Council - Regular Meeting

The April 20th meeting of the Marian Town Council will now come to order. We will begin with the invocation given by Lieutenant Rick Billings.

That's right. Heavenly Father, we thank you Lord for everything for us each and every day. All the many blessings for a beautiful day you give us air everything is of you Lord. We thank you for it so much. We thank you most importantly for Jesus. Thank you for the opportunity to gather together again in a peaceful man. Lord we ask you to lay your hand on all these council members. Lord, give them the knowledge and everything they need for tonight to make the decisions they do to be with all these folks out in Galilee. Just touch them and their families, Lord, and just be with us each and every day and guide us in a life that can be pleasing to you. In Jesus name we pray.

Amen. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Apologize to everyone and the folks at home for starting a little bit late tonight, but it looked like we picked up a couple more people by waiting, so that's great. uh welcome the audience at home and uh uh thank you Lieutenant for that very eloquent prayer. That was very nice. Um we will uh now continue with the roll call and we see that we are absent to members. Um please let the record note that we need an approval of the minutes from our last meeting. So moved. Second

motion and second. Any additions or questions about the minutes as written. All in favor of accepting the minutes and it is unanimous. We need an approval of the agenda. And are there any additions?

Couple of changes to make addition. Um, each of you should find in front of you and I'll have it up here when we get there, the u the paving numbers that we got uh as a result of the RFP for the town paving. Uh, I'm going to add that under town manager report. Um, and then also Todd Long was unable to be with us this evening, so I'm going to um strike his staff report and I'll have a small update on your town manager report. Other than that, that's all I have. Okay. So, do we have a motion to approve the agenda as amended? I'll make that motion. Second.

Motion and second to approve the amended agenda. All in favor? And we have an agenda set. We have no public hearings tonight. Am I correct? That's correct. And so, we will uh proceed now with uh public comment time. And uh the first person that we have we do a public presentation. Oh, we do have a presentation. Yes. Oh, okay. Um I'm very sorry. Um yes, your name's right there, Mark. And and I've even spoke with you before. Please, you have the floor, sir. Thank you. Uh so

wanted to bring you an update on all the activities that the tree commission is doing and particularly bring a couple of uh things to your attention. Uh just uh to start off with who the tree commission is. Uh I'm the chair. I'm glad that we have uh had a bunch and uh Tom Hower here tonight with us as well as Adam Tilson and uh Jim Gates who we uh really appreciate being a part of of our commission and Ash Nichols. So I'm going to try to hit the high points here tonight. Uh you can't get me here talking before you without saying something about the importance of trees. So I'm going to say that as I usually do. And then uh Arbor Day is coming up in one week. I'll talk about that. And then a little bit about the community forest revital revitalization grant and particularly the uh community forest urban plan. Um that that's our biggest update. And then a little bit on a tree planting program we are working on. So, just a reminder, you've heard me say this before, but trees do a lot of good for our community and for the for the town of Marian. Uh, they can reduce energy costs. They uh increase property values. And this is all there's data to show this. This is not my opinion. Uh, they can keep neighborhoods cooler in the summer, sort of traffic sounds, mental and physical health. And there's lots of studies that have shown the benefits of being around trees uh on on health and also mitigating the effects of of climate change. So our our Arbor Day celebration will be one week from today at 1:00 at Marian Middle School. Um the the real purpose of our Arbor Day celebration is to uh affirm the the make a public affirmation of the value of

trees to our community. Um and to teach a little bit about uh trees tree the value of trees and the care for trees. Um we will be doing this at as we have in the past couple of years at Marian Middle School. Uh there will be uh students there. Um and Kevin Sigman, our town arborist, will be doing the presentation there. If you haven't seen him do that, please come. It's it's well worth it. He does a very good job. Um the Arbor Day proclamation, which uh uh I will I will ask this body to uh to do that tonight at the end of my presentation. Um that's an important part of this day. It is also one of the requirements for being a Tree City USA which we have been for we're now in our 25th year. So, uh we have a a rich tradition of of being a Tree City USA. So, and and I would encourage any of you uh for the the council members if you are able to attend please come one o'clock at the the middle school next Monday. So now moving on to the uh the grant that we received from the uh uh Virginia Department of Forestry. The grant had two components. I've spoken a little bit about this in the past. The urban forest master plan and design assistance and tree planting for Wona Circle. Um, initially we were going to be doing the Wona Circle first, but then uh in consultation with Department of Forestry, we thought it would make more sense to do the master plan first and then make sure that what we do at Wona Circle fits in with that master plan. So, we have been moving forward on the master plan. We're working with a contractor uh that was paid for through the grant, Green Infrastructure Incorporated. Um and we've been working

