Town Council - Regular Meeting

Quiet. Yes. Now we're waiting on Bill.

Did we find out what Mr. Bob's last name is? No. All right, we will start with the pledge of allegiance followed by a moment of silence. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Can we start with roll call, please?

Terry Reed here. Ethan Maple here. Ryan Hartley here. Bill Neim here. And Chad Melind here. Moving on to claims. First thing on the agenda is 2.1 approval of APBs 29024 through 29085. Make a motion that we approve APBs 2924 through 29085 as presented in our backup material. I'll second that motion. Has been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? All those in favor say I. I

and on to 2.2 approval of the SRF claim APV number 2903434.

I'll second moved and seconded. Any further discussions? All those in favor say I. I on May and that's approved. All right. Moving on to the adoption of town council minutes from April 15, 2026. I'll make a motion we adopt the town council minutes from April 15, 2026. I'll second. Moved by Ryan, second by Ethan. Is there any further conversation here? All those in favor say I. I.

Opposed. And that is approved. Now on to uh the public comment section. Three minutes limited for any item on the agenda. Um if you wish to uh show your comment, please come up to podium. Give us your name and address. All right. I want to update you guys about um as you recall request office for some elimination projects. Um and he put out his final draft that he made up 15.7 [snorts] that your request was included in that 1.6 million. Now that can still in the past shave down and then still has to go through the committee which some other news on that is put off the appropriations. So much more like pass through present instead of getting kind of shaped out. So, um those will typically come through the EPA grant. Um so, that's something that the town needs to be prepared for 1.6 of match 400,000 match we've had in the past. So um this conversation with your

commissioners forwards um you know their fiscal year starts October so the whole house might Good news. Thank you. [clears throat]

Yeah. Also, just so that people who haven't had a conversation with you about that, that's um a grant that we could use to help with basically we listed a bunch of different things that we're trying to do with our septic um system and program. Um there's a lot of things that we had to cut from the budget um originally due to some of the raising the costs raising for the initial plan. So, we use that money for those things forever.

Yeah. I think we have 400 some houses just outside of town limits [snorts] identified. I think I think Jim got probably close to 100 residents who said that they were so identify those obviously people want to go to the first game what

and the exciting piece of that is the more people that we get onto our system goes into that pool sewer goes into that pool. So, we're excited about that opportunity that

any other comments with no old business on the agenda. We'll move straight to new business. Chad, before you start that, can I just clarify, please? new business. 6.1 is an ordinance that you need to discuss and but 6.2 ordinance needs a public hearing prior to approving it. So, um it wasn't put on the agenda, but it needs to be prior to Has it been communicated for public hearing? It just didn't get to the agenda. So, it just wasn't on. Yeah, it there's all of our everything has been done correctly except for the agenda. That's on me. I didn't put the public hearing on it. Public hearing.

Yeah. [clears throat] Yep. We like to change things up. It's always fun. Thank you. Well, moving on to new business 6.1, ordinance 050626B, Healthway Park UDP. I'll make a motion to approve ordinance 050626B as presented in our backup materials. Second move by Bill, second by Ryan. And is there any discussion? I would just offer, you know, they shared all that information at the uh previous meeting and so we were able to kind of hear that, understand what they're looking at. So I appreciate the presentation and the work. Don't feel it necessary to repeat.

True. Okay. All those in favor of approving ordinance 050626B say I I those opposed and that passes. Um now may I interrupt for one second? Zach does that need to hear two votes?

So it it so my understanding was that you were just approving it and you'll hear it again at the next meeting. If you're passing the ordinance it does need unanimous consent to pass on first reading. I'll make a motion to pass ordinance 050626B by unanimous consent on first reading. The only question I will ask from any of y'all if we if we waited two weeks to pass it a second time, does that impact your timeline at all? I mean, in terms of what you're working on, not that you'd have to come back again. I'm just trying to to figure out

for the record. Both of our partners in this are basically driving a little time to be in Florida, but we're happy to do whatever is best. be able to get this. Yeah, I get that if but my question is like do you would you feel like if we didn't pass it um on the first read you have to come back in two weeks just because you like us or you've done all the things

45 years I've never disrespected [laughter] in my three years I've never felt disrespected by someone who didn't Any [laughter] further discussion? All those in favor of passing ordinance 050626B on first reading say I. I. I. Opposed. And that passes on first reading. Thank you Ivon. And Zack. Now I need to a public hearing.

