Common Council - Regular Meeting

Thank you. It's pretty good. Thank you. Thank you.

Good evening and welcome to the Monday, July 27th, 2026 meeting of the Martinsville Common Council. The meeting is hereby called to order. At this time, I'd like to invite Reverend John Maples from the First Baptist Church to come forward, offer tonight's invocation, and if you would please stand and then remain standing for our pledge.

Heavenly Father, we gather here as the Common Council conducts the business of our great city. We ask for your wisdom, guidance, and grace to be present among us. Grant these leaders the spirit of discernment, integrity, and unity as they speak and discuss matters before them. Lord, we express our gratitude for the privilege of service for this city we are blessed to represent. Give us all strength, patience, and compassion as they work together toward a better future. Lord, keep us safe from any storms that may come our way tonight. We pray in your holy name, amen.

I pledge allegiance 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, John. Mr. Murdoch, would you please call roll?

John Badger? Present. Susie Lipps? Present. Ben Mahan? Present. Josh Farron? Present. Ann Miller? Present. Jonathan Collier? Present. Phil Deckard II? Present.

Mayor, we have a quorum. Thank you. Prior to tonight's meeting, you each received minutes from the Monday, July 13th meeting. For review, are there any additions or corrections to the minutes? Make a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Second. There's been a motion made and seconded to approve the minutes as presented this evening. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, no. Motion carries. We also received copies of the claims for review. Are there any questions or comments regarding any of the claims? Make a motion to approve the consideration of claims. It's been a motion made and seconded to approve the claims as presented this evening. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, no. The motion carries. Before we get too far in the meeting, I think that we have a special guest with us tonight. He's not been here for a few years. Welcome back, Charlie Brown. As many of you know, Charlie would not miss a meeting at all, but he's been a few years down on the Nell Drive, and now he's back up in Kenmore, so he will probably be back at our meetings. So, welcome back. Before we get into tonight's business, I know there was some conversation regarding your council chairs. So we've got two samples that we've had brought in. We are concerned whether there'd be enough room where you're sitting to be able to use the bigger chair. So I would like to open that up for discussion. I don't know if you want to go over and look at the two options and give us some feedback.

Right now? Sure. Okay. Okay.

Sorry.

So how about the other arm?

I didn't remember discussing this, but okay.

Mr. Porter, do you have the price on those chairs individually? Yes, I do.

The leather seat that is there, including assembly, which means it saves me a lot of work, are $504.99. The smaller chair, not smaller, but the mesh back, if I recall, was about $312 each assembled. So... Basically a $200 difference. What kind of warranties do they need? Chip did not share that information with me. I honestly don't have an answer for you, but we need to find out.

I would like to since they're, because I know we went through that back in dispatch about the kind of chairs I know the fire department can start with, the chairs that you have, since they're used for different boards and they're going to be, these obviously have been here for a long time. Just, if you don't mind.

Well, I think, and Probably ought to have maybe a couple of council people, since it's going to be your guys' chairs. Maybe get together and find out what information you want and bring it back the next meeting.

OK. We would get them for everybody in here.

Right. Yes. And when I talked to Chip about the chair, we did get the mesh-back chair from him. He doesn't really recall it. I'll just have to jog his memory as to when we got them. But they did come from Kellers as well.

Thank you. If you don't mind, if you'd email me too, the total. I'm going to just tip the chair up and take a look at the number underneath. Well, I mean the total that we need all together. Are you going to take care of them? Yeah.

There will be 20 chairs all together. Thank you. So it's a good uniform.

Nice of you to bring it. Okay.

Now wait, do we need to get chairs from that table over there? They'd cause something of trouble over there.

Well, the firemen are used to trying out recliners. Here we go.

Okay, now into a more important business. Tonight, under new business, we have a second reading in consideration of Ordinance 2026-1918, which is an amendment to the Hanna Farms PUD District. Mr. Coffey, do you have anything to mention?

I know you had your first reading two weeks ago. We do have Cheyenne Hoffa from the Four Star Group here tonight to answer any questions you may have. This is your second reading. This was recommended by the Planning Commission to approve rezoning to the Council concerning the change in the amendment to the PUD ordinance for Hanna Farms in regard to landscaping.

Cheyenne, would you like to say anything?

Good evening. My name is Cheyenne Hoffa. I'm an entitlements manager with Four Star Group Indianapolis. Thank you. Barnesville Common Council and Mayor Koston for hearing our Second reading for a PUD amendment for the Hanna Farms. We're clearing up some language for some additional brick and additional landscaping to help screen from Artesian Avenue. As I gave the full presentation last time, but I'm here to answer any questions or clarify any points from someone else here.

Mayor, since you're dealing, your department deals with this and so forth. Can you tell me, did all of your questions or concerns, were they answered through this, or is there something?

Yes, and the clarification has gotten taken care of. We had three homes that unfortunately wasn't included in the original plat on this, on the ordinance. We assumed it was. It wasn't. So they've done a good job coming out and putting some additional landscaping in. There were six homes total that were affected with this air. And three of them are going to have brick. The other three will be shielded and have the additional landscaping. So Four Star was very willing to work with us on that. And so was Arbor.

