Common Council - Regular Meeting

Yeah. Yeah. We all get the same That was great. Sir, how are you?

Next week. Anything in there? Yes, sir.

How are you? Doing well, thank you. What's that? Good evening and welcome to the Monday, March 9th, 2026 meeting of the Martinsville Common Council. Meeting is hereby called to order. At this time, I would like to invite Pastor Uve D. Joer sir

from Life of Love Ministries to come forward for tonight's invitation. So, if you would please stand and then remain standing for our pledge of allegiance. Lord, we just bless you tonight. We thank you uh for this meeting. We ask that your blessing will be upon this meeting tonight. We thank you for a spirit of humility, and clarity as we move forward to accomplish goals tonight. We ask for your blessing to be on the city of Martinsville, a spirit of peace, prosperity, and protection. And we also Lord thank you that you bless all the members in here that are willing to serve this city in Jesus name. Amen.

Amen. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Thank you. At this time, Mr. Merida, would you please call RO? John Badger, present. Susie Lips, present. Ben Mayan, present. Josh Faron, Ann Miller, Jonathan said she would be absent. I'm sorry. Jonathan Collier, present. Bill Decker, second. Present.

Mayor, we have a quorum. Thank you. Prior to tonight's meeting, you were sent the minutes from the Monday, February 23rd meeting. Are there any additions or corrections to the minutes? Jonathan Collier makes a motion to approve the consideration of minutes from February 23rd, 2026. Second. It's been motion made and seconded to approve the minutes from the meeting of February 23rd. All in favor say I.

Oppos? No. Motion carries. Also, prior to tonight's meeting, you were sent uh copies of the claims to look over. Are there any questions or comments on the claims?

I'll make the motion to approve the claims as given. Jonath made and seconded to approve the claims as presented. All in favor say I. I oppose. No. Motion carries. Thank you. Uh, under the committee reports tonight, uh, since Councilwoman Miller is gone, uh, Councilman Badger. Yes, sir.

Do you want to present what the two of you had gone over? Well, I think you all have it in your packets of what we discussed and decided on and we're open to opinions, changes, and agreements or disagreements. Um, one thing I would like to know kind of for sure, the very back of it, you'll see where it says exemptions. We'd like to know who all you feel might should be exempted from Miss Pepper's license. school kids, nonforprofit groups, things like that. So, Councilman Badger, you're wanting us to give you our recommendations on that. Is that what you're asking? Yeah, if you agree with what we've got in print there and then whatever you think would be need to be um exempt from this pedler's license. What groups? I mean certainly any local education or

school fundraisers I mean some of these guidelines are ones that we would we should I think share with the schools and you know about the time of visiting and that kind of thing. But as guidelines, I mean, there there is a fine set up for $250 for someone that is caught without the legal papers and ID and all that kind of stuff. you guys all feel that's good or bad or

is it would there be any warning beforehand like a one time warning or something along those lines? That's kind of up to your pleasure. I don't think so, but if you want one, I'm not opposed to it. I mean, now we currently have an ordinance, correct? I believe we do. Yeah. Very, very vague. So, do you know kind of highlight what may be different from what we have to what we would be proposing.

You caught me off guard here. I don't really know what the ordinance exactly says.

I could jump in a little bit here. The ordinance you have now, you do have one, but it it is uh it's very vague. I think the there's a there's a price for the license which I would recommend that you you charge for the license itself. Um there's not right now a a uh display of license or ID tag that's required. I think that is a good idea to have. Um the one thing I don't see in here would be the the actual fee for what you're charging for the to get the license and you are going to have some expenses with um you know putting together the the uh the ID tag and uh so you're you are going to have some expense that you're going to have to cover. So, your your charge ought to be high enough that it covers that and covers the time that um whoever's going to be processing this, whether it be the police department or or whoever you're going to have process it, cover their time in doing so. Um so, that's there's not currently a requirement for a background check. I think that's a good idea. Uh so, that's not in the current ordinance. Um, we really don't have currently any any language in the ordinance that requires the city to keep track of who they issue licenses to. So, uh, I think having the the the license or tag will enable that to be done. So, I think that's a great idea as well. Um, would it be prudent to bind this to some like bracket it to a time frame? I mean, usually you put