You do. Let's go ahead and introduce this ordinance first. Okay. And then uh if I I believe Mr. Gibson would like to talk about this one as well and then we can open that public hearing um after we discuss this. Would you do me the honors of presenting? I can. Um we are um introducing this ordinance to vacate a public way um as we just touched on. I'm trying to find my materials here. Um that does include a public hearing. Uh the petitioner is here to speak about that and I will kind of just let him uh take that uh and then after he speaks we'll open the

Yes sir. We're here to ask you Lane and Wilson way. This is the back. It's not in order to make the plan work for shopping center. We are asking that that street by the way vacated it wasn't said earlier and if it was it was noted enough our appreciation for his team to solve this part of this property to make this work and one of the things that if I can give some comfort is that one of the things that the hospital's done we take a lot of talking to the developers and you mentioned making a tour of that facility. We did that even the folks we met with them many many times and we just are very concerned before we get into an agreement that we have we can work with and both instances I think our homework prove that prove that out that that we have folks we can work with and there was no nothing forced Mr. and taking [snorts] less of a project. So we appreciate that greatly. But in order to do that, we also need to make way and we've asked for that. We advertised for that part of the position

as us to if we're going to vacate this street then he wanted us to provide access through the northern part of area C through the site program was willing to do that. They've agreed to the flat of the access that will allow the undeveloped ground to the west to come through and connect with Wilson way. So we will have access so there'll be connectivity. Um we we plan ext was going to be okay and getting where they were going to go. So just connectivity was probably going to be rather than having a collector street through the project. So um we would ask you respectfully ask you to vacate that portion of Leon Lane and that would then become part of project. All right, at this time we will open up a public hearing at 7:17.

And if I can just add one note um that I I failed to mention in my introduction. Uh normally a vacation of a plat is just it's approved by the plan commission. This is before you all for approval because it's um it touches a public way. It's continues with the public way and the right of way. So that's why it's before the uh legislative body of the town. comments, questions. Yeah. [snorts] So, the just Okay. And shows the street being gone.

Well, the UDP references the use of that property and obviously if the the streets there, the uses is is is adjusted, but the UDP helps us understand how the property is going to be useed. Show park spots and everything else going by accepting that not saying we're already okay with we're leaning in that direction, brother. [snorts] We have to go. I mean, we could say no right now. Everything we said before doesn't matter. Already sensitive. So it's kind of like it's kind of welcome to say dudeelcome

streetsone [laughter] is part of the rightway

right now the Five minutes. That's a great question. The draft said it only becomes effective upon vacation doesn't exist. The program doesn't close. So the UDP uh the area C has other uses. So the way the amendment says if area C is developed for South guarantee that area is going to be developed. It says if it is so it sets up for certain this orance we get very specific for a shopping center we don't get as as specific for maybe a retail but in this case if it's developed for a shopping center it has to be like so everything goes well we hope that happens Thank you.

All right. Any further discussions or comments? I would just say that right now it's just Leo Lane from the roundabout west is just essentially street nowhere just west. Is that what we're asking?

Standards. If you drive down Leon Lane right now, which is a dead end street to nowhere, it's still maintained by the hospital. It's still mowed. It looks nice. That's one thing that you you cannot say about other developments around Hancock County. Uh so I commend the hospital for still maintaining it. All right, we will end the public hearing at 7:21 p.m. and move back to the town council and address ordinance 050626C vacating a public way west.

I'll make a motion to pass ordinance 050626 C on first hearing by unanimous consent. Moved and seconded. Is there any further discussion? That would be on first reading. You said first hearing. Reading. Just being on the record. Now we got all those in favor say I. I. Opposed. And that passes on first reading. Thank you very much.

Thank you. We have passed both ordinances 050626B and C on first reading. So they are passed. You are welcome here anytime. Yeah, just to clarify. You are not welcome. You are welcome to come at any time, but we love we love an audience. That way people other than my mother can watch this. I'm off. She's probably not watching. I would love that. No, your dad. My dad definitely probably Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Moving on to continue council conversations. Um we're going to [snorts]

uh indefinitely table staggered terms of office for town council members until we get more direction on that. So we can strike that from the ongoing agenda. And that will move us to um 7.2. two employee benefits.

