City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening everyone. It is 6:00 p.m. on May 4th, 2026. It's time to call city council meeting to order. Ms. Jones, roll call, please. Mr. Austin. Present. Mr. Shock. Here. Ms. McGuinness. Here. Ms. Nally. Here. Mr. Prime. Here. Ms. Mayor Taylor. Here. Ms. Price. Here. Mayor, you have a quorum. Thank you, ma'am. Mr. Brian Reese, prayer and pledge, please. All right, invite you to join me if you would. Our Father, we come before you this evening and we thank you for the privilege it is to assemble again tonight in this hall. Pray that you'd be with all the items on the agenda. Give our council uh just the wisdom and discernment they need to make the best decisions for our city both now and its future. And I just pray that you'd continue to be with our country, our state, and our city, and those who serve in in all the capacities, uh especially our public servants that serve in uh our our fire department, police department, over at the hospital, just as they are first responders to the things that go on. Thank you for the work they do. And uh again, be with this meeting tonight. We ask this in your name. Amen. Amen. Invite you to stand with me for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. May be seated. And I think under thank you, Brian. Under announcements and public comments, I think Brian has an announcement. All right, I'm Brian Reese. I have the privilege of serving as lead pastor of Crossway Bible Church here in Franklin, and also get to serve as the coordinator of this year's local um iteration of the National Day of Prayer uh gathering this coming Thursday. Uh it'll be as held previously right out in the parking lot area in front of city

hall from noon to 12:45. It'll be a good time of just uniting together and praying for those who serve in different capacities within our city and and beyond, but those who are elected officials and public servants, those who are first responders and serving health care, those who are involved in the education of our future and just a good time to get together and pray. We'll have a good representative I think of our community there as well as some other faith leaders there and great time of prayer. So encourage you to come. We'll hear from some of those different people in those different areas and then we'll just take time to pray over them during that. It's just I've thoroughly enjoyed being a part of it and looking forward to coordinating this year. So want to invite everyone to come and join us Thursday noon to 12:45 right out front. Thank you. Thank you, Brian. And just just for a little information here, it's a national it's a national day of prayer and the time is set across the country the same time all over the country.

Yeah, so these gatherings are observed all over the country. It may be varying times, but it's the the first Thursday of May every year and there's a theme and we'll talk about that on that day each year and so this is just our local local version of what's happening all over the country and and again it's it's not a um necessarily it's not a a political or platform event. It really is just a broad time of people of faith coming together to pray and I think um there may be many differences among people of faith, but it's one thing we can agree on I believe is just this prayer and the power of prayer and the unity that comes in praying together. So Thank you, sir.

[snorts] All right. Any other announcements or public comments? Seeing none, we will go to the consent agenda. Move to approve the meeting minutes from the April 20th City Council meeting as presented. Second. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor by saying I. I. Okay, thank you. Other We go to old business. Move to read old business by title only.

Second. Okay, all those in favor by reading by title only, say I. I. Okay, item number one, approval of budgetary ordinance 26-07 to appropriate money received for grant from the Blankenship Patriotic Supplies director of Parks and Recreation. And tonight, after Chip gets done, it will be a public hearing. I'd be more than happy to answer any questions you have. Nothing's changed since last time, so. It was introduced April the 20th, and it's $1,243. Is that correct, Chip? It's It's 1243 or 1253, one of the other. 1243. Thank you. [snorts]

Okay, so we are open for a public hearing. Does anybody have any questions from the crowd that they'd want to ask Chip or anybody else? Seeing none, we will close the public hearing. Now, we're ready for action. Move to approve. Second. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor by saying I. I. Okay, thank you, Chip. Uh there isn't any more old business under new business. Move to read new business by title only.