Yeah. That's a good idea as well is how long you're going to have the duration of the license. Yeah. And when will you renew it? I mean, would they have to start at step one again or is there a renewal process? Is it easier? Do they have to pay the fee again? Yeah. I mean, very good questions, very good considerations. I would think if you had it for a certain length of time you came back and you had you should have another police background check because anything can happen in six months or

would that also cover the period of which they would be doing the activity so so it's not whatever they decide the fundraiser being during the time that they're Is that what you're saying? Understand that.

Um I know if we do there's like I don't want to say protests or something like that. Don't we don't they have a certain time frame they're allowed to you know do that in? I'm not saying it would apply to this, but the longevity of the permit or not just Yeah. the permit or when you Yeah. time hours of the day that they can do it. Correct. Right. The hours of the day are in Okay. From sunrise to sunset. Okay.

Unless unless they've made a particular meeting appointment before or after those hours. In one of my notes, we had a a fee wrote down as $50 fee per person. It didn't make it into this. No, but that was a fee that we thrown around somewhere. So, the police department is going to keep a book, a registration book. Is that correct? That's what is saying. Yes. And then on those background checks, who who's going to keep those? That should also be the police department. Yeah, it ought to be the police.

Have we talked with the police department about this and worked with them on this as well? We had talked with Chief Lane about it in the very beginning. I mean, about, you know, seeing how they have to go through the police to get the background check, why I know we have a new one now.

Yeah. As I say, it's a changing of guards. We should probably get with them. I just don't want to do something that's going to cause us something we can't enforce or who's going to be enforcing it because I just know with the police department if we've got someone that says hey they're here soliciting they call the police department and they're out of calls they're not I mean unless they're not doing anything no calls at the time I mean they're answering 911 calls accidents this that they're not going to be running over to get that and that's going to be a that can be a hard thing to track down you know time that person moves on the next home or goes to the next neighborhood. I just don't want to, you know, it's kind of like with the city park, you know, I truly agree that there should be a not no smoking the banning that that they've done, but just like that, who's enforcing that and they're having, you know, a time trying to enforce those things and I just don't want to put strap something on the police department that can't be enforced because if it's just them, I mean, that's

I understand. So, I need to set up a time and talk with the chief. Yes, I get with them and and double check, get their recommendations as well. Okay. And to see it's going to be a lot of things to hang on to those background checks and everything if they've got to hang on to that and store that and follow it and how it's going to be kept. So, it looks like we're going back to the drawing board a little bit. You're not redoing the whole thing, but some things I think we should

Yeah, I agree. I'm not disagreeing on this saying that. Looks like So, if anybody I guess comes up with something after this, can you contact me? Now's the time we'll put you as the point of contact. I hope. So,

I want to go back on Ben's comment, and I know you've got from sunrise to sunset, but on a Saturday morning, sun comes up at 7:30, I don't really want somebody knocking on my door. So, could we put 9 to 6, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.? I mean, but in the winter time, 6 p.m. would be dark. Then I want to and maybe I not even in the same ballpark as this, but what about people knocking on the doors politically? Do they need to get do they fall underneath this or would they be an exemption? But I think you and an come up with some really good things for us to look at and think about while you're asking about exemptions. What about churches? Are we going to exempt churches from it or I mean so far all I've got is school local schools basically and political. I'm not asking for them. I'm just asking for suggestion. Tell you what, so that you can make an appointment with the police department, let's say next week, each council member, put you on notice now, contact John by Thursday with your recommendations. That way you can move forward with this and we can decide, do we need to do this or do we need to scrap it?

