Town Council - Regular Meeting

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. We're all here. Keep going. minutes from the last meeting. Second. All in favor? I I follow up on ordinance violation.

January, I sent letters for abandoned vehicles to 102 Weston Street. uh two letters, two separate owners. Um 295 Western Street and 625 Northshore Drive. Sent newsless complaint letters to 114 Park Drive, 355 Bernice Avenue, 884 Lakeside Drive, 1635 Northshore Drive, and 910 Northshore Drive. So, I will recheck those properties February 11th, which is Wednesday, um for compliance or not.

And how are we doing with the downtown building? I saw saw the pictures and I've been by there a few times. It looks much improved. Are we having any issues with violating the people entering the building or squatters? Have no have had no complaints from the property owner um or his maintenance person um of course they got it for uh for rent sign in the front window. Now is that for the apartment upstairs or for that room there? It's for the um commercial side. At least the signs in the commercial window.

Okay. Whether what it applies to, I have no idea. But um and there was um couple vehicles there on the weekend, so I don't know if they were showing the building or what they were doing, but but he's got I mean, he appears to be cleaned up soon. No, not with 116. Okay.

It it it's been cleaned up since you pulled dumpster out the Saturday after we were here last. There's nothing there. Nothing. smell. Smells, but there's nothing. No, I haven't seen the neighborhood black cat with the rat for quite a while. Good. So, we've got them cleaned out or there aren't any more coming in. Um, when they were there on Sunday,

they left that door open between the commercial side and the residential side. And I haven't talked to Dave yet, but I'm guessing maybe because of heat because the bathroom is right on the other side. So when you drive by tonight, you'll see a a light on there and that's why. So I'm just guessing it's probably a heating issue and water lines and stuff like that. Yeah. Probably right there. A lot of people have had issues with frozen pipes. Yeah. So, could I ask

Yeah. Can I ask what happens on the 12th when things aren't resolved? One of two. Um I've actually already talked with uh um Deb and uh she called me after she got her letter and so I said, "Well, what are your plans with your vehicles?" Um So, she's got a family member who's cleaning out a barn, garage, something that they can take them to. And I said, "How long do you need?" She said, "Two weeks." I said,

I said, "I will be back in two weeks to check." So, we'll see. Because that is uh yes and no. Um, Destiny got a separate letter from Deb, two separate vehicle owners. Um, Destiny never contacted me. So, all the letters I sent out was reference February 11th. Okay. So, if uh now I was told verbally that it was going to be gone a couple nights ago and that's still there. So, that didn't happen. What's our steps? They they were they were sleeping

from Saturday night to Sunday morning. Yeah. Saturday night to Sunday morning. I saw it running the other day. Um so now we got car and almost living out but it's included in in getting it. Okay. All right. Let's let's move it all down. That'd be great. Yeah. Thanks. Yeah.

Yeah. But just for future reference on behalf of Deb, um I can tell you that um from the years that I've known her, should you ever be in trouble or you need something, some help, your house is on fire, whatever, she would be one of the first ones there. Well, I I I know the family, you know, and um you know, anybody that would call upon her for anything, she would, which is why she knows all those people there. That's one of the reason Yeah. and and she and I worked for the same people for a number of years

and u she she worked three jobs at one point and and I understand it's it's her the people she's enabling is the yes because I can tell you because she was she was the the only one working and and she's the one who was paying for everything. I can tell you when 116 got cleaned up, we had zero foot traffic. We had zero issues. It was just like it used to be until the dynamic duo came back black Cadillac and now it's

it's five times worse than it was. Yep. the first week of first two weeks of instead of that building it's that car. It's a different vessel but it's the same issue. Did she tell you anything about it? Well, she came up with a she came up with um

she thought that'd be a happy medium between last year and this year. She's trying to further explain um her issue because of part-time employees that you know how we but I just don't know how to do it any different than what we have it doesn't have an idea is there is part time defined they have to work so many hours in the code, but no, it just says part-time.

Um I I don't think she's thinking about I I'm not she's thinking about the counting the number of people, but they're not there all the time. Yeah. You know, the majority of them work like four hours. Yeah. She said they have a high turnover and a lot of kids like don't show up. So, they have to keep a large pool to pull from to cover so and so who didn't show up when they come in and work. Yeah. So, that's why she said they have so many people working there.

