Town Council - Regular Meeting

Liberty reading of minutes. All

in favor? I follow from ordinance violations. All the fines issued in August by their due dates in September. I've got three current ones that I need to follow up on for Bernie Sony for a nuisance complaint, Spring Beach for a group complaint or Lakeside Drive abatement complaint. And then on top of my report is what is going out with all the booklets um all the sewer payment booklets this year for just to inform people of ordinance violations and

okay what the most common problems are. I appreciate that. Think it'll be really helpful. You know a lot honestly a lot of people just don't think about a lot of things you know. Well, talking with Jenny, a lot of people don't even recognize if they get a sewer payment, they know what they're sewer payments are supposed to be. So, so that tells me how far it goes, but we'll see.

Yeah, it's going out all the go. Maybe she gets them done. sewer rate study. We met with um the little newer people um the last week of October. They're still working on getting the rate for which they're done. They came in that we'd already given the information that they were asking for and just again um so it didn't go anywhere. I haven't heard anything back from them yet. Okay.

And then um the Dustin just sent me this later late today for that new rate study. So that way I can get this approved and then um I can get it submitted to what this increase to the $73 instead of the $63. As far as doing that increase, everyone I suggest that we introduce that ordinance tonight. We publish it and hold a public hearing at the next meeting. Um, this is already passed of an ordinance. We still need to do all that.

I don't believe that it's legal until you have a public hearing on the ordinance. you introduce it, it's already passed. I think that there has to be, you know, a public hearing on everything put together in writing put in the newspaper. Okay. Um, so, so do we need to still go with the newspaper and then do a public hearing or the other way around?

What what you do is you approve the rate. That's what we introduced. It's approved. Now we put it in paper and at the next meeting we have a hearing where we we just listen to see if anybody comes in to object and then if no one shows up or people show up we listen and then we vote on whether or not to make it final. But I do I do not believe that's final. So it's been published in the paper and you had a public hearing on it. Okay. So this could be like first reading. Is that what you're saying, Bill? That's what that is. So, you need to read the ordinance number. Yeah.

Uh this will be ordinance amended ordinance number 202408 and ordinance number 202315. Ordinance number 20181. Ordinance number 2011011. Ordinance number 0413. Ordinance number 9706. Ordinance number 855. Ordinance number 8210. Ordinance number 761. fixing the schedule of rates and charges to be collected by the town of Rome City, Indiana from the owners of property served by the sewer works and said town and other matters connected with air within

and do you have a taxable ordinance number for that one? Yeah, it's 20250. It says on I think it's underneath that paper. Okay. Yes. 2025 will be this evening tonight's ordinance that we're installing. Uh do we need to Yeah. first reading. You have to vote on first reading for approval for publication.

Okay. Um do we need to um go ahead and pass this again in December? Well, I don't or would we do this in December? So, I'd say yes. So, at the December hearing, they do their final reading. They do the final reading after the hearing. can't do a final reading. Okay. Can I have a motion to pass this ordinance? Motion motion pass ordinance 2025 time. So

all in favor and I'll get to you what you need tomorrow and turn that into a notice being sent to the paper and get

Okay. Grace Case Noble County Visitors Bureau. Yeah, Grace contacted me earlier today and said that she's sick, so she couldn't be here. So, she asked that I read it, which I think it's in your packet also. But it's just um some information that the visitors bureau has done over the last year. One thing is they relocated from their office in Albian to Kenderville. They're in the community learning center now and they've seen an increase in foot traffic and visibility and they've been able to do more community engagement by being in the new location. I want to thank the Rome City Chamber for their donation to visit Noble County. Um it be listed on the website and in their annual report. Their 2025 goals and outcomes were expand destination marketing with datadriven insights. So they secured a geoence visitor tracking tool and leveraged survey results to attract new restaurants and hospitality investments. They've expanded their digital storytelling via videos, blogs, and social media. Um, under destination Noble 2.0, which is unified county branding, they've done countywide street and park banner project featuring featured in all the cities and towns. They've done resident engagement efforts. um t-shirt design contest and sales, local artist banner designs, a countywide fall photo contest with incentives, press releases sent out to all the local chambers and the um local media. Number three, they're bridging

barriers accessibility project in partnership with Arc of Noble County Foundations and the AWS Foundation. They conducted a countywide accessibility landscape assessment. They surveyed residents ser visitors I can't talk and tourism sites. They created a public facing accessibility map of Noble County and improved the accessibility of the visit Noel County website. Number four, they've strengthened local and regional collaboration by continuing to leading the American 250th celebration that um as you know the American will be 250 years next year.

