Council - Regular Meeting

the council session into order. Um, you're going to be up first. So, you want to go ahead and start? Yeah, sure. Introduce yourself and we'll go over up here, please. You got to tell me where to go. Come up here so they can hear you and then see you.

All right. So, I'm Holly on [clears throat] Google. Um, neighbor community member here and Honeyburg. So, what I've got for you guys, if anybody else wants a copy, just put them here. Um, so I'm here to talk about the A as Cross line solar project. Um, it's being installed in between Holland and Honeyburg. Do I need to talk louder or Okay. All right. Um, so Crossline solar project in between Holland and Honeyburg. Um, so what I've got here for you all is three plan sets. So um pre-planned [clears throat] sheet sheets, excuse me. Um so these are the locations of the project for the solar panels and battery energy storage system provided by AES. Um you plotted all of this on the on the one sheet which is what you have drawn. Um the white that you see on the that area.

Yeah. Hold it up. There we go. My train is going to hold it up.

Oh, perfect. Perfect. So, the white that you see on there are um solar panels, proposed locations of solar panels. The blue that you see in the middle of the screen of the paper is where they're doing the substation construction right now and the red is the proposed location for the battery energy storage system and additional substation that will be required with that. Um the the red lines the red circles that you see are a mile and a half and then the second one is two mile uh so it's a radius from where the battery energy storage system is. So it is uh coming into the city limits of Holland. Um the reason that we did the so suggested what we've been researching is um all of these projects if there is a incident at the battery storage system they do recommend a two-m excavation excavation evacuation excuse me radius on them. Um, so that's why we have the two-mile. We have the 1.5 mile there because AES recently told the county commissioners that there are no um substantial structures in the 1.5 mile radius of the battery energy storage system. There are over a 100 [clears throat] structures being homes and buildings that are located in the 1.5 mile radius. So, um, just wanted to to note that. Um, so I presented a a letter to Melanie um on October 20 I think it's 20 20 October 28th. Um, I'm happy to go through that. Um, but it it basically goes over the the risks that are associated with this project. Um, so I am not a representative of AES. I am a community member, right? Um, I I live very close to this and um and and our property adjoins this potential project. Um, I'm very sad that I'm the ones coming to you guys to tell you about

this project and not AES because the the batteries, the solar panels do have risk associated with them. Um, when the the battery systems have any issues h overheat, they have thermal thermal runaway. Um, so thermal runaway is a condition where overheating causes chemical fires that are extremely difficult to extinguish. Um, and again, I don't know if you guys I don't want to repeat information that you guys have already seen. Um, but this is if this goes in and and Holland responds to it, it is a risk that that the fire department is taking on. Um, so I'll just read a little bit. Um, I think the best part are your questions down here. How to cut this. Yeah,

there's two two areas here or three areas that I think is really really important in your letter and it talks about questions of what it is here on this first page and in here and here and I think those are questions that people listening need to hear.

Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. Um, I I I will go ahead and kind of summarize again some of the is safety issues. So it's stated in the state of Indiana utility batteries energy storage uh study when batteries undergo thermal runaway or otherwise damage abused or andor misuse they can release flammable and toxic gases. This release of gases is called offging and it can po can pose several safety hazards including the risk of fire toxic exposure to first responders or facility personnel and the potential for explosion as flammable gases accumulate or ignite. So there's been recent um incidents of that. I actually want to highlight one at AES facility. Um so this facility proposed facility is an 85 megawatt battery energy storage system. Um, the one I want to tell you guys about is a thermal runaway incident in Arizona. So, again, this is AES. This is only a 10 megawatt battery energy storage system. Um, they had fire alarms throughout this and one of them went off. So, it was overheated. They had a um sprinkler system installed. It went off. But even with all of that, this battery storage facility, the the incident became be that began on April 18th and the fire department was there until April 29th [snorts] to monitor it. The nearest freeway was closed. The nearby city notified nearby businesses to evacuate and it would they started disconnecting everything. Okay. Um so yeah, Monday, April 18th, smoke was detected. So this is what a AES representative said. On Monday, April 18th, smoke was detected inside the Gilbert, the name of the holding company of the project. Battery energy storage facility in Chandler, Arizona. Safety systems responded properly and the local fire department was dispatched. The fire department effectively managed the

situation until May 1st. So April 18th through May 1st um was when May 1st was when the facility was deemed combustion free and management of the building was returned to AES. Um, so I just want to highlight it's a huge strain on resources. Um, so you know, is the town of Holland prepared to take on this risk? I I know you guys respond to a lot um things that aren't directly in Holland, you guys are responding to to the local the local incidents, right? Like also Holland, right? I don't want to discount that either. Exactly.

But yeah. Yeah. Um, so you know, not only for the the fire department, the first responders, but you know, Holland willing to take on this risk mitigation and planning associated with a fire at need a nearby storage battery facility. Um, something I brought up to the county commissioners when speaking with them on Monday, it is extremely risky for even on the solar panels there there's a safety risk, right? Um, we've heard of multiple incidents at the the power or the solar um project in Troy. firefighters respond to it and they just have to wait until these things burn out and that can take a long long time. That's the solar panels um oil spewing risk to them. Um if somebody were to drive through one, they just have to watch, right? Um so that that's that information the having if somebody drives into have to watch that was told to me by um a firefighter, volunteer firefighter saying that they are not allowed to go in because the risk of ex electrocution. Um, so another thing I want to bring up is the the proximity to the schools. Um, so Colin, as you can see in the map, it's right there. It's in that two- mile zone. Uh, Honeyburg Elementary School, it is in that two mile zone, too. I know that map doesn't show it. I apologize. I think I've got another one for that. But, um,

this is a big risk for the schools. Um, do you guys think it makes sense that this project is so close to your residents, so close to your schools? um economics don't really work out it seems. I I don't know if you guys have been contacted on this project on any benefits that you guys are going to receive as a town. Um when speaking to the c county commissioners, they noted that there was a little limited to no um positive benefit for for the county. Um so you know, will any benefit be be provided to the town of Holland? Um well any of the funds collected from this project you know there will be some taxes um we're under the understanding this will be zoned as utility and then taxes are limited on that but I I've yet to find out any or be informed of any different information to that you know will will all the funds stay within the southwest portion of the county strong is supposed to be in control of where they're going to be given to these funds if there are any funds.

