Common Council - Regular Meeting

[music] Heat. Hey, Heat.

Okay, it is 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 9th, 2025. We will call the common council meeting to order. Please stand alsisible with liberty and justice for all

here. are the minutes from our last meeting on November 25th. Were there any changes or corrections? Hearing none.

Motion by Jennifer, second by Tad. Further discussion signify. Uh next up is the 2025 utility write off or suspension list. Uh you can see there there's the different categories of bankrupt deceased and then other suspended accounts there's nobody I'm sorry I was there's nobody So effectively this is a write off that we do yearly of accounts that either again declare bankruptcy individuals that have become deceased or accounts that are suspended for you. No, I I'll just say the bills are doing a great job and if we're not collecting all that is doing a great job and helping us to get the accounts up to date and we are revising applications just to make sure that has everything to her. been a great

it says on the side. So you'll see like last year we had almost 1,200 in bankrupt we're down to 438 and then you could see the debt and the deceased was like 32. Yeah. And it's like $2,000 less for the suspended

and I think you Keep in mind that there's, you know, millions of dollars of process through through the utility department having, you know, 5,000 bucks, if you will, in the suspended accounts and 438 bucks and then about 2,000 bucks in deceased. I mean, that's pretty impressive from the millions of dollars that are processed through. So, so with that, uh, any questions from the council? Okay, hearing none. Can I have a motion to approve these?

Second by second by further discussion. All those favor is unanimous. Next up is board and committee assignments or appointments. Uh there's a couple of different appointments. These are all appointments that Jenny was on that Jenny was on. So these are all council appointments. Wellness committee takes place on the third Wednesday of the month at 8 a.m.

here in this in this room. Solid waste board [clears throat] is I think now every other month on the first Monday. I think it's the first Monday every other month. So the next meeting will be in January. that's over at the county government center and uh the board position there is a council member from the largest municipality. So I also serve on that board but council members on that board and then trash committee is really more of an ad hoc committee. It's it's something where if there's a trash situation meaning that there's a policy change or something we need to address or contractual matter uh we have the trash committee but generally speaking there's likely So, I don't know if any of those council decision any

times board meets at 9 a.m. in the county center. Like I said, every other month. It's usually about an hour or less long meeting. And that is we review obviously. So we handle the budget for the solid waste district. We oversee the compensation of employees. Uh we obviously handle the contractual matter with GFL contractor. We handle policies and procedures when it comes to bins bins by district not by the contractor. Um, and then we also have two, well, we have a county board that's made up of some individuals that is kind of like our goal agency. And then we also have a citizen advisory committee that kind of gives suggest So everyone

motions for discussion signif I'll make

[clears throat]

Start with um well I did go check the email to you and it didn't go through. Matter of fact, my report file actually went reverted back to the last meeting. So that 107 is back in service and in the firehouse all equipment knock on wood is in service and function correctly. So we'll go with that for now. Um our department evolves went well so far. I've got them all done except for three and a half of the half as one of the guys to complete his goal sheet. So the other three will be done this week. Everything's going very well and I my guys for making it that way. They work hard to make sure things go well.

Questions. Thank you. question. Okay.

Christmas Eve at the Courthouse Square 6 to 8 is our annual candy giveaway. It's been going on for about we can track somewhere around 150 years. So, um, if you get an opportunity, do a drive through and to answer some questions on some emails the mayor's been getting on why we have not reverted back to the in the courthouse candy giveaway like it used to be in years past. It was during co we went to the outside of course the separation. We got more community involvement and it actually is easier to set up. So, for those two reasons, we've left it outside. So, I'm sorry. Do you have enough stuff to pass out? Is that ever donations?

We're always taking donations and the community foundation holds that account. Um there was a very generous donation made years ago that almost has if not all the way paid for annually to do this. Um, so we are always adding to that though when we do get generations to make sure that the cost of candy has been going up and up at an exponential rate. So we're always taking donations, but we're always putting it over into that account to keep up with the cost of fund. If someone wants to make donations through there, they can donate through there or give it to the fire department and then we give it to the foundation. Yes. Thank you. Yes. Thank you.

Thank you, Mike. Uh received the commission and seal test and warranty on project. We're all wrapped up with that. We will do a leak test and goong and torque all the nuts around the bottom of it. And there's about 300 of them. take a little bit of time to do that. Make sure that's still good. We'll do that on a 30day and then we have small during our test. We'll do that again.

