Common Council - Regular Meeting

April 20th, 2026, City of Leaport Common Council meeting to order. It is 6:02. We will begin with the pledge of allegiance. Nick Otis 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. Roll call. Clerk treasurer parthon. Councilman Frankie here. Councilwoman Huffman here. Councilwoman Fus. Councilman Galloway is absent. Counciloman Kesnney is absent. Councilman Buchanan here. Councilwoman West

here. Five present, two absent. Approval of April 13, 2026 meeting minutes. I'd like to make a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Second. Motion and a second. Discussion. All in favor? Opposed? Motion passes. We're now uh we've got a couple conflicts. So, if it's okay, can I move resolution? So, we're going to begin with an introduction of a resolution. Um number eight, Councilwoman Huffman. Yes, ma'am. Get you ready. Thank you.

I would like to make a motion to It was on. Sorry. Mic issues. I would like to introduce a resolution read for the first time in its entirety. Second. Motion and a second. Discussion. All in favor? I. Opposed? Councilwoman Huffman.

Thank you. Resolution adopting the provisions of Indiana Code subsection 5-23 in the city of Leaport, Indiana. This resolution is adopted by the city council of the city of Leaport, Leaport County, Indiana. Whereas Indiana code subsection 5-23-1-1 allows political subdivisions to utilize the statutes governing public private agreements where the legislative body has adopted the provisions of the statute by resolution or ordinance. And whereas Indiana code subsection 36-1-2-6 defines the fiscal body as the governing body or budget approval body for any other political subdivision that has a governing body or budget approval body. And whereas the Leaport city count council governing board is the fiscal and legislative body of the city of Leaport unit. And whereas the unit desires to adopt and utilize the provisions of Indiana code subsection 5-23. Be it thereby resolved by the governing board that one, it is hereby determined that the public private agreements authorized by and executed pursuant to Indiana code subsection 5-23 are a desirable alternative procurement method for the unit under certain circumstances. Two, all of the provisions of Indiana Code subsection 5-23 are hereby adopted for the purpose of utilizing public private agreements. Three, the provisions hereby adopted shall be available for any project deemed appropriate by the governing board. Four, this resolution will be available for public inspection at the office of the unit from and after the date of its adoption. Five, this resolution is in full force and effect upon adoption. Six, all prior actions taken by any officer, employee, or in instrumentality of the unit in connection with or

furtherance of any project subject to Indiana code subsection 5-23 are hereby approved, ratified, and affirmed in all respects. End of resolution.

So, this is a resolution that can pass this evening. Um, I've heard from many council members just like you've heard from many residents. And one thing I will tell you when it comes to our infrastructure, when it comes to our roads, uh, well, before we've taken office before 20 in in 2020, we've heard from the public saying we need more roads paved. We can't, our infrastructure is extremely old. We made a point to show the public how old our water, wastewater. I know Tim Warner's here. You know that we have a hundred-y old infrastructure. Our roads are in the similar shape. And I will tell you this from the CCMG state funding that we receive. Um we seem to keep doing the same thing expecting a different result from the limited amount of state funds that we receive. And the legislature has put put in different types of opportunities for local governments to rethink how we do roads. And maybe uh we need to have professionals that are in the business every day look at our road system. How do we get more roads paved? How do we deal with the infrastructure? And uh Travis Underh Hill from A Avenue is here today. He's a former leadership with Indiana Department of Transportation and now with Avenue. And uh this this is one example, but it's a broader uh scale that a local unit can partner and you may have heard the term in the past the P3 uh but to partner to look at doing things differently as funding and revenue uh continue to be reduced, finding new ways to do things. So with that, I'd like to call up Travis Unreal. Travis, welcome to beautiful Leaport. Again, good to see you. And uh if you

don't mind sharing about this resolution,

I' I'd love to. Thank you, mayor. Again, Travis Underh Hill with Avenue. Uh I also um my career in Indiana in the road business started at the city level. I was a city engineer for the city of Franklin uh about 25 minutes south of Indianapolis for for a half dozen years or so. Um the the resolution is is really it's a bigger broader stroke than just infrastructure. Um it's it's a tool that's been available for local units for some time and and hopefully this evening you'll enable it. It it really allows you to procure uh to complete your projects from a different perspective instead of just being forced to utilize the low bid for anything and everything. It allows you to to ask for different qualifications to be met for for different approaches to to accomplishing the work to guarantee you've got certain certified individuals. It it really it it opens up a broad spectrum for you like the mayor said to try to do things a different way at a higher level uh and and alleviates potentially that that often daunting cost of the low bid. questions as if you consider approval of this this evening. There'll be further discussions, further review of what our infrastructure uh is currently, despite the roads we've done. People are excited about Weller and you saw what that cost. We have Boyd Boulevard. Travis was up and down Boyd today and um many of the neighborhood roads in between there. So, um, this just gives the authority for the city to consider all options and again, Travis being in leadership at the state level. Uh, Avenue obviously has had great success in the state and, um, Northern Indiana, we're really the first one kind of leading the charge here to

consider this. So, um, questions for Travis, please. Right. What what are other municipalities do you have uh contracts with or