Yeah. So, um, you know, does this impact the strategic plan and growth of the town of Holland? Um, a lot of these these places would really, you know, it'd be great if you had homes here, right? If if Holland wanted to grow that way and same for Honeybird and then, yeah, does the town of Holland take on more liability or risk with a battery storage facility and solar farm in such close proximity? So, just just a few things. Again, I uh it's unfortunate that I'm the one bringing this to you. Um you know, I I hate that there's been absolutely zero communication from anyone on this project. Um yeah, I I love Holland. Um those people outside of Holland love Holland. Um and just want to make sure that everybody's taken care of. Be good neighbors, right?

So, well, it'll also affect the property values. It'll also affect your insurance cost because with the thermal runoff, if it takes large quantities of water to put it out, then you have the ground runoff. Um, and it tells you some of the things in this best prepared what to do in a thermal runaway. And I mean, it's like five days have an emergency kit, make a a plan. Uh, you have to tape off all your ventilation system above ground shelter room. Take care of your pets. Um, stay [clears throat] tuned. Pre pre-assemble a disaster supply kit. Remember to help your neighbors. I mean, it's a lot.

Yeah.

One other thing too is um and and Brian, you probably know this too by dealing with hazmat. Wind drift and wind prediction has a lot to do with that. Two miles might not stand fast. That could be a three mile, could be a four mile depending on how much gas is out there and what the winds are doing. I mean, it's and that that could that could also encompass the complete town and the outside [clears throat] of the west side of town. So, you know, that that's just a a I call that a guideline. You know, until that happens and hazmat teams come in to start doing the predictions, we don't know. It could be just a little bit of the town or it could be the whole town. So that's one thing that your action your your action plan needs to to look at. And um but yeah, it's just this is concerning because of the kids. You got the school, the daycare, and then the church also has the infants up there. So [snorts] we have all those kids up there that we need to worry about. And and they're brought in from just not Holland. They're brought in from other other outlaying areas. you in Spencer County, we have some Pike County kids, too. So,

when that happens, you know, we're still going to have to be responsible for evacuating, making sure we have set up for emergency contact for parents and all that. That's going to be an they said the other day they were going to wait till after November when this was put in to train the emergency people. That's a little late.

Little late. Yeah. It's, you know, even like Huntingburg Fire Department, they, you know, they weren't contacted either. Um, I'm upset like you that they didn't contact the towns involved. Uh, and beside the the properties that that they're having them in, they want to increase it. I mean, they only have a few now, but they're going for all the area by the school, all that outlying area that is farm ground um to sell it. And and then they got to run all the underground wiring which is copper wire and that never goes away. Y plus all the stone and concrete that's under the solar panels.

With Dway County not having any type of zoning at all communities and you know cities and municipalities are limited unless they have their own zoning. Holland doesn't have zoning. We don't we have an annex with you know I'm sure I've done some research reached out to Taylor um you know we could if we had zoning we could probably do an ordinance to buffer the the residents the town um but we don't but again are we willing to go through the zoning and and asking so we can protect the the town I mean that's one of the things we need

yeah they don't have filming but Jasper does but we Honeyburg does it. There's several counties that don't have it. More counties have county zoning, but it's an expensive, hard process to go through. But meanwhile, the people that are, it's just like kind of building a house and then a chicken farm moves in next door to you. You know, you you hate to tell people what they can and cannot do with their own property because it is their own property. But we're trying to be community-minded and about everybody around you. And if it's moves in before anybody knows about it, then what do you do about it? I mean, you're pretty much out of luck.

We're looking at we're looking at if our fire department is asked to go out for mutual aid, are you equipped to put out a chemical fire like that? No. So now that's another burden on the town because we have to worry about trying to find out what kind of equipment we have to put on our trucks to make our firefighters safe. And even if they are, do they want to go out and be exposed to that? It's a volunteer fire department. It's kind of like a 911 thing. You know what? Would I do that? No, I don't know if I do that. You know, it would be one of those hard pressed things for me to decide as a volunteer. Do I want to put myself into a situation where I can't get out of it

or you take home or Exactly. you take the contaminants home. So it, you know, it's it's a lot more it's a lot more to a municipality than just saying, "Oh, we're just going to shelter in place and be done with it." And, you know, hopefully the the daffodils come up tomorrow. So, um, so I mean that's a lot of it's a lot of responsibility that they that that company has now put on Jasper, Honey, Duff, people of Duff, don't get me started on that. and then pollen. I mean, it's just and they and it's it's it's amazing that we can't the curtains weren't pulled back fast enough for us,

you know? We're now we're in reaction mode. We're not, you know, we're trying to figure this out, you know. So, it's just we're hoping to slow it down at the very least slow it down, if not stop it. Well, there's going to be another uh we stopped it the other day at commissioner's meeting. Yes. They said they already approved one of Duff and that's not too much for a battery storage system and they wanted they needed variance for for the utility rideways and the commissioners did not grant it because they had not thankfully in their defense they did not know enough about it they said no we're not going to make a decision here [clears throat] yeah he's the one that suggested it yes

so yeah I guess uh couple other things I just thought I'd give to you guys for for information Um I did pull the decommissioning plan with the county. Um something to make note of on that the restoration fund. So th this decommissioning agreement with this they are required to have a decommissioning fund.

