Town Council - Regular Meeting

Start with the clerk. All right. I have minutes first. I um like to ask for a motion to okay the minutes for March 2nd. All those in favor? I And Lori's not calling.

Lori's not coming tonight. She is ill. We're going to go ahead and look at the APVs. Going to ask for a motion to go ahead and pay the bills of 128,94432.

I make that motion. I second all those in favor. All right, here is EL. It's the progress report. So this is deals is invoice.

Okay. So that's the first one. This one's for 16925. Yes. We want to go ahead and pay for we just taking in the Y. It has to be approved. Yeah. Okay. So, I'm going to ask for a motion to go ahead and approve this bill for 16925 for the water tower. I make that motion. I second. It's already got to be This is all I got on mine, right? I'm sorry.

Yeah.

All right. DLZ prior report number 23. That's another invoice for DLZ. And then I'll have Phoenix after that. That was 23. Payment request number 23 for $30,440 for the water power. I second. All in favor along now. This is payment app number 21. Okay.

And this is the Phoenix one that goes to SRF. Okay. So, that was the one that we couldn't do last time because they had to fix some things on it. Okay. So, this is to Phoenix. This is the contract application payment number 21 for $148,989. We need a motion to go ahead and pay the bill.

A second. All those in favor is pay number 22, which is another Phoenix Okay. So, this is payment number 22 to Phoenix contractor application payment number 22 for $47,500. I'll second. All in favor?

Okay, that was painful. Do you have anything else for the clerk? No. No. I'll go ahead and go to Joe. Okay. First thing I uh got our uh quotes back for the roof on the maintenance garage.

Uh which Doy Roofing was This is going to be for a metal roof or the shingles. uh they were 1327328&M came in at 17764 and Mareno roofing came in at right at 17,000 and Doyle also included uh new gutters and bounce posts on is which is included on that 13 and the others did not. Wow. So that's a no-brainer. I I that's what I figured. So, I sent the paperwork in to get on their schedule. Okay.

Uh the next thing uh and Andy's going to be here. He's in the tire shop right now. So, he'll kind of fill you in a little more on this because I don't want to butcher it. It's something within the SRF. But basically, the we were approved for our projects, the extra projects through the SRF, got the paperwork back. Uh, so that just bring alls I'm doing is bringing up they ordered all of our parts for the filter plant to start putting the valves and stuff in. So nothing is scheduled yet. Uh, they're still waiting on on the parts and everything. Uh, but when we go to do this, it will be probably I'm going to say probably two weeks that we will not have any fire hydrants in town. They will not be able to be used. So, because our filter plant will be down and we will just be going off of the water that is in the tower and it's just going to be for a a couple days enough to get some progress done on the plant, put the plant back online, fill the tower up and then it's back offline until

all of this is done. So, you know, projects don't know yet. We don't have those dates. And what's good to know is you can have that information tonight. Okay. He's he should be on his way. So hopefully he gets out of the I got a resolution for them to approve together so that they're allowed on their end to use that money. So yes, when I get a date just like they will let they will let us. It's not going to be hey we're here to do it. I they will give us okay at least a week or two weeks

prior notice that I will uh so we we did start filling the water tower April 1st. I heard that. Uh so we're still a few weeks we got a couple issues had a couple issues that we've got worked out. We ran into another one today that they're supposed to be back. So it's probably I would say we're just a little over 2/3 full. So we still have to overflow the tower and then it's got to set for 24 hours back to samples. So but we've got to get these issues done before we get to that point. Okay.

So we're still probably looking at a couple weeks anyway before uh that is able to be put online. Got it. And then we should run a couple weeks where they're probably looking at the if everything goes good probably the end of April maybe into May uh to take the old tower down. Okay. Yeah. So, uh so basically this kind of goes with the tower here also. Uh we were talking about the the liquidated damages. Yeah. uh of them not having everything done

uh by the end of November. Mhm. So, uh, DLZ put in we we talked we put in a they put a thing together and basically uh what we've what Phoenix is going to do is they're giving us they are going to uh redo all of our this will be during the valving of the this is no cost to the town. This is what we've negotiated with them. So, they are replacing all the filter media and everything in our filters, which is uh $43,000.

