Town Council - Regular Meeting

You were live. We are live. We're going to go ahead and call this meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. We're going to do things just a little bit different this evening. Um Joe needs to be with his family this evening. So we you were talking about Labor Day. Yeah, correct. We're going to do the first Got it. Yeah. Got it. We'll go through this in a minute just to make it all official on the record. Yep. Um, but we're going to let Joe go first because he needs to get to his family this evening. So, yes. What do you have for us, sir? Uh, very very light month again. Okay. We did get our got the our salt contract signed with the county.

Okay. So, we're good for the year there again. Uh, leaf pickup is done for the season again finally. Uh, and whatever was left is under snow pretty much. Okay. Yes. uh tower progress. We're without DLZ here tonight. I don't have any good answers for anybody yet and it's still not online and they have not been back for probably two to three weeks. I

call at the end of the day from David from DLZ and supposedly uh WF Johnson is supposed to be here tomorrow to start again, but not going to hold my breath. What was their finish date before penalty? It was the end of November, but they gave them kind of a a grace and that's what I called the LZ for today because they gave them a grace period that they were going to be working and still have it online. We wouldn't have all the other stuff done, but the tower would be done, but it's like you've kind of given them an inch or they taken a mile. Yeah. Okay.

So, I talked to Aaron today. keep us updated for the next couple weeks and let us know what's happening. When's our next When's our next meeting? Sorry. Well, it looks like we the first Well, we we wanted to try to change it to 20. Yes, because we have to do end of year. So, question Joe, since not here, should I wait for fe the DLZ thing or is that good to go? Uh, I have When did that uh It came in today. I have not even seen it. I haven't either. I printed it out when I got here.

It wasn't here or it wasn't in the email when I left work today. Yeah, it just it just came in. I would say let's wait. We also I know Andy is going to be at the next meeting, but if we're changing the date, we need to let him know. I I can let him know, but as long as it's going to be the 29th. Yeah. Yeah. We just we voted for that in our last meeting. Instead of doing the third Thursday, we also have to do end of year. So, we're canceling the 18th and moving everything to the 29th, which will be our work session, but it will also be our end of year everything that the clerk needs to get through. Okay. So, it'll be the 29th at 6 p.m.

And we're having a a progress meeting tomorrow. So, they're going to be hopefully pushing them to try to get some answers of what's going on. Okay. And last thing I got also is uh right now Dave is going to start his water apprenticeship uh they start sometime the beginning of January. January. So, we're trying to get everything finalized there and sent to them so they'll be ready to go then. Wonderful. Wonderful. Um, okay. Anything else?

Uh, one thing I don't know if we if we keep getting snow here, I don't know if it's something we need to think about doing our emergency because we're we're really getting a lot of on the sides that and people I wanted to talk about their car, but they move it on the back side of the and I still can't get the streets clear. So, we talked about that moments ago. Um, we'll open up that subject really quick and then you can get out of here. Um, I do not know what it states as to how much snow we get before we do the emergency plan. What the emergency plan is is the snow parking on the street so the plows can go through and do one sweep. Um, we're running out of room first of all already.

And then going around the cars. So, we've had several complaints. A few of them were through Facebook yesterday. I shouldn't say several. There's been a handful. Um, some of them went through Facebook into the town. Some of them were directly to me. Um, some got called into the town hall this morning. The biggest complaints are I shoveled my driveway and the plow came by and there's snow at the end of it now and I can't get out. I my reply to people. Am I not I public statement for it stating this is Indiana. This is winter. I explained how the plow works and there's nowhere to put the snow. The cloud does not make the snow disappear. It pushes it to the side to open the road.

And I do feel bad for those people that have very minimal parking. Even some have little parking on their property. It's very, you can't do anything about that. The problem is too many people park on the street because there's nowhere else for them to park through all the apartment complexes. It is what it is. And then it's a hot mess when they come through to, you know, but there's no shovel out. That's all I have to do. Yeah.

So, I did make a statement on Facebook about how the plows work and to give a round of applause and please thank our utility crew for clearing what they have gotten cleared. And you did get a lot of compliments. You and Dave um both got compliments on that. So, thank you very very much for coming and I even posted for coming in on a Sunday and clearing out. There are a lot of compliments. So, thank you very I don't think you have Facebook anymore, do you? Um, if you can get a hold of your daughters, I'm sure she does or I don't know if anybody else in your home does want to decide about the emergency plan and stuff. So, I don't know how much snow we need to get if we get another six inches tonight, which I don't think it's supposed to be that much, but do we need to clear the streets?

I mean, we've got a lot of them cleared today. There's still some areas that I mean, we can wait, you know, see what they're because they're calling for snow into next week and everything. So, we can kind of wait, you know, maybe towards the end of this week and maybe see maybe it's something we need to look at for maybe Monday morning or something if we continue to get snow.

Yeah. And that's something just like I said, we last time we I worked uh with Dan with that and then we posted notices on the cars, on the apartments, posted it on the town website and that way we then give them 24hour notice. We cleared out once uh I think it was like north streets and west streets in one day and then we went almost like car to car if they were there we tried working knocking on their doors to get them let them know and I think that time there was only one car pull we had to I think our biggest issues right now are Patterson and Maine maybe because there were cars parked well morning side is is it because there were cars on the road

yeah they parked on the road instead of in their drive so some people have moved they're Still I was back up there this afternoon. So where do those people go that are on the street like that on main street? Well, so last time what we did we just park on the other side. Yeah, they would park on the other side or utilize parking like me. There's no parking on the west side. So if they would if they let us plow that side and get it cleared and then move their cars over there. Got it. And we could clear out. Gosh, I don't even since I've been there, I don't think we've ever had to do that. But this Three years ago that Dan was still here. I think it was when I started. Does that include recliners?