We actually today we on my way up here I found out we were awarded our third opportunity with Indianapolis. Um we've we've uh we're working on an opportunity with Terra Hope. We're doing this in Carmel. Uh Planefield just put out a really tremendous opportunity. Um I I there's others. We're working on parks projects in Madison County um where a lot of parks folks are finding that the bid market for their budget is not aligning and they're they're looking at this to to use this this this procurement as a way to rightsize towards their budget. Um and and we do road planning and and asset management uh advisory services for a lot of other places as well. Um, we're also very exciting time here in Leaport from uh the Microsoft perspective. We're working with the leave district in Lebanon and Boone County uh in assistance with META and and about an $80 million package to upgrade their local network to get ready for the construction traffic that comes along with those types of endeavors. comments, questions, and again, we have to look at potentially doing something differently. And part of that, uh, Travis, if you could share, is possibly looking at their large network and maybe more roads up front versus what we're normally able to do potentially, as an example, with roads or whatever we might want to look at. Yeah, I I mean I was just sharing with you and Ian a little while ago that that Leaport is an opportunity rich environment in a lot of different ways. Um the the network certainly is in need

of of some attention. Uh probably a lot of attention. Um but but I think the the greatest need is is understanding what is the best plan of attack. And it's not all going to get solved in one year, but it's understanding what are the resources we should be bringing to the table. Uh what are the treatments that we should be using and how are we using them? Stacking treatments on top of treatments because when we do make an investment in a new piece of road, we want to make sure that that road lasts as long as possible. Um and and really I think the situation in Leaport right now is is what are the great things that we can do that can buy time on certain components of the network so that we can do the deeper treatments on other more heavily to be trafficked uh components of the network and and you play a little bit of catchup like that and then all of the sudden your game plan will unfold in front of you and and and you'll be shifting then more to a preservation status and and being able to take some of those deeper dives and some of those heavier investments and eventually you start talking about the the more pedestrian desirable stuff on on the periphery uh becomes within your spending and within your capital wherewithal as well. So,

and focused on what we do well, leaves, snow, crack seal. I mean, and I think people don't recognize, and I didn't as well, how important is crack sealing uh for the infrastructure? I mayor, if you're not going to keep crack sealing, I wouldn't recommend that you should bother paving.

Now, this is this is exciting. This is what we hear uh from residents mostly is is roads. And like the mayor said, uh, you know, just dealing with what you get from the state year by year and and, uh, is is not working. So, a long-term solution and, uh, uh, some different ways of thinking is welcomed. So my my understanding is this is more of a retainer approach where we commit to x amount of months or years and then there might be some heavy front loading of of work done. Can you kind of touch on that? Yeah, it really more times than not usage of this of of the statute to use this procurement method does have a a outside funding component to it. I think that's what you're alluding to a little bit. Um whether it's private financing or there's bonding associated with it or or a number of other ideas that are that are certainly in the realm of possibility. Um, I I would actually say every every one of these that we work on is different. We've we've actually the the work that we've done to date with the city of Indianapolis has not been financed. There's not been any external financing component involved. It was really more from a desire to look at certain aspects of what they were trying to do from a programmatic approach instead of at a project level. and we help them figure out a way to cash flow that with with their current resources. That's a part of what presumably we would anticipate looking at here. Uh but there is also the possibility I I've retainer is is in definition does kind of meet that. Um, it

it depends on what solutions we would come up with and those conversations really haven't even yet begun yet. But it's it's an all-encompassing approach and you can use a multitude of different ideologies to to solve the problem.

And I did take him down by Sacred Heart Church and a lot of areas. He was pretty what did you call it? Opportunity opportunity rich environment opportunity rich environment that uh our residents deserve better. So and again the other part that came very clear is this wasn't something that just happened in 2020. No when we took office that you know we have been paving but we are an older community. Fair. There's I I think there's the benefit of also learning and understanding and adapting some different ideology and how you how you choose to take care of things moving forward as well.

Further comments. Motion to approve. Second. Second. Discussion. All in favor? I

oppose. Motion passes. And Travis, we know you have a long drive, so thank you, sir. So, as we jump around here a little bit, uh this weekend was a great weekend to be out in Leaport. You saw our parks being used uh for soccer, for baseball, just all types of thing, uh opportunities. And I have to admit, I was coming down by Boston Middle School and happened to see a young dance studio troop that were doing nothing more than walking up and around uh near downtown cleaning up trash. And I just think that is it was so neat to see. The kids were all smiling, parents, uh it was just excellent. So, I've asked Kristen Anderson. I told her we won't keep them long, but Kristen's here, I think.

Oh, she's not here. Well, please come.

Okay. Please come forward and um I would like to say so Kristen said this is the DLP LLC dance studio uh in Leaport and 910 Lincolnway and they do two community service projects a year. This year we helped with the deserving children's shopping tour and they're also partnering with the Leaport County Solid Waste District to clean up around downtown and around the dance studio and also around the local parks. And I know it's it's easy for adults to put out negativity, uh, nastiness on social media. And I think everybody, we all could take, um, a leadership role from our small friends here that went above and beyond and spent their nice Saturday um, cleaning up and making Leaport a better place. So with that, who would like to speak? Are you our guest speaker?

And please state your name for the record so we all know who that is. You can pull it down from the top. Here you go. I'm Abigail or Abby as most of my friends know me as. My last name is Bloom. Well, it's nice to meet you. And Abigail, what was the best thing that came out of you picking up the trash this past weekend? Just seeing like just picking up the community pretty much making it a better place.

A Who else do you have here? My name is Kiana Park. And best thing that came out for you cleaning up? Uh just like watching pass go by like seeing those smile on the faces and stuff. Great. And how about moms? Because it takes a village. So moms, please state your name for the record here. Come on forward. I'm Laura. I'm Shaunie. I'm Lindsay. I'm Sarah. I can talk loud enough now.

Yes. So, if we can, we're going to just bring you forward, take a picture, and just say thank you. Is that fair? Everybody come around. You're making a difference, a positive in the community. So, I wanted to say thank you. Yeah. Thank you all very much.

Thank you guys.