And then they are going to redo our SCADA system from our lift stations to match our filter plant. So, those will be updated to that. And that is a cost of just a little over 14,000. So, we're getting about $60,000 worth. Yeah, it's it's not the whole thing, but like Andy kind of explained, he goes, "You're not going to get that full amount, and by the time it's turned over to lawyers, their lawyers, they're going to eat away at that cost, and with DLZ's costs and everything, it's just going to bring that number down." So, we felt that uh they made one offer, and uh DLZ did not accept it. We added more onto it and they accepted what we

what we did. So that is kind of okay. We've got to accept the letter from them for acceptance of it. So yeah. Okay. In this case, it does not need the extra approval from you guys unless as long as you approve the arrangement. That's right. Correct. Cuz there's no extra money going. Okay. So good to know. It's good to see a light at the end of the tunnel. We're getting there. We're getting there. Been a long project. So that is all I had. That's all. Okay, then we'll go to Patrick.

Okay. Um, so our activity for over the month of March 2026, we had a total of 189 calls for service. Of that had 12 assists to St. Angela County Police. Uh, suspicious vehicle Osborne Road. Crash at 31 and New Domestic on Osborne Road. Suspicious person, New Road, crash at 931 in Madison, death investigation on Lucinda, a domestic battery at Clearwater Trailer Park, medical assist on Detroit Street, crash on State Road 4, a fight in progress on 331, a disturbance on Roosevelt, and then an assault on Lilac Road. And we had three assists to the North Liberty Police Department. One was a domestic on Rupal Street, a medical assist on Market Street, and then a domestic on Meadow Drive at the Meadows Apartments. Uh 15 total reports for the month. Four driving suspended, one battery, one domestic battery, one driving under license, one criminal information, one assisting outside agency, one child exploitation, one operating without insurance of individual. uh noncriminal information, one theft and possession of parapleia. Of that had eight arrests, uh four driving while suspended, one battery, domestic battery, driving under license, and then possession of paraphernalia. Wrote a total of 26 tickets for the month. Um we did have this last weekend the um Easter at the park event at Newton Park. Had a great turnout. They kind of didn't know how it was going to go because of with the weather. Uh but they actually it's one of the largest turnouts that they had. They were estimating probably around 1500 people their total. Um we ran out of crafts at our booth. Um Newton Park ran we're starting to run out of things as well. Um so it was it was really

positive. So it it turned out really good. They uh Cindy from um Newton Park modified it kind of the last couple days beforehand with the weather um and they had to move the eggs inside and uh so they had the kids spin a wheel for the eggs and then that would how many they would they would get. So so it still ended up even with the weather working out pretty good. That was like an Easter egg hunt inside that little building. I can't imagine that. Um and then two other things uh just kind of little updates. um have been in conversation with Abraham from Reliable Working with the Coffee Shop. They are planning on opening up the second week of May.

Um so, so that's uh they're just about finished on the inside right now. They're going to towards the end of that week. So, it should be definitely by Memorial Day um be open. So, they got all their equipment ordered now. Um once that's get in, they can start kind of doing some training with their employees. they want to get it in two weeks worth of training with them. Um, and then the other thing did get uh dumpsters ordered for drive sale days through experience lay again. They'll be here on that Friday morning and they'll pick up on Tuesday tentatively. Wait, where? Uh May. So it'll be Friday, May 15th.

Okay. uh Friday morning, they'll drop off and then they'll pick up on Tuesday the 18th tentatively. Um if we need more time with them, we can. Um that's what we kind of did last year. And they only went up $500. So where are you putting them? Uh same location as before. Yeah. Right next station in the parking lot and two two 40 yard dumpsters again.