So the city's happy then? Yeah. Thank you. Who maintains the landscaping?

The Hanna Farms has a homeowners association that will maintain the landscaping. Right now it's still under developer control, which is maintained under developer control until they get to a certain percentage of homeownership, and it will turn over to the homeowners at that point. Thank you.

And is there anything that would prevent the homeowners association, once they take it over, from removing that vegetation or anything that would

then defeat the purpose of what we wanted i would think it would have to be maintained the way it was ordered in the con yeah especially these ones because it's now going to be hopefully it's approved to be codified and a recorded ordinance that would require that thank you so um does the city also do the snow removal out there

Not yet. We will once we take the streets in, but we've not taken the streets in yet.

And you said you do have an HOA out there to maintain the common grounds?

Maintain the ponds, all the frontage, landscaping, the irrigation, etc. is all maintained by the HOA, the playground mailboxes, all that sort of stuff.

What is your... you have a retention pond out there don't you i think there are two retention ponds i'm sorry two retention ponds okay um do you have signage uh posted such that uh no swimming no fishing allowed i would have to verify i know a lot of times

we will do that anyway even if it's not required from the municipality because the hoa does not like to take on any liability that might come from not having those signs so i know those are fairly standard i cannot tell you if they are out there but i can check on my way out of here and make sure that we get them up if not because i know the hoa would want those in place if they are not that would be really good because i was here last time yes yes so definitely will and i can we'll be bringing in another petition through and we can even add some languages to that effect as well signage and you know if it need be like i don't know fencing or something and cheyenne correct me if i'm wrong but those retention ponds were designed where it was like a

level space and then out to about 15 feet then it drops down so it's like a I don't want to say waiting pool.

It's a safety ledge. It's what is typically installed and it's a little bit shallower until it really drops off so that to try and mitigate for if anybody would get into the pond.

I guess I make a motion that we accept ordinance number 2026-1918.

Second. It's been a motion made and seconded to approve ordinance 2026-1918. All in favor say aye. Aye.

Opposed no. Motion carries. Thank you.

Mr. Coffey, this is another second reading on ordinance 2026-1919. Rezoning the property for Indiana gradients.

Yes, again you had your first reading two weeks ago on Indiana gradients. The applying commission recommended that the council rezone the property from its current agricultural zoning into the light industrial I-1. I think there's a representative here tonight from Indiana Greetings to answer any questions you may have.

Good evening. Thank you guys for your time and consideration again. My name is Cody Lunnahan. I'm the president owner of Indiana Grading's third generation owner of the company. And as I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, we have continued our growth and expansion here in our facility that we've been at for 50 years this year. And we're at the point where We need to continue that growth and expansion. We've had these lots for quite some time, and it's time, you know, hopefully that we're considering using them for the same thing we use, you know, light industrial on our property. I'm happy to answer any questions that you guys might have.

Where is the property again? I'm sorry.

210 West Douglas Street.

Oh, okay.

Over by that ball field. What?

Okay. Okay. Yeah.

hidden part of the city. We appreciate the company being here in Martinsville.

Thank you. And there's been no remonstrators from the neighbors?

There was not at the other meetings, no. I haven't been contacted nor have our planners or anybody.

Mayor, I'll make the motion to pass Resolution 2026-1919, Resigning Property of Indiana Greetings.

Second.

The motion made is seconded to approve the ordinance and the resigning of the property of Indiana Greetings. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, no. Motion passes. Thank you.

Mr. Mayor, then. Good evening, Council. Before you for your consideration tonight is resolution number 2026-0722. This is just updating our payment processes. What we're asking for you tonight is to enable our office to start paying our utility bills and other recurring costs via electronic means as opposed to paper check. The reason for the request is just timeliness of receiving the payments. We process the payments pretty quickly, and some of our utility companies that we work with are net 15. That's when we meet every 14 days. That makes it pretty difficult to meet those timelines. So this would enable us to meet those deadlines. As far as your approval process, anything like that, that all stays the same. All we're changing is the means of payment.

Do you want to make comments?

Yes, sir.

I'll make the motion to approve resolution 2026-0722. Second. Resolution of Payment of Certain Recurring Operational Expenses.

Oh, I'm sorry, Phil.

I've been a motion made and quickly seconded to approve your resolution for Payment of Certain Recurring Operational Expenses. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, none. Motion passes. Any comments from the council, we'll see.

Well, I'd like to mention just a couple. I want to commend the city for the fireworks that happened Friday night. I think everybody had a good time, and there were some vendors there, and it was what all I've heard. It was a great show, so commend the city on that.

We'll pass that on to the park. There was probably 3,500 to 4,000 people at the park. It was a good amount.

Oh, yeah. It was busy. Thank you. Hats off to all the firemen, policemen, street department people that have to work in this. Well, we only had a small reprieve, now we're back into this scorching heat again, so my hat goes off to them. And then my last question is, there's a subdivision here that doesn't have an HOA that, you know, their common grounds are, I guess, taken care of by, you know, the residents that live there, is that something that is... You know, Indian Village does not have any HOA. The common grounds, I guess, are taken care of by?