Well, why wouldn't she figure what how much? So, she knows how many hours the place is open. And if you've got a full-time person working, you know, one shift and then the other shifts are made up by part-time people. Figure up how many people would have to work in a week. Don't figure up how many part-time people you have working there because some of them may only work if they're um say 16 years old. They're limited to how many hours they can work in a week. They're not going to work 20 hours a week because I don't even know if they can by law. I don't know what that law is anymore. But you know what I'm saying? So

I don't know. Maybe if she figured it that way and not figured it by how many people she has employed, but figures how many hours people would have to cover those hours. Does that make sense? The other side though too is that's a public restroom. So anybody who eats in there can use that restroom as well. Yeah, that's that's figured because it's a food service. So it's, you know, it's more because it's food service and they have inside dining. So that that's figured in the rate.

But what's added on is the number of people who are continuous. But what she's saying is she has so say she has to cover just say 40 hours a week then she has to hire 20 people to cover that 40 hours is what she's basically saying. So those 20 people aren't actually working. They're just on the rolls. So maybe if she figures how many hours she has to cover, then you could look at it that way. That's the only way I could figure you could do it maybe on an I was thinking how many people are on an 8 hour shift, right? Same thing. Yeah, that's what I'm saying.

Building inspection point of view. Sure. Home codes are determined by the occupant. So seating permanent seating within the facility determines that occupant. Okay. So since that's a constant at say whatever it is 20 seats can't that be the factor that is used? That's what the ordinance says though. It does it by Yeah. workers. Oh, okay. Never mind. Yeah. That's a good talk though. Thank you.

I wasn't here in the previous meeting, but I noticed this because I own the subway building. I do not miss but I noticed her name. So I'm assuming she has a dispute about it the way that it is charged. Yes. Yeah. Well and and also we have an um an increasing cost that was added on ordinance, you know, last year. So it went up another $10 this year.

Yeah. And she had more employees this year than she had last year.

I don't know the business. I own the building. Their bills are expenses. I just happen to see I'm still not sure. Can we run the numbers on what four four full-time and one part time would be would it be? It might be about the same any I'm not sure that all the hours fulltime employees talk to me about it for the first two she's saying there's you know, essentially a $50 increase.

Yeah. Well, that was additional employee.

You were saying the first two were Yeah. And then each additional employee would be $1668 each. No, two part-time equal one employee. Does that make sense? do it on fulltime. Yeah.

Well, I don't for help out of course a little bit. At the same time, we have to stick within our ordinance. Beautiful.

Is she say does she still have that many people employed? Yes. currently today. That's how many she had when this was sent in. So I mean if she's saying that she loses employees would she replaces them throughout the year.

No, I'm not saying you can't. I'm just wondering if that if that would have confirmed what she's saying, but not that's not No, I'm not saying I'm just wondering if that would

That's what it So she has just picked out that in the compromise between the two years because I do want I do technically want to show business. Pardon me. Want businesses here. Absolutely. Yeah, that's what I said. You know, I'd like to do whatever we can to facilitate her, but at the same time, we have to stay within the ordinance and

make sure that we're not doing something for one and not for everybody. What do you think, Dustin? Would you like for us to table it and come back to it? I mean, we can look into it. I just don't know. We redo it for her.

Well, we're doing then you're just chasing and then looking the way things are right now, we might have to in the middle of the year. Who knows? I mean everything you look at out there at the sewer department is like 15 when you wrote that ordinance parttime factor so I don't know can you amend the ordinance well the part two Okay.

Got Okay.

No, that that Yeah, that would be part people are probably going to work an average of 20 hours a week. Yeah, that's what they're allowed to work. Yeah. So that's what they request. I said just saying we appreciate you reaching out to us at this time. Look into it further. It's up to you. But I mean listen

well that that's what I said. You know we have to make sure that we aren't benefiting one and not covering everybody out of here. And also I do remember previous I guess negotiated something with you all because of the fluctuation of use there. There was a rate in the winter and a rate in the other months. The only thing that I and I'm just saying this because of my experience. The only thing that I could suggest want to help her maybe she can provide some data on the fluctuations which would fluctuate use and sewer discharge throughout the year and have some kind of seasonal change. Yeah,

I know nothing about that. I wouldn't situation. Oh, I was here, but I I wasn't involved in that situation.