Um the way that it is funded is um when the basically when the lights are turned on 25% of the restoration fund um will be be placed forward. So 25% of the restoration fund not later than the project's commercial operation date, 50% of the restoration fund not later than the fifth anniversary of the project and the fund will not be fully 100% funded until the 10th anniversary. So that's 10 years before the funds are exposed. Yes. So if this thing, let's say before the lights get turned on, they've got it all installed, they're like, "We're going to leave it." to my understanding and you're more qualified to read this than I am, but [clears throat] um to my understanding, you're out of luck. You get nothing.

So, and then the clean up is good to you. And not only that, this is the third company to have this project. And it's not correct me if I'm wrong on any of that, but that's that's how I rent. It's been sold three times. This is the third owner before it's even started. So if the other two dumped it and this one runs into not subsidized, no funding, then it's at a standstill and there it sits. And another thing I need to do, it's on my my list to to learn more about is when the tax credits from the big beautiful bill on projects like this when they run out. And I again I think most of them are from six to 10 years, but it varies on the projects. Yeah,

but we're going to leave all this information down here and anybody that wants to come down here needs to look at the information, read it, take copies. We also have petitions to stop it and we're going [snorts] to leave them here. So, anybody in town that wants to sign them or out of town, we're up for anybody that wants to stop it.

Um, I'm also going to leave you the letter that was read to the Duboce County Commissioners on November 2nd. Um there's information very very similar to yours but related to Huntingburg was presented to Neil Elkins, Mayor Near Elkins on October 21st. I'm going to leave that with you as well. And then I'd also like to leave with you um the dates. So we are planning on speaking with the um Huntingburg uh Town Council. Let me back here. the Huntingburg Town Council um on Monday, November 10th at 5:30 at City Hall and then we are on the agenda for the next commissioner's meeting on November 17th at 8:45 the Annex building. I'll leave that with you guys while Thank you very much. And if anybody has any questions, uh, you [clears throat] can contact Rita, Randy, Bartle, you know, let them know you have questions or contact somebody in here. But all the information will be here at the town hall or anybody in the area that wants to read over it, take copies of it, look at the maps, sign the petition.

I'd like to say you could talk to anybody that's adjoining a join adjoining land owner of the property, but we haven't got to all of them. So, not all of them know that the project is happening. That's why we're trying to let them know via so that they can [clears throat] so that they can come and look at the information for yourself. Um because after it's in there's nothing you can do about it. So the company has also been planning a public meeting in November of this year for months and months and months. We still don't have a date for when that's supposed to be. And

well and in November I'm pregnant. The other thing is could we get a group of people to the petition like who went out on Saturday around the Jasper Ireland area. If we give that to the commissioners I think they changed your mind a little quick. I'm sure all them people you get plenty of names. Nobody wants to look. I think you've got a handful of copies. If anybody wants to pick up a copy of the the petition form, take one with you. There's several copies. Yeah, but phone calls. I think we got seven or eight yesterday. People just call

I've talked to quite a few people that have they no they have no clue. I say do you know about the solar farm that's coming up with the battery issue and they go what are you talking about? Well 525 leads out towards M. Yeah. It's going to be right up to their back door. Yeah. There's not a So Lane College is only one, you know. Yeah. They sent out very limited letters. They didn't send it to the town councils or the fire departments. Just send it like to just a few area residents and that was it. So nobody Did you get a letter? No, we didn't. Okay. They said they were providing them to people within 0.25 miles of the geotechnical borings and from what who we've spoken with that's not true.

So that live in that area. So my my my question is and and I'm hearing different things is once this company goes to the utility board in Indianapolis to ask permission once they give them permission basically they can do what they want as long as they follow federal and state um guidelines and ordinances. Is that is that the way I don't know we've heard of other counties where it's been stopped even when that has happened. So I don't

and that's my point is I I don't agree with it because when they're doing stuff like that that is part of you know the our community becoming you know endangered. I think they should reach out to the communities a little bit more. You know there's all kinds of examples of chemical companies doing stuff and next thing you know they're being sued out the wazoo for because of illnesses and things like that. Look at the magnesium fire down in Newberg. So there's people now that are starting to have issues, respiratory issues from that that are not just in Newberg on the outside, you know, of of the of the area. So that's one of the things I just think is absolutely wrong that the state is doing allowing these people to do that. So

the commissioners can stop it. You read everything about the state law. They have guidelines and local government can stop it. We are commissioners. I don't know what your deal is. Well, at least they slowed it down for right now. I mean, they didn't give grant the variance. They didn't have a bigger big enough utility rideway and they asked for that, which I find it really interesting that she didn't discuss anything else about it. Just this is a rideway for such and such and such. So, most of the people there didn't even realize she was with them. No. And that she was speaking for them. Thankfully, the commissioners did say, "We don't know enough about it. We're not going to make a decision today." They said the rideway was not granted.

Yeah. Where they're putting it next to a flood plane and somebody riding the road. I couldn't put a confined animal out there. Yeah. You know, they got ordinances for that, but they let a battery battery come in. You know, how long? Don't be talking out both sides of your mouth. You know, how long have the commissioners known about? They just find out too or have they been aware of it for? They've been they permit was approved um when it was still BP in 2024. the discom decommissioning agreement was signed in 2024 by commissioners. So the comm county commissioners have known for a while.

Yeah. Okay. Then also AES is a Chinese owned company. They're leveraged very much and uh Black Rockck the financial institution might be buying AES Indiana. They'll they'll end up selling this a couple of more times before it goes online. Probably sounds like it. So, is there several more of these in this state? A lot of them or do

the battery, the only one, the battery storage system, the only one of this size is in Pike County. Um, it's it's it is bigger. Um, it's only been open, you know, this year. So, and that's the issue with a lot of these facilities. There's not enough information and not enough data to say this is what it's going to look like in 30 years. This is what it's going to look like in five years, two years. Yeah. So if they put in more solar panel farms around this area at any point in time a company could say we need to put in a battery storage or is battery storage part of it. So like Duff they're doing this the solar farm first and then they're doing the battery.