with a advisory committee and with the consultants since last October. Uh Kendall Top and Jessica Hang are the um are the two that have been working with us. Uh we had various members from the town and the tree commission. And the goal is to develop a a realistic feasible plan for the community forest in in the town of Marion. And by community forest, we're not talking about just what you think of as a forest. We're talking about the entire tree canopy across the entire town on both public and private uh properties. This slide just illustrates a bit of the data that our consultants were able to provide. We have a number of these types of maps uh that will allow us to see where what space is available for planting trees. What spaces currently has tree cover and we can break that down in terms of of the economics of that particular area. We can break it down in terms of of temperatures uh heat and income uh planting locations for storm water infiltration. So we have lots of this type of data. We also have a very complete spreadsheet that allows us to assess uh costs uh and benefits versus our goals uh which I'm not going to get into the details of that but I wanted to just make it clear that that this is data driven what we are working on uh we will be uh okay it doesn't the laser doesn't work on the screen sorry about that uh we will be collecting public comments on our proposed plan at the wellness fair at Hungry Mother State Park on June 26th. So,

this is the the real nutsh nutshell summary. We have a great deal more behind the scenes here. Uh, and I will be glad to share the details with you if you would like um at any at any point. We will be bringing these back to you um after the wellness fair and after we have uh completed all of our work and uh requesting an approval of the plan. So the basic goal is to increase the tree canopy in in the town within the town of of Marian from 34% which is what it is now to 35% over the next 10 years. That sounds like a very modest goal. it actually and I don't have the numbers but we can tell you how many trees that is and you know what estimated costs are. We have all that data behind that. Um that's something that we we think is realistic. If we do nothing then that 34% is going to go down because you any community will tend to lose trees for a variety of reasons. So by move pushing it up 1% that's a realistic it's something that's affordable and we think we can do that. Some of our action items that go along with that are to increase the public understanding of the benefits of trees and tree care to establish a tree planting program uh which we had already actually started work on uh and that will include both public and private lands. strengthen the tree commission visibility and our role as advisors uh as to things related to to our uh tree canopy and to improve the quality of Marian's tree canopy. For example, we've got some some trees on Main Street that are in poor conditions. So, that's just one example of what we mean by improving the quality of the canopy.

And that was the maybe not 30 second but it was a very brief overview. Again let me know if you if you would like more details on what we are working on. Uh or please come out to the wellness fair and see our booth at the wellness fair. The tree planting program that we're working on which of course dovtales with our master plan is to provide trees free of charge to residents of of the town of Marian. uh and along with that provide information on how to plant them and how to care for them so that these trees grow and are our success and to continue to educate the public regarding the value of trees. Um we are hoping that we will be able to implement this by this fall. Uh we will have more details as we continue uh working on this, but I wanted to give you a heads up that that's something that's that's active on our agenda. And uh that's the end of my presentation unless that you have any any questions.

U would you like um us to officially uh read the proclamation now and uh and yes please then uh if you don't mind I'll I'll do that for you. Okay. Thank you. Since it's attached my name to it anyway.

Got that. Okay. This is the town of Marian's official proclamation for Arbor Day. Whereas in 1872, the Nebraska Board of Agriculture established a special day to be set aside for the planting of trees. And whereas this holiday called Arbor Day was first observed with the planting of more than a million trees in Nebraska. And whereas Arbor Day is now observed throughout the nation and the world. And whereas trees can be a solution to combating climate change by reducing the erosion of our precious top soil by wind and water, cutting heat and cooling costs, moderating the temperature, cleaning the air, producing life-giving oxygen, and providing a habitat for wildlife. And whereas trees are a renewable resource, giving us paper, wood products, and our for our homes, fuel for our fires, and countless other wood products. And whereas trees in our town increase property values, enhance the economic viility of business areas, and beautify our community. And whereas trees wherever they are planted are a source of joy and spiritual renewal. Now therefore, I, Avery Cornet, mayor of the town of Marian, do hereby proclaim Monday, April the 27th, 2026, Arbor Day in the town of Marian. And I urge all citizens to celebrate Arbor Day and support efforts to protect our trees and woodlands. And further, I urge all citizens to plant trees to gladden the