So they're going to do some um things around different things around the county. the Rome City part of that is representatives from the town of Rome City and Jean Strap border continue to attend and support the the site, but they're also we're working on different things that we're going to do specifically for 20 or 2026 for that celebration and deepens the part they've deepened the partnership with local I'm sure Grace can do this much better than me, but local main streets chambers and lodging providers. Alexis Wagner um attends all the chamber meetings in person or virtually and she represents the CBB and supports the CBB um event organizers, business leaders and a Noble County and Rome city parks board. They developed tourism itineraries and crossromotional campaigns and partnered with B- Noble to continue the shop Noble program and promoting things that are sold and made here in Noble County. Number five, they boost attendance at key events in the Rome City area. So Rome City's pillar of the Noble Countyy's visitor economy with unique events and attractions that draw thousands of visitors each year. visit. Noble County will continue to promote and support the Rome City holiday walk, the summer concert series at Silvin Sellers and Chicago Days and all events hosted at the Jean Strap corner to historic site. And they will also continue to support promote new Rome city events and expand regional marketing to attract audiences beyond Noble County. Closing Rome City plays an essential role in the overall success of the Noble County economy. From the natural beauty of Sloven Lake and the historic treasure of Jean Strap border to the vibrancy of the local festivals, events and businesses, Rome City remains one of the most important destinations

in our town. I'm absolutely sure that Grace would have done a much better job presenting that than I did, but you were stuck with me tonight. We thank you. You're appreciated. You're welcome. Uh community crossing grant.

Yes. Um, I did all the work to submit that plan and we chose Pleasant Point and West Pleasant Point because that road has not been done since 1999 and it is pretty much have not been out there. Um the total cost of the project is 121,793 and obviously that's going to be subject to when we actually bid it and see what the asphalt company say, but that's just my estimate. And then our portion of that that we would have to expend if we got the grant would be $24,35860. So, it is um a really good deal for us if we do do get the grant. They pay um 75% 80%. I always get that screwed up. I think it's 80. They pay 80%, we pay 20%. I think I did 25 75 first. I looked and it was wrong. So, keep your fingers crossed. I think we find out um in January when we get and then we'll go to bid and hopefully get on the schedule for 26 otherwise and they'll push it off to

how they select

how do they select it it's I think they check to see if you got it last year one of the main things which we didn't because we were still finishing up our 2024 project so I would think we'd be in standing and I did get the 2024 project closed before I applied for this which helps because you don't want to have an open one and then you're asking for more money. They haven't got the other one closed so that one is closed. So I'm hopeful we would but they went down to just one letting this year and from here on out they just be two that they would do one in January and one in July and they just switched it to just one. I don't know how that will affect it but we'll be

correct. over asphalt. Okay. So, when we discussed in 2024 about the tennis courts and the board had approved um the funds to be put into the budget for that work to be done.

Yes. Um, we still need to approve. Um, it in a meeting I don't have to say because we we approve the work, but we didn't approve I'm going to say we need to approve that the bill be paid. So, it's it's going to be a two-part bill for the asphalt because they did the milling and the resurfacing already. Actually, be a three-part. Um, and then we cannot have this striping and the posts put in until next spring because it's two different companies that do it. Uhhuh.

And um, obviously they just got done doing the ports and now it's too cold to do the painting and have it stick. So the paving asphalt portion is going to be 70,000. They send us the first bill for 465 and then they'll be sending another bill probably the end of this week or beginning of next week for the the additional amount to make the 70. So we need a motion to pay that. We'll probably go ahead and do just the 465 and then I need a motion to encumber the funds for the striking which is 195. And then we can do the second part of the asphalt at the December meeting. That makes sense.

And it'll all be approved tonight. Well, I don't Bill, can we do the second part even though we don't have that second billing? That I'm Can we do the second part of that asphalt even though we don't have that billing for it? So, we've got the first part billing for the asphalt. We don't have the second part. I know the total is going to be 70, but we were only build for 465. So, should we just wait until we get the second bill in December and do that one and do the 465 tonight?

I did 465 tonight, the second bill. There's no harm in waiting on this. I I don't know. I don't think so. No, because it's gonna be done by the end of the year. Yeah, we don't have grand or anything. No. And then the other thing is we do need to do the we do need to do the encumberment so that she can figure that into her books for the end of the year. So I do want them to go ahead and do that. I would approve the bill that you got to make sure. Okay. Okay. Did you get that motion today? Oh, wait. Oh, yeah. I' not seen that. Uhhuh.

Yeah, they do a good job and they did it when it was warm. So, it was done last week. They finished it Monday or Tuesday last week. Motion approved the 465 second.

All in favor? And the congregation that the city clerk in congress the remainder 235. Okay. Um, do you want to sign? You got one of those running on the asphalt and sign that.

Bill, are you doing the swingy agreement or am I? I can do the swingy agreement. I'm pulling up on my screen right now. Just let me know when you're ready. Up to Cheryl. I'm ready. It is a little more difficult. You can't see the other people. Well, I can't figure out how to do two Zooms on on one meeting. So that's the problem.

Can I know if I zoom in on your other use my cell phone, it'll call back to you. You can't hear me anyway. Correct.

Okay. So anyway, um there's been an agreement, tenative agreement reached between Mr. Swainy and the town. Under that agreement, um we agree that we will recognize this structure as a legal nonconforming structure for long as he removed back bathroom fixtures and plumbing in garage and then under goes his build inspection of the garage and get the required permit. It also outlaws any further alterations and and those matters as part of the agreement. Um he's he's agreed to pay the net the sum of $16,900 within 50 days uh for the the problem that that has caused to have been he not seek any further variances for the property which you boost him from coming back in five years, 10 years.