We do have one more um item here, a proclamation. And uh we do have the executive director from Family Advocates. If you could please come forward, Jackie Dery, if you could state your name. And please be careful. I want you to know Jackie has a detached retina and she's not supposed to be doing a lot of work. She's supposed to be resting after the surgery, but she's here.

So, good evening and thank you for having me. As you hopefully are aware by now since it is the 20th of April, April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and I am here in um in essence to thank the city and ask the city to declare it the city of Port National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Um, this day was originally and has been annually recognized since 1983 with a goal to bring community awareness to child abuse and maltreatment and to actually help families with community resources and better educate community members on how they can help children, which is always through volunteering, mentoring. We are so fortunate in our community. We have so many great agencies, Doombrook, Family Advocates, uh the Youth Service Bureau that work every day to help children and provide that bridge, help parents find resources just as does our um everybody in in city hall and our center township trustee. So that's it. That's all. Thank you.

And you always there are always whether it's for family advocates, Dunebrook, whoever, if the people want to volunteer, how best to do that? So you the best way to volunteer is to go to the website and you could go to doom well I believe Doom Brook does utilize volunteers but I know that we do and I believe I know that you service bureau does as well and most every website has an opportunity to fill out a page and that would go directly to um their volunteer coordinator. So

so I would like to read this proclamation for the city of Leaport. The blue ribbon represents child protection and commitment to their safety. Preventing child abuse and neglect depends on involvement of the entire community. And the majority of child abuse cases stem from situations and conditions that are preventable in an engaged and supported community. And child abuse and neglect can be reduced by making sure each family has support they need to raise their children in a healthy environment. And child abuse and neglect not only directly harm children, but also increase the likelihood of criminal behavior, substance abuse, health problems such as heart disease and obesity, and risky behavior such as smoking and drug use. And pin wheels of opportunity is the theme for this year. Pinwheels signing joyful healthy childhoods powered by hope and strengthened by prevention. We call on all citizens to become involved in supporting families in raising their children in a safe, nurturing environment. And whereas effective child abuse prevention programs succeed because of partnerships created among social service agencies, schools, faith communities, civic organizations, law enforcement agencies, and the business community. Now therefore, I, Tom Dermidy, mayor of the city of Leaport, state of Indiana, do hereby proclaim April 2026 as child abuse prevention awareness month in the city of Leaport and call upon all citizens, community agencies, faith groups, medical facilities, and businesses to

increase their participation in our efforts to support families. therefore preventing child abuse and strengthening the communities in which we live. Thank you, Jackie. And Thursday, there is a blue walk, correct? Um, yes, that would be the pres I believe it's the Presbyterian Church is going to have their child abuse walk. I want to say it begins at five o'clock or 5:30.

Council, if you'd like to, would you like to please come over and take a picture? Also, I see now some sweat droppings coming off of Mr. Warner's forehead. So, we want to get him up here. Uh, as you may have heard at the last meeting, we've had some misinformation coming out about the timeline on 39 North that you're actually on schedule for. So it actually I thought was perfect timing to maybe have for you and Howard and again you guys state your name for the recording talk about 39

Tim Warner with the city of Leort water department Howard Jones with Nice. Uh we just wanted to come and talk to you. I know we got a lot of projects going on around town right now. Um I apologize but I know it's been hard to get around but you know that's what we have to do for progress. So um we just want to give a quick update. Hey, I'm going to let Howard take over and just uh show you where we're at, what we're doing right now in 39 North. I know you don't see a lot of things happening out there, but there's a lot going on behind the scenes right now. So, I just want to I'll leave it to Howard and and Tim, thank you for you and your team's work because we are seeing roads maneuvering uh road shut. So, good work.

Um, as Tim said, I'm Howard Jones with Nice Engineering and also a resident here in in the city. Um this project has really been um rolling for a few years now, but it's hit into high gear when that area 39 North became annexed. Those utilities came under the umbrella of the city. Um and this project involves approximately a mile of new water main, two elevated tanks, and a booster station. And just briefly, the existing system uh that's been in service since the late 90s is a single 12-inch main that goes from roughly Sever Road up 39 to the toll booth um toll road um intersection. It's a dead end main which has challenges. You're pumping water at one end, there's a dead end at the other. It's not ideal. Uh so what we were looking at with this project is to bring a 12-in water man from Thomas Rose, which is a very well served area uh east side of town along Seavers Road to that base uh where water then will go go up 39 north. And in that area, we'll put an elevated tank and a brand new booster station. Uh the combination of that is going to provide plenty of water to serve that booster station. And that booster station will be able to pump water up much more effectively on 39 north. Second part of this is an elevated tank at the north end 39 north west side roughly where the toll road is. And what that'll allow you to do is pump far more efficiently because instead of trying to match an exact pressure of a dead end, you can pump to an elevated tank. Then you can turn your pump off and let the elevated tank handle it. Um design aspects of all of this is progressing pretty much as we originally planned. Land has been acquired at the north end and we're in the process of acquiring land at the south end which is Severs Road and that wooded area kind of by Sever and Pine Avenue. It's actually owned by the cemetery but it's not being used. It's

basically an open wooded lot is perfect for us. We're anticipating that we're going to be bidding these projects towards the end of summer and our original plan was for construction to be complete in fall of 2027. We're still on schedule for that. Uh elevated tanks typically don't get built on site. Whoever is low bid on that, they build those tanks at their facilities. It could be in just about anywhere in the country. They ship them in and put them up. So, you're not going to see a huge amount of activity. Maybe some foundations. We will water main going on Ste Road. You will see that booster station going, but like I say, we're on schedule with what we originally intended. Um, this is going to be funded by our SRF, which is state revolving loan funds. We're working with IFA. That application went in and we're we have a great relationship with the Indian finance authority. So, we're progressing and like you say, we're not seeing an awful lot, but it's happening. Design is going great. We're anticipating we're going to get that construction completed as we said we would.