Okay. So then it is official. Our townwide yard um yard sale is May 16th with the town cleanup. So we have dumpsters coming for that. Um let's see where are we next? Already done. Sorry. Do we have to compensate the owners in the parking lot for anything like that or they never before? Yeah, that's good. I noticed somebody was asking online where they're going to be put. Yeah, we'll do them the same place in that way because in the cameras over there as well. So

it's a lot easier to see things than at the other and people can just drive through. It makes it a lot easier as well. What size are the bedroom? Four yard. Yeah. So same as last year. Yeah. They'll get filled too really quickly. Last year we still it almost filled but not quite. Yeah. Not like it was not No, the year before they were too small. The ones that were small. Yeah.

Um Okay. I we did have a meeting last month and we did all the things we were supposed to do for the year for for the you know state. We always have to have the over over have to invite the overlapping units and all that kind of stuff. So that got accomplished and we met with the architect again when he remembers the meetings happening and um there's always a few little things we need to tweak and we thought we had it all down pat and he still had something wrong last time so we don't have a blue picture I'm talking about. And so, um, we're hoping to just start to get some quotes, see where we're at with money. And I think I'm going to approach, uh, visit Indiana, visit Southbend to, uh, Bill Shal said that they have some money that they might be able to share with us to help turn it around.

So, we got our fingers crossed and hopefully we get a final copy of what the floor plan and everything's going to be. and go from there. But basically, and we did vote to give one another, another one of the business owners some money to upgrade their building front, too. So, um, you know, I was rereading the notes here and the last time I brought up about the Beamman's old building and, you know, Lori made a comment about not picking one or, you know, pointing out one person, but how do we get it fixed if we don't I mean, that's basically what we're doing. You got to point out those things or

I would like at least a letter kind of nudging him if we could do that. if you could do that like and let me know. Just send me the copy of it because it's I think it's now it's nice out again. It's been two years. We need to start nudging him. I realize but cuz I don't really want to argue over it. I just want him to know we really need this done. No, especially when the town's offering the assistance to just let them know we've had a lot of complaints about that building. That might be helpful. So,

yeah, I think that we have, you know, a few that are trying, you know, a few down there that are trying to get some things going in their buildings and that's holding us back and it looks atrocious. There is none of business. I don't know what we don't know what it is yet. It looks like where Shelly Lane was, it looks like an art gallery is coming in there. I was going to ask people asking me and I'm like, I don't I got a phone call today. There's some sculptures in there and there's paintings. So, it's all set up. So, it looks like somebody's at least it's getting rented again for Shel, which is good. I think somebody rented that

Hardies the Hardies Body Shop is rented out. Yeah, Mike did tell me that. Cuz they were in there doing body work again. So, the same type of business then? Yeah, same thing. But oh, and we do not have an AED yet. I have told Oh, I got um Oh, that reminded me. I got um so was waiting. They had to upload our tax exempt form, but getting a battery for we have an extra ad through the department. So, we'll put it we'll just have to get the case through Amazon, which um for it and we can put that in. But yeah. Yep.

All right. Good. Yeah, because I until I read the notes, I went, "Oh, yeah, that's true." So, okay, good. I think that's all I have all anything to report other than your interesting episode last week. Yes, we put we installed a stock sock down by the hill that we planted grass in cuz a lot of it washed out from that five six inches of rain we had. Okay.

And we were going to get it this weekend, too. So, we install that's going to cost us a little bit of money right there. Clean up the dirt. Um, we're going to build some picnic tables down there. So, that's the next thing we need to start blowing the grass down there. And then the park benches are falling apart. They're all broken up. Yeah, we got some damage going on over at the park. So, we'll try to put that on our schedule as soon as we get somebody to fix them up. Yeah, we can. I replaced the other ones last year by the And then just we need to power washer clean the playground equipment. I mean, it's not our job, but we'll we'll do it. Maybe someday that'll be my next thing. Department,

but we need a power washer. He said that's my retire. That's my retirement job is being the parks department. I don't have more than one of you. I'm going to be serious, sir. He says we, but he is not supposed to do any of that kind of stuff for three months. Yes. and he knows it. So, I don't know. Any of you that don't know, Dennis had an emergency pacemaker put in on Friday. Yes. Surprise. Not supposed to be doing anything. My uncle had the same thing like two weeks ago. Yeah. Just went for a checkup and took him about 10 seconds. You're not going home.