Second. Okay, we have a motion and a second to read by title only. All those in favor by saying I. I. Okay, presentation of the Johnson County Public Library year in review. Johnson County Public Librarian Director, Lisa Litner. Hi, Lisa. Hey, it's my once-a-year tour to share the great things happening at JCPL. I'll try to keep it as brief as possible, but let you know the exciting things that we've been doing. We had over a million checkouts again last year, so 1.3 million items. And those are most book mostly books on our shelves, over 900,000 [clears throat] physical items. That's books, DVDs, audio tape CDs. We don't have tapes anymore. And other materials like Library of Things. And then 420,000 were digital items that were movies, ebooks. Huge portion of those are audiobooks that people download to their devices and listen on the go. We had almost 400,000 visitors. That's like packing six Colts games fully. So, that's a lot of people visiting our library locations over the past year. And we had 11,000 new cards and 55,000 active card holders. So, those are individuals and households in Johnson County. So, we had we we continue to be the third top library system in the state of Indiana for attendance at library programs. So, there's Indianapolis, there's Allen County, which is Fort Wayne, and then there's Johnson County. Even though that we're the 10th largest system, we have a lot of events and a lot of people attend our events. Next slide. And then we're really proud of our summer learning program, which is designed to engage students to continue to learn and read and maintain their reading skills during the summer. Together as a community, folks of all

ages read 5.1 million minutes together. We have a strategic plan update. I believe you'll get these slides, and you'll be able to just take a look at these in more detail. Our strategic plan is a living document. We are continually hitting our goals and creating new goals to improve services to the community. So, we have three kind of pillars concentration. One is to improve our access and customer experience. The second one on the next slide is to create connection through community engagement and outreach. Uh right now we're concentrating on teens and seniors to uh to do additional programs for them. And then the third is excitement. So we're uh creating really unique learning experiences, uh providing innovative learning opportunities for our community. On the next slide, you'll see just some of the programs that we had uh in 2025 that were really popular. Uh we received a huge grant to support preschool readiness. We partnered with Windrose uh Health System to get the to get materials into the hands of preschool children. Our bookmobile, which I know you've uh had an update from, has been reaching out in the community at fairs and festivals as well as community areas like housing areas, daycares, and also senior centers. And then we've really gotten into providing meaningful art experiences. And right now uh it is a ballroom dancer. So if that's something you're interested in, check out our guide. You can learn more about ballroom dancing. Okay, so uh the not-so-great news, which you guys know about. Um we've had some state legislation that is affecting our library budgets. Uh that just had to go there, didn't you?

[laughter]

People need to know. So Yes, yes, they do. So you guys understand cuz you you're also getting reduced property income tax. Uh for libraries, the most impactful thing is it's changing how we receive local income tax, which is 40% of our budget. Uh and I'm going to jump ahead to HEA 1210. Uh it at least delays this kind of new process for a year for us, but starting in 2028, we're going to have to petition the county council for 40% of our budget. When we're right now just receiving distributions based on a calculation. And that's all public libraries in Indiana. And that for here in Johnson County, it's Edinburgh, it's Greenwood, and the Johnson County Public Library. That middle House Enrolled Act 1406 really kind of punched libraries right on the nose. It limits our growth, our maximum growth quotient. We have to accept basically less than 50% or undergo binding review and in our case with the county council. It also provides an unequal error penalty. Luckily, JSPL is never in this case. I'm always going to file a budget, right? But if a library somehow forgets to doesn't know the process, doesn't file their budget in a timely manner like government units are supposed to, they will only receive 49% of their previous year budget, where all other government units will receive 80% if they do the same error. Like I said, it doesn't really apply to us, but it's still kind of a punch in the nose. Next slide is our facility update. We [snorts] have completed an update for our 20-year maintenance plan, and we are working really hard now knowing we have two stable years of funding that we're working to make sure we have our buildings in in really good shape. We