So it could be a two-phase. So they get the panels up going and then they could say we're going to throw another 80 or whatever megawatt. Yeah, I think there's another 800 acres that have been signed up for duck. So, it will be growing as well. I got one question. Do you know whenever there this is a full realm and they got what 300,000 of these things? What is the potential energy that this this this area out here by Gus Henels? How much potential is there? I mean in one in in megawatt. Yeah.

You know, I think they're saying I think they're saying it's going to be 85 as well or it might I might have that in a sorry in the permit I believe in the permit that they fought with the county. I think it's it's either 100 or 85. I want to say the solar panel is 100 and the battery is 85. But don't quote me on that. I don't I don't have that information. But this is just for one. This is just for this crossfine for this this unit where they're going to bring in the potential energy. Yeah.

Okay. So, I'm I'm just going to relate that to a Tesla. When a Tesla bowls up, that's a lithium ion battery. You can't get within 200 feet of that. And and if that one would happen here, 200 feet all the way around. That's that's that's 200 is a radius and and 400 is so anything is devastating with within that area. So so this is much bigger than a Tesla P. And so we've got school kids going by like Colton Ber said and and they got a community and they got all these acres out here. Why don't they put it somewhere else? Why don't they put it in Crying Ground or somewhere where no one's going to live?

They don't. But well done by county at the power plant. Yeah, that's where it should be where people that's where and honestly you're not going to get the payback on it. There's so little benefit compared to the cost and the things that could go wrong. Now I hate to be a doomsayer but for the things that it could cost the community you don't get that money back is carbon credits.

Yeah. And we don't even know everything. I've tried to do some research today. Uh well, late last night, today, the day before that's ongoing. Anyway, I can't find anywhere where that energy is going. I heard Indianapolis, you look, it doesn't talk about where they they say they put it into the grid. Only thing I seen was it goes to the grid and it's dispersed where needed. Where needed. But what does that mean? I think IPNL is going to buy it. Okay. Um, I think I got that off the Indiana U board of Indiana Board of Utilities, the acronyms. Sorry. Yeah. Um, I believe this is going to go to IPNL. Okay.

So, that goes down to not going to be in this area. We don't get the benefits. Well, I got the the last thing. And I just want to get make sure this is on there, too. These are where our I mean, you got new drivers. This is how they This is the road they take to get to Southage every day. Yeah. Right. So, all the way from construction. I mean, I know folks on Old Pollen Road that they don't let their kids ride their bikes right now because they're afraid they're going to get ran over by a halt truck. It's going to get worse when these things are under construction, too. Okay.

So, I just, you know, from Yes, it's an issue when it's it's built. It's a huge issue when it's built. I hope we're not stuck with these things. It's a it's an issue when we're it's under construction. Um, I appreciate you guys all listening and I hope we can stop these things or at least slow them down. So,

I appreciate that. Like I said, we have all this information down here in the town hall. Please come in and read it. If you want copies of it, we'll make copies of it. So, anybody gets a chance to look at it and read it, research it. It's got the utility board acronym on there for you to look it up. Um, that there's just not enough research out there. Like I said, it's kind of like we don't know what's going to happen in 10 years. So, I appreciate that. Thank you very much. And yeah, if anybody can make it to the anybody can make it to the meetings coming up, too. November 10th. What time are they? Yeah. The Honeyburg City Council here at 5:30.

Yes. 5:30 on November 10th. And then at 8:45 is commissioner. Correct. 8:45 a.m. Yes. 8:45 a.m. is when the this item is on the agenda um for the Huntingburg City Council meeting. Um starts at 5:30. They did not put us on the agenda, but told us that we could come to the concerned citizens section of it. Um and that there's not much on the agenda right now for that date. So, we should be pretty early in the meeting. So, if anybody wants to start a recreation drive, I mean, we're not going to do it on our own, but we get, you know, maybe group of six people go out, right? you know, maybe now maybe now they're on the radio that we're, you know, going out Facebook, that kind of stuff.

Okay. So, they got somebody out there just constantly selling or or selling their plan that they're buying up all this or getting to put all these out there or what is it on going? I mean, look at all the different places. That is only um a small section. I believe that's only three owners. [clears throat] in the de area in the cond. Okay. Everything all the way to the school will be under the solar panels. Yeah. Let me count. I believe it's um I think there's seven seven individuals. Seven individual property owners. So they might be like this LLC, but I think it's only three to four.

Oh, there's only there's only one better phrase only one active farmer. Yeah. Okay. Thank you very much. Thank you all. We're going to move on to uh I do have a couple midstate quarter things, but I'm going to wait for them right now to do the minutes. Everybody had a chance to read the minutes. Yes, I The only change I had was um Owens is misspelled on the back page and also Craig M. Make the motion we approve of those changes. Second.

All in favor? I also have the October 28th short meeting to approve the budget. You read in a motion to Okay, I'll second it. All in favor? looking at your budget.

Thank you, Holly. Thank you, Amy. [laughter] That does anybody have any questions that they've seen on the budget? No, I didn't have anything. I don't have anything. Okay, I'll make a motion to accept the budget as presented. A second. All in favor? And we also have the vouchers.

I didn't see anything on the vouchers that I have any questions on. I know. So, we transferred money out of some for the salary and some for the insurance and some for the trash. Now, this brings me to the trash, the dumpster bill. We um called in about our contract and it was within the time limit that we could change our contract. So, we went from 541 a month to 165 a month. So, I'm kind of thinking maybe we'll put part of that money back for police expenses like the light bar and equipment and that kind of stuff that we might have a special line item out of the savings which is a little $300 a month. I know it will go up eventually but for right now it's a big savings between the call and told them what was going on and they price so that'll be a big help for every and and MBH general and the park all paid on track. That's the only thing I had to comment on the vouchers.