heart and promote the well-being of this and future generations. Dated this 20th day of April, 2026. Well said. U make a motion to adopt the resolution. Second. Thank you, sir. All in favor? Wonderful. Mark, thank you very much for everything you're doing. One question as well. Give this to Mark. One question. Fall is the best time to plant most hardwoods. Fall. Yeah. Spring or fall are the two times. Fall is is really the better time. Yes. Okay. That's what I thought. Thank you,

Mark. We'll get if you want to take the resolution right now. I just signed it and you're welcome to take this and if you need an official copy for records or something, I'm sure that uh uh town manager will get that together for you and we'll get that signed as well. All right. Thank you so much.

Thank you. All right. Uh and that concludes our public presentations for tonight. We will uh move on now to public comment time. And the first person that we have signed up is David Fulton. David, if you would approach the podium, give us your name, address, and the floor is yours, sir.

Okay. Uh David Fulton, Pearl Avenue. past couple of meetings, the town council had been asked to make a resolution or a comment on the proposed the proposed laws that are being passed in Richmond. Last week meeting, I believe, correct me if I'm wrong, but it was stated that the town council is neutral, that they do not wish to get into state politics. Will state politics affect us locally? And to me by you not making a comment is telling me that you support what is going on in Richmond. I mean that I'm only speaking for myself and you can say you are neutral but by my interpretation the county has made a county board of supervisor made a resolution. other counties has and other community has made comments condemning what's going on in Richmond, but you you won't do it. So in my eyes, if you refuse to make a comment condemning the proposed law, you're siding with the Democrats because also if you remember Norphick, Richmond, Charlottesville told the federal government they was not going to uphold federal law coming to immigrants.

Now, if city like that can condemn federal laws, but you won't speak up against state laws, I believe we need a change. Thank you. Thank you for your comments, sir. Um, next we have Danny Parks. Danny, if you'll approach the podium and give us your name and address, sir, the floor will be yours. Danny Parks, 633 Henry Street, and I got some uh papers here I need to give out.

Lieutenant will assist us there. Well, that's all I got to do. Just give me Okay. Nothing further.

Okay. And uh we will move along and the next person that we have is Dr. Charles Wasam Charles was 200 large streets Marian. Uh

the primary duty of most all elected officials as far as I know in Virginia and the United States is to support the Constitution of their state and the Constitution of the United States. Another duty is to faithfully fulfill the or discharge the duties of your office whether it's town council member general assembly person or president United States go back in history on June the 20th 1776 that's before the declaration of independence state of Virginia had a constitution and in the constitution It required each justice of a county court in Virginia to take an oath to support the Virginia Constitution. One, and two, faithfully execute the duties of their office. 13 years later, April 30th, 1789, we celebrate the 237th anniversary of Washington taking his oath of office as president of the United States. And you can find what the oath that he took in article two, section one of the constitution, US constitution. The two things that he uh took an oath to do is to preserve, protect and defend the constitution of the US to faithfully execute the office of the president of the United States. So come come up to the day you know a few hundred years later every member of the general assembly in Richmond town council in Marian has taken the oath or sacred promise found in the Virginia constitution article 2 section 72 support the Virginia and US Constitution

faithfully and impartially discharge their duties being oversee police water sewer roads and all that stuff. But the first duty of members of the general assembly and town council is to support the Constitution of Virginia and the Constitution of the United States. Elected officials have a duty to understand the Constitution and citizens have a duty to hold elected officials accountable to the Virginia and US Constitution. Commenting on the duty of elected officials to support the constitution is a very appropriate topic for a citizen during public comment time. Citing specific violations of the physi for of the Virginia constitution by elected officials whether in Richmond or Marian is supporting the constitution. Remaining quiet about their violations is not supporting the constitution. Article 2, section six and article 2, section 6A of the Virginia Constitution states that every electoral district shall be compact and reaportioned every 10 years by the Virginia Redistricting Commission. The amendment tomorrow violates all three of these and should be rejected. Its promoters appear loyal to party and not to Virginia nor its Constitution. Thank you,

