City Council - Regular Meeting

But the lady wellness contract Bryant Christmas present behind you. And then structure that store cafe for there's a law office there real estate office right there.

Is it just from where the attorney's office? Is it in relation to the tablet right behind it or is it off one direction? It's just like

really by accident. Okay. I drove back there. I know. I know there was cuz the body shop that used to be there that's owned by the same people that own the laundromats. Um the back part of that was purchased by the people that used to hold the tab. Um but beyond that, I don't have any idea what behind the antique shop. Okay.

To that other house. I'm glad it's not the tavern cuz the tavern just announced they closed. Yeah, that was a surprise.

I'd like to call the meeting to order. Mayor Frame, council member Copenhaver here, here. Easter here, Snith here, Randall here, and attorney Pal here. Any additions are correction? Just in time. That's standing brewed.

Jeremy, we go up there. Stand up. You stand up. Okay.

I'm Jeremy Place. only a post commander of the BFW here in town. Uh, real fast, just want to let you know that we've been open for going on three years this year. Doing great down there. Uh we have 2025 all-American uh which consists of uh doing the programs BFW choirs uh membership um doing patriot pan for kids teacher of the year for teachers voice of democracy for high schoolers um all this represent post with flying colors we're bringing covenson back on the map BFW wise guys. A lot of people recognize the town. Um, so I just want to let you guys know that. And then the reason I'm coming down tonight is uh every year the BFW nationwide has a day called loyalty day. It's uh in May. It's usually on the first weekend of May, but this year we have a bsentennial on May 2nd. So we're going to be doing it May 8th. Um, I'm pretty much was wanting to come down and ask the city and Mr. Mayor if the city can do a proclamation for May 8th.

Sure. For the today. I appreciate that. Yeah. Thank you so much. We'll do that. And you want to know when we have it ready? Uh, well, I was going to ask you come down and do it. Okay. And then u also festivities start at 11 o'clock. have games for kids. Yep.

Bounce house, dump tank, band, food, uh music, live music. We have juke box. It's bands from one to three. We're also going to present a couple uh awards to a couple veterans. And if the veteran isn't alive, we're going to be doing to their family to honor two good people. So, y it's open to the public. open to the public. We're always open to the public. Great. Thank you. That's great. Thank you, Jeremy. Hey, well, we got Jeremy here. We just wanted to say thanks a lot for your support for shopping with a cop.

I mean, man, the year that you guys did. We really could tell we really appreciate makes a big difference. Thank you. Thank you. Andy, you have anything? He Carol sir, I'm sorry. I should know you. You that's what I thought. Just a quick question on the trails and going around the city, the the new one that's being built. Uhhuh.

Is that going to go out and then come back or goes? I think they're going to get part way across. Maybe all the way across and then come back. Yeah. For now. For now. Anyway. And number two, the the solar fields around here.

Is that going to help the everyday citizen or just land? No, it'll be the they'll be the electricity will be bought by an institutional or company or Amazon um Facebook Meta may own may own part of it but it'll go the electricity will go on the grid. It won't lower affect our cost one way or the other though. Okay. Yeah. Thank you.

You're welcome. Thanks. I miss anybody. First item, we have a ordinance on water taps. Ordinance 2026-1. It was the one we passed last meeting. Um where we're just changing the water tap fee. We had we had how many? Two last year, KC. Yes. So, it's not that it's going to uh change a a lot. We're going to make a lot of money on it. We're just raising it to get the co our costs in line when we have to do a water tap.

400. Yeah. $400 to $800 for a 34 or less connection, $1,200 for a one inch or larger. Um, seeming questions. As I recall the discussion, it's still a slight loss to the city each time one is connected, but this diminishes that gap considerably. Yeah, it closes the gap quite a bit. And it's not like we're doing a lot of them every year. Do I have a motion? I make a motion. Second. Brandon, yes. Brad, yes. Yes. Chad, yes.

Yes. Motion passes. We have one copy sign on sign here above the one above on two pages. Yeah.

Just the one spot. Yes. Well, something your name twice. Where's the second? Yeah. Three I think three blanks are on that page. Yeah. You want to page right there.

