Town Council - Regular Meeting

like to call to order the town council meeting, Wednesday, May 13th at 5:30. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. 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. All right. Do we have any remembrances or acknowledgements? Thank you.

Well, tonight is a big night. It already has been a big night in our sister city of Newbrook, England. They have a petition um in front of their county governing people to build 96 additional houses in Newra. Wow, that's actually doubling it in absolutely devastate everything that they have.

Um the village feeling the you know all all the things that they've worked hard all these years to to protect because there are laws in England about uh green space that there has to be green space in between each village and each town and so on. Uh this would lessen that green space. I don't have anything yet. I don't even know if they were going to take a vote for sure tonight or not, but most of the people, most of the residents that I've seen things from on Facebook are completely opposed to having this happen to their village. So, keep you keep them in our thoughts. Okay. It's interesting that they face a lot of the same things that we do.

That's true. Anybody else? We'll go on with roll call. District one, Steve Shoemaker, present. District two, Paul Perry, present. District three, Stacy Kger, present. District four, Ran Restaurant here. Sorry. Council at large, Lyanna K. Hughes, happy to be here. Clark Treasure Net Angel here. Administrative town manager Chris Cook here. Deputy Town Manager Andrea Bon, she's here. I'm here. Town attorney Christopher Wisher here. Engineer Drew Flame, present.

And Chief Mitchell is in the house. All right. I'd uh we got a copy of the minutes by electronic and also in our packet. So, I'd like a motion to approve the April 22nd, 2026 minutes. So, moved. Do I have a second? Second. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed. All right, Troy, you're on the agenda for signing up. Okay. My name is Troy Wilson. I'm with his new. Is this on? Yes,

I think so. Yes, so um so I sent Andrea the copy of our event package, but the pile was too big. It didn't go over. So, um you guys don't have anything in front of you to see this, so I'm more than happy. come back next Wednesday. But uh I was here tonight to talk about the fireworks and uh kind of what our thought process is about fireworks this year. Do you want to Would you like to hear about that now or would you like me to come back next Wednesday? I' Well, next Wednesday we won't be here, but why don't you give us a quick overview?

Okay. So, pretty much the same setup as what we had last year as far as shutting the same roads down. Um all of that's going to be in place. the times will change a little bit uh because we're kind of working with the museum because the museum's looking at a parade. Uh we don't know exactly if that's 100% going to happen yet. But if it does uh then we're working in timeline with them. So as soon as the parade's over with uh and the street is u cleaned up, then at that point right there, we would shut down French Island Trail uh to get set up for fireworks. Uh our start time would be around 2:00 p.m. um for the fireworks. It's a little bit later than what it was last year. Uh we are looking at throwing in a car show this year. Uh and that would all be down at the uh Lock and Dead Park. So pretty much again, same setup. Food trucks. We're going to have 18 food trucks.

18. 18 food trucks. Holy cow. We'll have live music at the amphitheater. Um the cottages will be taken by the um title sponsors. Um we'll actually have a Tri-State Orthopedes. They're going into uh the old lock and down building. the first year that we've done something like that. So, I'm pretty excited about that. Um, so we're pretty much going to be on the same setup as what we had last year. That's great.

So, uh, my packet is a little bit more in depth, you know, as far as specific things right there, but we've already have all approvals for the food trucks. Everybody's permitted for county. We've already talked to Eric right here and he's going to be in charge of what roads need to be shut down, what time frames. But um I'm thinking probably I think last year we shut down like the feeder roads to water street. Um everything from Jennins that feeds to um water. I think it was about 4 or 4:30 last year. We shut all those down. I think it's going to be a great event. I have a question. Oh, sorry.

Um this is what was I was messing with today. I'm I attended the Museum America 50 meeting last night. Ann was there too and I may have misheard but I thought the parade was on the fourth and yet the event is the third. It is the fourth. It's the third. It's the third. Okay. Is there is there some question about whether that's going to happen? That's kind of how you Well, they're hoping, you know, uh she's having a little struggle trying to get people to sign up for it. You got to have enough there to Got it. Okay. Make it worthwhile. So, I feel like she's on the right path. I think it's going to happen for her on that. It's going to happen. It's being promoted. That's why I asked. Yes, it is.

Yeah. Uh it seemed to me that they said there were like a little over a dozen so far signed up, but they named off a whole bunch of others. I think in an event like that, if they get up to 20, I think that would be totally fine for Yeah. for a you know, at that time frame. It would be nice if it was, you know, shorter, you know. How many do you usually have in the winter parade? Uh we can book we went up to 65 on last. Wow. Okay. Okay. And that would actually, you know, if the route would have changed, that's a little long. That's that's a little too long. Not so bad on Sunday night, but on Friday morning, that's a little bit that's a little bit much.

Partnering with the 250, uh they there will be events and stuff that will be happening. They're going to uh utilize the log cabin to have different type of events and stuff like that and maybe possibly some reenactments. I know that I've met with Ivy a couple of times, but I didn't I haven't attended the 250 meeting, so I'm not exactly sure what they've got, but they they will be um having things going throughout the whole um throughout the whole day. Um and then we have t-shirts uh that will be provided from Heritage Federal. Um and then those t-shirts will have America 250 on them. So, you know, even though just a partnership together and so it'll be American C50 for fireworks that will deliver. If any of you have contacts with any other cities or towns in Mor County, um, invite them to find groups, find fire trucks, find whatever they have to bring to represent their towns because this is a countywide project

and uh, needs to be representative of all of the rest of the county that we can possibly get here. So, I gave some names yesterday to Ivy, but you know, Ivy has her hands full with lots of other things going on right now, too. So, anything you can do to help if you have contacts, that would be greatly appreciated, I'm sure. Okay.