Yeah. I'll make a motion to accept as presented. Second.

All in favor? I did get three letters from the midset court people that were interested in contacting the council. Um, two of them are in the same letter, but I'll lightly go over the third one [clears throat] just so everybody knows what's going on there. Um, mainly the letter says, I'm writing to express my displeasure with the whole state corridor project. The road is not needed, waste of taxpayer money and greatly inconvenience the residents of Duboce County and surrounding counties. Please rethink about the people that you represent in their lives. The quality of life is greatly affected. Couple of the things we went over the other day when we were at this AES meeting for the commissioners was the fact that there's going to be about eight or nine J turns on this midstate quarter. They say it's going to take about a minute and a half to to navigate each one if you're going one way or the other. The only thing I have a problem, well, there's a lot of things I have a problem with, but one of them is our kids are going to be on the bus a lot longer. Not only during when it's finished, but before it's done. There are a lot of things that maybe in the initial thing we're not told, like discontinuing 231 stop, discontinuing St. Henry Road, you know, closing it. Um, and the kids are going to be in a bus [clears throat] on a J turn twice a day going across this traffic.

And one thing I have problems with that is It says a minute. What is it say? A minute and a half. Minute and a half. That's for a per That's for a POV. These buses are going to take longer to get around. Sure. You know, a bus doesn't just accelerate like a car. And and these J turns are designed where you have to you have to tra go across two lanes of high-speed traffic. So, I don't think that that's a true representation of how long it should take.

And I think they said you were going to say 600 minutes. 600 minutes in having the road. But then when you consider all the J turns and the buses, you lose time and people from this side in the Holland area going that way are going to all have to get on the J turns because once they stop 231, you can't go that way. You got to get on the Midstate Corp to go around. Plus the fire departments, the people that are in between Holland and St. Henry. St. Henry can't get to them. Holland can't get to them. A minute and a half may not sound like a lot, but when you're doing a fire truck, you can probably say that, Brian. You know, it's a lot to get a fire truck over there. And every minute counts when your house is on fire and people are in danger.

So, I think that's a big safety concern. Yeah. And you have to look at the farmers, too. They're going to be taking uh farmer implements and stuff like that across those. It's the same thing. tractor slower than a bus, you know, and then they're gonna try to do those J turns with if a plow is a little bit bigger than they're going to be, you know, it's gonna be an issue, you know. So, I just don't think they I like to say this Beetlejuice was lying to

Well, I just think people need to be aware of what some of the things are and some of the downfalls so they can make an informed decision on how they feel about it. Um, you know, there's a lot of people that think it's great. That's fine. They have their opinion, that's fine. I just think that the safety concerns have not been addressed enough for the kids that are going to be on the bus for an hour and a half instead of 45 minutes or whatever. So, just kind of absorb some of the information that's out there on the internet. I just these letters were sent to me to read here. So, that's why I read them.

Now, I'm done preaching. I'm going [laughter] to get off my soap box and go on to the rural water loan. Um, I did get a letter from Gloria saying that it was approved and was going to go to the loan committee. The loan amount is 185,000. The bond will need to be increased to the loan amount which was 190,000 and that will be on Ray and he's already got that approved. Good. So once they get the information, then it will go to their committee and they'll prepare the loan documents and email them to us.

So we're moving along on that finally. And I know it's getting a little late in the year and I know Scott has some concerns about doing water projects this late in the year. I still think that we need to move forward with this. It's 3% 10 year. We can pay it off if we don't have any money on it, you know, we can pay off whatever. Um because we are going to have some expenses, but that's just my opinion. Guys got any opinion on it? Go ahead with it. I don't think we ought to go ahead with it. So, can that money be carried over or does it have

It can be carried over. Yes, we can carry it over 3% for a 10-year loan and it can be used on any water projects, not just those specific I'm sure, you know, may not get to them this year, but by next year, right? And that's kind of where I thought if the money is stockpiled and it's put in a special just a special line for that water projects whatever that it can be put back at the 3%. Yeah. And we can pay as much as we want but the minimum has to be 3%. Yeah. Yeah. But I mean we can pay

it back. A lot of these loans we can't you can't pay down early but you can this one. So, you know, say we've got a surplus in our water department of 25 or 30,000. We can pay that much more now. I mean, I think it's a it's a good deal for us that it may go away before long. So, it's time. Okay. So, I'll go ahead with that.

The water t inspections. You've got your Pittsburgh tank thing in front of you. I will find the email. She sent me the voicemail. Okay, I've got a voicemail from him because I wanted to know why if some of these things were OSHA related or critical things that need to be worked on or what they were we needed to talk about them. Says, "Hi Melanie, this is Lana from Pittsburgh Tank. Kayla and Don just forwarded me the email with the report saying that you reached out to or wanting to discuss them as I was wanting to see what a good time would be to set up a team's meeting. and then whoever else needed to be on that meeting. That way then I could share my screen and go through the reports with you guys and you could see them and we could go up to each item and you can ask as many questions as you'd like.

So we kind of need to set up a team's meeting. I mean I know you guys kind of marked what you would like to think about doing and there's some things we've got some questions maybe need to set up a team's meeting with them. Probably a good idea. Yeah. When is a good time someone can call her and let her know. Did you say there was a water inspection coming? Yes. No, we already did it. We did the Holland one and the Did you see all the water? Yeah, we're working on their I was just going to tell you how much water is out there. Yeah, that was an overflow problem. Some of this wasn't set prop. We've been working on it for a month

and I think they got it pretty good now. At least they haven't done it since. whenever. Yeah, pretty much. I got a few things coming up, but I can always move stuff around. Tuesdays work best for me, but that doesn't mean that I have to be Tuesday or afternoons because I work four mornings. So, you know, work around your throw some dates out here, guys. So I can give her some dates. So then it works for her too. Maybe two or three optional dates.