You ain't going nowhere. He said, "You can go home if you want. You're probably going to die." Easter had a hard time finding it. Also about the park, uh, Dan Cassad put the basketball. So, yeah, that was going to be my question. who who do we get to do that stuff if you know because it really shouldn't fall on the EDC but they're willing to help but it should be the parks department that we don't want anybody

we've tried nobody I truthfully blame it on the amount of rentals that we had when you have more rentals you have less volunteering it just happens to be the way that it is and you know maybe one day it will change and I'm highly frustrated because I would like to update all the parks planning and all of that stuff to be able to get grants for us to do things, fix up the park and get new things. Unfortunately, but I have a parkour to approve the plan. You don't have the parkour. You have to have the parkour. So, it's a comprehensive plan. I think it's been what 10 years or more.

Oh, probably the first Yeah. Judy was the one. It's in there. She'll get back to me in about 10 years because I'll probably working on that. That's probably my next project.

That's kind of all I got except for trying to do something with this building. It's falling down. Yeah. Then we also got Go ahead. We need to install those bicycle equipment. Oh, moving back and forth where they're supposed to be and right by the way. It's actually safe place to have rent. Oh gosh. I think the bicycle pump and bicycle bike rack type thing. They're already they're decorating but actually nice and stuff on the side.

They're on the side. where that right in front of the fire station where there's kind of a bump out into the into the green. Is there any update on the Joshua Tree building or anything like that? I have heard nothing. She did pay her water bill last time. Really? Mhm. So, she's around. I don't know how to get a hold of her, though. Well, she's she lives in Tiner. No, it's like they're sitting on everything and we're trying to figure out how to Yeah, we've been I've contacted her sister. I knew her sister really closely when we were young and then

but there's some family. She's basically here. One's here, one's in Arizona. So, there's like a lot of the one in Arizona is like there's not much I can do, you know, in general because I'm not there. But the other one is not moving very quickly on what to do with the building. And I did share with them that the disrepair is starting on the building. I did share with them there were people parking in their parking lot, you know, things like that. if you would at least let the guy know he shouldn't be doing that before it comes to us like doing something because we did ask a man over at Sergeant's old place not to be doing a business out of his home and it's no different to me.

You know what I mean? So, if you could please light a fire at him and get rid of those. Okay. It's the same thing. He's doing the same thing that the guy in the blue house did. Mhm. where he was working out of his house and then putting all those vehicles or however or work vehicles or parts vehicles or all of that. So, I'm kind of concerned about that. It's already out of control and I don't know if it's going to get much better. So, have we heard anything about the people while we're talking about that stuff uh with the second house like behind this other the old greenhouse? Mhm. Are they going to start this summer? Yeah,

I uh see they have the house listed for sale that piece of property. So, kind of messed up. Yeah, because they changed all the zoning. Everything's been Everything's been changed. Yeah. The last time I talked to u Chris cuz he was inquiring on his on the getting the permit started and I told him I still needed the uh site plan before I could approve any anything there. And then had that was probably two months ago probably. property is that the where the greenhouse is cuz they subdivided a lot. Yeah. Cuz the back half there is where the original living there. Yeah. So you still going to build on the back side of

Yeah, that's what we're talking about. Yeah. Yeah. Cuz they subdivided it and then I I tried somebody asked me about renting there and I tried to contact Cameron and he didn't respond. So I It seems like Brian's kind of the one. buying this stuff. He's the one that comes in and pays or sends the money for bills and but it looks like they're trying to sell it. So, I have no idea.

Oh, by the way, we need we met with Bill Sh or so ago and has this discussions and stuff and want to know how it's going and he been here for a while. So, we're really interested in looking into um maybe starting a new section of houses or duplexes or something south of Morning Side. The last two properties, single family homes are done, sold medium price. So, affordable housing. Yeah. I don't know if that's a thing. Well, I mean, middle inome houses, a little more than the $400, $500,000 homes, you know, everyone can afford.