And we'll start doing surveillance board also just with our contacts of people, you know, from from the winter parades and stuff like that. You know, a lot of people, you know, I think a lot of people have shown interest that are not local people that would be like people or whatever. Uh, in my opinion, that's that's fine. I'd really love to promote as much war county as possible, but you know, uh, if they want to have a parade, you know, that would be nice. There uh, there's an INDOT and a AIM meeting on the same day later this month that'll have all the municipalities and more county represented and I planned on having some information to share with some of the other smaller municipalities at that meeting. Good. Are those there's they're back to back, but they're both in Boonville, I think, on the 26. So,

okay. Any other questions? Do we have the paperwork from either HNI or from the 250 committee chief for the parade? So, he submitted it or I guess he emailed it to me today, but our email, if it's too big, won't come through to me. So, I don't have anything for for the fireworks from them as of yet. But we we were asking if we had anything from the museum or the 250. Nothing from museum or um the 250.

And last night at the meeting that was discussed. In fact, Ann brought it up. Um they didn't know they had to do anything. They thought Troy was taking care of everything. I kept calling them back today for all this. So I don't know. They do. They need a separate report or Yeah, I can help them with that, too. just it's just a matter of like you know I've kind of been in my own world with what we've been going on right now. I've kind of got a lighter load right now. So I can jump in with anything.

So really the special event pack and especially if you got so with Troy right is H&I is an exempt group when it comes to rentals. So he doesn't need to come to you guys you guys to wave the rentals for the for the event, right? Really what he's coming for and the only that you guys need approval for are road closures when it comes like a group like H&I. um any other group outside of that that's not part of that exempt group um usually the packets will come to you guys for approval for the whole thing right um and so yeah so really um and like a parade yes they would need permission to obviously close the roads or

anything like that and really a lot of it is also just information so I can let Eric know Eric or I know that Eric does know um I know who's picking up the trash I so it's like a lot of more staff stuff um but really when it comes down to your guys approval it's ether road closures and or if they're not an exempt group and they wanted building, can they have that? I don't know. When Ivy talked about the parade, she said there had been conversation with the police already, but was that just with you guys and not the museum? Uh, no. And I went to discuss that. Okay. And on their behalf. Okay.

Now, nothing is set in stone with because we need to we talked about a couple different routes. So, as soon as I know where she she lands at that that thing then Eric already knows that you know that there's that this is going to happen you know it's just a matter of uh what the exact route's going to be so once we bring that packet to you then we'll we'll have to let him and I have okay issue I guess we need to work out okay are you good with that other qu Oh go ahead Matt

so as well just a couple more comments about just so everybody knows was mentioned The 250 is a countywide activity 250 committee and it's being run specifically by Newberg museum museum and the co museum. Those are the three play big players who are trying to put things together. Um the parade has been discussed a number of different times. There are 10 12 entries right now. Most of which are political entries, different people, different positions, but a little bit more. It's getting a little bit difficult to get out of Newberg, meaning windville, blue groups to join the parade. They see it kind of as a as a Newberg parade. We're trying not to promote it that way. We're trying to promote it as as a war county parade because it is a war county committee. But getting people to come down here, we need to push it a little more. That's what we'll do. I talked to Ivy this morning, Tiffany and I talked back this morning. She will put together the packet that's necessary, fill it out. We'll get it everybody next couple weeks, two weeks from now. But yeah, and then the preliminary preliminary route we're looking at is basically the same as the first year flight parade route to state, turn up state, go down, move out on one of the two or three access roads per second street from there. That's probably at this point.

Okay. Any other questions for either Troy or Matt? I do have one more thing to add. So, uh, next week the the flags are the memorial flags are going to go up. Uh, last year we kept them up all the way through the 4th of July. I'm going to request that we get to do that again this year, too. I think that's fine. I'd keep them up until Veterans Day. Be easier on me, but hard on. Do you do you want to talk about Memorial Day? For sure. The clip.

Yeah. So, uh, when we put the flags up, they actually do much better if they're back by the fence versus out, you know, by the stone wall. So, I've been doing a little research. Uh, and they have, uh, we have these pipe clamps. They're they're black to match the fence. And, um, I thought we knew when I was coming, I would brought one. Uh, what I would like to do is take these pipe clamps. They're metal. and then screw them onto the back of the post of each of the posts um on fence. You'd never see you'd never know that they would be there because they'd be on the outside of it. And then each time we put the flags up, we'll just be able to slip them down inside there. Uh and we won't have to zip tie on them. We won't have to try to dig holes in the ground and stuff like that. So, it's it's much easier. Most of the gentlemen that helping put it up, put the flags up or getting on up there in age and that pounding in the ground and all that kind of stuff is a little bit hard on them. So, um, this way,

it's very hard on them. Yeah. This way it would be much easier, you know, to get the flags up and go. Can Can I Can I ask one question? Um, you saw the email that I sent out to all the groups that the health department sent about the if you have two or more uh food trucks, they want you to fill out that form. Okay. I figured you had, but I just when I heard 18 earlier, I was like, I better remind just it's not it doesn't cost anything. They just want to document. Yeah. Any event that goes on county, if you have food, that has two or more.