replaced a courier van. Back in 2025 in May, we paused our next building project, which was to do improvements to the White River branch. And that was going to be modest expansion and a complete renovation of that location. Our library board has decided we probably need to start exploring that again because our bond will be paid off in early 2028. And if we want to keep that tax rate neutral and try to do improvements to White River branch, we need to look at that again. So, that's something that we're going to be approaching the county council about uh the next year. And then we are celebrating America's 250th in a huge way. When I say dozens of programs, it's probably going to end up being hundreds of programs that celebrate of the history of the United States. We have a film series going on. Last week we showed Little Women. And in a couple of weeks we have Glory, uh which is the Civil War movie you might have if you've seen. We're also showing Smoke Signals. And then for a family-friendly one is A Five-Year-Old Goes West, which is like animated uh movie. We have a concert series that we're doing at the new Trafalgar Amphitheater. Uh we'll be having patriotic music there as well as some bluegrass playing. Uh and one of the programs is a performer who will write patriotic song with children and then they'll perform it that night. That's really exciting. We're partnering with the Parks Department uh for the longest table on September 4th. We're trying to coordinate that with the First Fridays in Franklin. So, we're going to have a meal of 320 people from all across Johnson County at the amphitheater. And uh it's going to be a wonderful conversation of what it is to be an American and to be a US citizen. So, that is a something we're doing uh and coordinating. You'll hear more about it in the next few months.

And then Military Day is a huge program we're planning the Saturday before Veterans Day at the the Johnson County Armory. It is going to be an all-day event with touch-a-tank. Uh you'll get to meet soldiers. You'll learn about history of US military. We have a best-selling author going to be there with some free books. And uh maybe even like a World War II USO-style swing dance victory kind of party. So, um we're really, really excited for America's 250th this year. And that's my presentation. So, if you guys have any questions, I'm happy to answer them. Lisa, I do have one question. As you know, I I like your author series with at the Artcraft with I'll do she and every but I was stunned at the last um author you had. Help me out here.

Kelly Yang? Yeah. How many states were represented because it was sold out again. But I remember them commenting on the number of visitors we had from out of state that actually come. You know, so I would say we probably have about 90% Johnson County residents who who come to those defense. There were a couple a couple of

it's bizarre. Sometimes they'll come from New York, Iowa, I was amazed. California. I mean, because sometimes this is an opportunity that meets their schedule. So we we do feel like we're impacting economic development because we are bringing like and I know people traveled for the Rick Steves uh the fundraiser. Yes. That's the one I was talking about. That was the one I was talking We had over 600 people at the Artcraft and yes, people did travel from uh many states. Uh I could probably get you a list if if you want me to. I was glad that Yeah, they come the night before. Uh several of the people like they came with their friends and they spent all day shopping up and down Jefferson Street and you know, asked for recommendations on where to eat. So hopefully yeah, the restaurants weren't too too uh well, I'm sure they enjoyed the business but yeah, so It was great event. That's that's what I was talking about. Lisa, what what's your annual budget? Uh it's right around 10 million is what we budget for. We usually get uh less than that in income. Like usually about 9.5 million. So 4 million here and a half asked for. 4 million could be at risk. There is no minimum they have to fund. There is a maximum that will be less than we receive now um but I what I've been telling people is I think we will be will be able to figure it out if we get the maximum. If we get any percentage less, we're really going to have to really think seriously about, you know, can we be open 7 days a week? Can we maintain the services we have? It's pretty impressive what you do. Thank you. Um I understand just for feedback for the authors that come into town. Uh they put on their resume, they go to New York, they go to Chicago, and they go to Franklin, Indiana. I mean, it is quite amazing. And uh I'm not a big book author guy,

but I am going to one soon just to see what the hype is all about, and my wife goes, so I'm going to tag along and figure it out. I say between We always have the popcorn going. Yeah. The popcorn alone is worth my trip. [laughter] Wild Geese does It's great. dozens of them a year, and we do between probably seven to 10 a year that are completely free and open to the public. Uh the foundation does one that's a fundraiser, but I Well, I like to say that we're the literary hub of the Midwest. I mean, you really like when I talk to other library directors, they're just stunned. You know, we had James Patterson here last year. I mean, most people don't get to say that. David Baldacci was here. David Baldacci, oh, he was amazing, too.

somebody from another country came to see him. Yeah. It was amazing. Just incredible. Well, they can't get into the other places. [laughter] [snorts] All right.