My neighbors have two recliners out in the road right now. Like chairs. The chairs in the road. Yes. And trailers. I'm sure you had to go around the end of that trailer, too. I don't know if it sticks out. Yeah. Hold on. What is When's trash pickup? Tomorrow. Wednesday. Wednesday. So, maybe it's out there. first picked up. That's why they're there. But I'm also curious whether they called it in or if they're just expecting they're out there in the street. I had somebody this past week that has a couch and they were messaging the town Facebook page because they couldn't get a hold of anybody address.

But all you have to do is call the number outside the trash can and give them the address and they'll come. So they don't have to do it through town hall. You pay for service, but you're paying in the town of Lakeville because you pay Lakeville. You don't pay them direct. So if you call I live in Lake though, give them your address. They will do it. So it's not You don't have to put in the street the same day. Well, that's true. It's supposed to be on. We agree. You're You're correct. You're correct. So I can put it back up in the There you go.

But if anybody does have this Well, I couldn't get a hold of anybody at the time. Call the number on the side of your trash can. They'll do it. And sometimes they literally even if you don't call will take it if you put it out there with it. They're pretty good about that actually. So we if it's still there after trash comes on Wednesday let know and we can have that. I'll ask Cindy tomorrow too whether or not she called in. She can let them know Washington Street and property. There's one for 103 Patterson that's already been called in.

Yes, cuz I took that one. Oh, I called them. They're jerk Friday. I called Apex myself on that one because I called three times. So, yeah, they don't have to call here. They do have to call in, but they don't have to call here. So, um, if you can't get Morningside cleaned up by the end of the week, let us know and we can start. You need to park on the right side of the street this day and park on the left street the following day, right? and we can make those letters up. Patrick can hand deliver them, hit them on the doors, and then we can get that cleared up. Same with Main Street. Y

um I know there's a lot of cars there, so I know that's one of the hot spots. Yeah. Anything else about snow removal or going once? So, going twice. End of discussion. Thank you, Joe. All right. Thank you. You guys have a good day. Thanks. sending her our best wishes. Yep. Thank you.

Okay. My turn. Y minutes. What do you want to do? December is too long. I'm thinking about that. Yeah, we haven't gotten that far. We'll get to in a second. I would like to ask for a motion to approve the minutes from November 19th, 2025. I'll make a motion. All those in favor? I.

All those opposed. So be it. in two weeks. I would like to ask for a motion to approve the accounts payable in the amount of $14,232.39. Comment the motion just includes all payroll other than hours.

Yeah, that I have my payroll for this coming because that's not until tomorrow. Okay. So it's not until our payroll will be this pay per period also. That way it comes before Christmas. Oh, who made the motion? I did. Did you? All those in favor?

All those opposed? No one. Anyways, this is ours. So, yours and mine. I did just work this. Okay.

Oh, yes. Mhm. That's one shirt before. Yep. I show it to them. Yeah, we usually do it the 1st of April, 1 of July, 1 of October, but then December we do it early because of Christmas. This is our ordinance number 2025-08, an ordinance amending salaries for elected officials of the town of Lakeville. So that's okay. The April that's just what was been on the other. Yep. Okay. Yep. That's perfect. My dates are correct. I went over so much today. Yeah.

Did you do this one the clerk treasur at 4% also? Yeah. And these went up four. Yes. Okay. I'd like to see our elected officials go up a little bit more to be a little more competitive. Okay. Um, I know this is our salary ordinance for this coming up year, but we need to revisit that very soon. Okay. You want to read it before I ask? So maybe won't we did that change for Terry? Yes. Well, that's on

that's on the next one. This is just elected. I did Barn Revenue, EC, and RDC. There's three different ones, right? Mhm. And I did the paid holiday in this, but just look over that to make sure those are make a separate thing. I have gotten so many phone calls today from win from Elart, from Walkington. They're all spam,

but they're all using like local numbers. Yes. So, we will revisit the council's pay. 4% across the board is great, but 4% it gives us like an extra $10 a month, which is this much. Now, I believe that it you wouldn't be able to do it for the year that you're talking about it in. So, this would be for 2026. Whatever we talk about next year would have to be for after that, right? Okay. Yep. But it's something that does need to be revisited. Yes, it is what it is at the moment.

Yeah. So, I would like to ask for a motion to approve amended ordinance. It shouldn't be amended. It's ordinance number 2025-08. An ordinance amending salaries for the elected officials for the town of Lakeville. So, it is an amended. Is it amended or it's not? It's a new ordinance. That's how it's been since 2020, I think, is what she They could amend it on it, but then Yeah, because that's not right. Yeah. I I don't think that's correct. I don't think I've ever seen the elected officials one. Yeah, she has it on all of them. So, it would only be amended if it went off an old ordinance number. Otherwise, it's just an ordinance, not a amended.

If it's a new thing, setting up a new system, it's just by itself. It's not amended amending anything. It's just this is what's happening. Yeah. So, this is just our pay salaries for Yeah. Yes. So there's no amending be amended off the front. So once this is removed then we can sign but I would like to ask for a motion to approve ordinance number 2025-08 an ordinance for salaries for elected officials of the town of Lakeville for 2026. I make a motion. All those in favor.