doctor. Thank you for your comments. Uh the next one we have is uh Charles Heath. Mr. Heath, if you'll just uh give us your name and address and Charlie Heath and I've got a place up on Highway 16. I might not even be at the right place right now because I really don't get into politics, nothing like that, but I do vote vote every year. And I heard on the radio that they was a thing about up there on Highway 16 up on Old Trader Road. Everybody knows where that's at. Where that old junkyard used to be. Am I at the right place?

County Miss. Well, I really didn't know, but I want my boys to be heard because I got two pieces of land right across my junkyard and I my mom and dad's lived there for years and years and there's a creek run right down through that junkyard. It runs into the fish hatchery and I have seen trash out in the road now. Nobody cleaned that place up, man. It was all great. But it got so bad up there. The rats and stuff are just taking over. And we got Miss Mr. and Mrs. Martin's place up there. It's gone. But uh it it's just awful. It's an eyesore. And when you get people free out in the road, just get them in the junkyard and they lay there. Whatever. I think they're push. Like I said, if somebody be nice enough to tell me where to go to talk to somebody cuz I talked to you today and I really didn't know what to do.

Well, you're you are you are welcome here, sir, anytime to talk about anything you want. Appreciate that, but I just want to get this straight and I might be just beating my gums up here. I would contact Sean. They already at the county administrator's building. Jack Jack senior was grandfathered in up for Raymond Cheeks place. He was grandfathered in when Jack Sior died but Jack Jr. has not got no permit and they want to issue him a permit. Start dumping them cars and everything. We got a place down at CH called the Buries. They'll take everything you got down. Believe me, I haul it out. Yes, sir. I hope that you find uh your solution with uh the county administrator. Okay. Could you give me a hand?

If you hang on just a moment, I'll get that information. And Mr. Fen, do you have something that you want to add to the conversation? Yeah. Uh, that had that petition had been voted down. So, he ain't going to get it. From my understanding, last county meeting that was turned out. I believe that was in the paper. Well, I'm glad. I'm glad. And I appreciate y'all's time. Sure. Yes, sir. Get more involved in this.

Absolutely. You're welcome here anytime. Um, that was the last person that we have uh signed up under public comment time, but if anyone has anything they want to uh speak, now's your opportunity to approach the podium. And none being seen, we'll uh proceed with the meeting. We'll um have council members and committee reports. And we'll start at this end with Vice Mayor Gates. Uh, no report, your honor. Councilwoman Spencer, no report, sir. Councilman Atwell, no report, sir. Councilman May, no report, sir.

Thanks, sir. And Councilman Carter, no report. No report. I'm sorry. Let me with Yes, you may proceed. The the budget committee meeting meets when? Wednesday. Wednesday. What time? 2:30. 3:30 3:30 Wednesday. We will hopefully have the budget pretty close to where we need to be and then we'll be getting it out on your laptops to everybody. So, expect sometime next week to have something on your laptops, maybe sooner. Would that be correct?

Yes, staff is just about finished with it and we'll present it to the uh finance committee for the budget and then of course there will be opportunity to make changes there should you wish and then Once we have something ready to come out of committee, it'll be presented for public hearing and for all council.

Okay. Um and anything else, Vice Mayor? Okay. Uh under the mayor's report, um well, uh we continue uh with caring for our community, planning, uh volunteer days. Um, I only brought one uh flyer with me this time, but uh again, I'm here to encourage anyone on June the 6th or June the 13th or both days to come out and uh join the efforts of caring for our community to make our community a better place to uh live, work, study, and play. Um, we continue working with the VFW towards the Memorial Day event which is coming up very quickly and Tony Tony's a integral guy there so he he would tell us more about it but we all know pretty much about it. So if you need

you need my help. Uh attended uh Garrett Vernon's river cleanup and thank you for the town's participation in that. We filled the town truck up with trash out of the river. Tom was there. Um he took his canoe down the river which uh netted quite a bit of garbage from the other side. Thank you, sir. That was not much water, right? I did flip. You did flip it once.