And the the store project in general, remind me what that million. Yes. The D and the digest cleaning and the lining and all that stuff.

Thank you. Can you come back? Uh, we put out RPQs for the amphitheater. We received four companies that would like to be the bot transfer that for that. So, this week we're going to review those and hopefully pick one hopefully. Uh, I also put out a request for proposals for the jail and I do have a couple interested. I know the mayor some better connections today. So hopefully by February we are not paying the utility bills on that.

Everything else is going very smooth. Just kind of rolling into the first year

question. Thank you. Um the week before Thanksgiving we had we offline drained it and construction came in and washed it out and then we filact the next weekend and dumping water and then filling it back up. We had some movement system as I think it was Wednesday and it didn't have to unexpected freezing temperatures question. Thank you Sean.

Just see So far at the end of So we're still comfortable changes out to 70 out inventory last couple days in December has been recently last time we had last week end up burying our trying to do a great job they did for us on that project. Had the pleasure of speaking with the eighth grade class yesterday about jobs at the city trades alignment what it looks like to be alignment city. came along at the end as come back and do some more questions. Thank you.

Check on heaters. Make sure things not freezing up especially in the police training facility there. We motor to Indianapolis before next season and the ladies are starting to get father dance right questions. Thank you. Charlotte, you want to introduce yourself and talk about the youth council?

I'm a sophomore. We started off our last council meeting just planning some more details with our tournament that we're planning and just brainstorming some more ideas. And then we volunteered at autumnities and played bingo with them. And then at the end of our day, we g Thank you.

Well, I will brag again, but I did forget to mention in the board of works meeting Thursday evening that we did not get approved for the tax appeal. Um, I fought it and we got a response back again because it was a it really was it wasn't even a technicality. It was a decision literally on the hundreds of points. It was a rounding.

It was a rounding thing where we rounded one way. So I sent it to just the explain further but in talking with Nathan last week he works with denied as well. So, let's let's keep the fun going and talk about the fact that we didn't get funded for community crossings this year coming. Um they had uh $247 million of request and had 100 million to give away which is less than they had in the last couple years. Legislature cut that at least half. Um so the plan was to do phgate Facebook page that uh we did not cross and so we're having to go back to the drawing board. So, uh, I told our team that we after the first of the year, we'll get back together forward how we want to use, you know, road dollars next year and what we want to do with Westgate and of course that revitalization and there's a whole cascade of issues there. So, um, so those are those are maybe the negative things that have hit over the last week. and folks came from the state. So couple of things though on a positive note I will say we did have a conference between um I think it went really well. We have a draft I won't say a draft plan but we went through some of the draft items the

additions or the changes the changes to the current plan as well as the addition to add because we accomplished I think 60% so we'll be putting that draft together obviously as always so that's I think going pretty well As mentioned, we have evaluations that are happening right now and I don't believe Leslie has finished all of hers. Uh I still I've been one of 11 that tells you where I'm at, but um but ultimately we have that going on basically across the city generally speaking. Um a couple of different projects we're working with high schoolers on. Uh one is the is it daffodil map? Yes, daffodils. They were planted in memory of Kim K. There's a group working with the high school. They were supposed to be transplanting. Obviously, it's snowfall to that. So, once spring breaks, I think they will be moving out to Indian. So, it's still campus kind of scenario because I think there's a couple of different memory out there. So, that's been a pretty fun school and we were perfectly fine with that as well. another group that's working on um some kind of an amnesty box of sorts that will help individuals that are kids especially with addictions and stuff. They're working with that. Um our part is because we have an output obviously. So working with them through that. As a reminder, our next council meeting will not be on the 23rd. It will instead

be on the 30th. So that is that's my reminder. Last thing I want to say or I want to ask I guess I want to ask for your blessing on as you guys are all well aware from a budgetary standpoint we did not we did not approve any wage increases for next year because of being down 400 400 something from this year to next year. Um however because the stewardship of our department heads um and a lot of us we will have kind of a surplus at the end of the year and by surplus I mean we'll have accounts that will have dollars left in them. So, in of having a wage increase next year, Leslie and I have had conversations and what we'd like to propose is maybe across the board for all of our staff increase next year. It's our way of giving them an increase without it being next year's budget. So, yes, it's definitely a budget maneuver, but it's a way in which we can again show our appreciation for our employees. So that's kind of we've worked out numbers. We have the dollars available. We anticipate having the dollars available there. Um but I usually put out a Christmas letter if you will to everybody to say, "Hey, here's here's where we're at. Here's the end of the year kind of thing." And so that's why I'm coming to you now. Also, at the next meeting, we'll have the true up at the end of the year with all the budget accounts and stuff. So that's where That's I guess I kind of wanted to ask your blessing at least get your approval in some way or on that possible