Yeah. Um and he agrees to relocate all of the air conditioning units which somehow got stuck on their side of the house and um we'll verify it and uh we agreed that um he gets an extension if it's you know we have the 78

78 and he had a wonder as a result uh he releases uh everyone including the town and the Netherlands released everyone including the town. Okay. And after we all get done releasing, you file sue, which means nobody can go to court about this matter and waste more attorney. Um, we agree that that nobody's admitting to anything. We're just training. Uh, and that's about the extent of it. Well, sounds like that came out pretty good.

It worked out well. I mean, it was something that they wanted. Uh you'll note from signature that um Mr. Swain has already signed it. His signature is like Hancock is huge. Yeah. Well, not going to court again is is a bonus right there. Yeah. Yes. I don't think you said the amount that he was paying us. Yeah, it's 16,000. That was Netherman. That was Netherman's.

Anyway, it's round 10 and it more than covers what we've expended on that nightmare. Yeah, we want to make sure. Yeah, it was property owner based around town $10,000. Yes, that back the attorney. Okay. So, now you need to do a motion to approve that, don't they? Bill. Yeah, they do. Need a motion to approve that.

Make a motion to make a motion to agree upon the swingy set agreement. Second all in favor. Um, I'm going to skip down to the SD1 estimated revenue impact. Um, that is the document that when Heidi and I attended a meeting that didn't cast, our assessor held on the FDA one bill. Well, well, I don't know, I guess. Um Ben had said that he could give us some numbers of what we of how we might be impacted um with this new law that they're passing. So it's not as bad as we thought it would be. Um as far as 2026 we we're looking at losing about $52,000. 2027 between 60 and 62,000. 2028 um 71 to about 75,000. And that's as far as he's projected out, I believe. But we know that 20 2030 is going to be the really bad year if they don't make some changes prior to that coming to us. So these are estimates. It

could be worse, but it's not as bad as I had originally thought that it would be, but we don't really have a lot of room in the budget. to pulls from. So, and that's really only doing I think the property tax portion of it. I don't know how the what the replacement with an income tax and that all runs through the federal government. Yeah.

And they're not real about paying. So, I know that the county is still waiting on money for the jail from the federal government from 2024. Yes. So, a lot of counties are still waiting. Could be a year problem. But I did speak with Dave Abbott, Representative Abbott, and he said they are looking at making some changes to it because

well, you know, with any bill they pass, they find later that how certain things they do affects areas that they didn't think it would affect, but it does affect. So, they have to go back and tweak it. So, we're we're hopeful for some good tweaks, but I don't know. I was thankful that Ben could come up with some numbers because nobody could give us anything but doom and gloom. So, the county audience have a question about that.

County is going to take big hit. Obviously, they're like millions of dollars they're going to take. So, I don't know where they're going to come, but holiday schedule. I um I went ahead I just marked up what the changes would be if we kept if we wanted to keep all the same days. I just corrected what day of the week it actually is and what date it actually is. Then I can get this updated and printed and approved. Okay. Listen, I just wanted to um get it approved so that way I can get it all printed and it's all going to go approved next month. Okay.

Unless you guys want to give us another day off. No, I'm I'm sorry. I would love to give you days off and I would like for you to not have to street workers especially be out there when it's getting hot, but we just can't do those kind of cold. Yeah. Or cold. Yeah. I have a new business as well, but I just got today. So, okay. It's not on the agenda. Um, well, I was going to go to the gallery and then October 4th.

Yeah.

Yes. So, um I talked with the representative from GM's fleet program today uh regarding replacing that vehicle that's he uh we had the conversation but um he is going to bring Wednesday um their de demonstration vehicle that they use. Um it's going to pick it up Wednesday and my and bring it up here. Um it is the Blazer electric vehicle. Um we can use use it or drive it from November 12th through the 19th. Um the only thing that we have to do um is basically uh provide insure the vehicle for the week that we have it. Um other than that there's no other cost or anything involved. Um there's just a free use for a week to to see what we think about it. um as a demonstration vehicle.

How do we charge it? Um so we could use the like where they plug the welder in over in the shop so we can plug it in over there at the garage um to charge it. I have a quick charger at the dealership. Okay. I have my house too. Okay.

So, um we talked and he's going to give me some additional information with uh Tom Kelly who is the one of the main fleets distributors for General Motors vehicles in the state. Um I'm just not sure that big enough what you do. It's uh so 409 in it. What you got? Um Ken can probably tell you more. Um the horsepower. Tell me a vehicle. Come on. But the horsepower is pretty impressive.

It's more. Yeah. So, but I sent you a video. I sent all of you a video um just this evening before the meeting started.

