Common Council - Regular Meeting

like to call the December 1st City of Leaport Common Council meeting to order. We will begin with the pledge of allegiance. Councilwoman Kesnney 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.

Roll call. Clerk, Treasurer Parthonon. Councilman Frankie here. Councilwoman Huffman here. Councilwoman Ficus is absent. Councilman Galloway here. Councilwoman Kesnney here. Councilwoman, sorry. Here. Councilman Buchanan here. Councilwoman West here. Uh, six present, one absent. I did say woman. I just stuttered a little. Sorry. That's okay. Approval of the November 26th, 2025 meeting minutes. I'd like to make a motion to approve the minutes uh as presented. Second motion and a second. Discussion hearing none. All in favor?

I opposed. Motion passes. Petitions and comments. Nothing online. And Mr. Ogle, please come forward. State your name and address for the record. Rick Ogle, 1902 Indiana. A first. I love the new carpeting. Secondly is just for the public, it's clean. It it was clean. There is not new carpeting. So, we are being frugal.

Well, the carpeting looks great. Now, um I'd sort of like to get an update on Indiana A if there is anyone that knows what's going on. I know the opening of those uh of Kingsbury and so forth were going to happen about the first week in Decemberish uh second week in December. So they you should see an opening or back to normal coming very soon. Sorry about that. According to the project manager, the last time I asked it was broke December 15th. Apologize. It's scheduled to be December 15th. That was the last I heard prior to Thanksgiving. So I

I thought that was at the latest. I was told that was the date. So Okay. So we really don't know. Well, no, at the latest. December 15th, it sounds like. So the state Yeah, obviously has that date. Thank you. And hey, you're welcome. Everyone's in the office 8 to 4 during the day to find out that are involved in that project. Anything online? Nothing. Standing committee reports. Council President Frankie.

The Indiana Hooers completed their undefeated season with an absolute routing of the Purdue Boiler Makers 56-3. But congratulations to the Boiler Makers for actually scoring points this year. That's all I have to say. Who who who the Councilwoman Hoffman? I don't have anything this evening. Council Maloway, uh, next week on the 9th, uh, be a police merit commission meeting 9:00 at police department. That's all I got. Councilwoman West,

uh, the fire merit commission reported that their annual performance ratings are complete and the promotional testing interviews went very well. Their next meeting will be Wednesday, December 30 3rd at 6:30 p.m. at the fire station on 18th Street. Um, our next bid board meeting will be held on December 8th at 5:00 pm in city chambers and the next UEA meeting will be December 17th at 4:00 in city chambers. Councilman Buchanan,

uh, the historic preservation commission is hosting the uh, train city's train depot on the Christmas candlelight tour run by preserve historic leaport. So, you can get tickets for that and see those uh all of the stops on that tour either uh December 6th 4 to 8 or December 7th, Sunday 1 to 5. And that will be at the other depot next to Nest next to Nest. Correct. Councilwoman Kesnney,

the Indiana Hooers. I'm sorry, nothing to report this evening. I would like to say just the fact that we were talking about um the depot building and I think I shared with most of you but for the public perspective um the nest warming shelter for the month of November uh 446 bed nights which is an average of basically 15 people per night. 892 meals 21 new guests including one child. two people have been housed and volunteer hours, 189 volunteer hours. So, thank you to everybody in the community that has given up their time uh to support those that may need a little more uh some love uh compassion and warmth. So, um thank you to all those individuals. We'll now move to introduction of an ordinance. Councilman Buchanan.

I'd like to make a motion to read an uh ordinance uh for the first time. Second. Motion and a second. Discussion. All in favor? I opposed. Councilman Buchanan.

An ordinance approving 2026 budget for the city of Leaport Water Department. Whereas the water department has submitted its proposed budget for the year 2026. And whereas the said budget is subject to approval by the common council of the city of Leaport. And whereas the common council of the city of Leaport determines that said budget be approved. Now therefore it be it ordained by the common council of the city of Leaport, Indiana as follows. Section one, that the budget as submitted by the water department for the year 2026 be and is hereby approved as submitted. Section two. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect of its upon its passage approval by the mayor and publication as provided by law. Uh this will move to the next meeting but the total uh budget uh for the water department is $6,25,911.

Clerk treasurer parthone. Uh the water and wastewater budgets are nondgf approved budgets. Um since uh 2020 we have been um presenting them at council for transparency sake for the public. So the total of the water budget $6,25,911 is based on historical data, their capital plan and operating plan moving forward. And again, most importantly, this was uh not ever done or provided to the public before. Uh and again, since this administration and clerk treasurer um came into effect, we want to make sure the public is aware uh of those numbers. So, uh any comments from the council?

Uh clerk treasure, after these are approved, do they get uploaded anywhere? Uh they're ordinances, so they we can put them on the website. Do they go on gateway though? the budgets. These don't have to. No. Okay. These don't. But the rest of the budget, everything else that's already been approved is in gateway currently. Yes.