Some things to talk about we can't talk about right now, but um um some interesting things. Yeah. Close it. You don't have a remote control. Do we have to put some grinders in out there because the last two properties? Yeah, that's the last they are. How's that going to work? They're putting in two I mean they're just residential grinder and and the owner between those two. Oh, Irish doesn't own it. Alan Edward owns all of them. They purchased everything at Matthews. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. So they're the ones responsible for the So they're the ones they would Yeah. there. No, the laterals are there going to, but they'll have to they'll have a grinder and it's just a chase line to get up. EDC agreed to write on the need. Okay, good. He kept talking about having to help with that and I went I don't think that's but we had agreed but we had agreed to help him with that to get those two lots sold because I think they're at a cost of almost 17,000 a piece and we're helping them with only 10,000 total because that's been in our budget for Yeah. So how they spend the 10,000 correct? They don't be offered reimbursement. They have to

Yeah. Because we on our budget because we we kept rolling over to help out with repairs out there. So, so that helps them a little bit to finally get those last two. And they did they did get them sold. So, that's good. Mhm. All right. Is there anything else? No. That's enough. Yeah, it is. It is. Andy, do you have anything you want to share with us while you're here? We've moved on.

Okay. All right. I wanted to speak so um the good news is is that the projects are under budget and um to tune in about 900,000. So contingency wasn't needed. Um, so we've worked with SRF and got approval to continue to do a couple other projects that are needed, but just there we didn't think there was funding available. You create a lengthy list of projects that are needed and then you take the top priorities and that's what we went and got the financing for. Now since we did meet some of the contingency, now we can pick off those other ones. So

I will need you to send me all of those with those numbers. Absolutely. I do a little job on that too. Yeah, it works. I just need So, but um so we've got the approval. It'll it'll replace some old mains within the town, especially some of them that are are too small, some old uh services. Uh replace some old hydrants that you can't really get parts for. Um and then did you mention the uh um the filter replacement and that stuff?

The filter and the scaling. Yes. So, so things are coming along and um you know that's uh just wrapping up wrapping up that project and and looking at some others. Uh again, 0% financing on that loan. So, um you always have the option, you know, not doing those projects, but it's not going to get any cheaper than it is right now with 0% financing, right?

Well, now you have anything to do when you start in water park. I'm not sure. I don't think that that would be considered to be similar enough to negotiate on the town's behalf on that one. Jeez. Good try. That's all I have. All right, that's good. I think we're pretty well done with that. I do want to ask if you had found anything out about the water bonds. Did he ever get back with you guys? Do you know?

We had a meeting with him, but we have some more questions we have to Got it. And did you ever find out anything about the lit money? Uh, no. But I see. Yes. On the IC code. Yeah. Got it. Okay. Um, we did kind of see your last meetings, so we kind of know like we watch online just like everybody else. really. And so we are working to find to fix some problems that we have between us with water. Just so you know, we're trying we're looking into what we can and cannot do all over again basically. So I just wanted you to be aware of that. I wanted to wait to talk to you about it when you guys came instead of sending an email. So Oh, okay.

Yeah. I mean, I will say it does raise the question on the 6 in meter coming in to the fire department that that's getting it should be charged at bulk rate versus residential rates. And we're getting charged the residential rates. So, I would send an email to Cindy on this last bill. Um because pretty much what we're trying to tell the firemen is you go out on the call, if you have an active fire, pull closest hydrant, but then come back and fill because those are metered. Got to kind of help alleviate a little bit of that. Okay. Yeah. And I think she's aware, right? We've had we've all had discussions. So, yep. Thanks. We'll get it figured out. Working on it. Yeah. Anybody else have anything new they want to talk about? I will say um we do have our food this weekend, right? This weekend to two that wants to help. It's fun event.