Okay. So, it is a police chief in Wisconsin who um basically did a media release. Um they already own one, they purchased two more. Um, so he goes into really good detail about this vehicle. Um, and the price that I got back in August or September, whatever it was, um, when I was initially looking to replace the Dodge, when I talked with the gentleman today, he said those prices have come down um on the EVs. Um, in fact, Dodge Durango, which generally Dodge is the cheaper line of any police vehicle, um, these are coming in at like an MSRP of around 45,800. Um, and I think what I sent you guys back in August or September, uh, was somewhere around 50 something.

52. Okay. So, um, the prices we said are coming down. There's a lot of different incentives, um, and things that are going on with the market right now. So, but if you're okay with us having that as a demo for a week, um, then I just need to have Heidi deal with the insurance to get insurance coverage for the week.

There's no, I think you said that. Yeah, there's absolutely no obligations um in this. This is if you want to take a quick look. This is the agreement that I have to sign and send back tomorrow morning. How long has that been Wisconsin been using them? The years. Well, they came out, this one's a 2024. So, they came out 2024.

Okay. Um he's got one and just purchased two more, but um Indianapolis Airport Authority has one. He was telling me all the different places today that are valuable. So, I'm going to look at obviously Ford and and uh Dodge and get quotes for those as well. But this kind of all came up today. So, I got that just before the meeting and had the conversation with the representative today. So, How long do we typically

the charging we've had since I know discount that well no but I'm saying we've had that one since 2012 been around forever but I'm saying in an ideal world if we could

when Steve was here he was basically buying a car every four years with the fifth year being the new model So, but we had a 2012, 2014, the 2014 where Jim had the act. We had a 2017 Ford, 2018 Ford, and 2020. So, that's where we're at vehicle wise. How many vehicles we have? Well, three right now.

Yeah, we've got the 2012 Dodge Charger, 2018 Dodge Char or Ford Explorer, in the 2020 Ford Explorer. And well, and crash 2017. Okay. Yeah. So, we had four. We're down to three. We had four. down to really down to because Dodge is really dicey. It's got stuff going on about every other day. And did you find anywhere in our listing of funding for the vehicle this year?

That's not going to happen this year. Well, I don't think they can get it turned around in time, but is there any that you if you could get a quote or a Yeah. quote you could save if you had anything to recover to help make payment next year.

Yeah. He I mean he told me the lead time right now, which he would suggest is the 2026 model year. um the lead time is about 14 weeks um from the date of order to have a new vehicle. So that would push it into probably February of next year. But yeah, as far as dollars, we're going to have what we got from the accident. Um and then uh I've got in equipment roughly roughly 10 to 11,000 equipment.

So you could use that as count. Is there anywhere to look for like other departments have cars because obviously whatever this trans right so find stuff that budget cuts working

good I really don't want to go backwards with a used car but there's the the problem with the like the Dodge um I'm reluctant to give up warranty. Yeah. Well, and that's that's part of it. We've got outstanding recalls now on the 28th, 2018 and the 2020. Well, recalls are mandated by a long time, right? um um categories really don't get

so recalls wouldn't necessarily be as concerned with other than just like characteristics of it. Yeah. Um I know that the Dodgers had a big oil um pump issue with their um oil pour issue. I think it was the state police. I don't know how many cars that they had that uh had to be repaired. That was in the last year. Board is going through all kinds of issues with all kinds of vehicles across the spectrum. Um I think that has to do with

Yeah. So, you know, I don't know. But is as far as this one specifically, um that's a 8year 100,000 mi warranty um on on the battery. So 100,000 is generally when we got rid of vehicles. used to be. Um but and what is the cost of battery replacement these days? 6,000. Yeah. Yeah. Like 3 4,000. Okay.

More than that. Yes. I'm guessing this. Yeah. Well, use it for a week. I just I want to give it a look and see because look how you want. Well, we're not going to keep a car longer.

Well, that's the thing. Generally, we don't keep them that long. So, and if we do keep them that long, I think it Well, the Dodge we had three major repairs when we wanted to get fixed. So, we had two major repairs after that. So, that thing has taken a lot of money this year. Um, you know, I'd have to go records. I couldn't tell you off top my head. Just the last, but then it came back and then it had to go right back. Yeah.

I don't even think we had it two days.

Yeah. So, I don't know. But um I mean the positive thing with this there's no oil changes so there's no cost there. Gas is out. There's no $3 gallon $2.50 whatever a gallon gas. Um and the differential between charging it and fueling it can be considerable in savings wise. So I can tell you um that Bargersville, Indiana has out of their 16 uh vehicle police fleet, 13 are Teslas. And the chief there said that he doesn't believe his city council would ever let him buy another combustion engine car again. for him

because of the what they're saying. So, I just did a quick calculation. If you average miles off this, I figured 1,500 a month. At 12 months, you're at 18,000 miles a year. So, your five years should be at 19,000. Now, do you anticipate keeping longer than that five years? Most likely not. Well, watch watch the video.

Take for a ride. Just go for a ride. Watch the video by Shelby. That's the only car I'm getting in. That's right. The only the only thing somebody can ride me around in. That's it. It's not a car. It's a blazing. I don't care.