And that would also go for the other employees for the 2026. It does not need to state this on it. See, this one does. Yeah, this one does not. Let's see. This says amending in this part, but not up here. So, I don't It's amending the salary but not amending the salary ordinance. Correct. Okay. So, the ordinance that should be okay. No, we still have to get rid of amending here. Okay. It's an ordinance. I don't know. It's for the race. So, it's an ordinance. It's not amending because we're not amending anything from the past. It was on all of them. We will make it right before we Okay.

We did approve it. It just needs to be reprinted so that they can sign them. Correct. Yes. But it will it has been approved to be to go forward. Okay.

Yeah. So that same I'll change those tomorrow. So I'd like to ask for a motion to approve ordinance number 2025-09 an ordinance for salary an ordinance salary salary ordinance because we got rid of an ordinance so it's salary ordinance 2025-09 and shouldn't say fixing says in fixing the number of employees that is it is fixing Yes, it's a weird term that the state uses. Yeah, I don't know, but that's what it is.

Okay, so it's ordinance number 2025-09, salary ordinance 2025-09 in fixing the number of employees of the town of Lakeville for the year 2026 that is on the second page if you want to look over. And they do all say 2026, right? Yes. Yes. 1 2 3. I'm trying to find because I didn't know like what holidays like technically they're supposed to be paid for cuz St. Joe County has like a list of 16 holidays for this year or next year. There were only seven that were mandatory and that changed last year. Yes. So I did.

Yeah, this one shows 10. So it's New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. President's Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. That sounds right. Veterans Day was new last year and so was Columbus Day. So, we took out the president. The president's days are not on here. It goes back to regular President's Day on February 16th. One one thing I seen it said Washington's birthday for in the same date that President's Day was. The state basically has it where they're taking that extra day and that extra day they named him after the president which was that was last year. Yeah.

That was really weird. It was really weird and I was like the day after Christmas the day after Christmas was Lincoln's birthday celebration the day after Christmas. But then next year New Year's Day or New Year's Eve was Yeah, it was great. was the day after Thanksgiving and it was really odd. Yeah, it was odd. But I think we're good on these. Yeah, I think we're good. Okay. And I once again I'd like to ask for a motion to approve ordinance number 2025-09. I'll make a motion.

Okay. This again needs to be corrected up here before we sign it. But all those opposed, so be it. So it is approved. We will sign it once those typos are gone. just so that way there's no delay on the pay for January 1st and you guys are okay. Then we need to go through the holidays. Not the holidays, our council meetings 2026. Where did I put this? So, the only ones, okay, we're going to change July. Instead of this third meeting being the 16th, it's going to be the 23rd. September's first meeting would actually not be until the 14th because of Labor Day. So, we're going to have it on Tuesday the 1st. And once it gets closer to November, we'll probably

second meeting because I have it for November 19th, which is probably absolutely the same day. October is same day. The 5th and the 15th.

Um, I'll give you here. So far, July, this July 26th is going to be on July 23rd. Okay. Or no, I'm sorry. It was the 16th. It's going to the 23rd. 23rd. Yep. Okay. Otherwise, there's only like seven days between the first. Yeah. The September will be what? The first. The first, which is a Tuesday.

And I'll make a copy and give everybody. Here's why. So if we do it, we'd normally do it the first Monday, which would be the 7th, but that's Labor Day. So if we move to the next Monday, then that's not until the 14th. So we can do it up here on the 1st. Okay. October. We'll leave it as it is. Since we need to change it, we will cuz it's Yeah. November is the second and the 19th. Perfect. Although we know that's going to change.

Yeah. It's going to be because of Turkey Day. Yeah. Um how did we do it this year? We switched it to Wednesday. Should we post it? Yes. Wednesday now instead of Does that work? I don't see a reason why not. Does that work for you guys? Cuz you guys weren't busy prepping that day before. We usually have commitments on Wednesday night. They won't be here regardless, right? So, you're okay with Yeah. We might as well just do it the 18th. So, it's the second one. It's a work session anyways. That's not like it's a

so November's will be switched to the 18th because of turkey day at the Methodist church and then December we have the 7th and the 17th to the end of the meeting. Let's cancel the 17th and we will make that one the 28th. Okay. Monday might as well. Yes. If you wait and do it, it'd be New Year's Eve if you do it on Thursday. So, it'll be Monday of the last week of the year. So, that way the clerk can have everything again.

Okay. So, with all that being said, I would like to ask for a motion to approve the 2026 meeting dates. Make a motion. Yes. All those post all those. So be it. Um did you change Do you want us to sign that so that way we can make it official? Yeah. Be done. Okay. I need to post it on the door on the website and also if there are any organizations who have requested notification. Yeah. So, I'll get that typed up more like that one is

send that to me and I'll put it on the website. Okay. Yeah, send it to me. I'll put it on Facebook. By the way, speaking of Facebook, just because I mentioned it, um the post about sledding, I think it was that one. Let me just verify. Oh, let me go to the one about when I posted that there was another accident on the bypass and the bypass is not good between US6 and K road sheet of ice.

It had 1,00 no I'm sorry 128,63 views. So that's how many people the Facebook page is reaching. Wow. The one about the one about sledding in the park. Well, that one was only 43,235. So, I saw that one. 43,000, but then we had 125 or whatever it was. 43,000 viewed the

43,000 people viewed the sleigh because they're posting it. Whenever I post anything, 574 Nosy Neighbors is posting it and Marshall Stark County News here now. They're posting it asannar. So it's major websites, major Facebook providers, not providers, posts, pages, platforms. Thank you. Wow. And they're sharing what we put on there. So we are hitting a lot of people. Getting to a lot of people. We are since you were talking have a huge audience. Do you still want me to just come to the first meetings? Yeah. Yeah.