I'll see what I can do. We got a double header for baseball at the park and I'm sure I'm looking for you know I got to tell you this community you know again living here all your life right and it's like come on we all got to pull the rope the same direction here right well and I don't think that's that's a whole long story to get into I know but I mean we're trying like we're trying a lot. I know. I mean, I feel like I think it's getting better. That communication is what was missing a lot of it. Yes. I think it's getting better. Listening. I think it's getting better.

I will say the water issue has been going on. I mean, I found 1996. Not just Well, no, it has been. It's been an issue. It's been a thing. We just want to make sure that we get it fixed and it's in writing, that it's ordinanced, and that it stays. Yeah. so that everybody's on the same page. The fire department was an issue back before it was a territory because you town guys on one truck, you had the township on. So it's it's nothing that just happened in the last three years. Oh, Dan had that sign the last time. Oh yeah, my god. That was the funniest thing I've ever seen. Always been that way. You've had that picture. He said that I got to go back. Yeah, I go. What did that What did that sign say? I don't know. I

something like they quit or something. It was like it was like 1940s 1950. It was like the 50s I think. It was like 57 or something. Yeah. And like as far as my personal belief is I believe both of us should work together. Um but it goes both ways. We all go together and we're trying. Kelly and I seem to get along okay. We seem to be able to talk about things right and openly without any type of So it's okay. It's it's it's getting past whatever created that and getting past and just moving forward. So that's that's my mentality about it is just keep on moving. Yeah, that's good.

And figure out how to fix what we can fix. But and you know, for us, you know, communitywise, we I mean, we're bringing back community events to try to get community back into our, you know, our area because we lost it for a very, very long time. So the things that we create like art in the park every Saturday, bringing kids in, bringing families in, our fall festival every year, bringing back the parade to coincide with all the stuff that Newton's doing, you know what I mean? Stuff like that. So, we're trying to do a lot of of that on things. You know, we you and I should probably talk sometime about whether fire involved during some of those things, too, at some point

eventually once we get, you know, but cuz that would be helpful, especially Fourth of July. Even though I know people are out having a good time on the court, but I know back in the old days it was always the firemen were helping out a lot. Firemen, legion, all of those kinds of things. So I think we have less and less like within those pieces like lions are getting older. Legion people are like nope I'm not doing it. We're doing our own thing and stuff like that. What do you bring in April? Where do you bring in the younger generation? How do you how do you get the younger people involved? Well, these are some of the things that I think that those those those clubs really need to do reach out. Mhm.

I know like Michelawaka, the Lions Club goes out and does Junior Lions. They have kids from school during the school day or in the evening at their meetings, they come in and they have their dinners with them and they explain to them and they show them about working in the community, about how to give back to their community. I feel like all of those other style clubs, whether you're talking Mason Temple, the Legion, other BFWs we don't have, but I think that's kind of what they're doing. they're drawing and young in other ways to get them interested and I think you know it's just like anything else look what we've seen with 4 it's been a very difficult road um all the time just me I was a big 4 kid so there

everybody's attention span is so short now you know we go to four weeks ago president of NASCAR calls me says Irish what can we do to get this younger generation involved in racing because right now all of our fans are getting They're dying on replacement. My question was to him, when was the last time you took your suits off, got out of your suits and set the grand stands and listen what's going on? Yeah. Well, guess what? They just did it at Martinsville two weeks ago. So, I mean, but again, you know, attention span, younger generation, how do we get them involved and make them want? Well, they're not interested. There's a whole book that you can read about the third place because we all used to have

that special place or special club that we were really really involved in or multiples. Some of us had multiples, right? So, the loss of your community stuff like all your bowling leagues, all your adult ball leagues, all your like all of those things that drew people into um losing JC's no longer is a thing. you know, people are um those were their special things that they always did this time a week. This is where I was and it created friendships, bonds, community, all that kind of stuff. These kids have a whole different it's just not there like culture. The culturally it has become I don't know the answer. No.