You want stay on a little bit this week or next week within the next couple weeks. [clears throat] 18th or 25th? I'm 25th. I'm 25. 25. 25. I'm fine with the 25th. You're fine with the 25. [clears throat] [laughter] I mean, I'm assuming you want to be a part of this. Of course. Yeah. I was just gonna say as long as it's not a Wednesday morning, it's fine. Yeah. Yeah. I think a Tuesday would be good. Okay. About what time? The 18th or the 25th? And about what time is good for everybody? I'm free on any anytime. So as far as I know, huh? Sometimes really not early

like 9:30, 10 o'clock, something like that. That gives everybody a chance to get everything on her. Yeah. 9:30. I'll give her those options and see what works for her and then I'll get back with everybody. Okay. [snorts] Water projects update. That's you. All the ones that um we started they are finished and everything else online and Okay. With this money, where do you want to go next? Second Avenue. Second Avenue and Kentucky to Maine. That's the biggest project. That's 28,000. Okay. Kentucky to main office. So the second that's number one. Yeah. Second Avenue. Now has the Hubster one been done already? No.

No. Okay. And that's that's a small one. It can be fit in at any time. And that I would like to do that one, but you know, if we can get some smaller ones in between because that one really needs to be done in warmer weather. So we can right in the spring. Make sure we have some water. Yeah. Yeah. Some of these if if this this hydrant and the the Hopster one can take a day or two. If we got a couple nice days in a row, I do that. Same way with if we decide on Pittsburgh tank we want to do the empty the tower and drain the debris, you know, that would be Yeah. And that could the money could be used on that too, you know. So just

so we're on pretty much on project and we can get maybe number one done in the spring and then you rather hold that off for sure. Yeah. And there's some you know we got got number two. That's line for sure. We I would like to take care of out here or out here by the road east I guess where Dave used to live. Correct. Yeah.

That's exposed. We need to probably get to that one. So, anything that is go ahead drop it because we're going to have the money coming in. Uh SS4A update. Um in the last month, we have completed the safety draft action plan and the internal interview and they will give it to the home steering committee early next week. This is the safety action. So, if you have nothing else to read for the next two and a half, three hours. Very interesting. I read it. is yes it's very interesting very interesting but it it gives it was based on the um replies that we got

so you know it's interesting to see some of hit on this Craig while you reaction to accidents and things like that that's happened throughout the years too in 64 town so tell you Craig McGallen with comwalth engineers so as no way pointed out this is a draft just need you guys to kind of go through it. We've gone through it, looked at it, make sure it's ready, but once your feedback to make sure it reflects what you want to do and and what you feel comfortable with and then um we can talk about what the next steps are. The 26 fiscal year has not started yet. U so we have some time to kind of look at it. But April 26, I think that's when it came out final draft.

Yeah, that's when the 25 came out. So we expect something similar to that. Right. Um so we can use this to um apply for the implementation grant next year to put into practice what what we found here, what we think is best for the community. So again, it's a draft copy right now. Most of it was I mean the school to the park and in that area. Yeah. And this is not just one thing. This is phases, you know, phase one. This was the most prioritized by all of our feedback.

Yep. Yep. And then we got to see what the grant will give us and and what we can get done. So this is the first step. You got to have a plan. You can't apply for funding without a plan and have a have where you want to go with this. So this gives you the first good step and then we can go from there. So um take a look at it if you already have if you have any comments on it. Send it to Eric and I and we'll work on it from there. And then you want this sign. No, no, that's just for your Okay. It's pretty detailed. You did a good job. Yeah. It's a little boring some places. [laughter] I wouldn't suggest it for nine times. You might not all page page 18 has a drool mark. I fell asleep. [laughter] Yeah. In the middle of the page.

Coffee stain. Coffee stain on page 19. Slap myself around a few times. Thank you. [laughter] But it's down here. You guys want to take one home, check it out, whatever. Get a good look at it. if you have any changes in the service stuff you'd like to see, but just then we can go on to a construction grant. Got anything else? Greg, we're good right now. Paving update. Uh, I think everything's going well. I think they'll they should be finished up this week, right? With Iowa Street, Sixth Street. I think all the other patching is completed. So,

most of part of Sixth Street is completed, but not the top. Well, yeah. and not the top coat. Yeah. And I know we had a lot of feedback for people not happy about it, but that was just the base coat. It's not done yet. [laughter] So, if you take time to just be patient, when they get done, then we'll have the finished product. Yeah. They really dug down and put a good base underneath. They did. It was a very thick fix. Yes. And a lot of the patch jobs instead of just a clean out a little bit, they mil the full mill on a lot of them. So, they should hold pretty good after the base coat and then top coats on. I I was impressed when I drove around and looked at all the ones that were dug out. So, I'm pretty sure the guys were looking at me today going, "What? Who is this p?"

I know. Yeah. I I walked down there. I was looking stuff and they were looking at me like, "What does she know? You're right. I don't know anything." [laughter] I'm just looking. Anyway, so I think we're doing well on that. The salt. You got the salt. Cups of salt. It's in the bin. So, we're good. And so far, everything's ready to go. You got all the parts that you needed for that. Um, I have a region 15 appointment. I think we have to appoint somebody for region 15. Yes. For the next year for region 15. Um, from Holland.

