Common Council - Regular Meeting

Heat. Heat.

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Heat. Hey, Heat. Okay, it is 6 o00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 30th, 2025. 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 please here.

Other minutes from our last meeting on December 9th. Were there any changes or corrections? Hearing none. Can I have a motion to approve? So moved. Second. Motion by Jennifer, second by Chad. Further discussion. All those favor. It is unanimous. Next up is a public hearing for the vacation of public way. Um, Ballards, do you want to come up and talk about what you want to do? Because I I'm trying to remember. Last time you were here, I think you went in front of works, right? Not in front of council. Yeah, I think you're in front of So, you want to explain to council what you uh what you are asking for?

Oh, just a small piece of property that name address 415 Hannah Street. Okay. Just a small corner of property distant to ours. So it looks like it's what I think. So it's right at the corner there of Ohio Street, Hannah Street. Um the Ballard's How long you guys live there? Forever and a day. Yeah. 30 some years. I was going to say

there's a corner property right next to it. It doesn't go anywhere. It actually You can see on the uh on the survey there, it actually kind of dead ends at their property. was originally, I believe, platted for an alley at some point, but that alley, if it ever came to be, would would stop at somebody else's property before it went anywhere. Um, actually, if you follow this track north, you'll end up hitting the river. So, doesn't really go anywhere. There's like a 35 foot drop back there.

Yeah. Yeah. It's it's a it's a again real small property. It's doesn't nobody accesses anything from there. You guys have taken care of it for many, many years at this point. So, Yeah. Yeah.

What questions do you have? Yeah. What are your intentions for it? Well, we already actually fence across a fair a portion of it for like 25 years. But that'll give us more access to the backyard. I'd actually like to put a garage in the backyard. I just I just know that over the years it's been somewhat of an isore. Yeah. That's why I want to put the garage out back. scrapard than it is. I kind of take offense to that, but everybody we race, we I just know there's been a Yeah, like I said,

well, contrary to popular belief on on what you see on TV, you don't restore or rebuild a car in a week unless you've got 100 grand you want to throw out at it. But, um, we actually want to try to put a building back to put them in. Yeah. Just wonder if there might be another way of agreement or something with the trail. There's no way to connect it to the trail. There's no

assuming that you'd be crossing the Clipper property to get to Sure. Um, I know that there I know that I think this actually may have came up um because our ordinance enforcement coordinator started having conversations about it and I think he was the one maybe suggested because I think there's also similar

ordinance things with the property next door as well. So, um obviously it's the council's it's the council's uh wish what you want to do with this. I will say board of works I think um board of works gave a favorable recommendation but certainly it's the council's choice to what you want to do on this um on this vacation. Um, obviously I'm not asking you to vote now because we have to do the public hearing first, but then obviously the resolution that's But since Mark's up here right now, I I thought this was the public hearing. I guess I said we put it in the paper and yes, this is the public. So we'll So what we'll do is we'll recess the council meeting here in a moment and then open it up for the public, but

Okay. Um, but uh I also I always want to give you the first opportunity to describe what you want to do and if they have questions they can ask that. So are there any other I said my plan is put up a better fence and then actually build a shop out back. Do you have a time frame for those things? The fence is hopefully going to be this spring. Okay. And then hopefully the building would probably be late summer. I'm hoping for anyway. Okay. I got a question. Were you silent? No. No. It was just a a warning. I guess is what he said it was. And both of them were just the cars I had out back. I had a couple scouts sitting out back. So, we've moved them. That's all.

Okay. Actually, that's what I was going to ask. When it was Scott that was out there then how long ago was that? It was summer, right? Yeah. It was summer time. Summer. Was it August? That's usually the first step. Gary, do you have any You want to add I don't know. I had a conversation about it.

Yeah. understand. Yeah. Right. Yeah. When we originally put the fence up, we came in and asked, you know, where is it? And the guy just go straight across. It's it's yours. Gotcha. Okay. And that's what we did. Okay. 25 years ago. Yeah. 25 plus years ago. I'm looking at it from the over I see the picture

where there's I can't tell. And I can't tell where the fence is either. So, okay.

Yeah, that fence has been there for like 25 years or so. drive here. Yeah, but that property goes across that driveway. So, your driveway is on the property. No, the driveway to the house is on the property, but when the city put the curb in, they actually put us a extra entrance into that piece of property.

