Common Council - Regular Meeting

We'll go ahead and call the meeting to order tonight. Um don't have a lot on the agenda, so it might not take very long, but uh we'll get through it. We'll start off with uh the prayer. I'll do the prayer tonight and then Councilman Mike Klein is going to do the pledge of allegiance and we'll go from there. Dear heavenly father, father, I ask that you grant all of us the wisdom to make the right decisions to do what's best for the citizens of Marian. And I ask that everybody in attendance tonight that you please get everybody home safely, watch over everybody, and bless us all. I say these things in the name of thy son Jesus Christ. Amen.

Amen. Okay, roll call, please. Kane here. Marshall here. Ford ice here. Brunner here. Klein here. Divine here. Whitten here. Calg

here. Okay. Uh, is Esther Williams? Is D. Danny, you getting her? Esther? Yeah, she's up. Okay. Um, we're going to spotlight Esther Williams, the administrative assistant to Mayor Ronald Morurell next. Uh, Dana, he'll be getting her in a second. I tell you what, let's go ahead and go on. We'll come back to that. We'll do the consent agenda. I would, uh, entertain a motion at this time. I'll move we pass the consent agenda. Second. Okay, we have a motion by Councilman Klein, second by Councilman Brunner. Roll call, please.

Kane, I. Marshall. Hi. Ford. Hi. Brunner. I Klene. Yes. Divine. Yes. Whitten. Yes. Calgill. I. Do we have any committee reports at this time?

Council for ice. Mike, were you gonna speak on? No, I was letting him know that you had what I should have been doing.

Okay. Went to the uh airport um meeting for uh um the new upgrades and extensions of the runway for the municipal airport. the Bravo extension um they're going to start the grading and drainage um right here pretty quick um the first of the year. Um they said they were ready to get going as soon as weather permitted. Um that runway is going to be a big plus for the airport on an additional expansion and extension. Um and that's coming because of the jet A fuel tank. um we get a better uh air airplanes that come in, bigger airplanes with a jet A fuel. Um excuse me, the the uh paving won't take place until 2027 um based on funding on that. Um the Jet A fuel tank uh the removal is uh in late February and the tank delivery for the new uh Jet A fuel is coming May 18th. So, they're hoping Memorial Day uh it will be operational and serviceable. Um the other thing that we had to talk about was uh on that Jeda fuel tank, as everybody knows, we did an additional appropriation um for that to help them finish funding because they ran a little short on that. Um we funded them uh 828 $83,248.65 65 cents I believe is the total amount. Um what they had to do is use their ARPA funding first to spend that down before they could tap into the additional appropriation. And they only use $7,300 of the the additional appropriation before the end of the year. And instead of uh they didn't realize they needed to encumber the additional $75,848.65

which we already appropriated. So, it went back into the general fund and they're going to have to come and get that reappropriated to finish the Jet A fuel um remodel in a new tank system. So, just to let everybody know, they're going to come back for that. Um it is the money's just went back in the general fund. We've already appropriated it. We just have to reappropriate it because they didn't get to have it encumbered. Um they're going to add four new unit hangers, expansions. Um it's uh going to be four brand new big hangers from four more planes. They're adding um every every year they're they're expanding and adding out the airport and I think it's fantastic for our community and the accessibility for businesses that can fly into there. Um the contractor is going to get the uh final uh designs and uh he's going to do the drawings on the expansion. And uh since the contractor is doing the designs on the final uh expansion of those, they're looking at savings of around $518,000 since the contractor instead of hiring it out to a design firm. So um that's fantastic on the new four hangers. Um, and then the uh the uh student program that they've got from Indiana Westland and Marian High School, they've got 15 applicants that they're going to start um here this next year, which is really exciting. They're very excited on it for uh um aviation and and students learning to uh learn how to fly. And uh we thought that was a great great thing for our community out there. So they teach them the uh ins and outs of of aviation and and operations of the planes. And so um they only had four I believe from

Indiana Wesley and the rest of them were high school students. So that's fantastic. And that's all I have on the airport report. Okay. Thank you m Thank you Councilman Fordis. Uh yes sir. Go ahead council. Want to thank Councilman Ford eyes for pinch hitting for me on that. Um, I had a family medical issue I had to help take care of and couldn't make the meeting. So, thank you, Councilman, for doing that. It was my pleasure. It was great to go out there and see the expansions and and everything that they're doing out there at the airport.