Do you Does anyone have any concerns or any questions about putting these clips on the outside of the fence? And I can go do one like uh like tomorrow or something like that and then take a picture of it and send it off. I think I can help you. So, send it to you. Like I said, you're not going since it's there, but I'm all for it, but then that's that's our project. So, any other Do we need to vote on it? Do we need to recommend? I don't have any concerns about the clamps. Okay. I don't think we need a motion. Okay. Go do your thing. All right. Thank you. But thanks for letting me know.

Yes. We're going to leave now so you can talk about Okay, I'll put that on the agenda. Talk about Matt and Troy. Let's go on to Civil Town Drew Driftwood Storm.

So, this part project is part of the civil bond. It's for repair driftwood. During our hotel design, additional storm sement was required. Um it was above and beyond existing ements there single property owner. This is so this is the work necessary to complete those exhibit for prepare the documents. the Storm Board Utility Committee, our storm board has recommended town council approved this uh this additional work. And as a quick overall update, uh the project has all the permits approved. It's just going through land acquisition. So, as soon as all the land acquisition is complete, this project will be ready to bid.

How many land acquisitions do we need? Two. Oh, excellent. Okay. own private property owner. Okay, good. Those letters will be sent out. I forgot to send. All right. I need a motion for the approval of the driftwood storm sewer erosion engineers amendment. So move. Do I have a second? Second. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed? Motion carries. All right. Grey Street Sidewalk Improvement.

Yes. It says Grey Street, but has been part tied to the Grey Street. Okay. State Street. That's that exhibit I provided you guys. Curve curve bumpout. So it is the elementary school crossing of State Street.

Um a very similar bumpout that you can see in that picture would be provided there. The current crosswalk does not meet ADA compliance. Um, it it also lacks safety mechanisms on the commercial drive side. That would be the the east side. It just outlets right on the commercial drive places those students at risk there. It uh it doesn't have great visibility. So what the sidewalk committee team has reviewed was to placing this curve bump out at crossing and then installation of rapid flashing beacon system with a push button so that when kids are there at the crossing they can safely cross the street. It will also provide some traffic calming um at state street as well to as you reduce the the width of the traffic effect to slow people down. that also reduce the speed going around the curb and getting into the school entrance. So again, it's it's all safety driven. And then this would also play a role into Grey Street as we complete all those improvements as kids are walking through there, they'll have a way from the school all the way through on on Grey Street to the apartment complexes.

Okay. Also remember during this process we found out it's not just the elementary school kids that are coming from the school but the kids in the bus system from Castle South that live in the area. They drop them at the school at the elementary school. So it's not just the elementary school kids that would impact it would impact the junior high kids as well. Okay.

I will not this has a grant tied to it. It's got a very quick turnaround. It actually started May 1st and the project since it has to be substantially complete by September 31st. So with this presuming with this authorization would need to proceed immediately so we can meet those deadlines and the intention would be to complete the improvements during summer months while the kids are are at home. Okay. In school. I can't believe I've never asked this but does the school system know that all this is going on? they they they gave a letter of support for the grant. Okay. And um they've been notified and then okay

I've been reaching out to them and I was going to wait and see how it went tonight before I kind of reminded them but they've been notified and they're excited and they gave the grant okay nice some of the other groups did as well but um they were very excited about the opportunity and good. So, where does this fit onto the map? The bump bump out will be on the school side up here. Yes. Yep. So, across Grey Street. No, that's on State Street. So, it' be on the school side where the parenting is. This is still on State Street. Yes.

So, Grey Street is It is further south. It's not Okay. Yeah. It's not on the map. Okay. This is actually going into the parking lot. So that goes south. Once you cross you, you go south and the next street is Grey Street. So then once we do the Grey Street sidewalk project, it'll be from State to uh Locus. So we'll have a good sidewalk all the way to the school. Okay. Any other questions? I need a motion for the approval of the Grey Street sidewalk improvement project. So moved. Do I have a second? Second.

Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed. Motion carries. See real quick. one item that with this project I'd like to it's not on the agenda item but since this moving forward with the strict timeline I'd like to go ahead and author or request authorization to proceed to quoting the project out immediately as soon as the design is complete we'll send this out to contractors I I'll make that motion. Do I have a second? Second. Any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed. All right. You're welcome. Thank you.

All right. Uh Chris, senior center HVAC. As you you see in front of you, council members, we have three quotes for a compressor. Uh the senior center is a two compressor system. One of the compressors has failed. When the weather's like it is today, you can get by with one. But unfortunately, in a few more weeks, we have to have both compressors online for the HVAC to work. Uh the lowest and most responsive bidder was Midwest Mechanical Services uh with 9750 for the work 9,750. It's above my ability to approve. So I seek your approval tonight so we can move forward this needed repair at the senior center.

All right. I need a motion for the approval of the senior center HVAC compressor replacement. So move. Do I have a second? Second. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I I all those opposed. Motion carries. Thank you. You're welcome. Drew Powers plant sanitary sewer relocation.

This is the work associated with relocating a sewer main from underneath two residential homes in PL subdivision. Cover contracting is wrapping up that project. All the guys got final restoration and some small punches that remain. Uh So the project substantially complete. So at this time we have the final change order associated with the project. It's a deduct in amount of $39,735. The original contract price was $449,558 and the chamber the new contract price is $49,843. And of course, utility committee has recommended town council approve this change order. I I'll also say that Cobberstein Contractor has done a great job with the project. It was difficult those back tight yard areas and I I know they've worked hard to satisfy those private property owners.

Good. All right. I need a motion for the approval of the PP place sanitary sewer relocation change order. So I like the decreased amount. Do I have a second? Second. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed? I Drew Forest Park.