And it's hard for like I know Kelly and I are like the same age group. It's hard to see because we saw both. We kind of were like in the middle of all of that. and it's been an eye openener as to how it's affecting our communities. So, but I mean I think it's too when we look at the fire department, we look at just the active what we call phone calls now. They're not volunteers, right? But of the five that we have active, there's no generational down from them, you know. So, you look at, you know, you had Dan Kazad, then you had Jason, but didn't, you know, right? And it's just that generation they just

and there's a lot of training involved you know but that is true the fireman was just it was tradition in their families everybody just went through same thing with 4 I think 4 I don't I don't know 4 is expensive it is I do I love I love spending that week at the fair I mean that my parents were involved in it just steer talking Oh yeah. Um, you know, I don't know. We're trying on the community side.

And I and I've talked to Kelly before about how I feel like we're we are not purposefully trying to harm in any way. That's not our mindset um with the fire department stuff. So, I mean, if that was the case, I wouldn't have given $500,000 of a grant to them to help do all the stuff they needed to do. Mhm. Because it needed a lot back then, you know. So, it's you're much it's much better off now, thank God, but more room. Yeah.

You know, um but so it's just slow. The problem is with small towns is it's slow. The amount of people and the amount of money, it's a slow. So everything seems like it takes forever to do. That's what I've come. I'm in my 10th year this year. I think it's 10 years. Yeah. There the other thing about lake builders, you know, half the houses are rentals. Well, yeah. The rental I really do truly It's very odd.

I mean, even when we were growing up, people who rented were a part of things. Now I feel like the younger ones are not doing that. They're just I don't know. And I don't I don't know the world is I deal with it from the assistant side of it is it's it's amazing how many people are being put down here by the housing assistants. And I mean I dealt with three people just this year and they're like this is the only housing we have available but they have no transportation. They're stuck here. I mean they just They're like, "Well, we go grocery shopping at Dollar General." Yeah. It's like like,

"Okay." You know, it I think South probably needs to be a little bit better replacing people. Yeah. And realizing we're not on a bus line. Also kind of feeling like that kind of shows the housing shortage, what actually is happening, right? Yeah. Because it used to be in the day we literally had a bus line that ran here. It did. Yeah.

And then you could go back and forth between South Bend and here. And now that those things are all gone for the last like 40 years, 30 years, 30 some years, I mean, what do these people do? It's not like we're in Breamman where they're self-contained where you can walk to the grocery store, you can walk, you know, there's doctors, there's, you know, all that stuff. So, there's a lot to do. My main goal is to hopefully get that stupid building in downtown empty building fixed because I can't look at that boarded up. That was so bad. I've had so many people come to me

like, "What is up with that building? Why is that building not fixed? Why is it not fixed? Why is it not fixed?" So maybe we just send him a letter saying, "Hey, we noticed you have not fixed that. We really are encouraging you to fix that." Is there an aesthetic problem or Could there be safety issues? Well, there is some glass on the rope that you can stick your finger in. Yeah, it's it's an eyesore. It's going to fall. Looks really bad. Canopy looks like it's falling. I mean, that was the last time I walked in. People walking by. That might be the time to get the building. I think it's Maybe we just Yeah, it's a start.

I don't want to pull it off. At least with it starting to get nice out again, maybe it'll get him in there and do something. I think it and maybe we give him a letter like every so of like, you know, we're not forgetting. You know what I mean? Send a letter all you want, but you got to Right. You got to say we're going to start charging you money. Yeah, I I understand that. Well, that's why I said why can't we find like people used to do they didn't mow their yard after we mow the yard for $75. Well, yeah. Unfortunately, that requires a different kind of ordinance. But can we change our ordinances? Let me put it this way. I proposed various versions of property maintenance codes to the town council whenever something like this comes up and every time they look at it and they say, "No, we can't do that."

Sure. So, can we change an ordinance? We know to it multiple times. Do we want to change our ordinance in that because there's other things. What happens is there's other things that are in there that may actually harm business owners. Can there be something made just for the town center? If you own a business in the town center, how specific can it get? There's got to be some kind of leverage you can do. You just It's been gone on two or three years. Yeah, it's two years to do something. Then there no sense of lack, right? That's what I was saying. If there's safety issues, build bring in the building department. there.