Thank you. You're welcome. Any other coun or committee reports? I was looking to see um we had the utility board after the last meeting, right? It just feels like it was forever ago since with the timing of everything.

Um they really didn't discuss a ton um on their agenda. Um they talked quite a bit over the last month's worth of financials and discussed um around the financials and the budgeting and um some of the discussion that we've been having about the um the possible rate increase. Um they gave some updates on a couple of projects uh paid some of the invoices that needed to be paid. Um I was trying to find the agenda again and um but a lot of the projects are on hold with the weather. So they're waiting for the weather to break. Well, obviously it just did in the last week, but I don't know that that'll hold. So um they did talk quite a bit about that and talk about the project documentation um approval they had to do for the CSO9 project. Um and then the board uh just had quite a bit of discussion going forward and what they wanted things to look like and how they wanted to to manage um the documents in front of them and and looking at the financials and um so they had quite a bit of conversation around that. Um but other than that that's and then the board of works meeting um was actually this morning and I didn't make it to that one. So

thank you Erica. Any other committee reports at this time? Not seeing none. Okay, we uh before we jump into the unfinished business, we're going to go back up to um our spotlight. And tonight we are spotlighting um Esther Williams. She is the executive assistant to Mayor Morurell. Um you want to come on up, Esther? all the way up.

How are you, darling? I'm good. Uh Kenan Davis, our COO of Marian had I had him write up a little paragraph on uh what it's like to work with Esther. we couldn't use that, so he did another one. No, I'm I'm just te I'm just kidding you.

So, Kenan, thank you. Um, he he writes, "Uh, Esther William consistently demonstrates a rare balance of professionalism and genuine relatability. She brings a strong commitment to excellence in her role, yet at never at the expense of her authenticity. It is both a privilege and a blessing to have someone so dependable serving in her position. Her character and grace are inevit inevident every time you are in her presence. We all are so grateful for her hardworking and unwavering dedication to city hall and the city of Marian. I agree 100% with that. I uh I personally um man I don't know how you do it. I I go up there and uh spend a lot of time up at city hall now. And she's got three monitors and papers all over and a calendar over here. And man, mayor, you're you're lucky. I would just wait till somebody got there and I'd say, "Mary, you got somebody here to see you." So, she does a great job keeping your calendar in order, keeping the city running, keeping everything going. Um Mayor Marl, would you like to say a few words? Sure. Um, what what can I say about Esther? You know, she's been with me now for about four or five five years, I think. And um, from a previous job into this one, she I mean, she runs my whole entire calendar, my from my top of the morning to the end of the day. And she keeps everything organized. So, I wouldn't be able to do anything um that you see me do without Esther. She I mean she touch I mean she books my flight, she booked my hotel, she every I mean I always say if Esther can't do it, I'm just going to be out of luck. So she takes care of me and I really appreciate you and I really um you really deserve this honor tonight. Thank you.

Would you like to say a few words right now? I feel very honored and humbled to receive this employee spotlight this evening. It's a pleasure working with Mayor Moral in my previous position and here it's a pleasure working with everybody here at city hall. Made a lot of friends. I I've learned many things that I had no clue that the city needed and how to run. But every day I'm learning something new and I embrace it and move forward. I appreciate everybody. Thank you. Yeah.

Would you like to get a picture up here with your family? Sure. Megan,

you know she's going to bring you up, bub. You're part of Well deserved. Okay. Uh we'll go ahead and move on to the uh unfinished business appropriation or additional appropriation 012026.

An ordinance appropriating $50,000 for the Maran Arts Commission. speaking city controller Dana G.

Um, actually I'm gonna speak on this here. Uh, is what happened here, guys, is the way that the they started doing their advertising instead of through the newspaper because it only goes so many days. They're now advertising through Gateway. And they just started it's got to be a 14-day notice through Gateway. So, this did not get in in time to meet that 14-day notice. So, if somebody would, I would like for somebody to make a motion that we move this to the March 3rd meeting and that way we'll have plenty of the notice in at that point. So, are we starting from scratch again or I'm just asking.

Oh. Oh. On this? No, no, no. It would be the second reading public hearing still. Okay. Is that what you're No, no. Yeah. All right. We're just moving it because advertising. That's what I wondered if if the deadline messed everything or just this reading. Okay. I'll move we I'll move we move this to the March 3rd meeting. Okay. Do I have a second? Okay. We've got a motion by Councilman Klene. Uh second by Councilman Kaine. Roll call, please. Kane, I. Marshall, I. Ford Eyes. I. Brunner. I. Klene. Yes. Divine. Yes. Whitten. Yes.