Oh, did not. Okay. I don't think there's enough water to flip it. But anyway, that was a great event and thanks to the youth ambassadors program. I think that that's a real good program. and I'd like to see that repeated as much as we can. I attended the graduation at Blueridge JobCore Center and that was an inspiring event. Um, you really don't know how much the Blue Ridge job means to uh Marian and uh to the students there and and watching that graduation that was uh that was very touching. Um, and I'm sure that those students are going to go on to maybe maybe even be students out here at Enry uh School of Health Sciences, which I attended a philanthropic dinner there. I was uh very very happy to be invited to that uh in replacement of the golf tournament and uh it's very well done and uh more and more impressed with uh the school of health sciences and everything they're doing and uh without saying much more um Dr. Bruce is doing some fantastic stuff out there. So if you if you get the chance to go out there go talk to Dr. Bruce. He's interesting guy. Um, I saw the street sweepers going one after the other up the street. I thought that's a good idea. Who came up with that?

Junior.

All right. Well, he needs an at a boy then because, you know, I I thought, wow, that's different. And that would seem to be leaving a clean place behind it. Anyway, so great. Um, you know, and u I saw the town manager at Food City's uh car show for juvenile diabetes the other night with his family out and about enjoying an evening. I hope you had a hot dog or two. I certainly did. And uh it it was a it was a great event. I enjoyed it and uh some nice cars up there, too. But uh we uh we'll close the mayor's report on that happy note and maybe I'll wake up with a mustang in my yard.

One other thing uh I forgot about Emry and Henry May 6th and EPA classes are coming in. So is that when you can adopt a student or is that that's it and it's you know bring meet a new class represent the town or anyone else that wants to Well, I would get with the school and and check that date because that I don't know that that matches with what but you probably know better than me. But if anybody wants to

anybody wants to adopt a student, uh by all means u and you don't have to do a lot to adopt a student. Really, it's not like uh you know, you maybe have to feed them once and tell them where to get their uh tires changed or who knows, you might have to offer them a ride every once in a while. They call you, but they don't bug you. I mean, yeah, I I I think that that's a great uh that's a great program. It's a good thought. and uh and after speaking with several of the students out there, um I I'm just uh in awe of what they're doing out there.

Good good for them. Good for Mayor and good for us. That concludes the mayor's report. Um any council members have anything else they want to add? But that came from Tom's office, so I assume that's correct. But double checking to get Yeah, I'm I'm double checking everything. Things move sometimes. Um, attorney's report. No report. Well, thank you, sir. Uh, staff reports. Um, Cindy is unfortunately sick this evening, so um, we can skip her portion unless there's something. Well, we've got the accounts that need to be approved. We better do that.

Yes, that would You'd have some angry vendors if we, uh, skipped completely. But, um, I'd be happy to take a look at any questions you might have. And um okay, make a motion we set the accounts. Set the accounts. Thank you. I'll second it. Thank you.

Okay. Motion and second. Uh any questions? Any discussion about any specific line items or anything that you would like to know after having reviewed the bills? I think that's the ambulance. I think that's the ambulance. And um give you another minute. I guess that we're fine to go ahead then and uh vote on paying the bills. All in favor? And we will pay the bills. Anything else under Cindy's do for Cindy?

Okay, then let's move on to Lieutenant Billings with the Marian Police Force. Actually have not this time. Uh

I believe uh Lieutenant Tester said that or Lieutenant Chief um I believe Chief Tesman said that he attached two uh event plans to lost paperwork that he approved. So I'll start there. May let's see this Friday uh Smith County School Enrichment Program is going to be having a walking barn quilt trail from 5 to 7. Um we'll have a couple officers with that. I have no idea what that is or I would tell you. Um but obviously it'll be a good good event uh through the school. So um we're lining up a couple officers to handle that to make sure everybody's safe. May 15th is the other event. Blaze and Scoops is hosting an event downtown 4 to 900 pm. It'll be a kids night out in the Iron Street Mall, Hurricane Alley area. I think they're going to have putt putt, so on so forth. We've already lined up a couple officers to handle that to make sure there shouldn't be any traffic issues, so on and so forth. But we'll have people in the area to make sure that that everybody's safe and has an enjoyable time. On the 14th, MPD was notified that there was a patient from the Southwestern State Mental Institute had escaped u while at the dentist's appointment in town. Evidently, the uh the state hospital sent the sent the patient to the dentist and I don't know if it was lack of security or whatever, but the guy got away. Um Chief Tester immediately once once we were notified did a all hands on deck call out and within an hour we had located the subject and had him back