thank you. Thank you, Lisa. You do a great job. We appreciate it. Okay, next item. Request approval of the interlocal agreement with the county for HWC professional services agreement, city attorney Lynn Gray. And I'll just say that Craig Luedeman, who is a former mayor of Seymour, is here sitting in the back, and he works for HWC. So, thanks for being here, Craig, and Lynn. Hi, Craig. Thank you, mayor. Um the at the last Board of Works meeting, not just prior to this meeting, but last um, month now, it was April, uh, the Board of Works entered into an a an agreement with HWC uh, for purposes of study only as to the potential and the need and all kinds of documents that are required uh, for uh, interchange um, north interchange for Franklin. Um, if you're going to get on a list ever have that considered, there are very, very

[sighs]

extensive documents that you have to have to even ask to be put on a list. And as the mayor has said on a couple of occasions, uh, frequently we are asked when projects come into town, why aren't we why aren't we planning for traffic before traffic happens? And so we are trying, particularly in in conjunction with our comprehensive plan, trying to get ahead of that game to determine without making any commitments because so much of this is outside our control, if such a interchange is going to be necessary sometime in the future. So, this is step one, very preliminarily. Um, the mayor reached out to the county um, because frankly any interchange, if it ever does happen, is going to affect anybody or everybody in the county to partner with uh, sharing of the professional services that are required. [clears throat] Um, and at the last Board of Works meeting, uh, Kevin Walls representing the commissioners uh, appeared and indicated the county was willing to commit one half of the cost of the professional services agreement. So, having said that or having had that done, um, it was also subject to RDC approval for funding for our portion of it. Um, I then was instructed to reach out to the county uh, legal to prepare an interlocal agreement and that is what you have before you where they are going to pay one half of the cost [snorts] not to exceed and the number is in there. I should know it, I've done it. It is $560,782. And as divided by two is 280,300 I think that's a 70 $1.

I think you're right. That's exactly right. So, that is what you have before it. It was unanimously approved by the commissioners and that's why it bears their signature. I believe RDC also approved it. Christie, is she here? Yeah, approved the funding for it. So.

And And And And you were there. Yeah, I was. Caught you right in the act. Yeah, I was. I was getting ready to say it. Sorry. Josh [laughter] was there as well. Yeah. [clears throat] Mhm. So, to to your constituents, this is not a commitment to do anything in terms of an interchange. There are long, long, many, many, many things you have to go through, many things you have to do. It's perhaps HWC can give me time frame between when you start the process and before you go anywhere. But you've got to stop. You got to start here before it's even in the cards.

Correct. I I believe this contract is an 18-month contract. So, it's 18 months of study to get it presented back to you guys. Yeah. And then even when you get a study, you've got to go Yeah, and then it's years many more years down the road. Yeah. years in advance. So, if you're ever going to be prepared, you got got to start here. Yeah, we've been talking about this for a long time. Multiple mayors and And yeah, this has been discussed for years. Glad to see it's at least starting. Okay, is that a motion then, Ken? Make a motion to approve as presented. Second. Okay, we have a motion and a second. All those in favor by saying I. I. Any opposed, same sign. Okay, thank you. Hearing none, we'll go on to next item. Yearly tax abatement compliance report for approval, community development specialist [clears throat] Dana Matson. Yes, good evening. Um, the Economic Development Commission did meet at their April 21st, 2026 meeting, uh they did review and recommend for approval the following um CF1 compliance forms. Um as these are very similar to the ones that we uh we looked at last month, uh the majority of the companies are doing very well. Um investments are doing very well. The hardest part is is still uh with these companies is still the same thing, looking at employment, looking at trying to find the qualified employees and and things of that nature, but um very pleased to see that overall wages are rising, employees are getting there, and they're getting much closer. So, it has been very good. So, I will read these uh all into the record. Thank you. C 202602 B2S Life Sciences 2005 C 202606 Essex Solutions 2114 C 202607