Yes. So this this project is going to be a sewer bond project bond that the town has secured. It upgrades sewers with to provide additional hydraulic capacity. And this project was split into a a second phase. The larger project would be completed. The phase two would be complete at a later date in time. But this will help reduce overflow risk within Forest Park subdivision with those with the capacity limitation. Uh this is part it had to be part of a original sewer plan that was done in 2019. So this is extra work. that came about of a sewer lateral issue being being exposed and ditch park has been chasing that ditch and storm sewer issues around for several years. But as part of this project, the sewer work force park culvert will be taken care of. The the sewer sewer line improvements require that culvert will be replaced and also take care of some ditch lining where these sanitary scooters are required to be upgraded. So that this is the additional work that is tied to additional easements necessary design and center point impro.

All right. I need a motion for the approval of the forest park trunk line improvement engineers amendment. So moved. Do I have a second? Second. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed to Phelps Drive.

So this one, this project is designated asset management plan project. It's located in town on Phelps Drive. A very narrow uh rideway. The sewer department has secured additional rightways to do the improvements necessary here. Um but the uh the repair consists of a taking care of a a vertical deflection in an 18inch gravity sewer interceptor that is about 18 ft deep back there. So it be a a major major sub construction and shoring and bracing in that tight corridor. So this is to take care of a a maintenance related issue to to move forward with the project. It's anticipate $600,000 in construction cost.

Okay. Need a motion for the approval of the Phelps Drive sanitary sewer repairs engineers amendment. So move. Do I have a second? Second. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed. Motion carries. Village Lane Sewer Rehabilitation.

Yes. This work is complete improvements on Village Lane. This is never in town. project. It's been on the books for several years. Again, it's been an ongoing maintenance issue due to pipe not meeting minimum slope. This this project would be funded through the new bond as well. Utility committee has recommended town council approve this work. They'll also do some street resurfacing as well on village lane on parks that we we disrupt. Okay. I need a motion for the approval of the village lane sewer rehabilitation task order. So moved. Do I have a second? Second. Any discussion?

All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed. Motion carries. Drew Westside master lift station. This work is to complete site survey to confirm the existing lift station features and sites uh prior to crops growing to to call in the field. Future improvements are anticipated at this site. So this is this work will be done in advance the crop out. Okay. I need a motion for the approval of the Epworth Point subdivision sanitary sewer extension. So moved. No, that No,

I'm I'm sorry. Yeah, take that back. Rewind. Westside Master Lift Station. So moved. Do I have a second? Second. Any discussion? This is for the surveying. Correct. Yes. Yeah. Okay. Got it. Any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed. All right. Now, the Fworth Point subdivision,

this project is not located in town. It is on Epworth Road, east side, north of Van Road, and north of Ascension Orth orthopedic Hospital. Give you an indication where it's at. So, it's a development that's out there. It's about 20 acres and the work consists about 800 ft of a sewer main extension 8 in pipeline. So developers passed all testing met all applicable standards and requirements. So engineer recommends town accept the sewer extension for maintenance is approximately total cost of work was approximately $156,1.

All right. I need a motion for the approval of the Epworth Point subdivision sanitary sewer extension. So moved. Do I have a second? Second. Any discussion? Could you repeat the location, please? Yes, it's on the east side of Epworth Road and on what they're calling the new van road that's heading east. So, it's just north of the orthopedic hospital. Okay. Thank you. Isn't that like the Freedom Trail route? Ward Trails is Yeah, I'm sorry. Next block. The next block. Okay. Yes, that is. Thank you. Yeah, the amount of infrastructure they've put in there in the last 6 months is really impressive. There's going to be a roundabout

uh on van. I mean, it's built, so Well, it's out to Yeah. All right. Let me get my Any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed?

Motion carry. Willow Landing Sewer. Uh so before you is the sewer agreement for the Willow Landing uh development development for the most part a standard sewer agreement. There is one significant difference that I want to point out. So this particular project um coincides with work that the sewer department uh needed to have be done in the same area and department's worked with the developers. Um and so portion of what the sewer department normally do will be done by the developers. So there's there's provisions in this contract for what we call betterment which is uh the portion the total project cost is 6 4,81 but um $48,253 of that is actually for the betterment of for the good of the sewer department as opposed to the additional work that's needed. And so we provide it for that betterment that the town will reimburse the developer. Um we'll essentially make project payments as they as they do the construction and help retaining basically took language from our construction agreements and incorporated into this contract so that that will be paid out over time as the project.

Okay. I need a motion for the approval of Willow Landing Sewer Agreement. So move. Do I have a second? Second. Any discussion? Yes. Um, okay. Maybe I was all along wrong about where Willow Landing is, but isn't that in the area that uh Growth and Progress has? It's south of 662. It's down in the Pollock Pollock area, right? Oh, yeah. Okay. Okay. Okay. I'm sorry. Yeah, it's down. It's down in that neck of Yeah, I know now. I'm sorry. No, that's fine. Any other discussion?

It's important to note that this is money that we would have had to spend if we uh would have done it ourselves. So, it's not like we're paying the developer to do anything here. It's we're just reimbursing him for what makes sense for him to do. So, and these discussions have gone for several months. They have. And I just got confused for a minute. No. And it's it's it's the department's really worked and I think Commonwealth has worked hard to make this work with the developer and I think everybody I'm pretty sure. Yeah. Okay. Seems like this anxious to get going. Property might have been a good place to look for annexation.