This property owner triang. propert.

Sure.

I was trying to pull it up. So the petition it says you own both sides of the property. Yeah.

Oh, really? Okay. I was going I did have a conversation with Mr. Clifford after you guys u came to board of works uh and he he had asked me about what happened and so I described everything and I asked him if you know typically with a piece of property like this that that kind of straddles is on both sides or has two different property owners on both sides usually what we do is we split 5050 if both residents want 50%. So I asked Mr. Clifford whe wanted any of this and he said he didn't. So I don't I don't know if you guys had any conversations.

Well, my my advice on that it's actually the law. It's not that we often do it that way. That's what the law says you have to do. Yes. So if he's not interested, um I would think that he would just sign off as long as we in my opinion as long as we had a waiver on that that signing off and relinquishing that right and saying I don't even want it. Then we could work that in. I don't think so.

Yeah, it's hard for me to tell on this side. I apologize. I had to rearch that takes care of that. Any other questions for Mark?

Thank you, sir. You can be seated. And uh so we will now um pause the common council meeting and open up the floor for public comment on the vacation request for the release of any public comments. What was the discussion with works regarding this just

uh I mean we discussed the We kind of discussed this situation as far as what we were concerned after this drawing seems to fit. wasn't really at least now And when you say thanks. shows by line of occas.

I mean theoretically it's going to generate some kind of tax at least you guys hope it won't be a lot but no but generally speaking yeah I mean right now it's it's Okay. Uh, hearing no public comments will close the public hearing and we'll reopen the council meeting. So, uh, do we want to move forward with reading of the ordinance?

Okay. Well, do I have a motion to read ordinance 2025-27 by title only? Second by Jennifer further discussion to sign it is unanimous. Uh, please read ordinance 2025-27 by title only 27 vacation of public. So what is the obviously we talked we've heard from the petitioner and held public comment on that. Um what's the conversation or comments or I guess I'll take a motion as well.

I think I've stated mine. I'm not necessarily in favor of it. from actual property. thing. It be different if I had guess that we have to properties to deal with some of that situ. Have you ever heard

Other thoughts have a motion of some sort. I'll make a motion for a motion by Ryan. Do a second. Second. Motion by Jennifer. Motion to approve by Ryan, seconded by Jennifer for ordinance 2025-27. Any further discussion? All those in favor signifi.

Hello sir. Name and organization please.

Sure. My name is Russ Gilliam. I'm chairman of the County Historical Society. I even have some handouts for you tonight. And my main purpose here is two things. One, the purpose of this is signage. And one of my friends who's 86 years old told me these stories of 40 years ago Columbia City was working on signage and they had two or three committee meetings and nothing ever happened. And this is just an example of a few of the people that are outstanding citizens that have come from Whitley County, not even including Jim Banks and Hester Adams and some of these other people that we should recognize. And I brought in to Mayor Daniel on his specifications signs indicating this was the home of Thomas Marshall, governor and vice president. I've yet to see them up anywhere.

Uh there is one up at least on US30. Okay. Well, I haven't seen that. So anyhow, I think I brought you four, right? Anyhow, on the Thomas Marshall signs that we put up on the welcome sign. Did we put all four out? I think. Okay. Okay. I just haven't seen. So, no, you're fine.

Anyhow, we have a we have a list of people here that are outstanding people in our community and plus a lot of neat historic events that have happened here. We How many people here know there was this Revolutionary War battle in Wley County? Raise your hand. How about a 1812 battle? War 18 to battle in county. Huh. Okay. There he is. Okay. No civil war battles.

We we have some amazing things that really occurred in Willie County and I think we could uh make this more visible when somebody's buzzing down 30 and they just see, you know, oh, you know, come city. Yeah. So what? And they got a McDonald's and that's it. But I think the signage. When you put that in the budget for next year, the next couple years, I think that would really improve the visitors uh aspect of Columbia City. And I know um there's several people in the community. They're really pushing that hard. Jennifer Eastwine and you're not Lisa, but uh Jennifer Romano pushes this pretty good and encourages um very good um tourism and we've talked about that in our uh museum with networking with Wabash County, Adams County, Noble County, and talk to these people so we can get people to come in and recognize our our really historic and unique take place in northeastern Indiana. We are planning right now a north um Native American historic center right now at the museum. This will be uh probably the beginnings of it this year. And this will uh be the story of the Native Americans from fallen amassed down here uh through the French and then the white men from the um during the Revolutionary War up until they got all sent out west. Anyhow, just signage. Keep that in mind. The next thing, we have the 250th anniversary coming up. Uh we were in Huntington to visit a museum down there and I talked to one of the the people from the mayor's office. And the mayor in Huntington is encouraging um flags uh the buntings uh to put out in front of businesses and homes. and also through