Um, I think the best thing to do is just tell her that we've looked into this and this is just how but I don't know how I mean you could direct it to to look into it for the new study but

I mean I understand what you're saying I The only thing I think if they change the unit of measure rate, we're still going to have to increase it probably. Well, we did a rate study, but you know what? We haven't got that rate study back because our person in charge that sent that rate study didn't send that rate study when it

and so it hasn't come back yet or it could be laying on the desk somewhere back there. Me neither. Okay. Well, let's go on. Oh, but while I am thinking about it though, um I would like to have um a thank you letter uh sent out to the Amish deacon or whoever is in charge of the clean up at the grocery store for the horses. They've done a really great job and we would like to thank them for continuing with that clean up and disposal.

I think it's the guy that lives out here on nine that does it cleans it up if I remember. I I can't think of his name. I should know it. Well, I knew that they had a they had a beacon or someone

about that. No, I think there was a person who was over. Yeah, but I think it's one of the local guys. I know it's one of the local guys that's taking care of it, but I don't know who the deacon is, but I think Yeah. their deacon or bishop. Yeah. Isn't that Josh Miller? Yeah. I can find out from him. We have to let them know that whoever's taking care of it is doing a good job.

They're appreciated. Do we need a motion on the subway thing? One way or the other.

He didn't feel as she needed to take time out of her schedule to show up for this. Okay. Um

just Yeah. Governor, unfortunately things will have to stay the way they are.

Can I do that without ID? Yes. Okay. Well, I don't know if she had to be like sign it or something. So, she's a treasurer. If I could just do that. Okay.

You are very important. I shouldn't sit down. Everybody wants to I'm I'm serious people. you are paying this woman for a 40hour week and she works 20 25 maybe and and we aren't getting what we need during that period of time. Our books aren't up to date. We're not sure about how bank things are going. put out for a rate study was supposed to be back in July. This is now January.

Yes.

Now it's Yeah. But there's what? Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Yeah. A hasn't been in front office since now and she's in elected and and everyone who's everyone knows what happened with

so Mr. Dave Abbott and Syed position. Our period is a paid by the hour and she's here every day and we had to change the hours on the building to work her schedule because she's the only one we could rely on to lock the door because the other person was supposed to be locking that door and she wasn't there to lock the door to secure the Yeah, we're glad.

Appreciate you. Thank you. Yes, she works double. Okay, on down the road. Financing for the new vehicle through community state. So he's not here. Um she's supposed to sign loan and bank.

Yeah. So we had three loan requests. One from Community State Bank, which was 4.88% for three years. Um, it's actually semianual payments plus loan fee of 375 and any third party fees. I don't know what that would be. Um, we had one from Republic First National, which is down in Richmond, Indiana. Um, they do loans with governmental agencies. Um, their rate was 5.69. 69 uh with a $299 documentation fee. Um and I believe that was a

either semianual or annual payment. And then Farmer State Bank had a 5-year rate of 6.29% with a processing fee of $350. Um so um community state bank obviously has the best rate. What was their operation fee 4.88 88. No, their their fees for CSV for community state. Yeah, was 375. Um,

so they've got the best loan rates time frame. Um, basically what state is the board's approval of those documented that Heidi did sign the loan agreement in May. Okay. So, they're not going to do the loan agreement till till May and the production dates May. We need a motion, please. I'll make a motion to approve. So, they're going to lock in this all the way

business 2026 contribution of $1,000. Yeah. B- Noble is the tourism convention visitors bureau group. This isn't we done this last year. Um she said we haven't done it previously. We give money to the economic development but we haven't done it with um part of she said no. She said that um

we have money we if you choose to do that. I mean I think they do they market Rome City pretty good if you're on social media. job marketing things and does good job I think is and her name just went out of my head the gal that works that's that's the economic development group it's Grayson face but if you want to sign if you agree to it if you want to sign that um What does this do?