Well, it doesn't since it's not too far outside. It's not connected to the town. Well, not now, but I mean the property itself is not too far out of right our limits. Um, you know, I I still am amazed at the fact that we have pro so much sewer that's outside of the town um that it's contiguous in a lot of cases. This is not but could could be Mhm. um without annexing.

So there's and there is the standard remmonstrance waiver in the agreement that's still valid for 15 years. So we get that and we could do it there. There are some opportunities down the road for some undeveloped properties that do touch the town that may may be presented in the future. So we always have our eye on if we had gone ahead with the trail as planned to Angel wouldn't we have been to we would have been to Paula for sure but wouldn't we have been to um at least very close to

where this property isound what the town boundaries would be that faril town boundary itself, but would the trail have made us and it would be our property? So, yeah, it would wouldn't have been in town. It wouldn't have been considered in town and and we would not have been able to use it as a basis for annexing. Too bad. Yeah, my opinion. All right. Any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed. Motion carries.

Willow Landing construction permit. Chris, so this is the AC accompanying construction permit for sewer. We were just discussing sewer agreement for Willow Landing. It's ready for your approval. All right. I need approval for the Willow Landing construction permit. So move. Do I have a second? Second. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed. Motion carries. 9966 East Gate Court encroachment agreement.

Uh this is a question myself here for a second. This is an I just prepared this this week. So why am I drawing? This is Crown Maries and Double Properties which is Ev. And this is um at the Gateway Business Park uh section three where they have a development that's coming. This is the Aldi's development. That's right. And this will give you the parking lot. You can see on the the exhibit on the back and you can see where the sanitary sewer is and their parking lot will be over the so agreement will allow that.

All right. I need a motion for the approval of the encroachment agreement for 9966 East Gate Court. Some move. Go ahead. Some move. Do I have a second? Second. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed? Motion carries. I don't believe we have any unfinished business. So, staff reports. Andrea. and do Chris first. Well, I guess

Andrew can go first. Um, basically have my report. Uh, sorry you got it a little bit late than Friday. But, uh, the first thing I want to draw attention to is under meetings and events on April 18th. I was able to attend the Society for the Advancement of uh, Fatality Elimination on Roads or Safer. They had a street safety initiative dinner at Deaconist. Um my wife and I were able to attend and the website the safer streets uh safer streets evv.org um has a lot of good information and several of the municipalities have kind of jumped on board with this. I'm going to continue to meet with them. a lot of what they're doing aligns with the stuff that goes along with the SS4A grant opportunity, but I just wanted to make you aware of that and that we might have them in here to give a presentation at some point as we work through the process on that. Um, but if you have questions, just see me offline on that as we go through my report. Uh, next thing I want to draw attention to is on item uh three under miscellaneous. Um recently we attended the uh rural empowerment and development program had a economic development meeting on last Friday and they're dividing up the work amongst the committees. I will be in charge of the survey subcommittee for the county and that's that grant if you recall about a year ago. Uh it's through Ball State. We're one of two counties out of the 92 that received it. So, I'm working with the economic development group and all the other uh towns and partners on that. Um, I'm happy to report item five that the solar panel installations are completed at town hall in the senior center. Uh, number six, I'm happy to com report that the boat dock installation has been completed, but I will uh be purchasing a used trailer uh for the transportation and

storage of the dock um for roughly $2,000. Um, I found one down in Kentucky. Basically, if you recall, the way we were getting the dock in and out of the water before was not the best. The trailer will serve as a a way to where they can trailer the trailer down the boat ramp. They can guide the uh the dock over and put it on the trailer in a similar way to what a boat would. They pull it up, it folds up on itself, and we would easily be able to transport the trailer up to its uh storage area up at the top of the the plaza there. Ideally, with the plan to find a place that's under cover when it's not in the river to prolong its life,

and then when it's in storage or on the trailer, we would jack the trailer up to take the weight off the wheels so it prolongs a life. Right. Uh, it's under my spending limit, but I just wanted to let you know if you see an expense come through for a trailer from Kentucky that's used, that's what that's about. We don't need to go buy a $13,000 new one for what it's going to do. And the there was one that was on the uh surplus list at the plant, but it's not long enough. We need 30 ft to make it work. And where was this going to be stored? You said it, I Well, they store it up by the dirt area now, but ideally we would like eventually like to find a place where we can get it out of the elements.

I don't have that yet. Um because if we can get when it's out of the water, if we can get some cover over it or inside somewhere, it would prolong the life of the dock itself. I understand. But isn't this going to be pretty ugly? I mean, to sit on a riverfront, it it always has. It always has. But you're getting another one. Well, we've always kept the the uh boat dock stored. I know. At the top. Right now, we don't have any other place to store it. Okay. We'd like to have

I'm trying to find a place elsewhere other than the riverfront because I don't think it's the best spot. But in the short term, if I don't come up with a place, ideally, I'd like to have a place that's covered or indoors, but we don't have that space, I'll try to find a place to store it. The trailer will be capable of pulling it, you know, around. Yeah. Um but we didn't need to go purchase a brand new trailer. Oh, no. I agree with that. But when it's when it's parked, the weight's not going to be sitting on the um on the wheels, so we'll jack it up to where it's off the tires for the for the season. Okay. So, it doesn't put pressure and dry out the tires as fast.