into the custody of the mental health institute without any incident. So, uh, a good attab boy for our guys because they was on it as soon as they was called, got out and and got things taken care of. Officer Hollyy and and Officer Sherwood, our two newest hires or two of the three newest hires, both successfully completed the mile and a half run in the law fit course under the mandatory times to be accepted into the academy last Thursday. Today was their official uh first day back at the academy. We didn't get any phone calls today, so no news is good news. So hopefully everything's going well with both of those. Um they'll spend about 20 weeks in the academy intense physical training and classroom training. about the 1st of September, both of them should be, as long as they complete everything successfully, they'll be out and we'll put them into a field training um field training plan. It'll be approximately a threemon training hands-on and then if they successfully complete that, they'll be added to the roster watching over America or over well over Marian and keeping everybody safe. So, uh, so we look forward to that. Our youth fishing day is coming up May 2nd. If you're not familiar with that, come out. Uh, I'm normally there. It's from 9 to 12. And, uh, the DWR and the fish hatchery, they they do a a very heavy stocking of the Riverbin Park area from the handicap uh, deck down to behind the playground area. I believe a couple years ago, somebody told me they put like 1,200 pounds of trout in there for the kids. So,

so it's real enjoyable for them and and even better for the adults when it's over because they they line the banks waiting on their turn. So, uh but that's that's a really good event over the years. The weather's been a problem, but hopefully the weather's good this year and everybody has a good time with that. We'll we'll have a few little things that we'll do for them. We're kind of keeping it small according to the BWR. As long as we show interest and continue to like host it, they'll keep having it. So, that's that's why we're doing it with minimal cost if any to the town. So, so we get a we get a few donations here and there. And I know a guy that donates uh some trophies andor plaques. So, so it it don't really cost the town anything. So, thank you for that. It is a good event. U once again, we're partnered with the the VFW for the officer of Year Awards uh for 25. I've contacted the other agencies in the county. They're they're giving me names as we go. Um BFW treats the officers and their family to a meal and then uh they're presented award and and whoever uh the department head that that put them in for the for the award usually gets accessible funding. So it's don't necessarily think it's open to the public. I'm sure you all would be welcome to come. I'm sure the mayor will be there, but it's a really good event and and one officer from each agency gets recognized for doing what they do every day. Not that they do it for that recognition, but it's it's a good thing. And we do it we do it at the department and if you'll come into the lobby of the

of the PD there's a little plaque in there that again I know a guy that does those and um we have the officer of the year each year we'll put a little name plate on them and that gives him like a little when it come the fishing day was what day it is May 2nd from 9 it's closed off they'll stop. That's on a Saturday. They'll stop it like Friday evening. And

Tyler Sheets, the the conservation officer for this area, he keeps it hot and watches over Friday night and then we take over after so long. We'll do area checks to make sure nobody fishes and then it's opened up for the kids from 9 to 12. Thank you. That's all I have. Sounds like fun. Thank you, Rick. Thank you. Uh, our zoning and IT uh director is not uh here tonight. He was called away. Um, do you want to update any of his or

Yes. So, I'll I'll go straight into town manager report. I'd added uh Todd's little piece here. So, u few things here. The first thing I wanted to touch on was the Kalen Drive recreation park. We had talked about doing some interviews on that um a couple of meetings ago, but we did have nine total submissions for architecture and engineering services for that project. Um of those nine, we narrowed it to four that we interviewed in person and um made a selection last week. Um the company that we've selected is CHA Engineering out of Richmond. Um they're a a a nationwide um company and and have a lot of resources to draw from um from folks that specialize just in in parks and recreation to um to additional funding, which is something I think we could we could certainly use for this project. But um so we have selected them. They're going to be uh at the very at the very least creating the master plan for that park. Um, and then once we are presented with a uh a cost for services, I'll come back to council and um and ask that we appropriate those funds. But very excited to see that project come to fruition. Um, wanted to touch quickly on the FY27 budget. Um, as Dr. Gates mentioned in the council reports, staff is just about finished with um with our part of the budget and then we're going to kick it to the finance committee um for for Dr. Gates and the mayor to um look at and provide feedback on um from there we'll make any changes that are necessary and I'm looking at May 18th um presenting the budget to council um and to the public. And then on June 1st, we'll have a public hearing for the budget. Um and then hopefully adopting