And um comments regarding there's a senior living facility and people are saying, "Oh, you didn't do all these, but you have a senior living facility." Can you just talk about how you're able for the short term for that facility to provide uh the quality of water that's necessary?

Yeah. I actually I was just out there Friday uh speaking with the owners. they they had a small issue inside there that we we dealt with right away as the water department. But, uh, fire protection is what's what's an issue out there. And there's an agreement with fire department and, um, Jim Arnold, the or sorry, Ed Arnold, the the owner there, uh, with his pond out there for for fire flows. Um, even if you don't see the the water towers go up right away, just the booster station alone once it goes in almost doubles the fire flow out in that area. Um, so so that's an important thing to remember. And both those towers is not just about flow, but then it's about duration of how long we can sustain those flows to fight a large fire in that area. Um, you know, I think the last, uh, hydraulic model I seen was like, you know, three to four hours of of fire flow for that area. Now, uh, right now, basically, the fire department has a choice when they pull up out there. One hydrant or let the fire suppression system inside one of the factories. Only about 1,000 gallons a minute to,200 gallons a minute are available at this time for for fire flow. So, uh, just the booster station load doubles that. And and another thing to remember when we started this process, I'm going to say fall of 2020, I think is when I started having these talks with the mayor, uh this was a $10 million uh upgrade. You know, just as time's gone by and price has gone up, we're we're we're approaching the $15 million mark now for this project for the same thing we were going to do all along, just just the costs that have have come up. So, I also want to make sure everybody's aware of that that we are investing more than we promised uh to the area.

Comments, questions. So, so to be clear, we're not sitting idly by on this project and we are fulfilling our commitments. Correct. We've been working on this almost every day, Howard and I and other team members. It's a it's a huge project and uh you know once we got the the green light to go we we like I said there's a lot behind the scenes to make this happen and uh it's almost not justifiable when you see the two towers go up and you think about all the work we put into it but you know that's that's what we uh said we were doing that's what we're doing and because it's SRF there are requirements that we are that we have to follow to get the lower interest rate for

there absolutely are um they're not that ownorous Like I said, we have a great relationship with IFI, but they sometimes require things like an archaeological survey to see if there's artifacts. There some things that they're a little tough to get through, but it's worth it because we're looking at lower interest rates and we're looking at a lower cost. Those are the behind the the scenes things that are being worked on as well. You know, all these things take a lot of time when you're when you're working through the state or other agencies. So, it's it's it's been a it's been a busy road. That's good. And then also you've got the National Guard project that you're also working on besides all the other projects. That's a big big job that keeps the guard here in Leaport.

Yeah, for sure. You know, same same scenario there. They needed some fire flow. Uh you know, so we're bringing um a main from Ziggler Road, tying it into uh Kolfax and run it all the way up to Fifth Street. Um that also uh strengthens the fire flow around the mall. We'll do a bore underneath uh state road two and tie it into the new line around the mall. So, it's it's it's helping our system too with uh you know, looping and reliability and just uh being able to have those fire flows. You know, a lot of people think you know water systems were put in for drinking water and that's false. They were put in for for fire protection. So, first and foremost, that's what we have to do is is protect the city from from a large fire. And I think we've all seen that in this administration with the American Rubber Fire. You know, we pumped 13.9 million gallons of water in uh just over 24 hours there.

Tim, on uh Indiana A up by Lincoln Way, I think a couple weeks ago, I this blew me away when you told me, but like there's lines that are so old or antiquated like we didn't know they existed, right, as a part of this. Yeah. It's almost like a surprise every day up there. Uh you know, how old would you say like those lines are? Oh, I'm going to say early 1900s, maybe. some of them in the late 1800s. Over 100 years old. Yeah. Yeah. We are the third oldest water system in the state of Indiana.

Well, and HRP made sure to share with me that they were geysers and they don't know what they're getting each each day because the infrastructure so that they're just popping as they said geysers out there in the middle of Indiana.

Yeah. You know, when uh even when I first started back on the construction crew, we would disconnect something at the the curb stop, leave it connected to the main and the road, you know, just to prevent from tearing up the road. Uh really that's a bad practice. Then you get these surprises. You know, that's one thing that we've changed over the last couple years is, you know, I know it's irritating, you know, to have patches in the road, but this is why those leaks come up. You know, you might as well connect them, disconnect them, right? Another good thing on Indiana AB is we're replacing a lot of lead lines going through there. There's a lot of lead lines on Indiana AB. So, part of this project is uh new services from the main to the curb stops. So, we're we're still waiting for the EPA and the state to come down with some final ruling on the lead lines, but you know, that's another huge project that we'll be moving into here uh really really fast. Do those types of lines will they exist all the way throughout the Indiana A project or is it

No, it's going to be the whole way any any the we call it the heart of the city uh the oldest part of the city. Lots of old lines disconnect. You know, as times change, buildings change, houses go up, houses get tore down. Um like I said, it just wasn't uh standard practice to chase those lines to the main and disconnect them. So yeah, those are always it's always that last bucket, you know. Other comments, questions?

As we before we talked about the, you know, the long-term road planning, it's it's really nice to to have in conjunction as all these uh infrastructure upgrades happen because, you know, you see a road that needs repaired and you spend the money to repair it, but two years down the line, we have a we have a project for infrastructure. You can plan that out a little bit better and those dollars are more wisely used.