Essex Solutions 2306 C 202608 Essex Solutions 2307 C 202609 Franklin Tech Park 2109 C 202611 IBC Advanced Alloys 2102 C 202612 IBC Advanced Alloys 2105 C 202621 MTEA 1307 C 202622 MTEA 2320 C 202623 NSK Corp 1320 C 202624 NSK Corp 1619 C 202625 NSK Corp 2207 C 202626 NSK Corp 2208 C 202628 NSK Precision 1318 C 202629 NSK Precision 2209 C 202630 NSK Precision 2210 C 202631 Ortho America 2134 C 202632 Ortho America 2136 and C202633 Overton Industries 1621. All of these have been recommended by the EDC for approval. You nailed it. I was just going to ask her if she could repeat that.

Yeah. Thank you. Well. Sean, do you have Do you have anything to add? No, unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend a meeting. There was I had some car issues. I had to drive to Milwaukee that day that they had the meeting. So, I wasn't able to attend the meeting, but I did read through everything and like Dennis said, we are seeing good numbers across the board on most of the abatements is with there is one group that we're going to bring back again. So. It looks like their capital investments exceed, but they can't get the employees. They can't get the employees. That's exactly what's what's happening. not because of automation. It's just trying to find the workforce.

Trying to find the the right workforce and the right employees with the right skills. Yeah. But it seemed like they're training them to get to that if what I read it's it's a

to see that. We're seeing more and more of these companies that are willing to come in. They're doing things Innovative 3D has a really unique program where they're actually going into the high schools and they're talking to these juniors, sophomores and juniors and and telling them about opportunities, giving them internships with the with the goal of you graduate in May, we're going to hire you full-time in June. They've had a lot of success with that. So, we're starting to see more of those types of programs coming in. Move to approve. Second. Okay, we have a motion and a second. All those in favor by saying I. I. Any opposed same sign. Yeah. Thank you. Okay, we'll get to the next item. Request approval of budgetary resolution 26-02 transfer from Donation Park Senior Center professional services 300 to Donation Park Senior center, professional 100, and supplies 200. Director of Parks and Recreation, Chip Warner. It's a budgetary resolution 26-02, and we can approve tonight, correct? Yes. Thank you. So, I apologize I'm here again cuz this is the same money we've been talking about for about 3 months now. Um this is the money that came from the Johnson County Community Foundation as part of the million-dollar thing we got. We all know about that. When it's When it was originally appropriated, it was all appropriated into the 300 category, which is professional services, which did not give me the ability to buy program supplies or hire new staff or new programs and that kind of thing. So, I'm asking you tonight is to move it into the proper buckets, basically. Same amount? Same amount. Not any new money. It's just moving it to the appropriate place where we can actually spend it like we should. So, that makes sense. I'm make a motion to approve budgetary

resolution 26-02. Second. Okay, we have a motion and a second. All those in favor by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed by saying aye. Hearing none. Thank you, Chip. Thank you. Great. Now, we're council Back again. No, other business. We actually have other business that You see I didn't move. Yeah. [laughter]

I suggested that um Yeah. Chip Okay. He looks familiar. What's that guy's name? Chip? I suggested Chip. We talked earlier today come and report to the Board of Works about some of the things we did at the port at the uh Yeah. Come and report to the council things we did at the Board of Works. And one cleanup item. So, with the ordinance as written, so one of the things that I was talking to Lynn about this afternoon is the ordinance for all these donations is actually that I should come to you and have you approve and have the mayor sign. Well, it was on the Board of Works agenda. If you were here in the audience, you've already heard this. Um We'll start bringing all these uh agreements to you. We bring them in batches. Um so, these aren't all a full exhaustive list of what we have donated or uh sponsored so far, but I did want to at least put it in front of you so you know uh what's going on. I want to make sure you're informed. The mayor um probably hasn't signed them yet. He may have all for all I know for he'll get his signature on it. The first batch is uh Compass Park uh has a sponsorship for 5,000. Earl Gray & Sons Plumbing did 10,500. Malarkey Roofing Products, which is not even in Franklin yet. Uh they are building. 17,500. Uh McGrath Concrete Construction 2,500. Farm Credit Mid-American Rural First 3,000. Kim Henderson at uh Edward Jones $100. Green Sign Company for $1,000 and Crossway Bible Church for $750. But, I did want to at least put that on your radar screen that that was approved at the Board of Works meeting, so. And I think they did approve it unanimously. I also have one more that uh I talked to Lena about that we are curious about how this happened, but uh you we uh secured a donation in 2022 uh for um Mutual Savings Bank. The mayor knows what I'm talking about. Uh for $50,000. Uh they paid us the $50,000 in 2022. Uh we cannot find an actual signed copy of