Well, we should have been looking at it this year. Well, before I got told, we were looking at trying to replace one this year, but then we held it off another year, which we should have done it this year in retrospect, knowing what we know now. So it was definitely going to be next year which would potentially motion for him to be allowed to use this vehicle for a week and favor. Do you have anything to add? Did you know more about than anybody else sitting at the table?

We're still learning and we're still learning. Obviously that's certainly right. So I mean they're good to my wife's got a lot of road surprised to I guess they're very quick. I don't know what the range is. the 300 miles. Now, the more equipment you add to it reduces um what you get out of it, right?

I say that one, right? We took Chicago said 250 total charge. Yeah. Not not anticipating that to

Yeah. He so he said extreme heats or extreme colds will have variables. Um he can't he couldn't say what those variables would be because it's all dependent on how hot or how extreme cold it gets. Um and the other flip side was like a lot of departments put storage boxes in the back which is a lot of weight. We don't do that with our vehicles. So, the biggest things that we would be adding would be like a prisoner cage and the front push bumper uh on the on the very front of it.

You guys put on trolling. How many miles you got put on? Um the guys are roughly around 100 miles a night. Um so a lot of

Yeah. and and that well that instead is the plus because what you're saving in idle time gas wise like our Fords right now um he's like comparably we're probably getting about nine gall 9 miles to the gallon um because of the idler um where these um from what I read 20 to 50 m or 20 to 50 hours it can just set and idle 20 to 50 hours without without any issues. And then it has the regenerative braking. So, as you let off the gas, it causes the drums to spin in reverse and then it takes that energy and puts it back into the battery. Um, so stop and go type driving, which we have a lot of room here, um, would actually be beneficial. What about the storage space? Look at a lot of times these vehicles don't have much storage. sometimes just about.

Yeah. Well, and I think part of that because I haven't seen one up close, so this will be my first opportunity to kind of get a feel for everything that's there. They want me to charge you just to take that consideration here. You know what the cost of that is? Depends. It depends on which one you go. E probably somewhere around $1,000 like the one we had supercharging. Sure. So yeah, he's talking he was talking about like the level it's like a two plus charger which is around $1,900 or something. I think one

there was one through

for chargers or for cars. Well, um I wouldn't call it a grant. There was a thing the state of Indiana was doing, but they gave you some money, but the actual charger that they were talking about putting in far exceeded the amount of the grant you were getting. And I'm like, I just don't see a benefit because it was like we were going to have to put in 60 or $80,000 and they were going to give us 20. I'm like, that's probably the same.

Not helpful for us. There's there is an agency in the it's not the environmental protection agency. It's it's a state agency. I don't I don't think it's department. Yeah. I I can't remember but there's a police department northwestern bought it. But I think when the federal government shut down monies for a lot of that stuff, I think that was also like almost a one and done.

Well, this grant that they had originally it's for like us put it in our parking lot for anybody to use and Well, I think you charge. Yeah, there's a charge. But it wasn't enough. Okay. we would get money back on that, but it was like in a hundred years we might make back the amount that we put out for it because, you know, we don't have a lot of EV cars around here. So, I mean, there's a few, but most people if they have one, they have chargers in their house, you know. I mean, I I know there's people that travel through, but

I thought it would be a good thing for like sandwich or something, put one of them in, drink, and then get back on the road. And then you would have no I didn't I couldn't see the cost savings in that we're looking to do that. Let's move on to the salary ordinance. This was just what we had for approved this year. Um I don't know any changes anybody wanted to make. Um it's just our current information. um or if any changes need to be made um so that way I can have it ready for next month um and have it all typed up so that way um when the 26th comes around we don't we'll be ahead of that

um I budgeted 4% for everybody but I wasn't sure where we wanted to be so that is in the current budget and that's considered cost Yes, I agree.

I'd also like to give Jennifer raise. Yeah, cuz I wanted She's in 1922 and yeah, I wanted to

and um she's done an exceptional job and u miss these very few days of work does her best to cover anything and everything she can and she's done an exemplary job for us. on the general. Y

that would be okay. Oh, no. That I'm sorry. I answered that wrong. 4% was just what would I just put it in the budget or was it the cost of living increase? Okay. That's I don't have that. It's 2.5. So 4% is what we normally would get. 4% is what we normally Yeah. from the state as far as to go over

you're not usually with that because

you want her to figure it at 4% and then at the next meeting you guys can figure whatever. Yeah. And it's up to 4%. So if you change certain people, you could like no stuff at the bottom. It's not boards but you passes.

Yes. And I haven't explain but I mean they just increased it like two years in a row. It's you can't go over 4%. So you can go back and look at what everybody else making. Sure they want more but it's I don't I my concern is what's going to happen with

Right. Right. You know, if we give it this year, then we have to give it in those other years where the budget's going to be cut even further. We can make a decrease, but we can't make a decrease in correct. So unfortunately we just have to wait for No, there's 4% just 4%.

You agree with that? Well, is the 4% is that just the whole bucket of money? Yes. So if you want to give somebody three and another person, you can deal with it. But you can't I guess that's what I was saying. And I think that's the best.