Yeah, 100%. It it gets expensive uh to to replace roads. you know, when you get down into the subbase and you're replacing all the infrastructure, uh, it multiplies pretty fast. I've always said, you know, infrastructure is something that's not on everybody's mind till it is. You know, it's it's unseen. It's there, but, uh, it's like that ugly monster that shows his face every once in a while. Water towers are always so boring to look at. I think it'd be great to have like a a mural done ahead of time while Oh, yeah. and bullseye. We got to take advantage of the opportunity. Yeah, we don't have the money to repaint the vandalism on that for a while.

He'll win an IU one on there, you know, national champion, but Courtney. Um, other comments, questions. Thank you both. Yep. Thanks. Appreciate it. Have a great evening. Good night. We do not have any comments of citizens. Any comments online? Nothing on Facebook or YouTube. Standing committee reports. Council President Frankie Redevelopment Commission meets next Wednesday 5:15 here in council chambers. That is April 29th. That's all. Councilwoman Huffman. I have nothing to report this evening. Councilwoman Figus.

Um Parkboard met on Wednesday, April 15th. Jeff Starky, the new library appointee, was welcomed to the board. The funds for the civic auditorium lift were released and bids went out to um went out to contract for the work. Since no bids came in by the extended deadline, Mark Shriber is speaking with a local contractor that will hopefully work with an elevator company to get the work completed. HRP construction is planning to have the infrastructure work in Soldiers Memorial Park finished by this week, at which time paving can begin. Once paved, the mountain bike trail head restroom project will be put out for bid and then plans after that will be the completion of the multi-use trail extension picking up at Craraven Drive and ending at Orchard A. Uh the activity center for older adults extended their lease with Northwest Health for another year. With that renewed lease, permission was given to enter into um a memorandum of understanding with Meals on Wheels, who also operate out of that space. They are currently there at no charge, but with this new memorandum, they will begin paying $227 a month to the park department for the use of the space. A new recreational program will be added to the park's lineup this summer. Pilates in the park will hold three separate sessions in May, June, and July. The first session is set to take place in Unity Park. The cost is $20 per class or $70 for the full four class session. The class classes will be held on Wednesday mornings at 8:30 a.m. Um then approval was given for disposal of two pieces of park equipment. One being a 2004 Chevy one ton truck and the other is a 15 to 20 year old think car. Park board meetings next scheduled meeting is for Wednesday May 20th 4 p.m. at the park office and then traffic commission will be meeting Tuesday May 12th 5:00 pm at the police station. Councilwoman West,

nothing to report from last week. It's only been a week. Councilman Buchanan, historic preservation commission meets tomorrow uh at 5:30 here in council chambers. I do have one other thing, Dad. Uh Council President Frankie, regarding uh police commission, I spoke to Mike Collins last week. He said that there were believe five officers being sworn in tomorrow or four I think for sure. Maybe five. That's a good thing. Excellent. Second final reading of an ordinance. Council President Frankie, your honor, I move to read an ordinance for Fus. I'm sorry.

Got a little confused. Okay. So did I. Obviously. I would like to read an ordinance for the second and final time by title only. Second. Second. Do I second? All in favor? Opposed? Councilwoman Figus, an ordinance amending ordinance number 16-2025 and ordinance number 23-2025 fixing salaries of appointed officers and employees of the city of Leaport, Indiana for the year 2026 for the engineering and code enforcement departments. Kirk, treasure,

we're just cleaning up the salary ordinance with a part-time building inspector going moving into code enforcement and out of the engineering department. Motion to approve. So moved. Second discussion. All in favor? I oppose. Motion passes. Item number nine, pilot agreement, country acres. Uh Councilman Min Buchanan. Uh, does this need a motion since it's not a resolution to read or am I just reading? So good. I would make a motion. Yeah, I make a motion to uh read uh an agreement uh for the first and only time. Second. Motion and a second. Discussion. All in favor?

I oppose. Councilman Buchanan.

Pilot agreement. This payment in lie of taxes agreement also known as pilot is dated and made and entered into effective as of this day 2026 uh by and among the city of Leaport, a political subdivision of the state of Indiana, the city and country acres apartments LP and Indiana Limited Partnership and its permitted successors and assigns the owner background uh recital. Whereas the city is a duly organized political subdivision under the laws of the state of Indiana governed by its dulyeleed city of Leaport common council. Whereas the owner desires to acquire, rehabilitate, and operate an affordable multifamily housing apartment project on loca on located in Leaport, Indiana at 1701 Country Lane Drive, which real estate is legally described on exhibit Attached to and made part of this pilot agreement to be known as Country Anchors Apartments to develop, construct, and make available the project for the purpose of providing decent, safe, sanitary, affordable residential care facilities for low and middle inome residents of the city and surrounding areas. Whereas the project will be developed, renovated, and operated for the purpose of providing housing to income eligible persons under the federal lowincome housing act housing tax credit program under section 42 of the inter internal revenue code of 1986 as amended. Whereas the project as a section 42 property will be subject to an extended use agreement under code section 42 as administered by the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority for a period of at least 15 years. Whereas pursuant to the IHCDA extended use agreement, the project as a section 42 property may only make available and rent to residents whose income is 60% or less of the area median gross income.

Whereas pursuant to the IHCDA extended use agreement, the project as a code section 42 property will be limited to charges rents as determined in accordance accordance with the IHCDA extended use agreement. Whereas the owner has agreed to make certain payment in lie of taxes under the exemption provided in Indiana code 6-1.1-10-16.7. Whereas the city is authorized to enter into this pilot agreement pursuant to Indiana code 36-1-8-14.3 and whereas to provide uh for the orderly and timely development of the project the owner and the city have negotiated and seek to enter into this pilot agreement which has been approved by the council.