I'll just say we're still working on that and also that any changes we make won't be effective until next year anyway. So there isn't a rush, but I appreciate it still being on the agenda. Um and also an employee of Hancock County reached out to me, gave me the website and some recommendations to look at some county um employee handbook language where they did similar changes that we're talking about. So, I will certainly look at those and circulate it and appreciate the input.

Should we set a date to table this so that we don't hit it up every every month until then so we could look to August or September budgeting time, right? I mean, which is a good time to [snorts] benefits and handbooks and so we could table it to August 5th which would be the first meeting in August. Sure. Okay. Perfect. Legal updates.

A couple of items. Um I work with Bri to identify um some unh wholesome conditions surrounding some properties here in town. Um and councelor Reid has done a good job of identifying those as well. So um for anyone watching in New uh that is going to be a added point of emphasis um and we will be uh following the uh the code of ordinances to uh identify those properties and follow the notice requirements and um get those letters out. So I'll be checking your mailbox. Um another item I've been working on is a legislative report for you all. Um the uh legislature has been so kind to add a number of requirements for you all and other uh units of government throughout the state. So um hopefully I'll be able to get that out to you uh later this month um with some some laws that you all need to start following here in 26 and 27.

Exciting. Thanks for that update. We're really excited about that. I'm sure. Okay, moving on to department reports. Jim, go ahead.

Center reps development company uh to look at our town center. Uh we were amazed. Um this this complex had a parking garage in it, a park that was a side to it. Um it had uh the the unit uh development below the apartment. So it was really nice project. It had a lot of artwork. I think that some of those amazing. So

those are just things that uh when we look at other communities what they have what we might have here in the near future and I think there's a group of us we're going to Rushville with the Thrive Center here in a few weeks. So we'll take a look at their town center and pull off some ideas there as well. Jim, where was it? Where was it? The Hob Center in Planefield. Hob station.

Hob station. Planefield. It was uh I was highly impressed with the development there park that gave us a good visual representation for [snorts] our park size and designwise. The actual apartment complex was amazing visually. details. It was amazing how they incorporated a parking garage in it and it just blended in. You didn't see it very nice. It's got a pool on the roof

on the roof of access. It was had a gym. I mean, it had it was very nice. The downstairs retail, the way they had it set up, it was extremely high, like a twotory ceiling. Um, they were long. There was access from both sides, front side and the back side. The possibilities on that blew my mind. So, they did a great job about possibil [clears throat] uh that's great to hear. I think one of the good parts about doing this is we can look at what other people used and steal good ideas and learn from bad ideas. And one of my former teachers is here with us today. But I I love stealing good ideas from other people. Some [laughter] cheating.

I thought Yeah, exactly. But um no, that's that's exciting to hear. Uh on another note, um we do have the decals on the truck. Uh banners have banners order with logo on it as well as your desk. And then uh I've got one more put on the town hall here. We're going to remove the old town of New Palestine. This is about 77 in. Pretty good size. Comes in three parts. So we'll get that ordered. Move along. I'm asking a friend, [clears throat] are we doing any polos or anything? You know, I was going to wear my old one today to to show the need for a new one, but yeah, just asking for a friend's book out there.

We can probably get you hooked up. Awesome. Anything else, Jim? That's it. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. P. Chief Wagner first week at the academy. He went in Monday, passed his PT, and now he's going to spend 16 weeks educated at the state level. Yes. Injuries transfer over. They're going back in and getting reertified. Didn't have to, but we want to do it just to make sure.

Well, if you need a dog that bites, we have a new corgi. But, uh, if I was a criminal, I'd be definitely afraid to keep Even if you need another police dog, I'm sure we're not

Ivon. I don't have anything of significance. Thank you. And now we'll open to public comments. Five minutes on any topic. So, anything that anybody would like to address? If you got something, please just come up the podium. Tell us your name, organization, or where you're from. Love to hear [laughter] what do you have?