Because we're just doing the second ones as work. I would have to do just the second one in February instead of the first one because I will not be in the United States for the first one. What country are you going to? My mom and I are going to Japan. Well, we expect to see pictures afterwards. Absolutely. You last year You went to Germany. We went to the UK and Ireland. UK and Ireland. That's That was the trip she had always wanted to do and she had told me she would not even think about Japan until she got to go to her once in a lifetime.

Love it. That's great that you get to do that with her. Okay. Um, do you have anything else, Mr. for? Okay. And do that at the end. So, we already went through utility directors. So now we are Patrick.

So activity for November of 2025 had a total of 81 calls for service for the month. Uh of that 10 assist to St. interest of county police had a crash at 931 at Shiveley, crash on Dogwood, a threat in Progress Lake Trail, a disturbance at Clearwater Trailer Park, one assist motors 931 at Whitmer, an ammo complaint on Riley Road, firearms complaint Roosevelt Road, unwanted person on Shively Road, an alarm on Oak Road, and then one mental in progress on Riley Road. Had a total of eight reports for the month. two property damage reports, one crash, one criminal information, one driving never license, one noncriminal information, one violation of a court order, and one juvenile investigation. Had one arrest for the month, and that was for driving ever license. Had eight tickets total written for the month. Uh we did assist Lake United Methodist Church for their annual turkey supper with traffic assistance. And then uh pavilion lights and Christmas tree lights are installed and working.

Thank you. Perfect. Can you Did you send this electronically to both of us? That's I'm going to actually scan it in with my phone. So it'll convert it to a PDF. Then I'm having trouble cuz I'll Facebook will not read the PDF. Okay. I cannot post a PDF from I'm having trouble on the website, too. I don't know why. Okay. I I don't know what it is, but same with yours. Sometimes when I go to dump them, you dump it in there, let it load up, and then you're searching. So, only do a JPEG. It won't. Yeah, it won't do. I don't know what I knew the I know you the Word wasn't working for you to load it up. Well, because Apple and Microsoft don't play together. I think it has something to do with all the things that we're using. And I And I Yeah, I don't know why, but it's not.

My problem is all my devices are Apple and they don't work with Microsoft doesn't Yeah. Yeah, but I have to have a PDF of some sort though on the one part like for yours. I could try to figure out how to change it, but it actually is a PDF. That's why Yeah, I can convert it and and like the newsletter and stuff like that and maybe JPEG to post. I don't know. It's very just send it to me and I'll let you know if it doesn't. Okay. Thank you. Thanks Patrick again. Thanks for all your work. Not a problem.

Yeah, you've done a lot of extra lately and I think it's appreciated by all of you. Thank you very much. RDC. Oh, I don't have too much. I do u or I have spoken with I can't remember his name. Daniel. No, the guy. An Handle. Thank you. Um he you know I told him that we had voted to give him some money and he requested but we also demanded some kind of invoice or something not just a check. He sent me a picture of a written check where he was paying 123.

Yeah. So he has not gotten me any invoices yet. So I'm not sure but until he does that then you know we're willing to help him out. So that land acquisition thing you want to ask about and there was something else I told Denny this afternoon to remind me to ask today and neither of us can remember what we were talking about. So oh pallets that's it. Thank you. Five minutes ago you go to remember um I have a request to have the pallets removed from the barn that we used at the

I think they're all passed due or whatever you were advertising there probably. Yeah, that all needs to be cleaned up. I have not physically had a chance to go do it and I need a few extra hands. Patrick talk about this people to do it. So, I just Well, and all the containers that are inside, we need to put those up and stack them. And I know there's more work. Patrick and I talked about it the other day. He actually has a heater available. Um maybe we can do that before this weekend. If not, I'm not going to be able to assist. So, yeah. Yeah, that's right. And I keep forgetting to say something, but um and there was one other thing I thought I don't know. You said that the for the tree lighting thing,

you said that Ben didn't really want to go to Hamlet to get the No, that wasn't the issue. We'll get to that in a minute. It's on our talk, but we'll get to that in a few. Um for the RDC, do you have any land acquisition, anything for next year that's on your list? I just don't want it to come February, March, and you're thinking of something and you can't do it because it wasn't on your list. We talked about it. Um, we even talked about extending our tip area. Um,

and we talked about doing it immediately to catch. I'm trying to think now. I have to go back and look my notes. I think the catch is over here. transaction. Of course, I told Daniel, I know it takes two to three months to even start the process because you have to go through lots of steps to do that. So, we kind of decided to wait till next year. I think it's it was on Yeah, I mentioned it in the last meeting just be and you guys were up at the church. So, yeah, we it's just a thought because every year we discuss it. We talked about Yeah. And if it's not on the list beginning of the year, then let me double check our notes before

that's fine. It's between you and Jacqueline and Brandy. You guys can figure that out. Yeah, we discussed it. So, okay. Just wanted to make sure it was Yep. out. Okay. EDC. I don't have much. Just u think we finished up a project down the street. Thank you. Thank you for the electric working. He worked a lot more time. Yeah. I've heard a lot of compliments on Yeah, it looks nice. Anxious to uh see what it looks like in the spring when we dry it when it starts to come up. We planted white clover in there

on the hill to m it easy to maintain. It only gets 8 to 10 inches tall. It's white flowers. It's good for the bees. Uh they love the Dutch white clover. So we planted that whole hill in dry to start with and then then the white clover will take over the the ride. Very nice. So um so we don't have to do a lot of maintaining on it and it's put in so yeah it's put in so we can maintain it if they have to. Okay. We had put quite a bit of fill in there to bring bring it up where could m if we had to. Then we got the other side done. All the scratch cleared out. All cleared. anxious to see what that looks like when we get get. So, I'm anxious to see it, too.