Yeah. Just because you don't just give somebody last year um didn't get the amount of increase as everyone else because the way the ordinances have been managed, but he's done a much finer job this year of managing the ordinances and I'd like to see that project didn't do that. So, see Did you have any recommendations on I mean I think the guys do they were out today at 5:00 and out Sunday at 5:00 sounds good And we, you know, we are going to Quinn is going to be probably leaving us next fall because he's going back to college.

So, I anticipate we won't be replacing him. Okay. At this point, unless something changes with what the state's going to do.

So, that would free up the funds for MBH. you know, you know those guys, you know, yes. Well, part of our issue with the Marshall office is we have the third person which makes it really difficult to make an increase for two. You can't help false MBH and sewer because the the guys get paid partially out of MBH and partially out of sewer not replacing that individual little two line items

that person's leaving but it's not the same money. It's not the same money. It's not the same money pot. You can't take any money out of that pot to put it in the other pot. You got to have your own black pot. Oh, yeah. That'll be vehicles out. Well, we don't get very much money in a lot with that. We got trucks to pay for that be in here. discuss. So, next meeting.

Yes. So I make a I need a motion to go with the 4% and the increases that we just discussed so she can have it written up next motion we do 4%.

So would that put him at 6% then? Yes. You ready for me? Yes.

We had 11 meetings for the month. We had nine building permits, one two season, and electrical at St. Gaspers, electrical tuition, one second story deck, one remodel, one replacement of our front porch, one rooftop solar, and two electric bank mission. We had a vacation of two lots and a flat end of three lots called Annswoods subdivision that was approved. ACA we had a rooftop solar which was approved over on Bernice Avenue. Um and 26 by 80 storage barn on Northshore was tabled due to flood plane issues. Um, we had a request for an RV overnight for more than 2 weeks in 2026 in Lake Residential. And that's back in um, well, Pleasant Point, Elk West, Pleasant Point, back in that little channel. So, he's back in there. And I I I don't back in there. I didn't know it was back in the little RV and somebody complained about it. We do not allow it longer than two weeks. So, I talked to the owner and he said the issue was um when he bought the property, he didn't realize there was an easement that ran through it for Nipkco. And then Nipkco contact them. They want him to put on his flat where that easement is for future reference. So, it was taking him a while to get a surveyor to come out and do it and now to get it put on the plat. and he's hopeful that he'll be able to build his house next year, but until that issue is resolved, he would like to still be able to use lot. They live in Indianapolis and they just come up on the weekend. So, the board granted it for next year and then they said he can come back if

if he still has that problem unresolved by 2027. But he said they're only up here maybe eight weekends. his kids play ball. You know how that goes. So they did approve that for him. Um conservancy district paid bills, bounce books, posted gateway. They are looking at cleaning up retention pond here at the public access. And then once that gets cleaned out, they're going to have um ARC, which is our advanced Rome city that does the landscaping around town, um do some landscaping to that area to make it look better than what it has. It really has starting to look bad after 30 years. Um,

yeah, park board. We have the tennis courts paved and we'll do the striping in 2026. They're working on, you know, concerts for next year and their Fourth of July event. They have bike trail. Um, I'm finishing up. So, that's the bike trail grant finishing that up. I have items that I'm purchasing and then we're going to be putting some concrete down there. It may be next year before I get that closed out. So, we're buying some bike racks, a bike um repair station, um a sign to put on the north end, um welcome to the fishing line trail. That's just like the other ones for the parks park signs. It'll match. And they're going to put concrete pads down for the bag racks and the repair station down there. At the same time, they're going to do the concrete around the musical park area so that's more ADA accessessible. Um, anything else off the top of my head that I'm going to buy for that, but I think we have about $28,000 to spend. So, I'm getting close to that number. Noble Trails, um, they're working on their trail to Ailla and then to Lanch County line. If you've been out on the trail, you've seen the little blue markings on the um edge of the pavement. So, they're doing the the road names. So, when you come up to a road, you know what road you're at. I mean, we know because we live here, but people that come from other areas don't have any clue where they're at on the map. They're trying to look at the map and figure out where they are. And then also the 911 markings will be in that. If somebody would have an accident or something would happen, they can call in and say, "Hey, I'm at this FL 126." And the dispatcher will know where they're at. So they march and secure can get to them faster. So that's kind of nice. They're doing that. And then cut back brush. They're always doing that.

And invasive plants. Lots of invasive plants. Um the chamber has their lakeside holidays and their Christmas tree lighting next weekend. This weekend. This weekend. My weekend's all messed up. So, Friday night is the tree lighting if anybody wants to come to that. And then the 15th is Saturday and that's all the the housewalk and the craft show and they're doing a um bus like a mini the mini is mini buses for people to get around to the houses because some of the houses are

yeah because the there's two over like over lions drives up and drive that road's really narrow anyway and there's hardly maybe parking over there. So, they came up with that idea to cut down on that. So, hopefully they'll do that every year. I think it's a great idea. And the I you pick up the bus at Sellers and then one leaves every 20 minutes. So, nice um the watershed plant out at Kelly Park.