Thank you. And again, I'd like to take a minute here. Uh this has been an eyes sore, a problem for code enforcement, for police uh for at least through the years that uh we've all been in office. And I'll tell you, people should not have to live in these type of conditions. We've done what we needed to do from our organizations, but putting them uh in an unsafe environment, like I said, our police, our code, and everything that we've all been out there to deal with. Uh, I want to give credit to Craig Phillips working a opportunity here to have a fresh start for all those lower income individuals that deserve it. So, thank you, Craig. Craig Phillips, please come forward.

Thank you, mayor. Good evening. So, I'm going to parap in addition to the information that was in the background of recitals, I just want to paraphrase why we're here tonight. um talk about some of the other aspects of the agreement and then um I'll turn it over to Paul Moore from KCG Development um to do a brief presentation on the project, give you a good overview of what's happening here, what's proposed um and then we'll have time for any questions and answers you guys have at that point. So, um this is a this is a huge opportunity for the city. As the mayor mentioned, this is a problem property. Has been a problem property for quite some time. I asked the um police chief and the fire chief to go back five years and count the number of calls that have been made to this property u in that time period. And uh the information that we received back that was shared with the council previous to this meeting. As you're aware, um there were 977 calls for police service of various types and 272 calls for fire service of various types. Everything from safety related to drugrelated to crime other various crimes um and just general calls of a general nature.

What was that time frame for? Five years. Five years. Five years. So from two Yeah. From 2021 to now.

Um that information was provided to us and I shared with the council. Um, so this is a 100 this is a 100 unitit complex that received re recently received uh tax credit approval for 9% u tax credits through the um Indiana comm uh community Indiana housing and community development authority. That's a mouthful. Um and we're excited to be partnering on this project with them. It's a huge opportunity for our community and for the residents of that community is going to result in um re basically rehousing the people that currently live in that property. um when that when that's possible. Um so there are provisions that been that have been made to um temporarily house those individuals. So we're not talking about displacement here. This is important from a planning standpoint to make sure that it's known um that that's not what this project involves. Finally, just want to give you a brief kind of overview on the last page of the agreement as as exhibit B. Um basically what's being requested is a payment of taxes. Um, and this is based on an analysis of the taxes that have been paid on the property within the past five years roughly. Currently, the property the LA in the last tax year, the property uh owner uh previous to the proposed current owner had paid about $100,000 in taxes on an income based approach for collecting taxes. um in an effort to um and it's important to note that a percentage of a smaller percentage of that is what's actually collected by the city um all the under in addition to the other tax units that make up the total amount. What's being proposed is a tax structure, a payment in lie of taxes structure that begins um in year 2027 payable 28 based on the expectation for when the project will be complete uh beginning at $7,000 and then ramping up over time each 10 years um with a with a uh um with an

accelerator built into the structure so that in um in 2038 that would that would adjust to $100,000 in um year 2048 that would adjust to $130,000 and max out in year 207 at $169,621. That payment will be made directly to the city and as opposed to taxes. And again, like we said, that average right now is right around it's it's between 70 and $100,000. It fluctuates based on the income percentages and um calculations made by the assessor's office. Um, but we feel that this is a a a nice way to incentivize this project so that they're paying a little bit less on the front end, but making up for that on the back end. And um, the city benefits by collecting uh, the entire pilot amount. Um, as and and that would be more than what we're currently receiving in taxes. That would be paid into what's called an afford affordable housing fund. As you're all aware, we're engaged in a number of affordable housing efforts in the community. So, this is a great opportunity for us to help fund some of those efforts. Um, and that can be from anything from physical improvements in affordable housing to uh potential utility uh assistance programs and that sort of thing. So, with that, I want to turn it over to um Paul Moore from KCG Development to go into this a little bit more detail for you and then we'll be happy to answer any questions after that.

Paul, good to see you. I was looking right through you. Never saw you until just now. So, welcome again. All all good. Thank you. I appreciate the opportunity to be here. Um I also want to thank Craig and Bert, Mayor Dery, many others for um all the support. You know, it's been um well over a year since we started conversations on Country Acres. Uh this is a project that is um long overdue. Um as Craig mentioned, we have a 100 uh low-income households here at Country Acres. Um, I'm going to run through the this PowerPoint fairly quickly, but feel free to stop me anytime or ask any questions along the way. Um, uh, actually go go back one slide. I did want to, uh, show on the, uh, the rendering on the left is, uh, what the new community building will look like. Um, currently at Country Acres, uh, there is a very small dilapidated building at the back rear of the property. This new community building will be up front. Um, it, uh, is not only going to have a community room, but also a business center. Um, it's going to have a police substation. Um, so it's, uh, and it's going to be right out front, so better visibility for not only current residents, but also future residents that want to live at this property. Um, so it's going to be a a very impactful upgrade. Um, KCG, our company, um, we're an affordable housing, uh, development firm based in Indianapolis. Uh, we do this all over the country. Um, we currently have, uh, 35 communities in 10 states. Um, but, uh, Indiana being our our home state, we're very excited about this one. Um and um we are a vertically integrated firm meaning that we do

development, design and construction in house. Um however with ACT rehab properties like Country Acres, uh we have a a third party uh general contractor that's based in uh Indiana that we'll use as well. Um one item of note is that we are in this for the long term. Um, it's a 15-year uh initial compliance plus another 15-year uh period on the use agreement. So, we're we're typically in these for 30 years or longer. So, this is not a quick flip opportunity. Um, this is uh for the long haul. Um, our property management uh firm is Win Residential. Uh, they manage our entire portfolio across the country. Um, they are um very large uh company that manages over 120,000 units total, including over 25,000 projectbased section 8 units. Uh so they specialize in properties just like Country Acres. Now getting into the plan here. Um now this this property was built in 1972. Um it has just been incredibly neglected. um the current owner, the current management company um frankly have not done a great job of being proactive, keeping on top of things. We heard about all the security issues. Uh so uh we're going to address that and much more as part of this rehab. Um just a couple uh notes on our project partners mentioned CRG residential who's the contractor in win. Um we h we have a energy consultant called deminium due diligence group. um resident services will be an important part of this project as well. Uh so we have a company called connected uh communities that will provide uh services out of that brand new community building and uh company called first phase will be the relocation consultant uh as part of this