No, it looks nice. It makes a big difference when you uh go out of town and coming into town. Oh, yeah. And it makes those buildings look so much better down there. It does. Yeah, I agree. So, thank you for doing that. I know that was a lot of work. We when we've been down there looking at it and discussing that lift station, is there anything we can do as far as our ordinances to make what's his name? Do something. No, we just have to secure it, which he did. Cuz I all that dirt in there really makes me kind of nervous. Did Mike ever put anything silt fence down there? I don't think he did.

Yeah, to fix it. We'll fix it, you know. I told her we were going to do it. My question was is we're fixing the lip station. Can we do it at No, the fence found it. The fence defense. No. Can we do it and charge him some way or is there any kind of leverage we would have to charge him because it looks like crap. Not if you're just totally voluntary. Well, I understand it doesn't look good, but if we go to fix you talking about the fence? Yeah, just the fence. Not the Okay. If it's just the fence, it's a difference. I had a meeting I had a meeting with him and he said

if it wasn't up at all or if it was like in a state of disrepair that would make it not doing the job of it. Just the looks it looks bad. Uh I got two prices on it. I met with Greyel Joe Greyel. We all did. He said hold up on that. Uh I think I got a guy to do it. Well, it never happened. Famous words. I got a guy. Yeah. Yeah. He's famous for that. So, yeah. Um, but we'll see what happens in the springtime. Okay. Yeah. I thought you were going to pick something else. I don't want to be liable for any of that. I mean, pay the water bill. It's on the right. Yes.

So, he doesn't pay anything into the town that we can leverage. No, that's my question. We'll hit him up again. Okay. See if he can see his way through and took care of the property. So, yeah. Um yeah, because we met him in the spring again, Tony Hazen, Joe Greyel, um myself, Patrick, Jerry, Carol is there. I think that was everybody if I remember right. So, all right. Anyway, I think it was Well, you've had a lot of compliments on Yeah. what was done looks a whole 100% better than what it was. Yeah. So,

anything else other than that? I got anything except for maybe crystal stuff. Yeah, that's all one old business that we're going to discuss. Yeah. So, fire department's not here. Randy, great to see you here with us this evening, sir. No problem. Glad to be here. I always enjoy coming here to hear you guys's We have minor problems, don't we? They're just minor. I have issues, too. And it's just on maybe a bigger scale. I I will say I really enjoyed as I the Halloween I felt bad I didn't bring kids with me next year. Bring lots of kids. Bring kids. That was really well done. Thank you. So thanks a lot.

Thank you Patrick Patrick's wife and I and his mother-in-law. Um I and um Rodney Hijima. I would not have been able to do that any of that without them. They major major key players. So it was nice. I enjoyed the kids screaming. Every time you hear kids scream, you're like score. Well done. It was nice. So thanks. Thanks for coming and thank you for your help. We appreciate it. We'll do it next year, too. Wonderful.

If you do it, I'll be happy with that. You know, there's a lot of things going on in the county. Um, a lot of things You know how much you get into it? You know, here I can give you an up. Do you have any questions? I should ask you a question before I volunteer. Something I don't want to say. You got any money to hand off? Oh, how do you end up? Yeah. No, our departments are coming to us and want bonuses and I'm not too happy. Yeah, I need to do an ordinance like you guys did tonight

and they want bonuses and they think I'm crazy because I want I'm just kind of irritating. So yeah, you hear a lot on the news and just social media and it's Yeah. So if you have a question folks need call water park I'm looking for a water park. Yeah small water park. I mean you're several million out there on that part out there in Ranger. I think you're talking to the wrong person here. We do have an or

no and we can't have one. Why can't you? Well, we can't. It cannot be use. It can if it's a legitimate massage therapy, whatever. If you're looking for ladies dancing on a pole, we can't do that. I don't think I would call it a massage parlor. Yeah, Lori. That's what I was looking for. Yeah. Well, we we have limits that you cannot be a problem. You cannot do that within the town limits of Lakeland. We just the county just passed orders to stop it. That was human trafficking. I don't know if you guys kept up with that stuff. So you see that see and you guys were making fun of me for thinking something else.

Well, I've seen a human traff. So it wasn't like a medical. That's why I asked you if you had any here. I didn't know of any down here. Not in my history. No, I think those are south of here and here. You say old actually even had one in town. Mwaka did too, didn't they?

Well, does right next to Oh, your headquarters right next to kind of funny. It was something you said. Oh, well, he he brought up about the park in Granger because there is a massage parlor right next to that park. I voted against that this fall. Oh, I vote against the park, too. for that. But anyway, that's about and just update on the gas center. I will say this, I've been lobbyed the hardest for anything is that dations and uh

supposedly it's not happening is what was talked about and ED or uh area plan. Did you just have an area plan? No, two months ago. Now what we what it was new the one in New Carile we sent it to but then we had also they talked about all the letters that had been received down in the southern part of this county and was it Bill Shalio that said he's not been contacted didn't know it was farms they talk about wind farms no yes the wind farms

it was Tony Hazen Tony called me and said he didn't know anything about it And then the next day it came out in the news that they had that him and Bill had spoken with that company. So I don't know what's going on. I received a personal call about it stating that nothing was known, but then there was a meeting afterwards. So ABC 56, I went to their station. They interviewed me about the wind farms a couple months ago or something. But what I tell people with that, like I got one today on one of my rentals. You know, this company wants to buy my rental, right? And you guys probably get on your homes. You get that? Oh yeah. Cash offers. Yeah,