And two's on two's on the next page. Oh, there too. You run out of space. You laugh at me. Kathy, she said it's confusing. She said

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. This way. Thank you. Next one is ordinance 2026-2. The same thing as water only this is for waste water. Same thing. It raises it closes the gap between our cost and what we were charging. Changes it from $400 fee to $800. Do I have a motion?

I make a motion and second. Yes. Yes. Chad. Yes.

It's all page. It's all on one page there. Yeah. Nothing here.

No. The same there and then there. Heat. Heat. Council for the city of Coington, state of Indiana. Resolution of the city of Covington adopting the Fountain County multi-hazard mitigation plan 2025.

Whereas the city of Covington recognizes the threat that na natural hazards pose to people and property within the city of Covington. And whereas Fountain County has prepared a multi-hazard mitigation plan hereby known as the Fountain County Multazard Mitigation Plan 2025 in accordance with federal laws including the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act as amended, the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 as amended, and the National Dam Safety Program Act as amended. And whereas the Fountain County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan 2025 identifies mitigation goals and actions to reduce and eliminate long-term risk to people and property impacts to mitigation and achieving the goals outlined in 125. Anybody have any questions on that?

For the city flood plane that was not done last year. I believe FEMA will because the paperwork was not done. So they should be doing that. Anybody want to make a motion that we accept this? Make a motion that we accept. Okay. Jack. Yes.

Follow Heat. Heat. HEAT. HEAT. This one is the Indiana Municipal Electric Association Memorandum of Understanding. Uh the purpose is to outline the details and responsibilities of the parties involved in the 2026 contract services proposal from IMEA for the city of Covington. Um goes through the obligations. I think everybody has a copy. Same thing as last year. It's a little

bit less money this year. Um Does anybody have any questions? This is for the electric. Yes, guys. Dwayne comes in and helps. Yes. Yes. So, there's no supervisor. Just use Dwayne. Dwayne is the supervisor. Yeah. Yeah. Teacher came to Yeah. I was thinking not so much a supervisor as such a training safety training.

Yeah, he's safe doing so not really a supervisor. So why why the decrease? I know we always seem like we increase everything. That's I kind of unheard of. I'm not sure. I want to and it's only the one line. Yeah, I see. section plus hours or no. And he he's going to do the same that he's done this year. This last year. Yeah. And you guys think he's beneficial to have. Yeah. Yeah. Several projects we couldn't, you know, we couldn't do. Sure. I talked to the guys there.

Yeah. Pretty impressed by what he can offer them. Sure. Yep. So, does anybody want to make a motion we accept this? Move to continue the services. Pardon? I move to continue the services. Second. Okay. Motion second. Randy, yes. Brad, yes. Yes. Chad, yes.

Yes. Motion passes. Easy. report done yet. We had about the same amount of run last year 240 250 range as far as medical or Okay, thank you. a little You're you're being kind.

And while he's there, I'm going to ask him about the cool. Yeah, he was he was going to do that. Yeah. And didn't show up. And the year before I had a guy that was going to redo it and he didn't show up. So, well, I'll bring it up. Yeah, that'd be good.

Yeah, you get somebody to do it. Let's see. I need to get back over to the wells. Who's things on my list? Okay. To us after they see what you need at the lab.

Yeah. Okay. Dean, I didn't really have any Monday through Thursday. What happens with the next guy and he informs us if he gets a call or is that how's that going to work? I don't I'm not sure yet. You mean if Casey's not available?

Yeah. Or if it's say Christmas calls on Tuesday or Wednesday. We're off Tuesday. Wednesday is just him and then that's what before we got compensated for saying, "Okay, we'll be there Christmas Day." You get compensated for Christmas Day. Get two hours. No. Don't you get paid for holidays off? Yeah, but if you're on call, you get Yeah, I understand that. But you don't get paid. Yes. What I'm saying is it's Christmas Day. Yeah. No long It's on a Tuesday. We're No, we're not at work. But

you'll still be two hours since even though it's on a Tuesday and you have to We need We need I I guess it's an hour to hold the phone. I saw I do you get paid on Christmas day. Yeah, we rotate. Matt and I rotate holidays just like we do weekends. Okay. It's two hours for holiday. Okay. You get paid You get paid eight though, right? Oh, yeah. Oh, okay. Okay. I want to clarify that. That That's

Yeah, that's what I thought. But you're talking about on call pay. Yeah. So, you're saying if if he's not available, who who has the phone? Is that what you're saying?