also think that needs to go staff and all of our people So, personally, I'm kind of on the fence about about it. I mean, I think it's great to But I know coming from a fiscally from like a business standpoint, we would like what we would do, we would probably roll that over and keep it in our hoppers for the next year in case there's a shortfall in the future. So therefore, we have that as cash flow to run things. So because I don't know what it's going to be like next year, you know, if we lost 400,000 this year, what is I mean we project what the cash flow is going to be the following year. I'll try to answer your question and that is that you know from the state so the state did this projection based on Senate roll back one and they're saying you know this year is kind of the biggest hit if you will this coming year is the biggest hit when it comes to the property tax side will come in the income tax side in the 2028 time period the only

caveat I'm going to put on that though is that you know AIM is already working to mitate some of those challenges in 2028 29 etc for the income tax piece um so I don't I'm hopeful that we can mitigate the issues on the income tax side and and we are projected from the property tax side to have have increases or have at least slower the future what we had previously the income tax. So I get it. I mean obviously you well know and again not trying to push back but you well know that you know we set our budget in June July we approved it in September and you know I I I don't know that in fact officially speaking probably this next week we'll get our from the state, okay, this is officially the dollars that you have. So, obviously my assuming that things go to

I mean like my business Just a reminder to set budget this year, we always go in high. So some of our payroll accounts, there's a lot of fun left. So because we do project, is there a possibility once the figures come back So I think you know when we first obviously when the two of us first started talking about it it was kind of the we were on the fence about whether 5,000 I'm sorry 500 500 or a thousand was the right amount and again I think they so Leslie and Rosie have went through the accounts and kind of seen what we anticipate happen at the end of the year from a cash standpoint Um, and so I I don't know that I'd recommend more than that purely because I do want to roll some cash over into next year. So I guess I should have been clear with you is to say this doesn't tap us out when it comes to cash for next year. We are going to roll cash into next year. Um, but we just wouldn't roll as much. So again, keep in mind we have about 100 employees. So you can do quick math. I think you know when it comes to taxes and I think $1700 is what the expend

I think they deserve it. I think they deserve more. But I understand that be especially I'm a firm believer in I think So make motion to approve employ I always feel weird in these conversations but does that clue elected officials. I just want to make sure again weird about this whole situation. So I have I did forget to mention Leslie sent me a note and I completely forgot right here. Uh we are having four new police officers starting on Monday which is great. Um so we they did finally pass the first process which is extraordinarily longer than we expected. Uh we also have I think on the 23rd we have a lateral interview. We did accept applications for slots with the right person with that.

clarification. Those are replacements, not [clears throat] new positions. Yes, those are replacements, not positions. Thank you.

Cold but great. Cold being the department.

They were they were there. I don't know that they had a float, but they were there. But thanks to everybody's office that we are working on judging right now contest neighborhood as Also, just an FYI Christmas

by you. You

go over the top. I don't know if you've seen it yet, but there partnering with local radio stations and they will be doing well. We had redevelopment today. A lot of actually most things are going

I notic we did get a report in place. Yeah. Two steps forward, one step back. So that's

I will mention that I should have mentioned um I have had two different apartments builders that came to me wanting to do a project in Columbia City. Um, and I know pretty commission in January. Uh, there's another one that's working probably both market rate, both nonsid will Yeah. So there's there's definitely interest in the community or in our investing community. So more to come on that they are yet to be determined.

It is. It is. I mean, they have not filed yet, but they're planning on. So, there's preliminary there's preliminary estimates to me, but I'd be hesitant to uncover that because they haven't made their but appreciate that. Um, I don't really have much city projects.

The parade is fun. I got to be in the parade. I walked

but I was chasing my chasing my daughter down. Nice. It was an adventure. It was lovely. It was good seeing as many people out there. It was just a great turnout. It's just it has become a tradition. So congratulations on making everybody count

welcome. Glad to have you on. We have no press and no audience. We will call the meeting. Thank you. We're no longer here.