Calgi. Thank you guys. Um, on the new business, general ordinance 2206, an ordinance amending council agenda, first reading, an ordinance amending the rules for the common council agenda. Speaking council president Brian Calgill.

Okay. on this ordinance is what we're doing is we're changing the rules of it to where we're changing the deadline that everything has to be in at 2 pm on Tuesday the week prior to the uh meeting at 2:00 instead of 4:00 because then it gives Aisha time to get it in because like if they wait until right about four o'clock to bring it in then she doesn't have time to get it ready for the agenda for coming up. So, we're moving the times back to two. So, that gives her more time. And then the other rule change is on the veto. So, where because we have to have if the mayor vetos something, we have to have it on the agenda so that we can either override it or, you know, let it go either way. So, we're going to go ahead and move the rules to where we change it to it automatically gives on to the next agenda after the veto. So, that way timewise we have plenty of time to vote on it and decide what we're going to do at that point. Is that correct, Cal? Okay. So, that's what this this ordinance is. Any discussion on it?

We we also changed the time on the submissions. Correct. Yeah. Yeah. From 4 to 2. From four o'clock to 2 o'clock to give the clerk and deputy clerk time to uh review things and get them uh submitted to the council president. Yes, sir. Thank you. Any other discussion? If not, I'll entertain a motion. Mr. President, I move that we pass general ordinance number two, 2026 to a second reading and public hearing. Second.

Okay, I got a motion by Councilman Kaine. I had a second first by Councilman Klene. Roll call, please. Kain, I. Marshall, I. For ice, I. Brunner, I. Klene, yes. Divine. Yes. Whitten. Yes, Calgill.

I um that's going to be it on the agenda for tonight, but under the announcements, uh the cover letters and resumeumés for the uh Grant County Visitors Bureau's will be accepted until Friday, February the 26th, 2026 until noon. after that, it's too late to get your uh resumes in and be considered for that spot. Also, I want to make another announcement. Um, spring is right around the corner. We have our 5050 program for our sidewalk program that has been really good the last two years and Mayor I that's that's been a great program. Thank you for doing that. It's a first come first- serve basis. So there's, you know, if you're wanting to do that, you need to call uh Mike Graph. Is that who? Okay. Call Mike Graph. Tell them that you're interested in it. You want to do it. And it's how we're going to do it a little different. We did it last year. I'm going to do it again. Last year, Brian Mhler was in charge of it. So they would call Brian, you know, uh, for instance, Aisha wanted to get it done. She would call Brian, tell her, tell him, and then instead of trying to get a hold of whoever ward it was, plus the atlarge guys that wanted to do it too, it was hard for one person to try to track the numbers and everything down. So, they're just he'll Michael just call me. So, whoever it is, I'll get all the information, how much, you know, whatever the case is, and then I'll call if it's in W two. Michael, I would call you and then the atlarge candidates and see if how much they want to donate and then I'll get that information back to Mike and then we can keep it rolling. But it it's it goes pretty quick. It really does. So I urge all all the citizens that are wanting to do this to

get your name in quick and get it taken care of and we'll go from there. Does anybody else Yes, sir. Go ahead.

Uh Mr. Mr. President, I've got a few uh more announcements uh to make on the Marian Utilities uh uh meeting that we had. Eric, if you don't mind, I'll just touch on some of the stuff that they brought up that I think the general public would find very very important. Um on that March 3rd meeting on the on the uh uh utilities, um they brought up some fantastic points that they want the uh customers to use and the rateayers to use. And what happened on this last freeze? Everybody knows it was just really really super cold. Um what happened is they had 86 frozen meters. 86 frozen water meters in the city of Marian. Now on the frozen water meters, a lot of you know they changed them over to the automatic read the computer read meters. So what what they're doing and what happens is they'll come out and replace them the first time for free. The second time it's $368. the customer has to pay for the meter. So, whatever you have to do to take care of your meters, when it gets this cold, they ask you to drip the water slowly just like anybody else when it gets down below freezing, you know, to open your cabinet doors and drip your water, let it run or drip. and they've got uh a video on their website to let you know just exactly how much to let your water run. Or if you uh have any questions about your meter, you think it's going to freeze, you can call the utilities and they'll explain to you. They'll help you if you need to put something around them or whatever. Most of them shouldn't be freezing, but uh they brought that to the attention at the board meeting and they're going to put that out um on their website that you need to you need to have caution when it gets this cold because uh these computed meters um they're if they freeze and break,