It's just going to be transferred. And I usually don't don't I don't I don't get overtime. They usually get it. Joe, Tyler, whoever keep whoever wants it for that Christmas Eve and Christmas and PUI day, but so it just be the exact same just wouldn't be transferred that night. You just have it that night till the next scheduled work day. You can still get your two hours on call time. So two set three.

What? Would would it be would it be possible just to have like a meeting with you, these guys and Casey and and figure out, you know, answer some of their question? I'm we this could this could be a long drawn out affair. If you guys could get together and, you know, maybe come to some sort of agreement and then and then say, you know, we need this in writing. Yeah. and have some sort of structure to it, you know, to have a phone and who has it, who doesn't have it, who's getting paid for it, who's not getting paid for it, something like that. Yeah. Instead of here. Oh, yeah. You know,

not not that it's not anybody else's business. I'm not saying that. It's just, you know, if we could if we could get this determined and write it out and then bring it before the council and then we'll we'll we'll sign it. We need your input. We need your input. So, and yours as well. Does that sound Yeah. Sound like structure. Yeah. Okay. We'll just do that. Okay. That that'll be easy. Mhm. Yeah. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt. Did you have any other No, I didn't mean to jump in there.

Jesus. Um, last year probably took 3,475 calls for service last year. That roughly breaks down to 66 per week. I like that our officers may traffic STOPS to say thank you to the community because the WHOLE numbers are So, anybody that has any questions on you didn't make this any questions on that, please reach out. A lot of people lost a lot of good money this year. These numbers are going through the roof.

Oh, wow. And then also theft has been up too. So, please lock everything up. Department a lot of calls this year a very good job what they do. So, how do those numbers compare to 24 24? Um, actually there's I believe usually year to year we're pretty pretty even. Okay. Slight increase but not much.

Not much. I mean that's just what we had numbers on hand. We have a lot of walkins and stuff in them. So, pretty good. With that being said, we have some news coming up, things to give. So, Scott's going to do that for us. Um, number one, new year. So, new golf carts already sold too. So, they are available. We have them in stock now. Still the same price, $25. They run from January 1st to December 31st of the year. So, every single year, people need to do it. Um, and we have been handing out the new ordinance,

the new ordinance for the trail. Every single time someone comes in to get a golf permit, we hand them the new ordinance. So, we're getting that out. We will have a zero tolerance for that this year. And then number two, don't know if there's anybody else look around anybody else involved with the community foundation other than Taylor. Okay. Uh so right now just Taylor but Dell White uh just to let you know um we applied for a grant this year for a new UTV K Cabota from Grubs and they came through for us and we uh got an awesome piece of machinery that we're going to be able to utilize on the trails and to help our community and with calls and along the river and all that kind of stuff. So it's not quite done yet. Um, I tried to get a hold of Brandon today, but they were waiting on some accessories to come in yet. As soon as we get that done and we get it lettered, we'll be getting with the foundation doing the pictures and all that stuff. So, but just know we really appreciate it, Taylor.

Yeah. I mean, not not me, it's all of our donors. I I actually been abstaining for the last few months from that anyway, but I will pass along the appreciation every day. Awesome. We got it at cost the the ATV that you've got is if there's an injury out on the rails they got it so that you can bring somebody to where you can get them to an ambulance or how's it set up a hydraulic dump bed so we can either you know depends on the circumstances.

Yeah, it's going to depend on a lot of things. The fire department still has theirs that has the bed, but just, you know, if we need to, obviously, we're going to be the first call and we can at least get them from there to maybe to the boat ramp or somewhere and then meet the ambulance or the fire department might be there by then. We probably won't put a bed like they have on there, but it will be full of tools that we need to do whatever rescue, first aid, CPR, whatever. That's wonderful. Good job on that, Scott.

Thank you. I appreciate it. Absolutely. Okay. Who made the the arrest yesterday? Which one? Which one? Oh, yes. Uh that that would have been action county.

Okay, that's good. That is something woring about, you know, with all these new houses. Yeah,

that lady was crazy. But she knew exactly where she was from the way I understand Jenn here's all these new houses and she was in a squat now and for like two days in a couple houses they had is how we caught her and then the cowboys walked her in till we got there and she was from what? Anderson Anderson Indiana, but hey, she knew what she was doing. Thank you. Good job. She managed to find the sunny side cafe.