You're all looking at me. I know. I've been Yeah. [laughter] Yeah. I'll go ahead and make most of you. Our appointee. It's kind of It's kind of like once you have it, you're there forever. [laughter] Okay. Yeah. I don't mind. Sometimes I It really gives us a heads up on some things that are coming around. Sure. And what's going on next to us, you know, with the age stuff, you know, high counties there, there's other counties might get a little feedback. You never know. So, yes, I will go ahead and take it off those. Taylor from your office. Have you heard much of the AES stuff up there? Not that awful. When I called her, when I called her said, "Do you know anything about this?" And she was nope. I I kind of freaked out. I was like, "Am I supposed to worry about this?"

Yeah. Yeah. [laughter] The first I heard. Yeah. News to me. Okay. I just [laughter] has been dealing with it. I mean, he just recently thought I'd love to. I asked her today if if there was a way that we could do some type of an ordinance or a buffer and without going through the process of zoning and annexing. Commission. We have to have a board of zoning appeals on the planning commission. We have to adopt a comprehensive plan

involving engineers and surveyors and whoever else which is very expensive. Um you know we can't do any we can't regulate anything outside of the town if we don't have a board of zoning appeals and we just don't we don't have that. So I mean there's I don't think there's anything that we can really do about this aside from preparing the town you know if anything would ever happen. You know, I think that Holly's doing all that she can to talk to people that that can make decisions that Well, the bad the bad thing about this is that like I was I was I was talking to to her today was that,

you know, we we got the town I wasn't on the board at the time. the town got beat up about zoning, but man, if we could got through that, this right here could guarantee that we would have a we would be able to be in that fight with them and tell them, "Hey, we no this can't happen." Yeah. And that's the bad thing about it. And I I I get it. People get upset about when they hear the word annex, they go, "I don't want to be." And I get it. I I understand it. This is the kind of things that can help us and zoning is very know very very people to serve on board is always a challenge when we talk that was 20 years ago

I think I was still in the military and I went to one one meeting went holy cow I didn't think that I didn't even realize we didn't have the zone zoning into town we not I remember that's the last meeting I went to because I was like I want nothing to do with this I just I just came back from heart right before There you go. Still weak and feeble and man, we got slammed. What do you think? [laughter] It was bad. I can name you some names. We can't protect our community. That's the thing. As a council, we need to but it would be good for a lot of things. Yes, we could get to that point. Yeah. You know, but it's not impossible. No, it's not impossible. be a big under.

We could pull the old plan out and even start working from there to see what kind of changes would need to make. I mean, the first step would be put a fielders out to with this information about this and this is how we can how we can fight it. Maybe we have a little bit less. Yeah. You know, well, we may be able to get more people get involved too now that might want to be on that planning commission, planning board or board of appeals or whatever else. Well, it's just a lot of information people didn't have, you know, and now there's a lot more to do. And I think when you start people get on board when they when they know that it's going to affect them personally.

Well, and it's a health it's a health thing, too. I mean, it's it's one of those it's one of those things that you don't know if this is ever going to happen, but what if, right? You know, it could it couldn't happen. It could it could be one of those things where it's a 10 years no issue and then 11th year all all of a sudden it breaks loose and now we've got you know nobody that or the second year and it's only 25% remediated funded. Yeah. You know within that that's the worst you know they don't even have the funding 25%. So, did you say there was a problem in the Florida or Troy area?

I heard that Troy is having some issues with solar panels and things like that. And that's a big farm out there. I don't like using the name farm because it's not a farm, you know. It's it's a it's an energy plant. That's what it's doing. It's making energy. I hate the term farm. I'm sorry. I'll get off my soap box about that. But yeah, I've heard that they've had some issues out there. They have cheap panels not working right. you know, things like that. And the worst is getting rid of it. Okay. Uh Taylor, you want to go over some questions on the abandoned vehicle um ordinance?

Yeah. Um I mean, you were just kind of talking about how to provide notice if there is an abandoned vehicle on public property. I think I kind of amended that that violation notice that we sent back and forth a couple of times. Um, but I think Trent, if you can just post that notice on vehicles that you find kind of a little bit more of a mending of how how the fines go and when it was left and when the next one will be and it's just a it's a comprehensive notice. It has a it has a line where you can designate this is just a notice or you can designate this as the first offense, second offense, third subsequent offenses.

The only the only Sorry, go ahead. The only question I have is Trent's going on some of those some of those vehicles are on deep inside somebody's property. Now, do we have to worry about trespassing with Trent or Yeah. Well, and our ordinance mostly deals with, you know, vehicles that are on public property. Um, you know, if you've got a vehicle that's on a private property, we do have private property and, you know, you don't know whose it is, if it's been there for so long or whatever. Um, this really just provides for like a vehicle that has the engine removed, anything like that. Um, that could be something where you post this notice. Um, you know, I doesn't have a plate on it.

You're able to enter onto somebody's property to post a notice that someone has violated I on the sidewalk up to the front door. I knock on the door and I try to speak with them. Yeah. I think that's the best course of action or even a certified letter. Yeah, exactly. I've been send them certified. Yeah, I think that's great. Yeah, because then they can't say blue off or whatever. Exactly. This is a lot more detailed. Yeah, I think it's Well, I then it just allows you, you know, whether it's a notice or an offense, you just got it all in one document here, you know, and they sign it. So then you got it. They sign the ones that are home and answer the door. They sign it. Yeah.

So I've written several that hasn't came back to me at all and they just supposedly disappeared. They never got correct. So the certified ones are that's okay to do. Yeah, that's good. There's a signature involved in that. So we have proof that they acknowledge that driving violations they all sign unless problem. Okay. I was just concerned about the trespassing losing their mind on them. So no kidding. I mean anytime that you can talk to the if you know whose vehicle it is that's always best half the time people are going to be okay with town Marshall coming but then there's that 10% that lose their ever loving mind on it

or maybe more like [laughter] benefit of the doubt benefit I do have on here planning for next year's projects you kind of said the water project um are there any other projects we're looking at for next year that we would like I would like to get in next year earlier for our paving. [laughter] Yeah. So, I would really like to try to start out, you know, maybe right away at the first part of the year on, okay, now we got this much done. Let's see what else we need to do. Um, so that we get our bid in early so it's not so late. That That's one of them. You guys have any other thoughts for any of your projects? Our next year's projects?