And John, let me ask you this. Do you want us to put on the agenda for the next meeting or do you want have a little more time? on the meeting after that. What's what's going to work for your schedule?

I would say give me two meetings cuz I'm going to have to get with an on it too. So, okay. Sometimes that's hard to nail down. So, you're looking at the first meeting in April. April 13th. April 13th. My There's five. Yeah. One month had five cuz I do know that April 27th. Is that what you're looking at? The next meeting is the third 13th. Yeah. 13th of April.

You want the that first meeting April or do you want that second meeting April? Well, I would rather have it done sooner than later. If we can get it done when if if I can't get there, then I'll get with Mac and move it back to the following if that's okay. Yeah, spring break's in March, right? Okay, we can skip spring break. We don't have to wait. I'm not holding.

Okay. So, someone to make a motion to table this till the 13th of April. John the caller makes a motion to table the fees, license, permits, and franchises for the city of Martinsville u to the next meeting or the second meeting from now. Motion made to table this until the 13th. Is there a second? Second. It's been a motion made and seconded. All approval say I. I. Oppos? No. The motion carries. Thank you, council. Thank you, John.

Yep. Mr. Merida, you want to explain some funds we're going to transfer?

Yes. Um, before you tonight for your consideration is resolution 2026-0721. Um, I am requesting to move a total of $1 million from different funds that underspent their budget last year and move those into the rainy day fund. Um, no surprise to any of you. I've been talking a lot over the last couple years about increasing our cash reserves. Um, but we want to be wise stewards of those and not just let those sit in any fund. So, it seemed to be the most prudent thing to put them in the rainy day fund. That way, if we ever needed those funds, it would have to come before the council for for those funds to be expended, but that way we're going to also be acrewing interest at a higher yield by putting it in there. So, just to give you a little recap, at the end of 2021, you had $86,000 in your rainy day fund. So, it was pretty well depleted. Right now, you're sitting just under $1.1 million in rainy day fund. Uh, so this would get you right at 2.1 million. So, we still have a little ways to go. So, I'd still like to increase our cash reserves, but I think this would be a good step for Martinsville. It'd be a wise thing to do, especially with Senate Act One in the horizon to try to get our uh ducks in a row and get our house in order.

And just to clarify for the public, what things can be used for the rainy day funds and who can access those funds? So, the rain fund typically can only be used for emergencies as deemed by the city council. Mayor, are you good with all these? Okay. I meant I was busy, right? So, what do you say we had beginning? At the end of 2021, you had $86,000.

And this is no burden, no extra burden to the taxpayer. These are monies that were not used last year. I'll make a motion to pass resolution 2026-0721. I second. It's been a motion made and seconded to approve resolution 2026-0721 transfer million dollars to the rainy day fund. All in favor say I. I oppose. No. Motion carries.

Mr. Dunn. In your packet, you'll see something like that. And it lists the two trucks that we have at the street department. They've seen their better days. The first one is an L750. We bought it used from the state of Indiana. It's yellow and we've our mechanics have worked and worked on it and it is it's served its purpose. The other is a 2500 Silverado. It's a 2005. Same situation. Both these are beyond resurrecting. There's no hope for them and we want to surplus them scrap. Any questions? Because right now we're insuring them. They're tagged and they're not running. Do you know would there be any benefit to potentially gifting them to the vocational building at the Martinsville High School for them to potentially experiment or work on that for more hands-on experience?

Um, we've I don't know if we've ever done that, but counselor. Well, you surplus them and then generally I mean I suppose you could do a charitable donation if you like. Generally, we try to auction them or whatever, but um I don't see I once it's surplus, I don't necessarily see a problem. If you wanted to make a donation to um you know, a charitable or school, something like that um with council approval, I suppose you could do that. Councilman Lips, would you know who we would need to contact at the school?

Um, well, I guess our principal, Jeff Bell, and then he would have a teacher that he would probably designate as the white person. Okay. That's what they want. That's what we'll do. Because theoretically, I mean, what's the scrap that money that you'd theoretically get out of that if you were to surplus it and auction it off? What's the value of that? No, there's a lot of metal there. So, you're probably looking at scrap close to,500.