Okay, she did. Got some goodies to bring with her. So, I was contacted about some houses, properties that need to be cleaned up in town. just some complaints. So, I don't know if we want to take a look at them. I don't know if they have hardship or if this is an actual thing of their property. You have the list, Linda. And then I have another complaint about the trash cans not being removed from the streets.

I know we've talked about that, but who's who's going to go around and give us addresses and what are we going to do? if we can at least notify residents again. I don't know if we have the ability when we do utility bills or something like that. Put on the bills. I've got it on the website. I posted the ordinance. You know, I don't know what else to do. So, if people will share that media, yeah, put it on social media. I guess that would be helpful. And so I'm just bringing that in. Only thing we can do is give Casey, Greg, Shannon tags when you see them still out there 24 hours after the door. Picked up or not? Huh? I won't know.

Well, usually they're laying in the road, so we'll know. Just take them up to the garage. Okay, that's all I have as city council person, but when everybody else is done, then I will step down and address everybody as the Republican. Good. Thank you, Jed. I don't have anything. Okay, other than what Paula just talked about. So, okay, Randy.

Well, sure. I had something the uh signs that first come into Covington. There's three. The bowling alley out here by the bridge and then Springtown Road. Uh so I had those I got those all cleaned up last year and tried to adjust the lights and stuff. The lights still don't work on any of them. So the solar

Yeah, they're trashed. I mean, they just need new ones put on. Okay. Uh if that's if that's a thing we need grant money for or whatever. Um would be nice if there's those were lit up. Um behind um I took a little trip behind Napa the alley back there and it's it's trash. I mean it's there's weeds. There's there's a I wouldn't say it's a it's not a building. It's looks like a structure of some sort. But since we have businesses going down towards the Yeah. So a nice place to park off the street. Um it's it's the antique building. that it's that little area right there. There's Is there a real estate office there down the alley? No. Anyway, from there all that whole back area needs to be cleaned up.

Yeah.

And there and there's some there's some orange cones back there. I don't know if they belong to us or us. Not us. It's It's kind of Yeah, back there. I don't know if it's license plated or anything. If it's What else? There was bicycles back there. They didn't look like they were you could use them. Um but anyway, it needs to be addressed back there uh from the owner. Um and that parts, you know, it just needs to be cleaned up and and on the the yet. So I mean I would like to on that

I already am. Where am I at? Continue. Let you know here in a sec. Okay. Sorry. And that's all I have. Okay. Thank you.

I want to say I want to thank you guys for coming down. A good job. Did you know at this time I'll make my 2026 appointment Tim Brad Smith board of works Kathy Easter collector Dctor of Utilities, Linda Kette, meter reader, Matt Keel, Director of Utilities, Casey Smith, Water Pumping and Wastewater Superintendent Greg Meyers, Chief of Police Shannon Foster, Fire Chief Gaggles, Animal Control Officer Kendrick Sour, City Attorney Pal, Administrator Terry Crane, Council Leon farms, electric department, public haver, street department, Chad Balser, waste, waste, water and wastewater, Randy Randles, police and fire, Brad Smith and park and recreation Kathy Easter. Does anybody else have anything? You're up. Okay,

just not to be confused. As Republican county chairman parties, the primary coming up filing starts on 7th. The deadline to file is February. the Republican party, the Democratic party and for all report CFA1. Um, annual reports are due January 20th, I believe, which is the CFA4 campaign finance report. Thank you.

Thank you. Paul is running for state senator and good luck on that. Thank you. Nothing else being ajourned. Yes, Carol. I'd like to know from Shannon people that are getting fraud if they're the older people. Mostly

mostly older people, but I've seen it from all sides. I've seen teachers and other people scam. So, I mean, if you're ever in doubt, please come here information. The banks already have your information, so they will never ask for your information. And like I said, the big out there and they're getting clever. I mean, they really are. So, if you're ever in doubt, contact us. Don't ever give anybody your information. And it's getting close to tax time. Remember that the IRS will never call you or contact you by default. It'll always be in right.

Okay. If they show up at your door, they have an ID. I've had them show up at my door before, but they had ID. All right. I got Paul and Kathy. I guess you lucky winners tonight. They'll try though.