Oh, yeah. the little stop sign signs. Yeah. Yeah. They'll put those out Friday. We'll put them down and then you just have to set them up and then when you're done just put them down and then they'll come pick them up on Monday.

I figure that's the easiest way to do it. Didn't have to mess around putting that big sign and be able to get it somewhere. them out because they'll probably forget that kind of then for the wershed they got both reps on the the water buildings out of Kelly Park and Limmerlos Landing. We're still working on the agreement to take over the sewer extension and working on annexation. I spoke with the owner of the video store again and I'm going to call him again this week, but I don't know if it's going to happen this year because this year

it just keeps getting pushed off. He said you my guy broke his ankle and I just really need some more time. I go, gee, Ryan, it's been a year. I'm not sure how much more time I need to give you to get that cleaned up,

but now we're up against the weather. So, I guess he's going to get more time, but I'll be on him in the spring. Uh, attended um end up meeting on the state nine bridge project. I think I said something last month about it. They talked about they're supposed to start in November, but I haven't seen anything happening. So, I don't know that they will be doing But the project itself is supposed to be done by August. But we do know that Front Street will be closed down during that because of the alternating lane stops. They I updated the asset management plan through LTAP for the community crossing grant. Applied for that as you know sent out bills to Lumber Landing on their sewer installation project. That should be the last one. met with the property owner on a land development project um over by Hilltop. Uh attended the S a meeting with the Silver Lake Association and Conservancy on water quality issues in Silvin Lake. Um

yeah,

attended meeting with Noble County Plan Director concerning zoning issues with the new battery plants. They're talking about the Google facilities, the water bottling plants. So, I don't know if everyone knows, but Noble County has a pretty good water aquifer in down in the area. I think it's Walt Lake area has a pretty good spring. So, kind of trying to circumvent some of these developers coming in and making sure that they're following rules and we're also protecting our amenities that we have. So, I don't know if you follow the Google issues, but I mean in Fort Wayne, they're going to take out an entire wetland and then of course they'll be required to replace it,

but not in the same place and not even in the same could it might not even be in Allen County. It could replace it somewhere else. So, how that is helpful, I'm not really sure. So, there's some things that need to be taken into account for that. And then with battery plants, the um issues with keeping them cool um if they

if they would catch on fire. Well, Google's the energy sucker. Um if the if the battery plants would catch on fire, just a lot of issues with those and they seem to be coming quicker and quicker. And you know, we're we're a good location for the Google because we have power. Of course, we don't have a huge amount of power, but we definitely have more than the West Coast or the East Coast. We have the land for it, but then it all all of the information is getting shipped out to the east and the West Coast, and we're using our resources to supplement them. So, I think we need to be better stewards of our property and resources we have here and to make sure that they maintain it our area, not helping someone else.

Yeah. So, that's um met with Roberta on the concrete walkways down there at G Park. So, hopefully next year that'll get done and we met on the great study and I attended the old forest dedication at Jean Strap Porter and that was really nice. Um they had they did a little walk through and the lady told us what they looked for to see what Yeah. why it would be eligible to be an old forest dedication. So it was it was interesting. I'm glad I went. So and it's just another thing for to draw people to Rome City. Absolutely.

It was nice. And then for Scott, we had 1,94 gallons, 223 gallons enter the plant. We had 1,394,845 gallons exit the plant. Obviously, we are in draw down mode, but the guys stopped in today and said that we are going to go out on ammonia. So, we are done discharging as far as from pond to pond. So, whatever's in our final, it's still okay. We'll continue to discharge that out, but probably at the end of the month, we'll be done with that. So, we'll be in holding mode. Um, we had one call out in 36 locates. They powerwashed the town hall. You didn't notice, of course, it was dark when you came that the building was painted finally. That was a struggle, but they're going to do a second coat probably in the spring. So, we didn't have enough time to get the first coat on. The gentleman that I had hired to do that just kept running into issues and so the guys ended up doing it. They hauled brush twice from the brush bins, replaced or finished repairing the Christmas lights. They went ahead and put them up while the weather was decent. They started picking up town leaves. Finished water winterizing the plant the water in the parks so the restrooms closed. took down the fence at the Kelly tennis courts so they could get in there and fix the asphalt. Changed oil on the generator on South Bend. Found a problem with the generator. Diagnosed it, repaired it. Changed the oil in the generator at the street garage sewer plant mixer motor burn. So they replaced that. And then um feric delivery is becoming an issue. So we ordered feric at beginning of October. We finally got it delivered last week. Um, but every time we order

it, they say they're not going to deliver it because the drivers um can't drive anymore. That's what I've pretty much figured out. We've had delivered 50 years, never had a problem until the last three years. And the they it's either the equipment or the driver they can't back up. So Scott has to go out there and basically direct him. Uhhuh.

To get into the plant and get around the corner and then go up. He tells them to go up so far and then stop right here and then start to back up. Start to turn your I mean he physically is telling them you have to turn your wheel now. Stop. Pull forward. Turn back up. It's terrible. And so I talked to the actual people that do the delivery because Barrett company does not deliver it. They hire a company to a delivery company. And I said to him, I said, you know, drivers, why can't you do it?