None of these are diesel grade. Pardon me. None of these are diesel crepe. Um, good qu. You know, I think the state probably is diesel. Better double check because I'm pretty sure they have the diesel will be a no no for the school. Oh, really? Yes. I can find out. Yeah. So, we'll look for a motion to surplus these two vehicles and then give Mr. done the flexibility to check with the school and if they're not interested then we'll go ahead and scrap them.

John the caller will make a motion to uh approve the consideration of declaring selected vehicles as surplus. Second motion made and seconded to surplus the two trucks at the street department the 2002 and the 2005. All in favor say I. Oppos? No. Motion carries. Any comments from the council this evening?

Okay. Hey, I will ask you one thing. With all the rain that we had, uh, how's the infrastructure we have? It's drying out today there. We We had a lot of rain. Uh Brad, we had a lot of water come through on the storm sewer side. Uh we did uh we had one of our pumps that wasn't working properly on the north levy that we got uh wastewater treatment guys went down, pulled it, got it working. So that's working now. So everything worked as it should. Good. Thank you. So, okay. Any comments from the public this evening? Yes.

Okay. If you'll come forward, state your name and your address.

My name is Terry Glean. Address 3325 Mount Level Lane, Marcusville, Indiana, 6151. I come before the council tonight as a taxpayer of multiple homes in the city here. And what I'd like to address is the uh issue of the slum lords in Martinsville. I think we all realize the impact on property values, the havens for the drug activity, the activity and theft, and the lack of respect for tenants who deserve to live in acceptable, safe, and habitable environments. I've met with the mayor and M Dunn Bob Strader multiple times with the resolutions and our last meeting with you, Mr. Mayor. I conveyed uh this and you told me that your hands were tied due to a city council that is unwilling to work with you and block you at every turn and we also discussed the unsafe housing committee. So the question I would have is who has the ultimate control over ordinance and code enforcement. you recommended to me as a solution that I contact all the council members and put pressure on them and put them in the spotlight because they hate being under the spotlight and you provided me with all their names and numbers. So I then asked if you couldn't get the cooperation of the council how could I with no political experience and also how much pressure should I s you know what what should I do suggest petition drives protests contacting local papers TV stations quite frankly at that time you were offended and you told me personally that if I was uh you know threatening you with bad publicity or whatever you had enough problems to to deal with and our meeting would be over. I advised I was only asking the question in the contacts to your advice to pressure the council. I don't know what to do to what extent what method should

I use. That was the reason for the question. I did as you suggested I found all of the council members to be respectful in agreement with the problem and totally willing to work with you. However, they didn't understand why you would have me call them because it was you who have the ultimate power to resolve the issue. Ironically, one of the members even suggested that I contact the media and I advised them that that was the exact thing that ended my meeting with you. So, once again, I just need to know who has the ultimate control over ordinance and code enforcement. But I think the best advice I got out of this was if you can't work within the system was bring attention to the system, you know, and and maybe the best attention might be as a council member recommended, you know, contact the local media, contact local citizens and bring that attention to light. So ongoing problem, you know, how many times we've met, why we've discussed it and the different impacts. So with that in mind, I'm open for suggestions. I'd like to also be placed on the docket for an upcoming meeting because there's so many issues more than this. I mean, come on. This surrounds this. So, and we're aware that you've got a house for sale for it started off at 700 plus thousand. You've had to lower it off the market. You're not uh happy with your neighbor to the south. The property is down here on Jefferson and Columbus.

And yes, I did tell you to contact the council because the council is the ones that will amend any type of ordinances. It's better that it comes from the councilman, not from me. That's been my experience the last six years. The council wants buy in on whatever we're doing. There was an article in our correspondent roughly a year ago that you know I was steamrolling everything through not giving the council any uh authority to act on what they are to act on and this is in their wheelhouse ordinances are what they take care of that's why we recommended that that you start with the council and I did recommend that you start with your two atlarge Mhm.