major rehab. residents will be relocated for uh about 10 or 12 days uh temporarily before flooring and larger uh items are done within their homes before they're able to move back. Um the uh mentioned the community building um there'll be accessibility upgrades. The currently the property is not ADA compliant. Um, so in addition to the units themselves, um, all the common area paths to the units to the, uh, to the new community building, um, will all be, uh, paved and, uh, newly ready. Um, a lot of energy efficiency, uh, measures as well. Uh, so LED lighting throughout, energy star appliances, um, and then of course security. Uh, we'll have a new modern camera security system. Um, currently the property has zero cameras. Uh so there'll be uh um multiple uh camera locations on every building at the property. Um we'll have light new lighting on uh on the buildings as well as uh in the parking lot areas. Um much better connectivity with the police department. We've already started those conversations. We're excited for those to continue um after we acquire the property and start the renovation. Um and then we'll have patrols during the construction period as well to make sure everything is secure and goes well. Um quickly on the timeline, uh so we're fast approaching our closing date here. We close, uh in May, uh so just in about a month, uh and we will start the renovation July 1st. So that uh relocation I mentioned will start at that time. Um and then currently the project is scheduled to finish in the first quarter of 2027. So, it's a fairly quick uh construction period. Um, but again, we've been uh working on this for

a long time. So, we're excited to be at this phase today. Um, and then a quick note on uh just again on connected communities. Um, it it's uh for KCG, it this is just not about a physical renovation, but but about providing services to these low-income residents. Um, you know, this is there's 100 families. There's a lot of kids at this property. Um, so it's the next generation that is important to us to focus on um with youth development, after school programs, uh, job and career development. Um, we're going to make sure that we're connected with uh, local nonprofits within Leaport. Uh, so uh, connected communities is able to bring those to the property for the benefit of the residents. Um that's it. Um but happy to happy to answer any questions.

Well, that's a lot. And I mean, we've all been through Oh, yeah. And Craig, uh and so the the total investment is going to be over 8 million um in in the rehab itself. Um it's going to touch basically every piece of the property. um you know from roofs and windows basically brand new units inside with bathrooms and kitchens, flooring, cabinets, countertops, blend uh full unit paint. Um so uh it's going to be transformative.

We've had a lot of Southbend individuals coming in with no check. They're coming right in there. We have problems there. Will the door being or the uh building being up front, will they check for guests? Will there be some pass you have to receive so you're not just flowing in and out of there. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. That there'll be uh definitely um yeah making sure that there's no one unwanted visitors there at the property for sure. Other comments, questions? Really appreciate your investment. I think you have uh someone else here. Would you like to introduce?

Yeah. Yeah. This is This is Brody Weiner, uh my colleague um on our team at KCG. Excited for him to be here. He's been my wingman throughout. So, um Brody Weiner, Julie thought it was your son. So, do I look that old? Brody, welcome. Anything you'd like to add? Thank you. No, great to be here with you all and excited to invest in this community and improve the lives of the hundred families living at Country Acres. Excellent. So Courtney and I were also debating name change, keeping the name because it's had a name change that or I mean a name that's had a struggle.

Yeah. Um it's actually a great point. Um you know uh I would be in favor of that. Um and uh if the community is in favor of that, that's something that we'll take very seriously. Um the community contest. Yeah. Uh yeah. No, there you go. I think it'd be a great opportunity to rebrand the property with, you know, in a new era. So, I think that's a great idea. Further comments? I I was just going to say I really appreciate the the meetings we did have with or the meeting we did have with you where you explained a lot. We were able to ask questions. So, I'm I'm really excited about this project and I do like the idea of a name change. I think that would be great.

Okay. Thank you. So, do I have a motion and a second? So moved. Second. Have a motion and second on the pilot. Further comment. All in favor? I opposed. You are approved. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. And as we remind everybody else, enjoy the rest of your night. If you choose not to stay, you won't hurt our feelings. Introduction of a resolution. Council President Frankie. Your honor, I move to introduce a resolution read in its entirety for the first and only time. Second. Motion and a second. Discussion. All in favor? I opposed. Council President Frankie.

Resolution of the common council of the city of Leaport, Indiana, approving certain amendments to the plan for the Leaport Consolidated Economic Development Area. Whereas the city of Leaport redevelopment commission previously adopted and amended a declaratory resolution establishing the Leaport consolidated economic development area in the city which includes the Boyd Boulevard allocation area and approving an economic development plan for the economic development area. And number one, whereas on March 25th, 2026, the redevelopment commission approved and adopted a resolution amending the declaratory resolution to designate Microsoft Corporation and its successors or signs or any affiliates of the company and their successors or assigns as a designated taxpayer for purposes of Indiana code 36-7-14-39.3 and add to the plan that the additional projects set forth in exhibit A to the 2026 resolution. Whereas the redevelopment commission submitted the 2026 resolution to the city of Leaport Plan Commission for its approval pursuant to Indiana code 36-7-14-16. And whereas on April 14th, 2026, the plan commission issued its order approving the 2026 resolution. Now therefore be it resolved by the common council of the city of Leaport, Indiana as follows. Number one, the common council hereby approves the amendments to the plan as provided in the 2026 resolution and hereby approves the order of the plan commission approving the 2026 resolution. Number two, the resolution shall be in full force in effect from and after its passage by the common council as required by law. End of resolution.