the historical society, we would like to uh present possibly a contest in the community for patriotic displays. You know, we have all these fantastic uh and unbelievable displays for Christmas and also for uh Halloween, these yards full of thousands of dollars worth of skeletons. But uh we could have a neat contest in the community celebrating 250th uh anniversary uh for a for that type of a thing for our uh county and also state and nation. Also, how many people know Mike over there here? Okay.

Okay. Can't beat that. So, Mike and I have talked about this and they're at the fantastic uh Christmas choir at the courthouse. We got talking about this. Let's have two, three, maybe four patriotic concerts through the year. Friday or maybe uh on the courthouse square here during the 4th of July or something. And we don't need any money or anything of course, but just kind of your blessing on that. Uh and Mike and I are working to get more people in the choir and getting our array of songs together. Mike's doing most of it. I'm just kind of coordinating things. But, uh, I think that'd be just a really nice thing for a community for the 250th if we would have a community choir. And, uh, Mike is a great guy to work with on that. So, anyhow, no money asked, just consideration. And, uh, thanks a lot. Hope you all have a great new year coming up. And thank you.

Thanks, Russ. I do know that Columbia City Connect is planning something. I believe it's on the Thursday before uh, before Fourth of July there. So, July they're planning to do some kind of a patriotic something down right and of course we'll have our third of July fireworks park we're opening the time capsule here I think Judge Wrenchler is spearheading a new time capsule on courthouse square that will be a countywide kind of a thing but yeah happy to work with you on lots of these different projects for sure I'm sure council would be happy absolutely great we love all living in Wilt County. It's a great place. So, thank you.

Thanks, sir. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Next up is resolution 2025-28. Do I have a motion to read by title only? Second. Motion by Jennifer, second by Tad. Further discussion. All in favor of the usual sign. It is unanimous. Please read resolution 2025-28 by title. Resolutions 2025-28. an emergency resolution providing for the completion of appropriations for several departments of the city of Columbia City for the year 2020.

Uh so we so the state of Indiana uh let us know about our appropriation about the approval of our budget and our revenues yesterday before the end of the year the year which supposed to be starting those appropriations, right? Uh so good news is that uh the two departments that you see in front of you, which is parks and wreck as well as MBH, those two are the only ones that had to do budget cuts because we were very cautious with our 2026, right? Uh so parks and w what we're doing actually in both of these is we're cutting this year's budget in order to take that cash to fully fund next year's budget. Okay? So, parks and w actually made whole, meaning that the cuts that you see here on this resolution will go into cash. That cash will then fully fund next year's budget. So, we're not short. NBH is a little bit of a different story. Uh I think we had to we were down,000

Yeah, we had 172,000 from NGH and 63 we're going to have to cut. So the 95 that we have now we'll turn into cash go back fully to fund. [clears throat] We'll still have to cut 65 63 63,000 from that budget. Um but we're hoping with cash and other things we may be able to figure out other places to refund that those portions that we're cutting just so you're aware. So, we're playing a little bit of trickery games when it comes to the budget this this coming year. But again, good news is typically we'll get the response back from the state and we got to cut$100 or $200,000 from our general fund. That is not the case, which is good. So, you have to add to that.

Okay. Any questions? Okay. I have a motion to approve resolution 2025-28 second motion by T second by Jennifer further discussion all those sign it is unanimous thank you next up is resolution 2025-29 motion read by title only by second by Jennifer okay uh further discussion all those in favor of the sign it is unanimous please resolution 2025-29 Title 11

resolution 2025 29 an emergency resolution providing for the transfer of appropriations for several departments of the city of Columbus city Indiana for the year 2025 the action and passage of 6-1.16