I mean, the ceiling inside you could tell was falling down because it used to be propped up with a 2x4 and I don't know what the if he's built a wall in there now to fix that, but I saw Yeah, I'll talk to you more about it. I will say too, I mean, there's been conversations of um and I know Chief and Travis are going to sit down with you because they want to start just doing like pre-planning. It's nothing to do with inspections. It's just getting inside of buildings to see exits and Yeah. What's in because Yeah. Because the fire marshal has that authority. Fire has authority. I absolutely agree.

Yeah. And if it's not to go in and be like, oh, you don't have this or you don't have that. It's just basically like, can we just get in here? Can we see what what we have? Because if it's just an empty storage building, rent some environment in, you know. Okay. All right. Has anybody got anything else? I have a question. I have a guy with Larage disease that just wants to do his water bill online. He said, "How can I do that? I don't want to do it. I just I don't want to, you know, that is one of the things that I have had on my list of things, right? We have been looking into that I will bring it up.

A digital model so that you can actually pay your stuff online. It'd be a lot easier. Most people do it every day of their lives. They pay their bills online. Cindy and I have looked into it, but right now it's more costly to customer than it is, right? And I don't want to find the be out of out of door place where we pay them. So, are you saying like yes, they're going to charge them $5 for using the service?

But we but we do that all the time on bill other bills. If somebody doesn't want to use the digital bill, they don't have to. But the option is there if they want to because lots of us use certain billing services that they're like, we're going to charge you $3.95 or four bucks or something to do it. I don't think that matters truthfully because they're going to decide whether they want to use it or not. That doesn't mean they still can't drop off cash or a check done in. It just means it's another option.

He says I have to buy I find somebody to come over and like take me over there and blah blah blah. So, right. I said, I'll say it. Are we are we looking into it? Are we planning on are we going to do I mean it is something that actually is a positive to me because I think there's a lot of people that would actually pay their water bills on time if it was online. I thought Cindy said she was going to check with the Roger. So, and truthfully, I get what you're saying about the fees, but that is an option. That's why she wants to talk to Yeah.

Jen to see how they do it. see how to set it up, right? Um Yeah. And if somebody chooses not to use it, they don't use it. They pay it. They pay it just like they do now. Not a big deal. My sister that lives in Oregon has tried to pay her bill. Yeah. Or here in Lville. Yeah. And mailed it in plenty of time for it to get here and it didn't. So that cost her an extra 10 bucks. Right. I because it was late. I think it's important to modernize our thought process too because I think it's helpful for others

like in the big picture. I pay all my bills online. I hardly ever like I literally even me I'm like I got to go drop off that water bill. You know what I mean? I'm carrying it around in my purse, you know, and stuff like that. And I just So yeah. And I've been talking about that on and off for a few years because I'm like I don't know. I think we should figure it out. Yeah. I did I emailed Jen about it and she kind of explained it, but Cindy wants to go over there and kind of look at how it works. It works when somebody goes to do it. Uhhuh. And how it gets to us, like how everything works. Yes. Yeah. Somebody's calling my phone. I will ignore it for now. Well, my daughter, she wants food.

Oh, yeah. where you could call and pay online like on the phone and you would there something you can do that that doesn't isn't going to charge you $5 doesn't charge and there's no fear I wouldn't do it on the smaller places like this we would have a handling fee of some sort to help pay for basically the service is how that works something like zel where you can instead of pay you have to go through a pay gov or like go pay because we're go there's only certain saying that because we're because we are not a private business because we're municipal. We have to use a specific type of

payment. Yeah, it would be I'll talk to Cindy when she come back from vacation. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Well, then that's it. What time is it? Uh 6:50. 6:50. We are ending the meeting. Next meeting right now is on 4:16. Of course, we will look at it again and see if there's anything that we really need to meet about because it's just a work session. So, it's not an actual town meeting, quote unquote. So, we'll let you know if anything changes later in the month. Okay. All right. Nice to meet you. Yeah.