This is a resolution. Do I have a motion to approve? So moved. Second discussion. Bird Cook, please come forward.

Good evening, mayor. Good evening, city council. Bird Cook, executive director of the Leaport Economic Advancement Partnership. As um some of you who may have been following the redevelopment commission, the plan commission or sit on the plan commission, uh you probably have seen this amendment come before both bodies. Um the declaratory resolution was passed by the redevelopment commission and plan commission uh signed off on the amendment as well at their last meeting. Now it comes before the council. The reason for the amendment is when we started as you all know well now at this point when we started the Microsoft project we had a pilot agreement in place since we've rescended that or you all have rescended the uh the taxpayer agreement with uh Microsoft. And so we need to uh align the um uh the allocation area with the new parameters of the project and that's exactly what this does. So would encourage your um approval of this this evening and then we'll go back in front of the redevelopment commission uh assuming you approve tonight. will go back in front of their redevelopment commission at their meeting on um the 29th of of this month for uh the confirmatory resolution and then the uh amendment will be uh fully take hold. And I'll just uh remind you all and suggest this for the public that are watching this is amending the existing allocation area, the existing Microsoft project, 489 acres that are in the city. We're not doing anything with the uh expanded area that is in front of the um city council right now. So, just for crystal clarity on this issue, we're talking about the uh allocation area that is within the city limits, Microsoft's current property that they are under construction on as we speak.

There is a motion and a second. Further comment? All in favor? I opposed. Motion passes. While you're here, Mr. Could you also mention uh tomorrow the public meeting at the civic?

Absolutely, mayor. So, we have a community meeting uh regarding the Microsoft project from 4 to 7:00 p.m. tomorrow at the civic auditorium. There are uh there will be station set up where if you have questions about specific aspects of the project, we would encourage you to attend and get those answers. It's not a uh it's not any kind of large presentation. it is specific to the um the areas of the project that you have questions on and so be a good opportunity to get more information and we're appreciative of the fact that Microsoft has a large contingent of people in town tomorrow to uh get those questions answered. Was that I thought that was a castling.

So the one at Kesling which was last week was for uh those residents in proximity to the site. This is uh communitywide. I think you all have experienced it. Uh I have as well. Microsoft has made a um a significant effort in getting out there and sharing information, answering questions. And so to Councilman Frankie's point, they've uh they've had a number of uh opportunities for people to get more information. And uh tomorrow is just another one of those. Thank you. Thanks. Introduction of a resolution to transfer funds. Councilwoman West. Your honor, I move to introduce a resolution read for the first time and only time in its entirety.

Second. Motion and a second. Discussion. All in favor? Councilwoman West.

A resolution to transfer funds within the 2026 budgets. Whereas, there are additional monies needed in certain line items in the 2026 budget in order to pay for essential services and obligations. Now, therefore, be it. And it is hereby resolved by the common council of the city of Leport, Indiana, that the following transfers be made within the following budgets for the year of 2026. Civic non-reverting 5504-803 from 391.002, which is event cost to 331.00 printing and advertising advertising in the amount of $15,000. End of resolution.

Courtney Parthonone. This was a request from civic director Rhonda um Ashcraft. So just bringing it in front of the council for normal transfers. Civic had one at every council meeting so far. The civic was popping Saturday evening. So yeah. No, Elton John. Begs were before. Yes. I was too. I saw you. Do I have a motion to approve? So moved. Second. Discussion. All in favor? I

opposed. Resolution passes. Other business. I would like to have Charity Las from Hotspot come forward and just say, was that better or worse? Thank you for what you did yesterday. uh Cousins Lobster if you did not have a chance uh bringing them out. They seem to really enjoy being in Leaport and partnering with you. So, thank you.

They did um and they will be back. We arranged it um last time. They will be back June 21st and we're going to coincide that. So, they start when Farm and Forge does that's a Sunday. So, 11 to 6 they're going to be back. So, yeah, it's a great great opportunity. Um, they promise their app will be up and running, so you'll be able to order online and then you will come into the cafe and pick up your your stuff. So, you won't have to wait in line the whole time. And you can order there or if you wait in line with the truck, then you can come in the cafe and eat it, too. You know, we have no problem with that. Um, so yeah, it it's great. It's a great opportunity. It works for us, it works for them. Um, gets a lot of people into my establishment that have never been in there before. I heard that repeatedly. So, yeah, we are very pleased with that hole. So, I am the cousins connection. They made sure that I knew that other businesses have approached them in their truck in front of my business to do an event at their business and they said no. And I'm just going to say, I know we have some strong competition in Taco Fest, but if you haven't had their lobster tacos, I think they need to step into that uh competition this summer with Taco Fest because they have some good stuff there.

We did discuss that Taco Fest thing. Did you get the lobster taco? Absolutely. Okay. So, lobster tacos, shrimp tacos, lobster bis, clam chowder, um, lobster rolls, uh, moon pies. Moon pies. Um, the grilled cheese with lobster, lobster tops. What? Yeah, the lobster tots. Yeah. So, all things lobster. They are all about it. So, thank you for continuing to develop help develop our downtown charity. All right. We'll see you guys there.

I believe Councilman Buchanan has a lobster suit. Didn't you didn't you run the turkey trot in that? You could go out that that was some high school kids. That would be fabulous. It's It's in our basement where it will stay. Correct. Will it fit the mayor? We can take it. Motion to adjurnn. So move. Second. All in favor? I I the next meeting is May 4th, Monday, 2026. Everyone have a great evening. Thank you.