Common Council - Regular Meeting

Here we have Jesus.

Thank you.

Hello.

Good evening and welcome to the Monday, July 13th, 2026 meeting of the Common Council. The meeting is hereby called to order. At this time, I would like to ask Pastor Warner Swopes to come forward with our invocation item. So if you'd please stand and remain standing for our pledge. Thank you.

Let's pray. Father God, we thank you that we can come here today before you. We ask that you will just continue to help us to remember the things that you've done for this city and be faithful in trusting you for the things that you're going to do for this city and look forward to the things that you'll do in the future. We thank you for this council and their faithfulness to serve. In Jesus' name, amen.

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.

Mr. Williams, will you please call roll? John Badger? Present. Jonathan Collier? Present. Bill Deckard II? Present. Josh Barron? Present. Susie Lips? Present. Ben Mahan?

Present.

Ann Miller? Present. Mayor, we have a quorum.

Thank you. Prior to tonight's meeting, you each received minutes from the Monday, June 22nd meeting for your review. Are there any additions or corrections to the minutes? Move we accept the minutes. Second. Motion made and seconded to approve the minutes as presented this evening. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed no. Motion carries.

Abstain Susie Libs.

Ann Miller abstain. So that would be 5-4-2 abstaining. Also, prior to tonight's meeting, you received copies of claims to review. Are there any questions or comments on the claims?

Yes, I have one, Mayor. On page 16 of the docket, there was two charges, one for Indiana Appraisal LLC. appraisal for $600 and another one for appraisal Express LLC for 650 for appraisal for tulip drive that is a drive that

We will be taken in as a city street, and we had to get the appraisals in order to do that.

Okay, so it's not a city street right now?

It's actually .

Yeah, it's not . It goes back to the apartments.

To the apartments, okay, I got you. Okay, okay, so that was not officially in the city.

Well, it's in the city limits, but we don't own it.

Oh, gotcha.

Okay. It's not in our inventory.

Okay. With that, I make a motion we approve the claims as presented. Second.

Motion made and seconded to approve the claims as presented this evening. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, no. Motion carries.

Ms. Williams? You're going to give us an update. Yes, I am. I am Stacy Williams. I work at the clerk's office. Just to give you a little history about myself, I started with the city back in 2006 working in city court, and then I started part-time at the clerk treasurer's office in 2013 under Valerie Hughard and went full-time in 2017. So I've been there for a while, and now I work for Mr. Merida. This would be a good time to say he's a wonderful boss. At the Clerk Treasurer's Office, I am the accounts receivable clerk, and I also am responsible for bank reconciliations and then a host of other things, details. So tonight, I'm going to focus on the solid waste account. So Ben has given us the privilege of presenting each month. You will see a different employee come in and put a little spin on things and kind of give you a little information. So if there's something you want to hear from us, please send us an email and let us know. But I just chose one thing since it's kind of sometimes under the spotlight. I chose solid waste for the first one. For solid waste, revenue is generated from the environmental fees on utility bills and then customers who visit the transfer station. You have your daily customers who pay with cash or check, and then I have credit customers that I invoice monthly. They come in and they get the amount, and then I send them out once a month an invoice that they pay me the next month. The reports are in your packet. For the first report, this is something that I give to Mr. Dunn every month so he can see what the revenue and the expenditures are. You'll notice credit only and Rumpke are grayed out. That's not in the figure. It's just for information only This is what the credit customers do and that's what we pay Rumpke to haul away our trash And that's the difference at the end and we do this every year and I send it to him Every month so that he can stay abreast of what's going on the next report is It's a newer report. It's just something we've been tracking so that we can see what percentage of customers are paying with cash. We are talking about going cashless, so he just was curious as to what the actual percentage is of people paying and how they pay. So that's what we do, and every day I tally that, and then I give him that report as well. So the next report is a report we did for IDEM. Ben files that quarterly. And you'll see I've given you 2026, it's two pages. January each month is broken down. This tells you the type of waste that is brought into the transfer station and what goes out. And then it also tells you the tonnage. At the bottom it says how many days we were open that month for the transfer station. And then the last report is just what through the years from 2018 to present what our tonnage has been inbound and outbound and then obviously for this year it's just the first six months so does anybody have any questions on those reports i know i went a little fast because we're running late but if you have any questions i'd be happy to answer them