It helps provide funding for them to do their area county. Yeah. Advertising cost road cost, you know, gas and stuff.

Can I have a motion for this? Okay. All in favor.

All right. Okay. Reports, town managers. Um, I'll do this. Oh man, I'll do mine. Six meetings for the month. Plan commission. We had two subdivisions submitted for February and those were approved. Um we had four building permits in January. Two pole barns, one plumbing and one that should be one twotory garage with an elevator and building. Um BCA we had two variances. Those were both through

actually there was three vari Oh yeah there was three variances. So, one was um Pleasant Point for Height and Sideyard. And then one was on Northshore and that was for Sideyards. And then Svin Plaza, which is going to be the name of the where Blazings was. They were approved for their new pull sign. Um I think they plan on starting work as soon as the weather breaks down there. So, be seen some activity, which would be nice.

What? What I heard? Yeah. And the Swany settlement agreement. I did the inspection with the building inspector two weeks ago and everything was removed out of the garage. And so that has all been finalized. Great. Great. Done with that one. Um, the Weisenberger case. Did we get a new hearing date on that or not? They changed the hearing date. We're getting ready to briefly after

and then they decided that there's stuff missing. So delay tactics at some point I have to have a phone call where if they how do they know there's something missing this is what I don't that's what we did the last time I think something's missing send it to me and then I'll go if it's in the record now can be done with this we've already we've already I don't know so I need to figure out what's missing or what they think is missing the record as they submitted it was like some pages duplicates like several pages appear in there

right because they kept submitting stuff to me and I just said I'm not going to go through this and pull all this stuff out I'm just going to send it all to them because otherwise they'll say there's something missing so in order to alleviate that problem at some point this week. All right. So, no, no date. We don't have a date.

Okay, fine. Uh, conservancy district, we had the year-end meeting and I completed the annual report. We're currently working on updating the district plan. park board. We have done new sled boxes, which the sled boxes are already at GAP and Lakeside, but the sleds have not come in. So, when the sleds come in, we will put some sleds in there. Um, they were also working on their concerts for the season and then the July 4th food truck event.

Bike trail, nothing new. Noble trails, nothing new on that. um chamber is has set the roadside cleanup which had that date and then it just went out of my head. April think it's the 11th or the fourth. I'll have to get back with you on that. Um, and that's where we go and and clean all the roadsides up around town and state road nine.

Sent letters to the industrial park owners again on the the watershed contract. And I'm probably going to have to get with you, Dustin, on that because that contract was supposed to be signed first the year. I started last year trying to get a meeting with all of them to discuss it. could never get a meeting set. So, I ended up just sending them the contract and asking them if they had any questions or anything that I could answer online or through email. So, I've got two of the four that have returned the contract. Two of them have not. This is the second time I've sent. So it's precision medical aggregate systems and Rome city storage. So Rome city storage sent theirs back and precision medical has sent theirs back

signed and they're okay with it. Yeah. So on that I I think I gave them a deadline till the end of this month and then if I don't hear from them I don't I'm not sure this point okay

hopefully. Okay. Um I'm currently working on the road scholar certification that I have to have for um submitting the community crossing grants. That is quite um time consuming. I did one there's 12 modules. I did one module on Friday and there 12 modules inside the one module. Yeah. But would you like to assist for that? Why are you volunteering?

Uh no, I'm just saying, you know, maybe we could hire someone part time to I still have to have the knowledge and so I have to set through the online courses. Yeah. But I know I I've sit in on a couple of those. Yeah. The only other thing is to hire I do not understand how horrendous the applications for them are. Yeah. Well, the only other thing is you hire Commonwealth to submit it. And you know, I've been doing it this long. Save the town how much money by not having them do it. Just can't see. I think it was

paying them. I think they wanted 1,200 one time for one. Yeah. And you're not guaranteed you're going to get the money. No, you're not guarante small towns got any money through community crossings because they changed it from two letings to one. So Dave was following up with me and I said, "Well, I just assumed it had to do with that we had gotten the money and I had closed it out, but I closed it out only like a month before the new one was due. So I thought, you know, who knows? Maybe it just got crossed