that's what these things are and but people in this area by North and getting this stuff. All the solar and the wind farms money was removed from that big beautiful bill that he about actually our congressman get that out for now and it could come back. You don't know but so I don't I don't want to be concerned about those kind of things for the data center we have to vote on next Tuesday if we don't vote on the one in new car right if we do not vote on it's dead for six month you guys said no to it correct

and I have heard I have heard I was told it was 44 and n one person pending about supposedly supposedly I've received more email anything. Anything. I got like four or five again today against it. Mhm. I probably had 250 against probably about 10. There was something that came out in the news this past week about one in the northern Indiana area. That's at first they thought it was in our county. That's what I was afraid of, but then it saw that. There is um they've talked about actually they were open property down lake two years ago property.

Yeah, we know. Yeah. Well, yeah. I question at this point. Yeah. Yeah. But yeah, it's just for the smaller communities. That's that's a we would not be set up to be able to the way we ecology wise to be in a township. Yeah, because they need about 600 acres to a thousand. They don't really need that much, but that's what they want. But what they're offering farmers, you guys, if I had a farm, they come here and here's $100,000 an acre. What am I going to do?

They have so many 150,000. I don't blame the man for selling man's multi-millionaires. But that's yeah that's beside the point. Two things about and then I'll leave you and I'll be done for tonight. Don't leave us. Well, just rolled her eyes. She's ready to go too.

I was talking to Danny about this. My nephew works he's a a cloud engineer. So he worked around the world with the big dad, all this stuff. I mean, high-end. I said, Josh, tell me a couple things. Tell me about the water. He said, "No, no, Randy, that it doesn't take that much water." He said, "That's a lie." Or, I mean, I call a lie. People just get off on that. But he said, "But the electric bill, he goes, you guys electric bill going up and it doesn't matter if you live in Lakeville, you live in South Bend or New Car, it's on the grid.

So, we're all in this room's going to pay for this." and his sister, my niece was there. She wasn't coming. She mine went up this year. He goes, "Rachel hasn't started yet about 2, three years from that's going to hit us hard." That's where people I don't know if they really understand how bad it's going to be. I want to become honest. Yeah, there you go. Because they're saying industry is going to pay for this. No, we pay for right in this room. We do. When you're watching online, you pay for it. Just let do we have anybody following us online? Uh two right now. Okay. No questions or anything as of this moment. Well, thanks for the updates.

One person just said, "I hope the stand up praying tree lighting ceremony will happen this Sunday." We're trying. There you go. I can't make that. I acquired church. I'd come to that. But that's what I have. question to answer that person that our goal is to have Well, we'll get to that. It's right here. It's that one has been 314 for about three months. Yeah. I think four or five months that it's just broken. Okay, that's

I have one in my living room. It's had the same time out for two years.

There you go. Thanks a lot. Absolutely. As we're talking about that really quick, is anybody working on the annex in on any annexations before 31? We has that been started? We had initially started the process with area plan and then we got all the paperwork together and then we were trying to get with timing because of the tiff district because it was not in tiff yet and we needed it included in tiff prior to the annexation to capture anything that goes no you can't you cannot you can't put them in tiff until they're annexed annexation has to happen further

so veterans have cleaned up veterans have cleaned up the property up at my grand shop, the entire shop, cuz they were wanting to do a voluntary annexation. And it looks really nice up there, by the way. Um anyway, he can't easily get them in our tip because all we have to do is go across the street already, right? Yeah. And is contingent as it is right of the way it's set up too. It can Yeah, cuz we had we had started everything place has water, doesn't it? But no sewer. Not sewer though. So the building on the north side doesn't have water or sewer. The building on the south side has water. No sewer.

Correct. Um and that property is not big enough to put a mound system on. So they're going to have to connect it to our sewer. And I think they're not going to be able to do well there. Well, once they're annexed in, then they're annexed in anyway. So, they'll have to do well. Well, the water goes all the way forward. Yes. Yeah. The water. So, the water's super easy. Yeah. Um and yeah, this it's all right there and it it's there. It's just it needs to be done. No, but it's close enough that way. It's fairly easy to hook up with. Are you creating a new TIFF that you guys are doing? Yeah, we're discussing to add on or to extend it. Where's the tip at now?

This side of 31 basically. And then we jumped over on the north side where the vet used to be in the corner that's empty. Tiff takes property taxes. Doesn't that hurt the town? Finances or I guess I'm kind of confused here. Tiff because they want tips in these data centers and then they want property tax breaks. That really hurts us all with that. I didn't know you had a tip down here. Oh, yeah. Oh, really? 2008. It's the only way you can do it. I know redevelopment or tiff.

It's taken some of the money from the school and the libraries, right? But right now, right now I'm giving money back to the snow money, but they're using my building all the time for nothing. And so I kind of feel like it's balancing out, you know. So, but yeah, I know that's the controversial thing about a tip. Yeah, it really takes some of that. And also the money stays right to redevelopment with unelected people. I'm just talking about count guys and there's five people on that board. They control millions of dollars. Oh yeah. I mean millions and millions. It could be opening this town and our county everything. So, I'm I'm kind of at my dandruff about those too right now. But that's okay. You guys

I will say on a town scale. It's it's a little bit different because there's only so much space in the town. Tiff takes up a significant percentage of it. They can spend money on infrastructure that the town wouldn't necessarily do, right? And with the size of the town versus that um I was going to say but I was like the size geographically kind of changes the how much people benefit from percentage wise. Okay. Okay. We have other things to discuss with the town. We do.