So from looking at this graph, it looks like the revenues peaked in 2023 and have steadily gone down. Is that correct? Correct. That is correct.

and is there anything that we and that that's actually you're looking at tonnage not revenue on that one if you're looking at the line graph um so that's just what's been brought in what's been gone out so so ultimately yes it does affect revenue but this this report is just talking about the amount of weight that's coming in and going back out but then that in turn if that in turn does affect revenue yes okay Both ways, going in and coming. I mean, you know, both ways. Because you've got to pay to send it out.

Then real quick on page one. I saw that you said column E was grayed out for Rumpke. So that's that is not included within the expenditures?

It is included. It's just not including like I'm not adding it as well as it's included in that expenditure amount. Good question.

And then I'm just curious because in May Rumpke almost doubled in that And it looks like revenue was around normal, but not in turn to April.

Because in March and April, Rumpke wasn't paid. Okay. So that's why we didn't receive a bill. And so when we contacted them, they sent one right over, and of course it was more expensive to make up for the months. Thank you. And sometimes that does happen.

And there will be a reflection. I don't know if you've gotten the bill yet or not. When the transfer station was down, we were using roll-offs, and that was a lot more expensive than trucking. But at least we were able to keep up with the residents' needs.

Any other questions?

Stacy, once we go cashless, that won't affect those people that are doing the monthly invoices credit?

Yes, the credit customers, yes. Thank you. Yes, that will. So as of today, just to let you know, our home bank balance is $46,149.56. And Trust Indiana has $209,425.36. For those of you that don't know, Trust Indiana is where we put money to make more interest. It stays in that, it's that same solid waste money, but we just get more interest if we move it, if you're not using it. And then, as a reminder, in 10 months, the fee for single family units increases to $22 on May 1st, 2027, for Ordinance 2024-1878. That was something you guys all decided. It's currently at 20, so that'll be the last increase, and it'll stay there until you make another decision. So that covers everything I have, but if you have any further questions, I can answer or I can find out if I don't know.

For that trust account, that can come from all sorts of things, but I know when we were doing the budget proposals, does that come from the capital improvements that are not used via departments here? A majority of it? You mean what we put in? Correct. Correct.

Yes.

And how much was that again? I'm sorry.

In the Trust Indiana, for that account, it's $209,425.36. So Ben's always, we're always moving money to make money on our money, which is why when he sends out that interest and he gives you that update, that's why that has grown so much is because he knows how to invest our money. He does a great job with that. Again, you know, getting brownie points. Yeah.

And to kind of piggyback on Stacy's report on the transfer station, Mr. Dunn and Mr. Lane went to Rumke's operation in Bloomington last week and got a lot of good ideas. They are cashless down there. They gave us some recommendations on how to do our scales, how to do our office, and it was very helpful. We're going to talk with Mr. Swan tonight and talk about getting some designs made up and get that bid out. So hopefully we'll have close to, by the time we get ready to build this, we'll have close to $275,000 so we can pay cash for it. It'll make a huge difference up there at the transfer station.

And Mr. Dungold is still to be kind of by the end of the year to get that bid? at least move in.

I hope to. I want it to go into next year. That's how quickly we can pull it together. We could, at the next council, share some pictures with them. They'd like to see what we're envisioning. But it's going to take, we need a new scale. We need a new scale office. The trailer that we're using is just horrible. The best thing to do is put it out of its misery. So we're going to have probably a 12 by 14 little building. And there'll be a restroom in it. It'll be very nice, very professional. We're going to have cameras in it, around it. And it'll all be on our property.

Now, when you were talking about that, about encroaching on one of the neighbors, what part of that section was encroaching on which neighbor?

It was actually where our scale is right now. We're probably on them a couple feet. So we're going to get off their property. There's actually two sides to that story, Phil. I'd be happy to share it with you sometime. But there are actually rows. Oh, street. Drive or street continues, even though there's no street there. We have an easement for a road. We could extend that road, and that would kind of negate a lot of that issue. But we're going to be a good neighbor. We're going to move it, and we'll be good.