in the mail because you have to have that closed out before you can apply for the next one." So I didn't get too excited about it, but then he said that nobody got so But they're trying to work on that through the legislature to figure out why they're only distributing money to larger municipalities, not small ones. So they talked about having another this year for smaller um entities like I think it was 5,000 population and under back on that if they're going to

but I need to find out because I can get this done before I send it in because this is this I have to have the certification for 2026. I didn't have to have it for the 2025 submit. So, we'll see. We'll see how far I get. And how much parts of the modules they have and in each one because I thought, oh, 12 modules that won't be too bad. An hour module, right? No, it's an whole day for one module and there's 12 of them. Yeah. Yeah. And I'm trying to do other stuff besides so Okay. Yeah. How many meetings did you go to?

A lot. Like 96 or something like that. 96 meetings with you everybody. Well, Scott's not here, so it's it's okay with everyone. And I did want to say one more thing. On the back here is the the annual report on the building permits. Okay.

So, I'll just say that we had um five homes built. Four were in town and one was out in the county and obviously they were probably I think all four of those were tear down, rebuilt. No. Yeah, because that webs was the year before and then we had two manufactured homes and I believe those were both out. So, total building permits for the year was 80 54 in town and 26 out in the county.

So we had um 10 million in value in building permit amount collected was about 16,000. So

and that's pretty on par for what we had last year. 111 miles. 385 75 and a half 175 part time 32 and a half ordinance violations uh four abandoned vehicles five nuisances officer initiated events 57 business checks five residential checks assisted other departments nine times. Warrants served or attempted, one assist motorist, one extra patrols, 10 park security checks, 96 and community policing events, 10 traffic violations, traffic tickets, written six warnings, 33 other events, we had one vent check complaints, three animal complaints, three juvenile complaints, Two drug complaints, eight miscellaneous complaints, two suspicious person, eight suspicious vehicle, two disabled vehicle, two accidents, one medicist, one 911 call, four driving complaints, one citizen assist, one suicidal subject, one mental health call,

and two found properties. has opened theft, criminal mischief, battery, and a missing person. Meetings attended, town council, police prosecutors, and drug-free noble counties committee meeting. Training attended or conducted. Uh we did legal use of force and then we did use of force with a firearm simulator. Um and then training

squad three have safety recall repair at max platform and deliverance order to Shepard Chevrolet for incidences in town. We had 180 incidences. October was 159, November, 126, December 138, and 180. January outside of town October we had 107, November 77, December 79, and January 86.

The sheriff's department in town in October had 28,

November 26, December 27 in January 12 park we have 65 incidents 74 in November 78 in December and 67 sign is a front street for the speed limit study. Minimum speed 5 miles per hour, maximum 54, average volume per day was 393 for a total volume of 9,439.

Average speed was 254 miles hour. Maybe the ice is slowing them down. I'm sure the snow has had something. It doesn't seem to keep them from having you having call outs though. It vastly increased from last month to this month. What the heck? I was thinking they would be huddled up in their houses. Think not quite ready for warm weather. I don't know. Yes. take that take it home and read it. Thank you.

I do. Okay. You were very diligent on there doing that. Yeah. I'm on the conservative district. Yeah. Some of that stuff.

Yeah. Okay. Fans presented for panic farms 168,730.50 sewer operating 101,965 41. All in favor? Right. So, our next council meeting will be March 9th.

Oh, I'm sorry. I just wanted to ask a question about the closing of Crunch Street. from the public post that it's going to be for a while. The duration of this will be a while. So I didn't know I know work is being done on the bridge and front street is going to be closed. Will it be closed? Just at the intersection. Was that just at the intersection? Okay. Just at the intersection. So, we won't have I know the one time they were doing some paving there there were probably 15 trucks lined up on Front Street. I promise you about that kind of a thing. But it's just supposed to be the intersection. Okay. Yeah.