But yeah, I'll continue. I'll update you on that progress. But, uh, I'm working with the buyer online and I'll coordinate with him tonight, but I just wanted to let you all know that I was going to do that before I did it. Uh, item seven, um, I've been trading email with e-rep. I I think there's some confusion. There's been some staff changes there. Um, so we're working on getting the email we need before we initiate the contractor and once we get that email, the contractor needs 15 days. Uh, I believe the river level is low enough now to where we can move that process forward, but I didn't get uh an email back from before this meeting. So, I'll keep you updated on that.

This is the GD. This is the

Gabian basket. Yeah, Gabian baskets. Uh, item eight. I attended the IMMA annual conference in Angola the 29th through May 1st. I sent you via email the presentations of note from that conference to review. And I guess I'm to item 13 and this is I'm going to tag team with Drew and Andrea on this is the 20 Juliana Drive storm water issue that has popped up uh as of last Friday. Um, we had a storm water line collapse at that address. It's significant. Um, in Andrew's report, I think there's some pictures of it if you saw her report. Um, but Drew, I guess we need to ask for permission to declare an emergency situation. Did you want to add?

Yes. So, I I I gave you this update. I gave a summary of what took place. So, this happened on Friday. We we tried to uh develop longterm solutions as well so we could try to couple it with a shortterm repair. Try to get the biggest value. We've had a couple specialty contractors look at it. The sewer department did provide CCPV evaluation. The couple the long-term options aren't viable unfortunately. open cut was probably the best term if you have enough money to do so, but it's also uh the the most expensive by a long shot. The storm here is about 12t deep there in that location. Um at this point in time, meeting with contractors and and given the circumstance, we believe it's to complete a quick point repair only to get that pipe opened up and to alleviate the risk by that uh by that house. So what we would request is uh for the recommended time declare emergency to repair repair the glass pipe and then allow the engineer to seek quotes to complete the point repair. Uh the finance committee did approve using edit funds to complete this point repair. I think it's about sets aside about $70,000 to do this. Uh, so we would make that recommendation for town to declare the emergency as the first step.

All right. I'll make a motion that we declare this as an emergency repair and give Drew the authority to go out for bids. I'll second. Do we have any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed. Drew, does that give you what you need? Yes. Okay. And then I guess up to that dollar amount within that threshold. So work could be underway before the next meeting then. Okay. Okay. And then uh we'll coordinate via email if there's any updates and go from there.

Okay.

Okay. Okay. Then I'm going to move to item 14, which will also be a tag team because we've been working with this as a team here. Uh Drew and I and uh everybody here at town hall has been working on the federal brick program grant application. We had about a 10day window from the time we were notified to make an application. It's a preliminary application just to see if you qualify to apply. So we got that in what, two Fridays ago, I think. and uh we didn't expect to hear from them back as soon, but last week we got the good news that we are qualified to do the full application uh which would be due uh in early part of June. And what we seek now is the approval for us to move forward. What this means, and Drew, you've got the numbers. the Eller Bush Road project. The storm water board wanted us to look at that through the the brick application. And it's a better deal for the town than if we wait for a CCMG project because it's going to put more money back. It's going to make our bond money go a lot further than it would if we did another uh program. And plus with Plum Street being the one that would be applied for first, you know, that would prolong another year or two out before we could do it to where we would know about this this year and we could still go after this the uh CCMG for Plum. So I forget was it about a million dollars to the good for us more if we do it this way?

Yes. Um so it's we would seek your approval um for us to move forward with the application and gathering of information needed to go after this shovel ready opportunity through the uh the federal brick program. I'll make that motion. Do I have a second? Second. Any discussion or questions? All those in favor say I.

I. All those opposed? Motion carries. And while we're on Ellerbush, they started the spot repairs this week, too. And they're working through that. So hopefully we'll get that that that done and open back up with some of the spot repairs. And I believe the they've already done some of the uh other repairs through town that were a part of that that bid. I forgot to tell you. I saw that they had filled a couple of them, but I'll go back and get pictures cuz I was driving. I didn't have a time to stop. Is the road closure already happened? Yes, it's going on right now. It was open today. Yeah, it wasn't shut down today all the way through just the areas of the little

It's supposed to be on closed on or after I think Monday, but they may have went ahead and done these other repairs first. They got tagged with center point. So maybe there's a little bit some needs to take place. Well, there's a bunch of cones right at one of the spot repairs. They were working when I was through there the other day. That's why I didn't I just assumed it was ongoing

and they're getting a year or so. Okay, stand by. And then um item 16, I wanted to update you on that. I know there's been some discussion. Uh I got an email late Monday that they're going to push the the start on the trail head grant or the trail head mural that was grant dollars to the 18th. We prepared the site. I took some of the suggestions back to Orange Moon and I should have an updated image before that that happens hopefully by the end of the week. Um, I know that there was a couple discussion of what the history needed to represent. Um, I think we asked to take the welcome out and put established 1803.

Um, because of the concern that you would see it as you're leaving town, right?

So, there's they're doing some refinements and hopefully I'll have that before the end of the week and then I'll send it out to the group, but their plan is to start then. They're also in the process of designing uh once we get all the permissions from the um the old lock and dam what that would look like. But they are completely booked up for the rest of the year. So there's going to be a full year of discussions and with the price estimates on what that's going to take. I have to use their their initial design to go after grant opportunities to find funding for it. But that one would be more focused on um some of the history and stuff because I took a lot of the feedback that I got from the email and said that they need to keep that in mind going forward on some of the grants. So hopefully that'll address some of the concerns that there's been. Um I just wanted to update you. Um they moved up the schedule because of their schedule. Originally I was going to present it all tonight because we thought they were starting this week. Um, but I will uh was able to take some of the feedback.