they'll replace them the first time. Second time's $368. So, um they had 16 frozen broken water lines this last uh uh cold snap and cold spell. So, they were very very busy on that. And the same thing is on the uh on letting your water drip. on the drip adjustments, they are going they instructed and they're going to uh tell everybody also on their website that on the drip adjustments, you wait until after you get your bill coming up and call them and tell them that you had you need a drip adjustment. So on your next bill that's coming here pretty quick. When you get that, you call them and tell them that you need a drip adjustment. And what they will do is go back and take the average of what your normal water bill is and your drip adjustment will be written off and compensated for you dripping your water. So, I thought those were some things that were very important and if you have any questions or anything, you can call the water department and get any information that you need from him. Thank you.

All right. Thank you for that. Um, I forgot something too that I I want to definitely get done before everything else. Uh, Mayor Morel, we have the youth council here tonight and um, I'd like for you to introduce them and so we can recognize them.

Why don't you guys come up? So, this is our second year doing this. This is a really important initiative for me to try to get our youth in the city of um, Marian engaged in local government. And so, this is a a very we meet um, usually once a month um, before the city council meeting. We have a trip scheduled to the state house where they get to go and tour the state house and learn about all how bills are passed and and laws are are enacted. So, we're very excited about that. They're here to engage and learn and uh they could be future council people um mayors or anything. So, this is uh the this 2026 Youth Council. Um they're ranging from seventh grade all the way up to uh the 12th grade. So, this is a a great initiative that we're looking to continue to keep going on. So, thank you. Why don't you guys come on up here so you can face the audience?

I'd like to know why they're interested in this if they have the courage to stand in front of a live mic. You stand right out here. Just go right across. You're fine.

Uh if if you guys I'd like for you guys you we'll start with you down here, young lady, and say your name and what grade you're in. Wow. Um, thank you guys. Um, so what I I agree with Councilman Klein. Anybody want to say why you're interested? What What makes you want to do this? so we know which one's going to be the mayor. Well, you guys, thank you guys all very much for getting involved like this and and I I love to see the youth like this get involved in uh see how local government works and like the boss says making up laws and getting things done and it's just going to help our community. So, I appreciate each and every one of you guys.

Thank you, mayor, for bringing in tonight. Uh, anybody else have any other announcements? Yes, Councilman Brener. Just a question about what the situation is with the replacement of Nick McKinley and and how that's going to work.

We are having a caucus held on the 28th of this month. Um, there's uh 32 or 33 precinct committeemen. They all um will vote that day. Each person has put their name in for it. They'll have a gentleman that will introduce them. They'll have two minutes to introduce whoever they're introducing. Then the candidate will have three minutes to tell why he or she would be the best council person. After that time, the precinct committeeman will vote on it. And the person has to like, so in other words, let's say we have four or five people. You have to have 51% of the vote in order to get caucused in. So at the first time, if somebody doesn't have that 51 because of so many, Marty, correct me on this, the low man drops out. Yeah. The low man drops out, they revote until somebody gets 51%. And whoever that person is that gets to 51%. They become our new councilman at large and they'll fit fill Nick's spot at that time. And the deadline is se it's got to be 72 hours prior to the 28th um at nine o'clock. So

the 25th. Thank you, Councilman Klein. So the 25th at I think it's 9 9 or 9:30 uh will be your deadline. And if it's a minute later, it'll be too late. So I wouldn't wait till the last day. I'd get it in there. So, we hope to have a replacement for Nick uh the first meeting in uh the next month of March. Yeah. Yeah. The 28th they'll be caucused in whoever it is and they'll become the councilman at that time. So, they will be here for the March 3rd will be our new council person's first meeting with us. Thank you.

You're welcome. Anybody else have any other discussion or announcements? No. All right. I'll take a motion to adjurnn. I so move. Do I have a second? Yes. Okay, we got a motion by Councilman Kaine and a second by Councilman Klene. Roll call. Kane, I. Marshall, I. Ford Eyes. I. Brunner. I. Klein. Yes. Divine. Yes. Whitten. Yes. Calgi. Thank you.