Won't be able to go left or right. Okay. And no one will be People will be able to go around. Yeah. You like turn it turn at the grocery store. Weston won't it won't be shut off. Okay. On the back side. Great. That's that hopefully that'll be all the although they're probably going to come through and repay nine again sometime in the next okay few years but how long construction equipment though yeah who knows what they're going to try to concern so I don't know I would think they would stage it down at Sycamore myself that's where they put the other stuff okay um when they came in and reinforced the shoulder

because the two days that They did that. They were actually lined up on Front Street in a lot of our parking spaces for probably two hours like from about 7 to 9 something and then they started moving where they needed to go there. I saw some at Sycamore but when I got there in the morning I was a little concerned. They may also take part of the parking lot there for the liquor store now in pepperonis. Yeah, I was hoping it would be spread out at least so that Nancy

I can suggest it Wednesday. Um we have meetings um every Thursday for about an hour. So yeah, it you know the time is fluctuating on when they're starting because of the temperatures. So they they have to do some painting and it has to be at least 40 degrees and has to be dry. So, our first 40°ree is tomorrow. They were hopeful, but I didn't think that they'd probably do it, but then you they changed the weather forecast for next week, but then it's got a bunch of rain in it. So, we'll see. Paul and I both thought it probably wouldn't start till March. Yeah.

Just because of the forecast that we saw. it. They were out there for about an hour today because they don't want to put the paint down and then have snow plows come through and dig it all back up and then they'll have to put it down again. So that's what they're concerned about. And we, you know, we've had snow as late as April. Sure. So and I usually both of us need a lot of parking on each side of us. Yeah, I think so. That will be taken into consideration. Lisa over appreciate that. Thank you. Form to be done probably.

I have just something real quick. Just a second. Um I know we've been really quiet on the community cat TNR fund. Um we're still working in the background. Um the fund is still there. We're still contributing. We have anonymous donor or two that have been has really been helpful. Um we have taken two in that have wandered in and set them free um just in the last month. Um so I'm not sure if somebody quit feeding or moved or kicked some out or something. Um, one of the other ladies took three in uh last week and Donna had one that dump was dumped in her yard in a carrier in the cold weather.

Um, and it's, you know, it's ears are falling off because they were cross bitten. And so I'm working with her to get an appointment to get it in, get it looked at, get it fixed if it's not. Um, so bless her heart, she's trying to shelter it until we I mean, at least if you're going to dump it, don't leave it in a carrier. Just some carrier in somebody's yard or open Let's set the carrier and open it so the cat can get out and get somewhere where it's warm because they'll find a place. Oh, we're still working. Um, the fun is still working. We're It's We're still still hammering it out. So, probably at 80.

No, it's more than that. We're We're Yeah. 80. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Because when we go in to see if the fund needs more money, then we know about how many have came in and they're still coming in. So, we're still working on it. And you're still appreciated, like I said. Yeah. Yeah. God bless you. It's sad sometimes, but it is sad. But people also need to understand that, you know, a limited amount of feral cats are necessary. You know, everybody has to have some feral cats. It's just part of how things go.

And this is the only way to do it properly. Yeah. To keep it. Thank god you had a few around when the um front street was good. I don't know that I would not in great condition. That's all I'm saying. Maybe they weren't eating them. They were just getting them and killing them. I don't know. Just wanted to let you know we're still we're still doing it.

Yeah. And there are farmers around who will, you know, come and trap and take out to their barns because they need to renew their feral path out there. They don't want too much inbreeding out there. They they need some new out there once in a while. So yeah, we've we've homed rehomed eight or nine now that have been dumped and socialite help, you know, get them get their temperament and find the right family and get them fixed. My daughter's rehomed eight. Yeah, she's up to eight now. As long as they're being rehomed.

Her home is right behind the old greenery in in Lraange. She's on Poppy Street. Oh yeah, I bet there is. And so and they just love to go under her deck. Yeah. Yeah. That's where one where my cat came from was from under her desk. Actually hanging on the side of the tree in the middle of a snowstorm. She was she was five weeks old. It's been pretty rough. Yeah. Animals this year. But we thank you and we will see you in March maybe. Anybody else have anything? a motion to

I know I never do either. So in favor I

guess because well that's what I never understood. Jenny, why is that?

And she sent me, you know what? I wonder if I have to go back to the original star. But we got an air of some sort. I don't know what that means. And um Johnny, the the girl