Common Council - Regular Meeting

I'd like to call the city of Leaport common council meeting November 26th at 10:02 a.m. to order. We will begin with the pledge of allegiance. Our veteran lead the way, Roger Galloway. Pledge algiance 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. I have nothing to report. Roll call. Clerk treasurer parthonon. Councilman Frankie present. Councilwoman Huffman here. Councilwoman Ficus present.

Councilman Galloway here. Councilwoman Keshnney goble council I knew that was Councilwoman West I don't know how I could beat that I'm here uh Councilman Buchanan is absent so we have six present one absent I didn't know Laura was bilingual just for the next 24 hours approval of November 3rd 2020 2025 meeting minutes do I have a motion I'd like to make a motion to approve the minutes as presented second discussion all in favor I I opposed. Motion passes.

Petitions and comments of citizens. We do have one Mr. Callus. Happy Thanksgiving. Please come forward. State your name and address. And I George Callus and I appreciate the smile. George Callus, Toronto Drive. First of all, thank you to Mr. Buchanan for getting me an for getting me an answer on Ben Ree Park that the city does not own that. Does not own that. Okay. Thank you to Laura for getting a leak fixed for the city that had been leaking for 10 days, 14 days, and she got it fixed in 12 hours. Okay. Now, now. Now. Now. Are either one of you mad at me? Yep. Not yet. Not Not you. Not yet. Not yet. Okay.

I don't know if I overstepped my boundaries, but I talked to a representative. The They called you. Yes. Okay. Well, they you're then you already know. But we were already No. not towards you um about the building here who ownership and so forth and uh we are trying to find that I think 1994 paperwork 3 ordinance 3495 is what I was told okay but there's an go ahead I'm sorry

anyway I said it three times to the lady who was not very happy with me for calling three times I said I'm not a city official I'm not an attorney I'm a nobody body. I'm just a concerned citizen. I said it two or three times. So there's absolutely no mistaking that I said that. Okay. All I want to do is why they haven't paid taxes for 30 years on the left half of us. 30 years. That's I think. Okay. I made my point 100%. And that's why we've been digging into it. Uh, I didn't want I didn't want to go to Miss Parthum and ask her to look up the ordinance without coming to you two first, but I guess somebody already called you and told me,

but I didn't think it was an ordinance. It was an agreement back between the RDC, correct? Right. And the private owner out in Virginia. Okay. I I was told it was a I believe it was 34.95 ordinance, OAD. We've been in direct contact with them to say this is unacceptable. the the other well the the the other thing I guess I would comment to in reference to the taxes that even if if it's in the city's name if it's being privately used it can it can be taxed and we're working with the county on on that well I wanted to come to you two first since I and I appreciated you bringing that up

okay all right we're done for I'm being sincere okay I don't think they were appreciative of us bringing it to their attention. Well, I'm sure they're not either, but that's But anyway, you look it up and let me know what it says, please. Okay, everybody, have a nice Thanksgiving. I'll shut up. My internet's not working, so that's it. Thank you, George. Standing committee reports or I don't think there's anything online. President Frankie,

redevelopment commission met on the 19th. Um, nothing major there. Just bills paid, move some money around, end of the year stuff. That's it. Councilwoman Huffman.

Uh, the sustainability commission met in council chambers on October 28th, 2025. The commission has reached out to city's department heads and invited them to attend a sustainability commission meeting to discuss sustainability efforts. Jerry Jackson, the city's wastewater director, attended the last meeting that we had. Uh Jerry advised the commission that he's continuing to work on solar generated power. When it's sunny, the solar plant can generate more power than we need, but in the winter months, we generate a significantly less amount of power, which I found incredibly interesting. Jerry's very smart. Another viable option would be bio gas, but the city would need a consistent source of food or manure. Um, the commission recommended the local schools be contacted to see if they could or would provide the city with their food waste in order to create the bio gas. Tucker King is working on the fall planting contract and is requesting quotes as he's looking to plant in late November or early December. EV charging stations were discussed and Tesla along with other EV charging companies will be contacted for quotes on charging stations and for the layout of where the charging station should go to best serve our residents. The next meeting will be Tuesday, December 9th, 2025 at 4 p.m. in city council chambers. Councilwoman Ficus. Um,

traffic commission will be meeting next Tuesday, December 2nd, 5:00 pm at the police station, and then park board will have their next meeting on Wednesday, December 17th, 4 p.m. at the park office. Councilman Galloway. Uh, the veterans program at the civic was very well attended. I thought it was really good. And, uh, excellent speaker, too. No, Kevin, he can do it, can he? Uh, November 17th was a was the uh police mayor commission meeting. Had a doctor appointment. I couldn't make it and I called a chelik and he said, "No big deal. You didn't miss nothing." So that's all I got. Councilwoman West, nothing to report at this time. Councilwoman Kesnney,

nothing to report as well. And thank you for putting together being a partner with the airport meeting. Uh, excellent. you know, with the goal being having a 6,000 foot runway. Ed Vul appreciate all his efforts. Fantastic. Eye on the prize. Uh besides that, I think we do have one public comment meet or

Yeah. Charity Hassa uh want to comment about the cookie walk for the Leaport Small Business Coalition. It'll be December 13th from 11 to 1. Tins go on sale December 1st for $15. be available at Hotspot Cafe, Mucho Moss, Grandma's Red Door, Bennett's Uptown Shops, and Healthy Life. Got 22 businesses participating this year. So, excellent. Do I have a motion for the 2026 city council meeting schedule to be approved? So, moved. Second. Discussion. Would you like to add any meetings? I'm done. That's okay.