I told you I wasn't sure who your council person was there at that house and that if the three of you needed to meet here in city hall, we could sit down and talk.

So that's where we're at on that. I would still say the two councilmen at large, whoever the councilman is that represents you and on that piece of property should, you know, come in and we sit down and talk and you point out what you're not what you don't like or agree with with our ordinance. Now, I know you sent something to Mr. Strader as far as blight. Uh, talk with Mr. Coffee today. The property you're in question of does not qualify for that.

Well, that's interesting. And first off, understand my confusion. You're telling me now to come back and meet with the councilman, which I did, and I called them. They're telling me something. Well, because you're wanting a public meeting right now, you're giving public comment. You have two minutes with your timer has gone off. If you want something more structured, yes, you're going have to come back before I would recommend that you talk to a couple of the councilmen, get something in writing because again, because of our open door law, you can't just come in and give something. If you're going to get on an agenda and you have handouts to give, you need to have those available to Mr. order so we can get them passed out to the media and the media is represented here this evening.

Be more than happy to do that. But again, my final question is if I've already done that and I've already got my answer and they tell me exactly opposite of what you're telling me, what's the purpose to have another meeting for them to only tell me that you're the one that has the control? I'm I'm confused. I'm not trying to be antagonistic and mayor, can I say something? Sure. Mr. Lane, um I know you contacted me and I know you said you were contacting all council members. Uh after we spoke, I did make contact with Bob Strader and he informed me that Mr. Bob Downey was coming back from uh vacation

and they were going to go over this week. I've not spoken with him since then. I'm going to guess they may have already been there, but um I'm waiting to hear from from Mr. Strader from let me know what they see. I know what the complaints were that you told me. Um, he advised that he had the same complaints received from you. Um, and as I said on that on our ordinance, uh, if there's something or the council gets involved, if there's something, uh, if there's verbiage on there that Mr. Strader needs to enforce something or city attorney does, then they'll direct the city council for us to, uh, amend it, change it, or add to it. And that's what we'll we'll do if we need to. But I can't as a council member, we cannot do anything until we get a recommendation from them to let us know is there something that we're overlooking on this ordinance, something we can do. But u as soon as I hear back from them, I'm more than happy. I'm not the councilman at large. Not your councilman, but I'm more than happy to assist if I can uh to do that. But uh I just need the recommendation still yet from Mr. Strader from what they found and and I know they were checking this week. Uh they told me and I've not met with them yet to find out.

Supposedly today they were over there and Mr. Strader told me he'd let me know when he met with them. I didn't hear from him. And uh I appreciate everything you're telling me. I'll get on the docket. I'll come back. And it's not just a matter of that house is for sale. I own multiple houses in this city. That the premises of everything that I mentioned are sure a lot more important than that house. And it isn't because the price is high on the house or anything. It's because of the person that owns that house and does that. And if you can't tell me, you can't look at that house and say, "I'd love to have them next to me as neighbors." That that's not acceptable. Also, I've informed Mr. Strader and you, Mr. done when you told me it was unsafe if there was things like windows being open and animals getting in and all those other things and that was another issue. I then asked you how many times did Brandy, the the renter of the house, contact you and say, "Who do I call to get the raccoons out of my house because they're getting through the window?"