So, we've got a list of town ordinances. Um, it's online. If you go to the town website, you can go there and you can look through them. If you've got specific questions, I mean, are they minibikes? No, I think what you're talking about, we just saw it the other day. Is the scooter. Yeah, it's like electric scooter. No, I guess not. Street.

You want to deputize us? I've seen around Lake Sunrise Lake. [laughter] I know what many many bikers talk about. It's extremely loud. Yeah. And then there's another one too on that and I'm just wait. Now the other question is we Hold on. We've got a non-emergency number that they could call and report that.

Right. You don't have to call 911. You call 4774. If we're not closed for the street I'm just concerned. Absolutely. If you don't call and tell us, we don't know what's happening. It's just a matter of time. Well, I hope I hope you're going through our neighborhood. Yeah. I'm saying if you don't call, we don't know. [laughter] I'm hoping. Yeah, I seen your

Yeah. I've hit my break seeing chief quite a few times and I really have a hard time somebody changed the residential 35 or 30 whatever was set up before those neighborhoods were built before the other overlook was put in. So to me that's resial street all the way from bridge all the way to 300 south.

Can I ask you a question? So you're running 30 all the way down from 300 South into town. No, it won't be 20 but okay. I'm just saying the 45 is too fast through there.

[clears throat] the county owns very little50.

So we do studies I actually do studies and I got a phone call about doing study on it. So I know about it, but I'm just concerned. I think the problem is last year and I think and then the other thing now overlook over to Stones crossing with their golf carts across 450 which the way I understand that's not legal. Correct. Cross over.

Pardon me. They can cross over. They can cross over. If they have, but if it's a registered golf cart and they have a driver's license, they do. They do like to cross over is taken very liberty by some, right? They're taking some liberty in the what? Crossover. They're coming out like this. they're driving down that they're turning back in. We allow that way to get back. Okay.

Now, let me speak on the speed limits a little bit. When you the Federal Highway Administration controls how we how we set those up, right? So, we set up a speed study and that's determined by the 85th percentile on what pedestrians are travel. So, we don't use made up numbers or we don't do it based on feelings like I people are driving fast. There's a formula. So when we get calls about uh we you know people and trust me I get calls a lot about people wanting to speed limit a lot of times what happened is I'll put a study up there and do a speed study and that 45 speed limit realistically if we use 85th percentile should be 50 or 55. You can actually make it more dangerous by lowering the speed limit and having people drive slower because you're have one or two people out of 10 do 30 m hour. Everybody else wants So that 45 speed limit is probably safe. I drive down 450 multiple times a day and I usually run between 45 and 50. Um, I neverbody

I'm just being realistic. I just think what we're gonna see is 45.

I mean, we get rules for speeding across the county, right? When I set these speed down, I get people that there's no there's no digital I have multiple vehicles running 70 plus 80 plus 90 plus. So I mean it's a problem but we can only set

I just thought inside neighborhood I could see that but being a county and town Why is it 35 years?

That's the state. What's it over there on 45 the same thing he does on 45 south 30 right around it draws the 30 fur Well, so it models it kind of models 500. 450 currently models 500 and that's just

we should do some we'll ask about I don't know I mean I watch and I see these kids just flying across that road. is gone and they're flying across the road while their buddies are coming down 300 shooting that 450 just hammering it 450 all the way down past us toward you know so I just

they have to take some responsibility on their part You should be on a golf ball. You're not supposed [snorts]

That's why I mean not neighborhood. Appreciate it. Thank you. But I mean I slow down. You got one in mind. [laughter]

I I think it's always part of the conversation to see, you know, both what the interest is of people and what is, you know, what's an option for us as a town. I don't think the doors closed. So, we're we're looking at when property when the expands. We're looking at those options, but we haven't had any conversations about forcing annexation at [snorts] this point. There is no immediate concern from people. There's no immediate concern.

They want

[clears throat] down all the way down to 600. Forcing annexation is pretty hard.