I said, it sounds to me like you have a training. I understand that most of your drivers probably are used to just backing up on a concrete or an asphalt drive into a loading bay, but this is not that. But you should have a driver that could drive and reverse into this spot. So then they're trying to give us all these alternatives. Why don't you run a pipe to here? And why don't why don't we we don't we could unload it over here. I go, you can't make the turn here. You're not going to be able to make the turn here. This turns worse than this turn. So So I I feel like the people that I'm talking to on the phone have never driven a truck because they they the questions they ask me is just unbelievable. I haven't driven a truck, but I at least can see that certain things you're not going to be able to do in this location. And the guy goes, "Well, I'll come out and take a look at it." And I said, "You have Google Earth, don't you?" Yeah. I go,

"Do it's really not going to look any different if you come out." But he did come out. But in the meantime, they delivered before he came out. So, I didn't understand why we had the conversation when they ended up coming out. But every year, well, every six months we go through this. So eventually they're going to say they're not going to deliver and then we're going to end up having I don't know how many 250 gallon totes of the feric delivered. And then we're going to have to find a way to store it.

And then it's it's feric chloride. So, it's um it's a binding agent that we put in on on the re that binds to the solids and drops solids to the bottom. So, it's it's hazardous. It's very costic. You get it on your skin or metal, it's going to burn right through it. So, there's a lot there's a lot. So if we have to have these totes that only hold 250 gallons and we usually get a tanker truck

full when they deliver it. So imagine how many 250 gallon totes we're going to have to have and how much of a containment area we're going to have to have around these totes. And then they don't take the totes back.

Oh, we have to find a company that will come and get them and recycle them. So I don't even know how much that would cost. It's just one thing after another. And then the guy goes, "Well, I this is what you're dealing with." He goes, "Well, I don't know if you can store those outside." And Scott goes, "What?" He goes, "I don't know if you They might freeze. It might freeze." Scott goes, "You see that big blue tank over there? Do you think we're taking that inside in the winter?" He goes, "No, it sets outside and it doesn't freeze." So, no. If it's in a 250 gallon tote, it's not gonna freeze either. You're selling the product and you don't know if it freezes or not. This is what I'm dealing with. So, anyway, that's enough of my soap box. I'm off now. But it could be a it could be an issue coming moving forward. But we'll we got six months retreat.

Oh, good. Yeah.

Vehicle mileage squad one 1359 miles. Slide three 831. Slide four, 1210. Hours works 1450 best 126 and a half. Daniel under 184 and a half reserve 17.5 time violations have one nuisance violation officer initiated events business checks 48 assisted other departments 12 extra patrols 15 park security checks 81 placing four traffic violations Traffic tickets written 18 written warnings 68 vent checks two hen checks one complaints animal four miscellaneous complaints five suspicious persons four suspicious vehicles one disabled vehicles three open doors one accidents one medic assist two driving complaints one citizen assist three and found property one. Case is open. October 11th with the battery. October 18th of the October 25th possession of meth and possession controlled substance. October 27 was an OWI. Meetings attended at police prosecutors meeting October 2nd, chief's meeting October 2nd. uh training council meeting October 9th. I went to the Senate bill information meeting on October 9th and October 13th thing was said in the town council

meeting training attended or conducted. October 2nd I went to the RMC power line safety training and appreciation lunch in October 7th we had department training for patrol rifle. October 13th through the 17th, I was in Avon for my Robo 2 instructor certification for defensive tactics. October 21st, we did partner training for vehicle extractions. And October 26, uh Dustin and Daniel uh participated in the Casco Pasco County field day training and I went and observed. Um they had they did an officer down scenario um with stops training. They did emergency vehicle operations, driving training. They did firearms training as far as um building searches um and rooms room clearing. And then they did a um actual scenario uh based thing with u they had Lutheran EMS. They had a ambulance there with a combative patient. And so when the guys got done with their emergency vehicle driving, they stopped at the ambulance and then jumped in the back of the ambulance to assist with a combative patient. Um so they do some defensive tactics in there. So it's about 4 hour day um of training

but uh was really Pasco County did a really good job. So um that was it was good to see. Um so special events and activities we had trunk or treat at uh Ro City Elementary and Rich took care of that. On October 31st, we had trick-or- treat. And then again, all the tickets for the towns violations uh were for incidences in town. July was 233, August 210, September 163, and October 159. the surrounding area outside of town. July had 119, August 102, September 104, and October 107. The sheriff's department had in town the July 29 incidences, August 32, September 34, and October 28th. outside of town. The sheriff's department in July had 85, August 60, September 55, and October 67. thing is the traffic summary from the speed sign. Average value per day on the cross

street is um coming into town is 665.8 cars. Total value for the month of October was 20,639 vehicles. Minimum speed was 5 miles hour. Maximum speed was 73 miles hour. So um and I had a mileage of 112. This does September and May October we had $140,414 and for Stewart we had $37,465730 plus motion sir.

Okay. Our next meeting will be December 8th. Happy Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving. primary things. Yeah.