Good. And hopefully I'll have a refined image for you all before the end of the week. Okay, good. Well, at least before they start, right?

And I told him, don't send it to me Sunday night, you know, give me like a a little bit. So, uh, I also wanted the final thing I wanted to highlight that we will be hosting in this room the next regional mobility committee. That's a subcommittee of the Evanso MO on uh June 12th at 10 o'clock and the partner spotlight for that discussion will be the War Trails and the Posey County Trails. They're going to be talking about trails. So, those are open if you want to attend, but uh I'm on that committee. So, they asked if we would host because their normal location wasn't available. So, they're trying to bounce it around the the membership of the MO. Okay. And then you have your website report as well.

Okay. Any questions for Chris? Has there anybody in this room who has actually seen the artwork that will go with the mural? Did that change at all or only the verbiage changed? No, the artwork is going to change. They're refining the artwork. They're refining like everything. Yeah. I'm sorry. What? I said they are refining the artwork and that So, nobody has seen where it's headed at this point. They're going to they're still working on it. I mean, it's going to be the base of what what you saw, but I mean, I they are capable of doing

wonderful work. They've done it in every school in War County. So, I think we can we can get something really, really good. I feel confident in their work. I noticed that the windows are already boarded up, though, so we're ready. Any other questions? All right. Now, Andrea, sorry.

Um, you guys have my, um, report in your packet. Um, just some things to highlight. Um, town hall will be closed on that May 25th for Memorial Day. Um, but right before then, on the 23rd, that Saturday is the opening day of the splash bag. Um, so we're fully staffed. We got shirts ordered. We fun days in the park are all planned out. So, we are we're ready for opening day. Um, then also just wanted to highlight um in the packet Friday, May 29th, um the library has ongoing renovations. They are fl they have to redo an entire breaker box. That breaker box controls most of the utility office.

So, the utility office will be completely down on the 29th. Um so, we're going to put stuff out. We're going to let everyone know. We're going to be as open as we can. Julie will still be here to take payment if there's walk-ins, things like that. Um, we will only be disrupted a little bit in the morning because they got to shut the whole town hall off like a half an hour and then we'll be back up and then but utility will be down that whole day. It'll be before we open usually. I think they said I think they said hopefully around 6:00 in the morning for like an hour to 30 minutes. Okay. Yeah. Um, so we'll be down and then we have um PC Quest is coming in to secure our um server

server. I can't think of the word server to secure a server and all that stuff so nothing gets disrupted um because of that. Um in my packet was the newsletter. Um Chris has sent me his article. So I have that. Um I'm making a few little edits here and there. Um but essentially it should go to the printer this week to start getting sent out. Um, also for you, so you guys know, our intern started on Monday. Um, it's it's been great. We've been working on I've been throwing in local government information. He's helping right now with my parks master plan, creating me some surveys and some public forum stuff. Um, we have an iPad set up for him. He's going to be working on storm water. Getting out there

Friday.

Yeah. Getting out there Friday. And he's going to be using um the iPad to mark all of our outlets. our outfalls. And then once that's done, also hitting up some things that we need that we would like to put in the NOV system as far as our street lights, our our benches, things like that that we can start pinpointing on these work orders. Um, so he's going to help us out with that. Um, other than that, I do have and um I'm going to bring it up here under my my report. I have two things that I handed out to you guys. um one being um assistant um superintendent um Richard Arthur. Most assistants don't have take-home vehicles. Um it's usually just the the superintendent or the um supervisors with the street department main department being so small with some of those things. He has asked if he could have a take-home vehicle as well. Um, we told him that we would submit the request to council. Um, um, so it would kind of be up to you if he's requesting a take-home vehicle. Um, so when he does get called out or when there's call outs or when there's things like that that he will have that vehicle um, at um, his disposal.

So, do you need a motion? Yes, please. All right. I'll make that motion. Do I have a second? Second. Do we have any questions or discussion? Wouldn't it be more appropriate to do this if a motion passes to combine the street and maintenance? I mean, either way, he's always going to stay the assistant. So, I mean, we definitely can. We would rather do that. Seems to be putting the cart before the horse here, saying, you know, that it's already a done deal. Well, no. I mean, I think Andrea is saying he wants it either way. He wants it either way. So, if you guys don't combine it and he's and it's it stays as it is, he wants it he wants it either way.

Well, one of my questions to you the other day had to do with vehicles. If we would have enough vehicles for what we needed to to do. And we do. Okay. Okay. Any other discussion? All those in favor say I.

I. All those opposed. Um, another thing I had that I handed out to you guys, um, is a, um, landmark aquatic um, proposal. Um, so currently our splash pad runs on liquid chlorine and, um, liquid acid. Um, those containers within that equipment room really eat up that room. If you leave anything metal in there, it's going to eat it up just in the air alone. Um, even though it's well ventilated and all that stuff. So, this quote for $5,83823 will convert us from a chemical or a liquid chlorine and acid to tablets. Um, we kind of knew this was coming. Um, Anna got with um, our former maintenance superintendent got with Nette at the end of last year and we put aside about $6,000 to do this work. So, it is in the budget. Um, but this is the actual now most recent quote to do that work. on the

And just so you guys know as well, um um we had a pump issue out there. The pump need to be repaired. Um Noah, who as you guys know is your maintenance superintendent and comes from wastewater. Um he was able to replace that pump himself with the parts for around 200 something bucks versus I don't even know what the quote would have been to have probably several thousand. Yes. So, we're saving money where we can, but a conversion like this he's unable to do, and it would need to be the actual um the company that put it in. Okay. I'll make that motion. Do I have a second? Second. Do we have any discussion or questions for Andrea?