No, the other piece is if you want to be annexed for anybody watching at home, let us know. Jim can work with you. [laughter] If you would like to be the ambassador of our annexation campaign, go knock on some doors. at the end of the day for the town like it's great for us right if we have the hard part is if if there's somebody in between you and us then it becomes difficult right but I mean at the end of the day that would point more tax money towards us right which would allow us to focus a lot of our agenda and things that we're trying to do to develop the town the right way

but that's also street more streets have so we have a limited number of Good question. [music] Sorry. [laughter] [snorts]

And that really concerns and they're little kids. They're hanging off the but it happens on a regular

and sometimes it's an adult but it happens repeatedly and I believe so my concern That is a concern. Is it the people? Surely can't be. And also what would be the repercussions if we were involved in an accident with said illegal golf's I'm concerned. We're concerned about that.

600 They can't where county they're not allowed to have golfs. They cannot have golfs per county from the railroad tracks north is all and from this I mean where you are you're right on the county right so new pal doesn't come up until health right correct but then like so the first piece is if you call the non-emergency help line which is right here I'll give her a piece of paper on the way out

and let them know about their At the end of the day, you know, Chief doesn't know that Ryan drives 50 on 450 like he's not supposed to. I would never do that. But either way, but now that he knows, he's going to be ready for. But at the end of the day, I think a lot of it's catching somebody in that moment. So, at least if if think of it like this, if you know, hey, it happens at 4:00 every Thursday, he's going to put that together and say, hey, I get a call at 4 o'clock every Thursday. Guess what? But one of you guys needs to be down there at 4:15, you know, to make sure you got

I don't I'm not out there all the time busting my children and these are going by their in their golf cart. But it also worries. Yeah, it worries us too. I think we talk about it a lot to make sure that we manage it. I think the other concern is to your point sometimes it's kids that don't have license and don't have any business. A, they're not allowed to be there, but B, now they're breaking even more more rules and laws. There are fines associated with not following ordinances of that nature. Um, but yeah, letting us know about it or letting sorry, letting chief and his team know about it.

They can they can help. But it's in the county jurisdiction doesn't mean they won't respond to it. If they're the closest unit, they'll definitely lend a hand. But yeah, the biggest thing to do is the more people that are watching and helping funnel that information, they can make smart decisions on how to stop it.

That's not a good idea. It's good to talk to

Yes. Thank you. Follow

they got to be registered the state of Indiana. Yeah. So like golf cart town for a permit you have to carry insurance on them. So if they were to drive down run into your parked car they're responsible just like driving vehicles. We have we require them to have to have so we're not any extra liability. Well now they could be driving our cross and not have a New Pal permit just driving willy-nilly may not have anything. So I can't say if you get a permit from New Pal you have to carry insurance. That's just within the path.

We will give people permits but they are told that they are not allowed to drive them on county roads. If they want to bring them into town they need to bring them in on a trailer for like parade the events but we will not allow them to drive on. We tell them not to drive on county roads. Now will they? possibly, but they're encouraged not to get the permit unless UTVs. ATVs are not allowed. That's a single seat like the four-wheelers. Um, this is the side by side, the quad, four seats. Those are allowed on KY roads and now we passed it with the town as well. So, there's permits for those as well. And again, the UTVs also have to have insurance to be in. And they have to register to stay Not [snorts]

registered. Register.

It's kind kayak for the the pond or the lakes. You have to buy those stickers. You reg. Good discussions. Anything else? Awesome. Moving on to council comments and uh Ryan is up first.

I want to thank Thomas for doing all the work with Congress and following up on that. I want to thank his team and the hospital for communication and willingness to work and a fantastic result that the town is hopefully going to hugely benefit. I'll u I'll echo Brian and just recognize as they presented earlier some of the a lot of exciting things going on in town with the healthway development town center conversations. I'm excited some of the opportunities we have in front of us. Um I I wanted to just thank Naywick. I appreciate the opportunity to share a little bit about what's going on um in town with the National Association of Women in Construction last week. So, um the hospital was there and Cordsville was there. just some some really cool things going on in Hancock County and it was it was good to host them here in New Also voice appreciation for candidates who ran all the candidates who ran uh yesterday and congratulations to those who won their primaries. Go ahead. Um, we talk a lot about our outstanding sports teams and band and choir and um, I had the pleasure of going to the um, one of the schoolboard meetings where they recognized uh, MPE and MPI's math

bowl teams. Uh, MPE got eighth in state and NPI got ninth in state. So, if you've never been to one of these competitions, like I hadn't, I wasn't best math student. Um, [snorts] yeah, she knows already. You don't have to you don't have to nod. But, um, I I got to go watch my son do it. It it's extremely interesting and quite amazing. Um, some of the questions that were going on the board for the kids to answer. I was having trouble with myself. So, I'm really proud of of them and their accomplishments. Um, pretty big pretty big deal there. So, glad for them. um the K9 golf golf outing um to support our police department. Our kines are 100% funded by town which is pretty awesome. That is June 25th. I don't know how many teams we have left.