that uh uh sponsorship agreement. So, what I'm asking you tonight is to retroactively approve that. We already got the money. The the signs are on the shelter houses. They've been there since 2022, but we literally can't find a signed copy of it anywhere. And we we believe that you already approved it. Um the reason that I believe that is I remember disclosing to you all that I'm on the Board of Directors of Mutual Savings Bank and had but it took no action to fund this donation to the city to to any appearance of impropriety. Um so, I know you approved it, but there is no signed MOU and there should be. Um, we've got the money. We've done everything we're supposed to. They've done everything we're supposed to.

Check cleared? Wait, the check did clear? As far as I As far as I know, it did clear. So. to clarify why we're just now thinking about this right now is I received an email from Mutual that they are wanting a copy, I'm sure for paper trail and for some reason we don't have it. Yeah. I have We have this. We have it. We have it. Um, but it is a lifetime sponsorship, so it's good. Right. Right. So.

And and thank you to Jan for looking today. I Brooke in my office looked today. I looked at all the minutes from Board of Works and Council for 2 years and it is just not I can't find it. I know we did it. I have a recollection specifically and I prepared this in May of 2022. And it might be in a 2022 box of saved documents out at the storage. Right. So. This is just easy. We're We're asking We're asking you to approve retroactively the approve the memorandum of understanding regarding corporate sponsorship with Mutual Savings Bank and the document is here. And to have the mayor sign. On behalf of the council. That is correct.

So moved. Second. Okay, we have a motion and a second. All those in favor by saying I. I. Any opposed? I promise that's all I got. Thank Alan. I'm sorry, you do have a copy to sign.

one, too. You want Okay. Sure. We'll just We'll just get Steve. Okay. All right. Thank you. So, we'll we're ready for council comments. Josh, can we start with you and thank you for yesterday helping with a little computer problem we had at my house. I appreciate you coming over and being a friend. Thank you. [laughter] Those rascally computer problems. No, I don't have anything tonight, sir. Thank you. Ann. I don't have anything. Thank you. Ken. I don't. Thank you. Ken. Sean? Nothing tonight, sir. Todd? I have one item. I received this packet from a 15-year-old who watches us on YouTube uh during our meetings. His name is Sinclair. And um so Sinclair, I want to let you know that I'm going to be looking into these questions you have about the US 31 Corridor project. And also, I've already addressed the question that you have about a cross uh walk installation at Drake and Jefferson Street, so I'll be getting back to him uh soon. So, I was pretty impressed. Um I don't know why he thought I knew the answers, but I at least know people who know the answers, so we'll get that back to him. Thank you, Todd.

Yep. Irene? I don't have anything. Thank you. Jennifer? Nothing tonight, thank you. Adriana? Nope. Well, at least tell us your name. Oh, Adriana. [laughter] You just did. Your last name? Oh, Nicholson. Okay. Well, thank you for being here. We're We're getting close to the end of the year, and are you excited? Mhm. Okay.

to be at summer. I will say that Chip told us today at the department head meeting that the water bowls for your project is in, so they'll be getting installed soon. Oh, good. I had a good I had a good turnout at the dog walk. Yes. My wife and the dog went down there. Uh-huh. But while I was spreading mulch. It's really fun. It's fun. Steve, I want to I want to thank Brian Reese for his donation as well. Brian is very kind for your your church. Thank you. Thank you. All right. We Motion to adjourn. Second. All those in favor? Aye. [clears throat] Thank you.