Thank you.

Yeah. Mack, how are we notifying new customers of the trash service in Wicket when they sign up for their utility bill to the water? How do we notify them if they receive trash? I know there was two people in my district that were using waste management. I talked to one of them. I didn't know. So I'm just curious to how we are communicating that.

They didn't know that we picked up trash. Well, while we're probably on the news talk, the ladies are telling the office to just make sure that they reiterate, you know, this.

I mean, it's probably not like that in every city. I mean, we do have a good .

Ben, we've actually had some that they want to have a big Ben. They want to have something that's, like, commercial. And so they know they're paying the sanitation fee, but then they're also paying for trace service, which is kind of silly. But I was just curious in how we're communicating that. Yeah. I'm surprised you're not worried.

One, you know, I can understand. Two, I mean, it says it on the stiller thing. Sometimes you got to put a big fluorescent sheet in there. OK. Yeah.

We'll talk to the ladies and make sure.

Just at least during the initial. If you want me to go talk to her, I'll go talk to her. No, I mean, I think it's fine. I was just curious how we do that during the initial onboarding, if we make that clear or not.

Possibly, what we can do is when new customers that come in that just have a piece of paper, this is what's going to be on your utility bill, and this is what it's for. Because some people, again, it was a couple of years ago. There was five things on it a couple of years ago. A lady said her hydrant in front of her house had a bag over it. It was out of service. So she wasn't paid for that. So we explained to her, it's kind of like an HOA. We all share in that expense. But we can do a better job over there.

Just to show you what our rates are paying for the $20 that one. I get jacks and tracers because I live right outside of the city. It's $27 a month. There's no bolt. There's no brush. You get one can. That's it for $27. So... I think our residents are really getting a good value. I agree.

And I know we've talked about not picking bulk every week, but I just think it makes a little difference in terms of the city. Yes, sir. Any other questions for Stacey? Nice job, Stacey. Thank you. Thank you, Mrs. Williams. It was so much fun. Under new business tonight, we have the first reading of ordinance 2026, 1918. This is an amendment to the Hanna Farms PUD district. Mr. Coffey's not here, but again, it's the first reading. Was there any specific questions, anyone? This is coming from the Planning Commission as a favorable recommendation. Shannon, anything you want to share?

Good evening, Common Council. I'm Mayor Koston. Thank you guys for hearing our Hannah Farms PUD amendment. I know I had sent over a PowerPoint, but I don't know if you guys have copies of that one. Okay, perfect. Just wanted to explain very briefly what we are proposing here and to give a little bit of background if, like myself, you guys maybe were not involved in the Hanna Farms original community approval. The Hanna Farms, if you go to the first page in the package, it shows the location of the Hanna Farms residential neighborhood in context of the city of Martinsville on Artesian Avenue. Hanna Farms PUD was approved in late 2021 by the Common Council. And in 2024, we came forward with a PUD amendment. Once we solidified the home builder or her homes, they brought forth a new product line that they were hoping to bring to Martinsville and some of the square footage requirements in the original Hanna Farms PUD did not match some of those smaller home products they were hoping to offer with that new product line. We came to Mayor Koston and city staff to discuss how we could change that PUD to get some smaller square footages and then offer something up to the city in exchange for that. So in exchange there were some additional masonry requirements that were agreed upon as part of the first PUD amendment and then additionally there was additional landscaping that is all irrigated along Artesian Avenue. That amendment was approved in 2024 and the crux of the issue that we are trying to correct here tonight is in that on page three, section 7.11, lots one, 134 through 142. Those lots were required to have a 360 brick wainscot just up to the bottom of the first window around all of those homes. The idea I think that the city had was that all homes that backed up onto Artesian Avenue would have that brick. That's not the language that made it into that PUD amendment. If you go to page four, you can see the The more brown color of the two, lot one is that first lot at the southern entrance, and then lots 134 through 142 are all the brown homes that back up to Artesian Avenue. But the city's goal was to have the homes on that small cul-de-sac of the more goldenrod color also have that 360 brick wrap. By the time this issue arose, A few of those homes, 146 through 148, I believe, the foundations were already poured at that time. Now, Four Star is not a home builder, but it's my understanding that when a foundation is poured, if there's going to be brick on the home, there has to be a brick ledge that's poured as part of the foundation to support that brick. So those foundations had already been poured and when working with city staff and mayor costa to try to to remedy this without ripping foundations that had already been poured out of the ground we came to an agreement here with the proposed pud amendment number two that's on page five so in addition to the text there's also some exhibits that are going to be included in the recorded pud amendment just to make sure there's no confusion on either party of what what's being agreed to in terms of masonry so those three lots on that cul-de-sac that foundations had not been poured yet those will have that 360 brick wainscot and then additionally four star has agreed to do some additional plantings on those homes that already have their foundations poured to give an additional buffer to the artesian avenue view shed and then if you go to page six that has just the highlighted lots that are being agreed to have that additional Burke-Waynescott, then that exhibit will be in the recorded PUD. Page seven has exhibit C, which is the additional landscaping that Four Star has agreed to install to help buffering those lots that don't have that masonry requirement. And then on page eight is just a 3D rendering of that landscape plan when you tried to choose plants that would keep vegetation all year long so that that buffering and screening would be there at all times instead of just during the spring and summer. As Mayor Costin said, this is the first reading. We did have a favorable recommendation from the Plant Commission and I appreciate your time and I'm open to any questions you all may have.