We're getting there's 12 left. It's open. I just got one this week. So there's 12 left. So they're going fast. Fantastic event. Yes. Fun event. Really fun. And I'm not going to have any pontoon boat accidents, so I can go this year. Um, that's all I got. Bill,

I'll start with go cubs go on fire. Uh, also want to uh mention, I probably should have brought this up under new business, but we kind of went through that quickly. I was approached by my neighbor, Mr. Rick Short. Um, he owns or sister owns the property to the south of me um formerly owned by the Cochran and they have started working on the property. They've accumulated about four or five piles of mostly branches and limbs and items and I know [clears throat] he called town hall spoke with somebody maybe Jim. He was told that there is a ban that prevents burning in town limits. And to his credit, he was inquiring whether it's possible to request either an exception to that ban or an approval um to burn the few debris piles so that he can continue to improve the appearances of that property. So, I told him that at our next council meeting, which is now, that I would bring up the issue to see if the council would consider granting Rick Short an exception to the town's burn ban to allow him to burn those piles. He also contacted the fire department. Uh they said as long as he had a hose nearby and he was physically present that they're fine with it, but he needs town council approval. So, I'd like to request on behalf of Rick Short that we give him uh an exception to the burn ban so he can get rid of the debris piles on that property.

Any concern?

What? Can we just make sure he call? I mean, does he need to call the fire department just to let them know he's about to? So, if we could ask that he does that, I'd be bored. I would ask that he also just let give us a window in the town town hall just, hey, I'm going to do it within these few days so that we're aware of it when someone calls.

Yeah. So, if he let's Cool. Do we need a vote on that? Do you want to make a motion so we can just vote and be good on it? I'll make a motion that we allow Mr. Rick Short an exception to the town burn ban so that he can eliminate the existing debris piles on the property immediately south. Moved and seconded. Do we need to have conversation? I would say as long as he subject to notifying town hall, the police department, the fire department so much one, two days to knock it out. Yeah.

Well, can you have him make sure he lets Chad know, please? Chief will let me know. Don't worry about [laughter] We've asked him to clean anything. However, that's not Yeah, we want to support people making the town look nicer and there's some times where we got to provide some help to do that. So, I think it's something we can easily do. I'll amend my motion by adding that it has to be completed within two weeks from today. That way, it's not open-ended. He still has to make the notification so that everybody knows. But let's get it done. Yeah. And you can update us at the next meeting that uh that it's done. Perfect. All those in favor say I. I oppose.

Thank you. [laughter] Well, now actually see what happens here. just so happened.

Now, I can tell you from personal experience, there are exceptions because I have a very large fire pit in the backyard next door and when the flames exceed 12 ft, the fire department will arrive and I have had that happen multiple occasions. Put too much chicken in a hot. [snorts]

All right, moving right along. Terry, what do you got for us? I [clears throat] love the way we are working on that last year and we want to be so We are clean and you're leaving us in suspense. Got to get you coming back. I'm telling you.

Listen up. Too late for my barn. But anyway, watch for those letters and please respond.

Last year's event was great. By the way, I went for a little bit dumpers and amazing response from town. charges for county res. It was amazing response we had from the public and it was well received. So I look forward to

and we will um last year we had called invide or ahead of time. So there's all several ways you can clean up your property. The other thing is the hospital. And so I'm glad spoke and very well October 13. the

the contractor commonwealth that's our engineers they they'll see that all items are complete are they peritted state no

well let's let's put it this way the plans are approved by the state correct I didn't know if they like when they when it talk about the completion supposed to be there about August 15th the start up and I think that's going to push out to that October. It's coming along pretty well. And with that I will hear a motion to adjurnn. I'll make that motion. I'll second. Bill and Ryan. All those in favor say I. I oppose.

And thank you everybody for coming.