Hearing no more. We will now uh this ordinance will move to December 15, 2025. And uh I did just receive a text. And again, per Councilwoman Huffman, uh, today the latest update was the 12th this morning, but could depend on weather for Indiana Avenue. Introduction of an ordinance approving 2026 budget. Councilwoman Kesnney. Your honor, I'd like to introduce an ordinance read for the first time in its entirety. Second. Mo motion and a second. Discussion. All in favor? I opposed. Councilwoman Kesnney.

An ordinance approving 2026 budget for the city of Leaport wastewater storm water department. Whereas the wastewater storm water department has submitted its proposed budget for the year 2026. And whereas the said budget is subject to approval by the common council of the city of Leaport. And whereas the common council of the city of Leaport determines that said budget be approved. Now therefore be it ordained by the common council of the city of Leaport Indiana as follows. Section one, that the budget is submitted by the wastewater storm water department for the year 2026b and here's and is hereby approved as submitted. Section two, this ordinance shall be in full force and effect upon its passage, approval by the mayor in publication as provided by law. Uh the sewage operation uh budget for 2026 is $6,882,180 and for storm water is $873,152. End of ordinance.

Clerk treasurer part. Nothing to add. Same commentary as as the previous budget for water which since this administration took over in 2020. This is for uh transparency perspective for the public comments hearing. None. This will move till December 15th. Introduction of a resolution to transfer funds for the 2025 budget. Councilman Galloway. Your honor, I'd like to 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 to transfer funds within the 2025 budgets. Whereas there are additional monies needed in certain line items in the 2025 budgets in order to pass for essential in order to pay for essential services and obligations. Now therefore be it and it is hereby resolved by the common council of the city of Leaport Indiana at the following transfers be made within the following budgets for the year 2025. General Code Enforcement 1101-318 from 315 Professional Services to 361 repairs maintenance $400. Police Department 1101-370 from 111 salaries to 365 vehicle lease $21,000. from 111 salaries to 361 repairs maintenance $5,000. LRS local roads and streets 2202-524 from 290 repairs maintenance to 231 general operating supplies $8,000. seated. Information technology 2209-015 from 361 repairs maintenance to 211 office supplies. $1,600 from 221 operating supplies to 211 office supplies. $650 from 221 operating supplies to 321 commission communication transportation. $150 transport 2510-304 from 501 salaries to 505 utilities $2,500 from 501 salaries to 503 contract maintenance $700 from 501 salaries to 504 material and supplies $1,000.

Motion to approve. Second. This is a resolution. It can pass this evening. I do have a motion and a second. Uh comments, clerk, treasurer parthonon, as we come to the end of the year, this is normal. Yes, that's exactly it. End of year transfers, budgets are estimates, so we're cleaning things up. Comments. All in favor? I

opposed. Motion passes. Other business. Uh Mr. Callus is in the house. So I would like to thank him uh as we look to investigate the Rumley apartments and uh we have found leases from some time ago to look through and evaluate. So uh to see what older administrations have done and uh we look forward to having further conversation with said owners. Thank you, George. Thank you, George. I said Mr. Callas.

Oh, I didn't. George. Um, so thank you, George. Um, I can't argue the IU Purdue, so I'll just ignore that as norm and try to get to basketball season. Council President Frankie, Mayor, I did have uh one thing I wanted to thank uh Mr. notice

the city for the use of the city facilities for the turkey trot on Thanksgiving Day. We had 815 signups. Uh it's a great turnout and a good fundraiser for the education foundation. Uh and to just drive the point home even more, Indiana Hooser Cole Raymond won the race pretty handily. So let's just standard Hooer. Let's just say he was he ran his first race about 30 minutes before when I saw him down there one time uh and then came and decided to run it again. So, I'm sure he ran it one more time after. Um also, if I haven't seen the uh portaotties being removed, they'll be should be removed today. If they weren't today, it should be tomorrow

because Mr. Frankie was coming out of there tonight right before the meeting. So, um, and with that, uh, do we have a downtown business message from the coalition? Please come forward. State your name. Anything online? I'm so sorry I was late today. Hi, Charity from the Leaport Small Business Coalition. Just want to remind everybody the cookie walk is December 13th from 11:00 to 1. The cookie tins went on sale today. I have sold a record five cases today already. Wow.

So, um, they are going fast. Um, so Hotspot Cafe, Red Door, Mucho Moss, uh, Toad Floral, Healthy Life, Grandma's House of Pancakes, and Bennett Uptown Shop are all selling the cookie tens. So, they're out there. Come get them. We're excited to see you.

Thank you. And thank you for your work, Charity, taking that over. And I appreciate everybody's patience about the Santa parade, uh, due to the weather. And um you know he will still be Santa will be at the chalet and he'll be all over um Pioneer Land I think this weekend and elsewhere. So he will be available if that's okay with everyone. I think what I know my kids really care about is that he doesn't get snowed out on Christmas Eve. Yeah, absolutely. Any last comments hearing? None. Do I have a motion to adjurnn? Motion to adjurnn. Second. All in favor?

Opposed. Have a safe evening. We're supposed to get another one to three.