If there's no questions for Cheyenne, then again, this is the first reading, so we'll put on the agenda for the July 27th meeting for a second reading in consideration. Also tonight, for our first reading, is rezoning and property for Indiana gratings. Again, this is coming from the Planning Commission with a favorable recommendation. Did you want to speak? Thank you.

Good evening. My name is Cody Glenahan. I'm president and owner of Indiana Grading's third generation with our company. We've been here in Martinsville for 50 years and we've had the lots next to our building for quite some time. They are zoned for ag. Over the last about four or five years we have doubled in workforce and we are out of space. So our goal and our hope was to rezone these and expand on our building so that we can continue our growth and continue to be here in Martinsville.

of Disney expansion and planning on that area? What is it you said? Yes.

So it will be basically a storage building. So right now, all of our material and our fabrication work is all done under one building. Our goal is to remove all of our stock and stored material, put it in that warehouse, and then allow more room in our current building for more fabrication. So there isn't actually any

fabrication any cutting any work done it will just be a storage yep thank you thank you any other questions if not then again this is the first reading no actions required so we'll put this on the agenda for the 27th thank you thank you any comments from the council we'll see

Do you have one quick one? I had a constituent come up to me and ask Mr. Dunn if the street department is ever around Victor Drive and Charlotte Circle. The storm drains there, I think they've been asked if they could just do a clean on them if the street department's ever around there. There's some good flooding over there whenever we have some rain. So thank you. Very much appreciate it.

And I have a couple things. I would first like to thank the city of Martinsville and the clerk's office for your support following the death of my mother. Thank you very much. I appreciate it. And then also I would like to know if there's a possibility that the property owner of the retention pond across from Chili's and Texas Corral can be contacted about posting no swimming or fishing signs. There was a family that was fishing there last night. And there was a little boy with them, and I was scared. So I talked to Ben. He said that was a private owner who owned that property. And I'm going to make my public service announcement that please put life jackets on your little ones. If you guys are, I know it's hot, I know we go by water, but those little ones need, you know, a lot of little ones are not good swimmers and they need life jackets. But again, it was just kind of one of those deals of pulling out of Chili's and I look up and there's a family of four fishing. Whoa. So, again, I kind of looked around for signage, did not see any. So, you know, to those people, I'm sure that, you know, it was like, oh, open. We can have Mr. Downing address that. Thank you.

The water table when they went down is so shallow there, that's why there's water in there. It should be dry. Shoulda, woulda, shoulda, coulda. Right, right. If there's water, it has water.

Right, and I just, you know, with that family right there, it's just such a safety concern. Thank you. Anyone from the community want to say anything?

If not, the next regular meeting of the Common Council will be on Monday, July 27th at 7 o'clock here in the Council Chambers. We are adjourned. Thank you, Council.