Okay. I sorry there's somebody at my home so curious. Um we have the Santa parade and tree lighting which we postponed because we were under a winter weather warning. So being under warning it wasn't I was not comfortable to continue. And it's a good thing we didn't because last night it was snowing like sideways. Exactly. I was not comfortable having people on the roads to come to this while we were That's what you did. What's that? You said you took all the fun out of it. No, the fun is to You guys didn't grow up when I did. This is not a sweating This is not a sledding party.

Let's talk to Brandon. Let's talk to Brandon and Ray and see what they think about people driving into our town. Yeah. Um I do know that we are going to be having some neg negative. We'll have our first rolling negative cold. It's coming up this week. Um, going back to the weather really, really quick. When I just said Brandon and Ray, the accident that did happen at mile marker 240.5 a couple nights ago where the county officer got hit, Brandon was parked about 30 feet in front of him. Ray had parked behind Brandon. They were there because there were a total of three slide offs. And by the time Ray got hit, there were five slide offs right there.

The car that hit Ray. The car that hit Ry got hit by a box truck. So, that car was sandwiched. Um, they went to the hospital for minor injuries and to be checked over. Ray has um a little bit of whiplash and some lower back pain. He is at home though recovering. Um, so I would like to send thoughts and prayers out to him and his family and I am very grateful that it wasn't anything more than that and that I mean our own officer that we all love or hate or whatever. He's ours though and our community does it appreciate him. Yeah.

He was not injured. He was out of his car when this happened. So it could have been much bigger than it was. Yes. So, that is what that situation was. So, back to the Santa parade and tree lighting. Um, you can we can set that up for 600 p.m. this Sunday. Yes. If that works for everybody. December 7, 6 p.m. For the tree lighting, right? For the tree lighting. Um, what was your other idea? So, it wasn't that Ben didn't want to go down and get the fire truck. He didn't have time. No. Okay. um between Thursday and Friday. We thought that Kirby

Kirby had talked to Colby to get a mechanic. Um he thought Kobe got a mechanic, but he didn't. He just had a suggestion. Um it was a miscommunication issue. So the truck Does the Watts family own it? I know. Okay. Not the Watts family. Kirby. Okay. I knew it originally and I did not. Yeah, it it was Doug's and Kirby did get that. Um, so it's sitting in Kirby's barn down in Hamlet. That's why it's in Hamlet. And it needs Okay. Well, Kirby's in Plymouth now. Col's living in Kirby's house. Okay. Now, the whole world knows that. Sorry. It was Dennis Schaer gave this to us years ago. The sled.

Yes. Do we still So, we do have that. And I think one of Who lives in Dennis Schaer's house? I think it's one of the box boys. I thought twice cuz well I was going to ask Cindy but um where was Dennis Schaefer's house Maple Road right behind Newton's farm you see it's a sle it would be you know since we may have snow um I was even thinking horrawn it's not hor tractor got this don't have a horsedrawn hitch on it it's a sleigh with a tractor or a tractor hitch. It's a hitch or

it's a bob sled. You want to call it that? I think it wherever it's at. We're not It's huge. It's huge. Okay. But we're not sure that it's sitting on not a sleigh. I It's a You know, like a I would I don't know what you call it, but it's not They use it to haul wood. Yeah. the box full with a tractor doesn't have it probably one time had a hitch for horses now. So that it's ranch it's got big slays on it and it's a buck board type thing.

That's what I was going for. Bug board would be a good description. Well, I messaged Kirby Saturday to say that we had canceled for Sunday. Is there a mechanic who could get out to look at it? Um, I've not heard back from him, but I do know that he's now, so I'm sure that he's probably been working 18 hours a day. Um, I will try to reach out to him again. So, what's the alternative plan if that does not I don't have an alternative plan. Did you talk to Andy?

I have not. that was made very very clear two almost three years ago that that Santa parade will never happen on top of a fire truck again in this so I'm not opening that door um they would be willing to join the parade but I'm not asking for it was made very clear um So, I don't have a plan B for Santa. Okay. It just it crossed my mind. We have about five days to figure that. I was going to ask Cindy if she

Yeah, cuz I don't know which house you're speaking. He knows better. You spoke directly to Dennis about it. I think he had an auction when he sold the house and it didn't sell. Donated it. So, he donated to that. Yes. So I He sold the place. We would have to. It's probably not ours anymore. That very well could be. I don't know. Patrick had the idea of putting like a bench in the back of a home, but that kind of takes the whole nostalgia out of the whole fire truck thing. I I don't know. Um I think North Liberty has one. I don't know if I I don't

What about that little that little train that the kids ride in? I think you could put Santa driving the the thing. That would never work. Well, that would take too long. We would be able to go around the tree lighting, but we wouldn't be able to

I don't know. So, I guess we can ask other neighboring communities. Um, I thought North Liberty had one and it's Bobby Literal. Um, who's the chief over there? Um, I'm friends with Bobby. I could get a hold of him. But let let me get a hold of Kirby again. Let me let me give me 24 hours to see if I can get a hold of Kirby again. Our backup plans. Well, yeah. So, we do need a backup and I'm open to any suggestions because I'm after doing the same thing for so many years, I'm kind of at a loss. Yeah.

