrange these meetings. Um, by statute, if you will, it does call out that fiscal bodies, you know, are part of it. They can appoint people to come to these meetings that obviously others invited and things like that. But ultimately the fiscal body is the vote even though there's not what we're supposed to be casting our vote for. It's supposed to just force us all to discuss and talk about what we're going to do about income taxes knowing that the legislature has now what our percentage can be and we'll have to pass our own counties rate. I can say that to say probably at the next meeting I'd like to have a little bit more of a conversation about that. I can send more information about the must meetings and US but I just want to give you the first if you will but that is coming that we are going to have to at least have a conversation the answer may be we all disagree. It may be some of us agree but some of us don't um not us meaning

us as in all of the units within the county. But I just wanted to kind of let you know that that's coming down the pipe at some point. They're they're going to probably try to start scheduling that in the near future, but I will send you more information. Just wanted to make sure you want to handle that. Lesie will obviously be a part of that. Auditor will be a part of that. Treasures from other units will be a part of that, shape council. I will wanted to let you know that's coming down the pipe. With that, any other questions, comments, concerns we go to the cause? We will call. Thank you. Heat. Heat.