thank you Um, so this is our annual kind of reappropriation, if you will, to ensure that there's no funds in the hole and that we kind of balance things out. Obviously the big one in this uh we had uh excess wages for police this year because of the shortage in staff over time and so we rolled that money in as well as um some excess wage in firefighter and uh there's a fair amount there in like FICA and pension and some things like that. So the big things we moved money to uh was uh group insurance group insurance. Good This year we're ending with some cash in group insurance. So we're putting a little more in there knowing that you never know what next year's going to look like. That's a kind of continues over year after year. Um but the big one you can see there is under fire supplies and that is all with the perspective that we are getting truck next year. It is planned to come in in February March I think. So we are going to have to do some bonding on that portion. But by taking we have now and paying for the radio systems and the compressor we were supposed to pay for next year and some of those things. It means we have to bond for those things. It means we can use those cash and we can cut down on the amount of money that we have to. So we're trying to make sure that we get as much stuff that we don't have to pay for those things over 10 year period when they may fail one let's say a for instance or those kind of pieces of equipment that go on a truck that we don't want to have to pay over 10 years, right? So, long story short is that's really what you see there. Um, I do want to commend our departments

and and certainly Rosie and Lesie on their work on this. Um, we were able to do the interviews for everybody. So, we appreciate your support on that. I know the employees a lot of thank you for that and so passing on to you. Thank you for your support on that. Um, besides that, that's pretty much everything you see there in a budget or in the in kind of a nutshell, but I'm happy to answer any questions answer. Okay, hearing none. Can I have a motion to approve resolution 2025-29?

Motion by T, second by Dan. Further discussion? All those in favor of the usual sign? It is unanimous. Thank you very much for your support. Okay, department reports, Gary.

All right, we've had our four police officers newly hired here this past week or so. They have completed their 40hour pre-basic and they've met all requirements, obtain their arrest. So, they're in uniform and some of them are out on the road currently. [clears throat] Two are going through the FTO process which is still training and the other two will be attending the academy next week. Got a little bit of a plan. We got for pres 14th pages crossing. That event went well. Everyone seemed to have a great time. Children officers working extra shift over the past couple weeks for the holidays. shopping centers neighborhoods being proactive positive impact the community stay for their CPR.

Hey sir Kelly open so we can transition back into the other way. But if you guys hear anything from the public, we are planning on drugs. No, but thanks for letting me know it up for the year. It got put away a little bit early last year.

Is there still power? I'm assumable. Okay.

Any questions? You sure there's right at the corner of Parkwayus.

Oh no. We had a few pine tree. So what Dan's saying is to the public if you are missing a Joseph Dan. I would say that they did help start to take down.

Thank you Matt. We hired a recreation coordinator, uh, Carter Nicholson. He's been helping us out for several years in maintenance with us throughout high school. And then he was doing the night for softball, baseball, all that. So hopefully there's not that big of a transition there. Um, he starts January 5th. Cookies with Santa was a huge event. We had about 180 to 190 people come through and Santa was there. Mrs. Claus and then we from Animal G. We had a seven-month old reindeer named Ever want her to fly around. So, um, and we're getting tickets that go on sale. Friday and then father dance is February 6th and 7th. Um, also I'd like to give a shout out to electric department. I mentioned something to Sean about a like a safeguard put back at the old baseball concession stand at the old high school property there park and they put that up and it's made a huge difference being able to see back there. So I know we've had vandalism back there last few months. So that was able to hopefully thank you all the emergency management yesterday

so they can be decommissioned and destroyed the question. Thank you.

RC, a couple things for you. First, I got to mention it. I saw Rosie putting the paper away. Um, so our with the budget and everything that we've got passed and stuff, uh, our just wanted to let you know our official numbers, our assessed valuation is up $40 million from last year. Uh, and our property tax rate is down about three cents. So we are now at the lowest property tax rate for the city since 2008. And uh, we since let's say 2012 we have basically doubled our so there's a lot of pros in that obviously I know that some of that also has to do with market factors but I think there's a lot of other positive things to say again last year I haven't done recalculation I haven't seen everyone's tax for this year for this coming year last year we were in the top basically the top 25 best tax rates for cities in the state of Indiana actually top 10 best for cities and so I would imagine that a couple other things obviously we're at the end of the year so we are preparing for next year working on all kinds of different things I had coffee with Representative Judy to just talk about the upcoming session and some of the things that um with Senate Vol that we can hopefully tweak to make better for our future revenues um on especially on the income tax side which I think I mentioned maybe at the last meeting. Uh that was really positive. I'm also working with him a little bit on