Mover lives next to the pond. We take care of the pond. Oh, okay.

That's the way it's set up. That's the way it's set up? Okay.

Gotcha. Okay. Thank you.

And Mr. Coffey, correct me if I'm wrong, that development was started. That's when that should have been, you know, the Planning Commission should have made them have an HOA or whatever, and they decided not to.

that was started back bill do you have any idea uh probably the late 90s i'm not sure when they first started many years ago so unfortunately we couldn't go back now

Mayor, we're talking about, with the Board of Works, you're talking about the street signs, the parking signs, and you made us be uniform. First of all, I'd like to thank Chief Manley. I know he's been working on these. I've learned about the speed limit being different and further up than they should be. Could we also look, if I suppose it would be Mac's department maybe, our street signs. I've noticed over the several years when we go to order, we're not staying uniform. For example, as far as I've known growing up here and being a police officer, it's always Mitchell Avenue. But if you start like Sycamore Street going west, Mitchell Avenue is Mitchell Avenue for three blocks. And the last three blocks, it's Mitchell Street. And then a lot of our streets, we go like Sycamore Street, different ones. You'll find just like Sycamore Street, or you'll find the full S Sycamore Street. And so just like for deliveries, people making deliveries here, you know whether it be like 200 cars without them you don't know is that west or east and i just think that would be helpful especially with our our mercs personnel should should know those things but just to help especially when we get new personnel on learning our streets and things They're not all uniformed. They're not marked. I just thought we could start ordering those if we could get those uniformed and changed so it would show the difference between more Southeast France as well and then make sure if it's a street, avenue, or lane that it would be marked. I can have someone look at those, please. Thank you.

Rediscover Martinsville hosted a thing downtown on the square. It was Christmas in July. It was well attended from several people in town and out of town. We did a food drive with it, and that increased quite a bit from the last couple years. And we've got a lot of inquiries as far as maybe bringing some food trucks and whatever they're called, antique knickknacks. shops do on the move or whatever. So we're looking to make that grow next year.

So you had a good turnout for the Christmas in July? Yes. Very good.

And you made an important announcement. Oh, yes. The parade is going this year.

Christmas parade. So as of right now, I know we have four large floats and two that are pretty well-sized, and they're made locally. They put a good float together.

And they're planning on having that on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, which is the small business Saturday. Normally we had seven off of five. They're going to have it stepping off a little bit later, so it will coincide to you getting at the park at the same, or closer to the same time they're going to light the lights at the park. So the route will be, it will start off here at City Hall, go East Washington down to a home, and then home up into the park. So we weren't able to have the parade last year. I felt like we were missing something. So I'm excited to see Rediscover and the group of volunteers that are working to get that back in for this year. Any other comments? Any comments from the public this evening?

I'd like to reiterate to the council to remind your constituents that the city no longer has a post office box. So they need to notify their people who pay their bills for them, if it be through their bank, through their credit card, whatever, to use the address for the entity that's going to. Utility bills, 60 South Sycamore Street. Police Department, 110 West Morgan. Fire Department, 160 West Morgan. City Hall, 59 South Jefferson. We really need to get this because at some point the post office is going to discontinue affording mail and there'll be a return. So people's bills will not get to the right department, they won't get paid, their utilities may be cut off because of lack of payment. So we really need to push that out to use the appropriate address on all your correspondence to the city so that it gets to the right department in a timely manner.

Good evening, council. I wanted to let you know you may have seen some of the fire hydrants out here we are in the process of doing maintenance again this year we started several years ago doing it and the first year that we did fire hydrant maintenance we were able to get paint from a local paint company here by walmart but unfortunately they were unable to give us the clear coat that went over the top of them of course we already had everything painted at that point so you'll see a lot of us uh you'll see me and maybe aaron out power spraying some of these hydrants because they become chalky and so we had to get the chalkiness off before we could go in and put the primer back on and then the yellow paint so all the hydrants are going to be brown gray at this moment because of not a lot of hydrants for primer and then they'll go back to yellow as we can get paint for yellow so um i just want to at least let you know because I've been asked, what are you doing? So you'll see that going on. And we're trying to focus on certain zones, but then as paint's not available or the day's super hot, we may go into spraying, just doing different things. So I just wanted you to at least know what's going on in your area. And if you have fire hydrants in your areas that you know of that really need some attention, let me know. It's easy to get to them, and we'll go from there. So the gray hydrants, that's not gray water, right? No, that's not gray water, no. And they work the same. Okay, good. So anyway, thank you.

Just a reminder, the Common Council, we have an executive session on Monday, August 10th, beginning at four o'clock in conference room two here at City Hall. That is the O.D. room for the fire department. Pursuant to Indiana Code 514.1.5.6.1B.2D, The purpose of executive session will be for the discussion of the purchase, lease, transfer, exchange, or sale of real property. The session will not be open to the public. Again, executive session Monday the 10th, 4 o'clock. Then our next regular meeting of the Common Council will be on Monday, August 10th, 7 o'clock here in the chambers. We are adjourned.

Does anyone have the minutes by chance?