Next year projects. Um, I haven't even thought that far ahead, so sorry. start working on zoning and planning [laughter] needs to be addressed. Should it should be addressed. I mean, we we've talked about it in the past, but I'm back and forth on it. I was This should make you fourth. That's where I'm at now. This This right here has made me go, "Oh, man. We we we screwed the pooch because what you know because what's next? Yeah, we got this right now. But I mean what are the

anything else? Nuclear power which is clean talk about nuclear with center point and a lot of the other places going nuclear energy. I mean there is I mean it's out there and a lot of it's out there. So maybe stockyard on the edge of town. Yeah. I mean, maybe we need to we need to look at that. Maybe we need to a lot of stuff, you know, put a pull the plan out, look at it, send some pillars out to people and explain to them why we want to revisit this. What people are kind of thinking, you know, you might get some feedback.

I mean, never, you know, safe a safe community is one thing. I mean, yeah, we have speed limits, we have stop signs, we have truck routes to pe make people safe, but when we can't control what's going on outside of our city limits, that's really that affects us. Yes, it affects, you know, we we have a responsibility for safety for our community. So, question open for question. Not yet. Not yet.

Uh, so next year planning to kind of get in our bids for roads as always possible. That's something we really and and if there's any storm water issues, I'd really like to see some plans on because we have the money there. There's enough that we need to really look at some of the storm drains that are in not really good shape. Um, and what about some of the unsafe sidewalks that are not going to be covered under this SS4? Oh, that's another thing. We're gonna do a phaser project and all that. And that is a big project because this is going to come up in April 26. Now we got the plans and we then we have to put feelers out. What's this going to cost? Yes. To do the construction. That's correct. That's correct.

So that's something we're going to have to look at. What kind of grants are available? How much is it? 80 20 50 you know 9010 would be nice. 100. I know. Don't make any faces. You want [laughter] 100. You want 100. Yeah. But you know 100. That's it. Sounds great. That's our goal. [laughter] And there are some places in our budget we can look at for our percentage of matches that we can start to set aside. So that I mean like we did with this grant, you know, that was 38,000 and that was money that was put aside.

We're doing pretty good in our list fund. Um, you know, there's money that we can maybe start setting aside. So that's just kind of stuff I just wanted to get get started on early instead of waiting till you know March, April, May, somewhere in there and then start and also getting together some ideas for the end of the year transfers. Um how we're going to do stuff, where the minuses are, what we need to move around and get some of that maybe started on paper so that we because some of that we can see ahead is going to be there. So, we need to maybe move around like we talked about putting the payroll in the appropriated budgets and then moving it immediately to the general. That's one. Insurance could also be that way.

It's still in the appropriated budgets, but it's all going to be paid out in general. So, let's move it after the first year. You move it to that fund. Same way with trash. Maybe we do that with trash, you know, because it it would be easier to write it. If we're writing it out of general, we can't put refunds back into general. It has to go into general refunds. So, it's easier if we transfer it right away and then we don't have the minuses shown and we know exactly where we stand on all times. So, that was just one of those things. Okay, [clears throat] Tom, you got something? I don't. Tom,

uh only thing I have is uh with with Brian. Um, I would like for you guys to start thinking about an action plan. Uh, and and I want the I would I would prefer the action plan would be for the town of Holland, not you guys dispersing to go to help mutual aid. I know you you if called you go, but we need to have a backup somehow for manpower to help to help get people and kids elderly Tom out of out of his house. [laughter] There is elderly I'm sorry elderly folks like Tom. How about that? [laughter] And then and me

and then I would I would I would want I would want the fire department and the town council to kind of work this out together. Yes. We need to be able to come up with ideas for um if you have to shelter in place, what what kind of to get out to give out to our community. This is what you should be. This is in here. Yes. And it shows you, right? But I want I want that in that plan, too. This is something that we can quickly say this is what the community as a person in home needs to have for safeguard.

So, double-sided copies of this hand, but it has what you're supposed to do, how many days you're supposed to shelter in place, what kind of events you're supposed to do, shutting the van, shutting off the air conditioners. It's got some pretty good information. That's from best be ss from California and it kind of states a lot of the safety issues and what you have to do to plan ahead but so that would give you some idea anyway not starting from scratch there. Oh no. Taylor got n [clears throat] got anything going on?

No. Pretty good. Showed up some we done some defensive tactics training and they were really good and he showed up for that and did a real good job. That's good. Brian, I'm good. Craig, anything else? Nons. Okay. This guy come along and he's in a confirmed utility in front of a sidewalk my house

and he's playing with the squirrels. He's saving the squirrels. So, he's from this new air center point. And so year or so ago any a couple years ago's been there in center point I mean and energy systems. So I asked him I says can you put these tree limbs away that because there's going to be snow and ice and they're going to tear the things off. Well couple years ago I asked Ver to do that and a year later after I called them they said we're going to come over to your house and do that. I said, "I've taken care of it myself." Now, these guys are playing with the squirrel and I says, "Do it now so you don't have to do it during the winter time."

And and so anyhow, he says, "Well, we'll he'll contact somebody." Well, this has been a month now. He hasn't said anything. I have no response. So So this this bunch is just about like the other bunch. Well, we do have those pine trees and stuff that they trimmed that they're supposed to clean up. I'll get contact. I'll message the guy. Thank you. If anybody wants copies of thesebody.

Okay. If we don't have any other comments, you got anything for that? Then I make a motion that we Okay. Yeah, I think we should make several comments. [laughter] Okay, we are done. I think I think you told me to do that. Well, that's when you want to make the mom