Hearing none. All in favor? Opposed? Motion passes. Second final reading of an ordinance establishing stop signs. Uh, Councilwoman Kesznney. Uh, your ordin or your honor, I'd like to uh read an ordinance by title only for the second and final time. Second. Motion in a second. Discussion. All in favor? I opposed. Councilwoman Kesnney. An ordinance establishing stop signs at the intersection of Kingsport and F Street and the intersection of Panther Court and Rockwood and the intersection of Panther Court and Marquette and a title. Okay. And again, this is just cleaning up yield signs that are in the city and replacing them with stop signs. Further discussion. Motion to approve.

Second. All in favor? I opposed. Motion passes. Introduction of a resolution. Councilwoman Ficus. Your honor, Councilwoman Fus. I sound like a man today. Your honor, I move to introduce a resolution read for the first and only time in it in its entirety. Second. All those in favor? I opposed. Councilwoman Kesnney or I'm sorry, Fus.

Additional appropriation for civic non-reverting fund fund number 5504. Whereas it has been determined that it is now necessary to appropriate more money than was appropriated in the annual budget. Now therefore, section one, be it resolved by the common council of the city of Leaport, Leaport County, Indiana, that for the expenses of the taxing unit, the following additional sums of money are hereby appropriated out of the fund name for the purposes specified subject to the laws governing the same. Civic non-reverting fund 5504-803-11. Salaries amount requested $25,000. Amount approved $25,000. 5504-803-391.002. Event cost amount requested 75,000. Amount approved 75,000. End of resolution.

Do I have a motion to Well, before that, I would like to open up to a public hearing. Uh, it was published. It was published in the Herald Dispatch on November 15, 2025. Is there anybody that would like to speak on the public hearing that is now open? The public hearing is now open. Is there anybody that would like to speak? I will now close the public hearing. Do I have a motion to approve? So move. Second. Motion and a second. Comments? All in favor? I I oppose. Motion passes. Councilman Galloway, introduction of a resolution. Your

honor, I'd like to read a resolution for the first and only time. Second. Motion and a second. Discussion. All in favor? I opposed. Councilman Galloway. Resolution number R35-2025. Resolution to transfer funds within the 2025 budgets. Whereas there are additional monies needed in certain line items in the 2025 budgets in order to pay for essential services and obligations. Now therefore be it and it is hereby resolved by the common council of city of the port Indiana that the following transfers be made within the following budgets for the year 2025. General Clerk treasurer

I'm gonna give you this one because that one is much smaller. You know what? Maybe I don't want to read all this. Anybody still use that one? You're good. You're good. We all believe in you. You ready? Ready. Ready. Councilman Galloway

General Clerk treasure 11101-041 from 321 communications transportation to 331 printing advertising $455 from 321 communications transportation to 111 salaries $426. Mayor from 39 oh 1101-044 from 391 other services to 111 salaries $60.80 council 1101-069 from 311 legal services to 123 unemployment $4,430. City Hall 11101-164 from 361 repairs maintenance to 351 utility services $550. Police Department 1101-370 from 111 salaries to 361 repairs maintenance $12,000. From 231 repairs, maintenance to 221 operating supplies, $12,000. From 241 other supplies to 221 operating supplies, $4,000 from 331 printing advertising to 221 operating supplies, $3,000. From 351 utilities to 221 operating supplies, $2,000. Civic non-reverting 5504-803 from 111 salaries to 351.002 02 credit card event staff tips $450.90 from 111 salaries to 391- 001 deposits refunds $3500 tiff 2 Thomas Rose Industrial Park

4446-71 from 421 infrastructure to 315 professional services $100,000 tiff two Thomas Rose Industrial Park 4446-71 from 421 infrastructure to tiff 14445-71-315 professional services 212,000 from 421 infrastructure to tiff 14445-71-421 infrastructure $60,000 Wait a minute we got anything in the back I don't That's it.

Look at the back. Did you see the back? You looked at it. Yeah, there's nothing. That's it. I got another one back here. No, you're good. You're good. So, just normal transfers as we come to the end of the year. So, do I have a motion to approve? Ah, okay. So, moved. Second. discussion. Thank you, Roger. We got a lot of legal services coming up here. Nick, you need a new car or something? What's going on?

Great. Not sure where it's it's coming from legal services. Yeah, it's coming from So, we have a lot of unemployment. Roger. It's coming from It's coming from We're taking from him. Good. Oh, I'm signing it. Okay. So, don't get a new car yet, Nick. We're taking it. So, I do have a motion. Further comments? All in favor? Wow. I I That was my further comment. All in favor? I I

oppose. Motion passes. Um, number one leaves. Uh, I just want to thank our street team uh and the private partners that we have that are out. I know the street team alone has three uh teams out throughout the city plus some private entities in a partnership. So they are cleaning as fast as they can and uh the snow put them back because the leaves hit right after the snow hit. So they've been chasing their tail and if you look at Southbend Valareerezo and the communities around they're all facing the same thing and I I think we are catching up quickly. So I want to thank Jeff Bachelor and the entire team uh working a lot of hours. I know even 39 North was being picked up uh Monday night. Um they were cleaning up some of the leaves there. um and they're on Michigan A and around this area and uh uh they'll be working and continue to work. So, uh if you see the street team, give them thanks. Uh we got a lot of work to do. Um happy Thanksgiving everybody. I think it's also worth mentioning tomorrow's the turkey trap before the turkey is consumed. I think you can still buy tickets,

still sign up. We're we're gonna we're record crowding against all be how