After this weekend, it's our last opportunity to do it. Um, if it doesn't happen Sunday, then it's not happening. We'll just have to do it online. If we can't do it, we'll just go and light it and do it online. What else are we going to do? You know what I mean? I mean, If you didn't, you could have the clauses there if it's online. Yeah. If you want to plug it in, just plug it. Take your phone, plug it in, videotape it. So, the tree lighting will be 600 p.m. on Sunday. Um, what's Sunday's date? 7.

Thanks. Um, we Santa's pending. Um, this Saturday we have to be, what time do we have to be there? Noon. We have Newton Park. Um, from I believe it's 1 to 4, actually 12 to 12 to 3. 12 to 3. So, we probably need to set up before 11 for special needs. Probably. Yeah. So, 10:30. Um, I need help. I can't do this whole thing. Here's the idea. Yeah, there's still some bells left from last year with the rope. So, they could do the necklace from when I was 12 and the necklace with the bell with the ticket that says Believe from

I put that in a while ago from Polar Express. They're showing the movie on Sunday evening. That's going to be fun. What time it starts at? I thought it was 1 to 4. Why do you why the Polar Express up at Newton Park Sunday evening? Well, aren't they going to take her? What time does their stuff start? Um, they must have changed the I was just going to say you can do the tree lighting at 5 and it would still be dark enough from it. Looking right now.

Um, let's find it. Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Yeah. 1 p.m. That's So it'll be at 12 for children with um immunities and compromised. So we need to set up at 11:30. Um and then they are showing the Polar Express on says December 7th. There's not a time here. Let me find There it was. Go back. Oh, you know there's one that has everything on it. Here's one to four. Oh, here's three. No, let's see. Polar Express doors open at 4. Where'd it go?

It's 4 to 6. The Polar Express was 4 to 6. It's probably 4 to 6 then if it start. Wait, we got to wait for this video to go through to show the beginning again because that's where it was. Doors open at 5 for the Polar Express on Friday. Movie starts at 5:30. It opens inside or outside. Movie will begin at 4:30.

She just sent me something. Not what they look. Doors open at 5:00. Maybe starts at 5:30. So there's two different things on their Facebook page. One shows 5:30, one shows 4:30. I guess we go with it. If we're still at six o'clock, whoever can be there can be there. If they're watching a Polar Express instead, then they're watching. I I don't know what else to do. So, we'll leave it at that. No, everybody's been going up there. I'll be there. The kids probably at the park. At the park? Yes. Our park? Yes. Okay.

Um, we could do it Saturday night, but people have stuff on a Saturday night. So, I still have the little No, Saturday is a busy day with all the new park stuff and then there's I have another save for Sunday. You want to do it at 7? No, no, not at probably not. I got a minute. It's the kids. It's the kids because by the time you get done, you're talking 7:30, 8:00. It's just a very nice little We'll just leave it as it is and see how it goes and hope we can see the lights through the snow. Yep.

So, it should be over by the time by six because it says that the movie starts at 4. Door's open at 4:00. Movie starts at 4:30. It says the movie starts at 4. So, there's three different times now. Um, so I still have the little necklaces that we can do at the table. And then you're going to get me more card stock. Yes. Yes. Little gingerbread houses. Color them. Cut them out and put them together. And we're going to use tape instead of glue so it's not on their sporting floor. Um Jackson, did you get yourself colored and put together or no? No. Okay. Jackson and I were coloring before you all came in.

We were having fun. So that's this is what it is. It's going to be simple and easy. And there will be two crafts. It'll be this and the necklaces. I have enough left over the necklaces. I have enough left over from last year that whoever didn't get a Polar Express necklace can do that. Perfect. You're on YouTube right now. Good time to use that. Mhm. Yes. It's perfect. Right here. This thing is watching you right here. Do you see this owl? You see his eyes?

He's watching you. Um, Cindy is having surgery on her eye next Tuesday. I wonder when she's going. A week from tomorrow on the 9th, same day as hers. And I am having surgery that same day. Jeez. I will mentally be out till January 1st. Um, physically I'm hoping to be able to make it to the first meeting of January. It my goal is to make it to the first meeting in January. So, good luck. I mean, I'm serious. Thank you. All the best.

Um, it's the exact same thing we did a year and a half ago, but I have two surgeons instead of one this time. And I'm saying prayers for the hands and the brains and the eyes and just to make everything I'm mentally prepared. So, if anybody needs anything between next Tuesday morning and January 1st, April's in charge. Okay. Seriously, no. Good luck. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you very much. And I don't Cindy wasn't out all that long, I don't think. No, I think maybe four or five days. Yeah.

So, she may be off for the whole week next week other than Monday. Um, yeah, I plan on being I should be only in the hospital 3 to 5 days. We're going to say 5 max. So, by Saturday, mom's coming in and I should be home by then, but I thought she might come home. Yep. She does not have a return ticket yet. So, I'm going to I'm going to play sick till Christmas. Okay. I don't feel good. Um, does anybody have anything else?

No. If anybody has any extra or any plan B's for the fire truck, let me know. Um, I'm trying to get a hold of Kirby. I don't think Ben has a problem picking it up. He just doesn't have time to fix it. Um, Kirby said he totally he trusts him more than anybody else with it, but it's a matter of how much time does everybody have? Call up the hall if you're at a superhero museum. See if they'll let you borrow the Batmobile. Okay. Oh, Santa Batmobile. Hey, I honestly thought about getting grandma's teabird out of the garage. Okay. Santa Tird, I'm not going to lie. Red, too. I know. Be perfect. Santa in a T-Ird convertible makes perfect sense.

Kidding, grandma. Not really. Nobody tell her. All right. Well, if we are done, we are going to call this meeting at 7:10 p.m.