the FY27 budget on June 15th. Um that does leave us the the short meeting on June 30th to close the books that if we need to to back up and punt or or go back to the drawing board for anything, we've got one more opportunity to meet to um uh adopt the budget on June 30th. But at this point, uh we're looking to have a budget presented on May 18th, public hearing on June 1st. and then the adoption of the budget on June 15th. Um just to touch on what Todd was going to talk about, he had mentioned that he's been working on a comprehensive plan update. Um uh we are going through the planning commission for this and Todd has added to the u town website uh a public um input section. So, um, if there's anybody that wants to, um, see something in the next 5 years or provide some feedback on what they would like to see, how they'd like to see things steered, um, there's certainly a place for that. And if you just go to the town of Marion homepage, there's an area about halfway down that says public notices, and it is the first item. So, that's an opportunity for um, anyone interested to provide their own input to um, be considered to be reflected in the the comprehensive plan update. Um lastly, what id walked on at the very end and each of you have in front of you a paving request for award. So uh we did do a full RFP. There was a single submission as we anticipated this year. Um Dr. Gates had mentioned the costs increased uh kind of dramatically from last year, but they do follow um oil prices and there has been an uptick uptick there. But um WL construction was the um was the the loan submission. The the fees are in front of you and I'm asking that you all allow us to award

them the spring paving contract. I'll make that motion that we award the contract for spring paving to Wel Construction for a total cost of $858,957.50.

Second. We have a motion and a second to award the contract to WNL Construction. Any discussion? All in favor? Only sad thing about it is we just get one bid every bidder every year. It seems like ain't that right, Tony? It's sad.

And we were lucky to get that one. Yeah. Um I I did speak with the contractor today and asked um what a realistic start time might be and was told hopefully in two to three weeks. So um we do have a Tony and Jamie are working on a a paving schedule to um to get going. So as soon as they can be here, we'll we'll have everything ready. But that concludes the town management report this evening. Unless you all have any questions. Only thing I got to say, twice I've seen a white late model Chevrolet four-wheel drive pickup up at our upper tree line above Wendy's. And I just wonder, we got somebody surveying or I can't see any designs on I forget to take my binoculars.

I was I was asked about that by another council member. There's property for sale from a a private owner up there has property that borders that. Yeah. Um that property is now on the market. It's a um 6 and 1/2 acre parcel and there has been activity up there for surveying and um some realtor activities. Okay. I just wonder because our property starts at the tree line, business. Yeah. Yeah. So goes over Yeah. It parks right at the edge of the tree line. Yeah. Who he or she whoever it is. Does that close your report? That's all I've got.

Okay. So, um, we are next going into close session and, uh, Susie usually takes us into close session. Is there anyone on this council that can do that more effectively than I can? I can do that. Thank you. I make a motion we go into close session 2.2-3711A1, personnel, fire chief, hiring process 2.23711 A3, real estate acquisition and disposition. Second. Oh, I second. Will you second? I didn't. You didn't make any. It doesn't matter.

Motion and second to go into close session. All in favor of going into close session. Town council now is in close session.

Will you give me a thumbs up? holding hands.

Yeah, I miss seeing the sisters walk up and down. We are Tommy pushing his lawn mower. Yeah, I make a motion we come out of close session. 2.2-3712 A1 Personnel Fire Chief Hiring Process 2.23712 2 3712 A3 real estate acquisition and disposition and we've only discussed those items during close session. Second. Have a motion to second to go into open session out of close session. We need to roll call. Carter. Yes. Yes. Yes. Spencer. Yes. Gates. Yes. Yes.

Mayor and town council now is in open session. Is there any business that needs to come before the town of Marian's town council? Do I hear any motions? Make a motion we adjourn. Second. Motion and second. All in favor? Mayor and town council now stands adjourn.