Well, good. But there again, it is it's it is and it's but it's an issue as far as the conditions these people are living. I appreciate that, but it comes back to the the conditions that these people are living under is what I'm here to say. Okay, we're we're swaying off on the subject here. Miss Coffee, do you have any recommendations for Mr. Lane at this point? No, I I haven't spoke with Mr. Downey or Mr. Strader, so I'll do so. See if they have been there and if they have what they what they observe. So, if he comes on the docket for the next meeting, what should it be under new business ordinance or

Well, it it really depends. I mean, if if our ordinance is not adequate to address the concern, then that would be potentially looking at modifying the ordinance or passing a new ordinance. If we do have an ordinance in place that addresses an issue at that house, then that's enforcement. And so that's what the administration is prepared to do. It takes a modification or a new ordinance. That's the council. That's the body that has to pass this. So again, uh depending on what the issue is that we're trying to identify and then what it is that they found when they went down. And then we do have another body which is another set of ordinances we have in the city and that's the unsafe building authority that's also run out of Mr. Strader's office as far as building inspector. It's a separate board that uh if Mr. administrator cannot get compliance since certain actions need to be had as far as a hearing goes. That's the body that has those hearings. So, I don't know if that's what we're looking at here or not. Again, I'd have to talk to Mr. Strader and or Mr. Downey about that issue.

Okay. So, did we answer and make it clear to you whose responsibilities what? No, not really. I mean it is an ongoing problem and no it doesn't clarify that for me but anyway you can help me to understand it and the process I need to go through I I'll be willing to do that. You know we've talked about this for probably three years and back on your Facebook page February of 2019 those opening words that I opened with about the problems to the city and all of those other things those were your exact words. So, if we haven't got anything accomplished since 2019, come on, guys. The wheels are spinning around and around. I mean,

Mr. Lane, out of curiosity, do you mind sharing um you know, I know you can't always do it, but I'm one of those that I'd like to um speak with the problem as well beforehands. Um I know you've spoken, it sounds like, to the renter. She's complained of nuisance animals or raccoons getting in. But the property owner, have you made any contact with him or voiced your concerns or anything with him about this issue?

I'm glad you brought that up because that was Mr. Strader's recommendation that I contact Daryl Cecil who happens to be a ReMax insurance agent. Said, "Here's my problems. Here's my issue. I think you can certainly understand him." He explained to me it would be very polite to the council that I could go have sex with myself. Quite frankly, and then I told him, "Mr. Strader told me to call you." He told me, "I don't care. Mr. Strader or anybody in that council told you to call him. I've known him for years. How I went to school with them. They're not going to do anything to me." So, yes, I did. And that's where I'm at now. Thank you. You're welcome. Any other questions?

Uh when the u the mayor and the council meet with Mr. Straer and Mr. Downey on that, I'll be more than happy to be one of them. If you like for me to serve, I can make a vehicle point of contact with them or whatever. I'll be willing if anyone else wants to jump in there and see if there's something that we can do or fix or change.

And I appreciate that. and the renter, you know, they do have the numbers and everything. She said that you're perfectly willing to come inside and look at the problems and the issues of the house. She has no problem with that. They're going to tell you the realtor will that he's discussing possibly having them move out. It's going to not going to prove the property and those things. Just told the day I open up my washer and dryer and the lights flicker. There's water running in the windows are not sealed. basement. There's multiple things as far as the rope being attached and going, "Okay, it meets code." Well, yeah, they put a couple screws in it, but when the PL wind blows, it flaps up and down like a bad toupe. I mean, these things aren't done correctly. They're just not. So, and I think the tenants deserve a better place to live than that. And I I welcome you to look at all of my rental properties. Please come visit them. They look just like that Victorian down the street. If I can't live in them, I don't rent them. My rent values are under the majority of every slumlord in this town. And my tenure for tenants is probably six or seven years. And the reason for that is I have three basic rules. You pay your rent on time. You don't tear up my property. As soon as there's a problem, you call me. I will fix it immediately. And I welcome you to call every one of my tenants. My average turnaround time is less than 24 hours for a problem. So I'll work with you. I'll do whatever. I think it's in the best interest of the city, but I don't know what else to do. I'm frustrated. Really am. So, I appreciate your consideration. I appreciate your time. I look forward to any recommendations that you have and I'll certainly glad to follow them.

Thank you. Thank you. Next regular meeting of the common council will be on Monday, March 23rd at 7 o'clock here in the council chambers. We are adjourned.