tweaking some of the food and beverage tax up because um there's some issues between department of revenue and cities and counties that get the text. There's some reporting things and some just things that should be streamlined that are not. So, I'm hopeful that we can get some legislation to streamline that to make it better for both parties. Um,

yes, that is the hope. So, yeah, generally speaking, there's really two issues. One is the reporting factor, which is we actually every month have to go through the the department of revenue of the state and ask for a report on who has paid and who hasn't and then there's kind of a for lack of better words a self-governing meaning that um say too much but basically the department of revenue says we can't enforce this and we don't have any of those sales numbers we can't really it should be at the just like sales tax with penalties and stuff it should be the same kind of thing so Hopefully we can get some language in one of the bills this year. It's going to be a very fast session. We've already It's going to be done before the end of February and they're about taking a break and it's going to be so uh hopefully next week I will be able to get a meeting and get something in the bill to streamline not just for us but for the whole state. So yes,

yes, that is the hope. The hope is that there will be some mandated reporting in those instead of them just saying hey here's the revenue have fun like here's the revenue and here's here's who it came from and that kind of stuff rather than having to ask hey can you send me a report and get the report and then go line by line so it's

and we send once they send us the list of the revenue then we go We have a list of all and send back to them that if we report to them, they'll send it. They'll send them letters, but there's nothing Yeah, it's a it's a uh it's almost an honor system. That's the best way I can describe it, which I don't have to By law, they don't have to pay.

Well, the thing is is that the Department of Revenue, who is the one that actually collects the tax is not willing to enforce it or doesn't feel like they have the capability to enforce it, I have to have a piece of legislation that tells them they have to enforce it. I wish I felt that way. It's my business.

Yeah, I know. I know. Can you imagine that? I know. I 100% agree with you. It just again not trying to prolong this issue but just it it doesn't make sense when there is a state that now has our name and our food and beverage tax on it and there is a city ordinance that has a food and beverage tax enacted that those two entities can't enforce. We can't enforce because we don't know those numbers. So it'd be like saying hey I hope you paid us the right amount of money. The state of Indiana knows their sales. They they get their sales data. So anyways, not to beat this dead horse, but that's kind of where we're at. Hopefully we can get that addressed. Um this coming Friday, let me try that again. A week from this coming Friday is city land. Um and you are all invited. Um orders I think 5:30 and dinner at 6. So um have a ribbon cutting potentially for Impact X. Impact X which is the new well it's the current gym that's their workout facility that's um behind Yeah. Yeah. Behind um Thank you. Wings etc. That's moving to their new building. So they have official ribbon cutting on on that following Saturday there. That's the 10th. Um let's see. We are Max and myself and Chip and Lesie are uh doing basically the BT amphitheater interviews with two different firms. Uh we had four respond. Two of them are now heading to interviews. We're going to meet at the park office, talk a little bit the office and then walk over to the site and walk the site with them and just make sure we see that their vision kind of aligns with our vision and how they're going to maneuver it, all that

kind of stuff. So that is the 12th. Of course, we have council on the 13th. Um, but I do want to also put in your put a bug in your ear to remember that the 29th of January and the 30th of January is city retreat. You should have all all have that information on your calendar. Um, it is up in South Bend. As mentioned earlier, we will be live streaming the majority of that if you will. So, or at the very least recording it. still trying to figure out all the logistics there, but I wanted to just make sure we're aware of that. I will be traveling a lot these first two months with the legisle being so a lot by this, not as much by all the work to do. a very successful year. I look forward toward

I want to thank the department of help this year this year. insolved in that mention that the Christmas lights awards will be in January winners will be realize you know, curious about the try not to serialy,

but we try to make it pretty You can tell my younger judges are did that and I love that related to that. All the winners have a sign in their yard sign belongs to the city of city. I will be around to pick those up.

Excellent.

I think it's after last year. Thank you, Tad. I have nothing. I have nothing. Ryan, sir, last thing I'll say, I forgot to mention my report is uh we're going to start the year off with uh I think a presentation on uh utility met earlier this month. I know you weren't.

Okay. Anyway, uh Bakery will be here that first meeting to kind of go through the new year review, if you will. And um and so just be prepared for that. But before then, have a wonderful happy new year everybody. We have no press. We have no audience. We'll call the meeting a Thank you.