When will they when will they do this? Um, as soon as I get signed over, he's hoping to get them down here as soon as possible. So, we're hoping before it opens. Yeah, that's that's what I was asking. Yeah, before it opens. Yeah, that's all I have. All right. Any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed. Andrea, anything else? Um, Nette, do you want me to do this or under finance? You can do it now.

Okay. Um, so I wanted to let you guys know just kind of everything's been coming very quickly with us with Midstates. Um, and you know, we just recently had the batting cage issue, the manhole issue out with the sewer. Um, and so kind of compiling all this data, updating our spreadsheets, constantly sitting them to ready, going back, talking to net, looking at money. Um, now that we, fingers crossed, are done with any new changes, I just have to update all the things that I had sent to them. So, the spreadsheet, um, a memo, and a financial commitment letter all has to get sent to Ready, um, to hold that shows all the dollar amounts exactly the way it says on that spreadsheet. Um so with that um just so you guys know um the initial before anything happened um the initial was2,14,382.11 and we had enough money from everything right between park pals donations your bond aotments um some interest we had in old park bonds um we were sitting around $57 that was going to be over budget right um and then came that performance bond fund. Then came that insurance requirement from EREP. Then came the batting cages. Then the sewer manhole issue. So right now from the initial budget, we're sitting about $73,000 over where we initially started. Um so what this financial commitment letter is stating is that we know that we're over we have some of this overage. We as a town are willing to cover that. Um Nette and I are still looking at where that's going to come from. Whether that comes from the bond interest, which we have been holding in case there are projects that go over, um whether it comes from a magical fund that Annette has or whatever in my backyard,

right? Um whatever is out there. So, we're still working on that. But this letter itself is just saying that we will cover the current overages as as we have them currently now. Um, so it means that we don't have to let them know where the money is coming from. We're just telling them we have the money, right? So they don't necessarily know every single little account that we have or where it's being pulled from, but just that as we as an entity as a town

have this dollar amount covered. So I have to show them I have to show them the resolution the bond, right? So show that the bond was created. Um, I have to show the motion where you allocated me the additional 50,000 from the bond. So you have to show them anything and everything of where that money is. So this just covers that overage and that we are willing um to pay that. We are hoping um that batting cages dollar amount there is a possibility of um park pals helping us out with that. They have a meeting this month, next month. Next month.

Next month. Um so they've talked about possibly helping out. I don't know what that looks like, how much they're willing, but hopefully they can help a little bit um with that um that that dollar amount. So, I'm just asking um for um a motion to approve the financial commitment letter um for these overages and I will send that to I will make that motion. I'll second that motion. Good. Any discussion or questions? All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed? Motion carries. And if you guys have not been out there, driven out there, it is I mean from when we did the ground breaking to now, I mean it is amazing. It's looks fantastic.

Park Pal shared a picture this afternoon that we reshared on the Facebook page. Yeah. Um if you don't make it out there tonight after the meeting, you can just look at that and it's coming along. We're very excited about it. Yes. And I just like to say there's a lot of moving parts, a lot of balls up in the air and trying to make sure everything balances. And Andrea's done a really good job on the front end and we are hoping to work together to try to through see this through the end. This is nothing like the splash pad. The splash pad was in and out. It was cake. No problem. This has been a significant challenge for both of us to try to keep track of. I bet it has. Well, thank you. It's free.

That's true. But that's all I have in case any unless you guys have any questions for me. All right. Director of planning and zoning. Do you have that report, Andrea? Um, I don't. She apologized. She was on vacation last week and then we sent her to a training for three days this week. So, she's a little in and out, but she apologized and she'll have a report for you guys at the next meeting. All right, clerk treasure and Annette.

Um, so I sent you all late, but I did send you the first quarter budget review in an email. Um, we don't show any current reserve at the moment as of that report, but as of the report I did gave to finance today, we are starting to build some reserve, which is good because we're already over budget by about $51,000. Um, but that's okay. It'll all work out. I have faith. Um, we talked about a majority of the stuff that's already been approved tonight. Um, Andrea is going to talk about personnel. We did the budget. We talked about the bond status, the playground, and then the audit being complete. And everybody's been briefed on that. Okay. Any questions for Nanette? All right. Town attorney Chris.

I don't have anything. All right. Any questions for Chris? Drew, town engineer. Have two small items here. It goes hand with what Chris talked about earlier on the brick funds as part of that application process. There's some environmental documents that need to be taken care of. So I'm going to request that town council authorize us to represent the town of Newberg for the following all items to engage INDOT Indiana Fish and Wildlife US Army Corps of Engineers and State Department of Historical Preservation Archaeological

as it's as it relates to seeking that that federal fund. All right, I will make that motion. Do I have a second? Second. Any discussion or questions for Drew? All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed. Thank you. All right.

And I don't think we talked about that. I'll just bring it up here to see what everybody's thoughts are. Is looking to allow Chris Cook to be the authorized representative for the application since it's such a quick moving process. um in case anything comes up, you'll be able to handle it rather quickly electronically. So, I would since request that from the town council want to make Chris Cook the authorized rep for the project at least for the application stages. Do we need a motion for that? I I move that we make Chris Cook the um authorized agent for this project.

We may have to come back with a resolution. We're asking uh the agency that a formal resolution has to be done. I just want to go ahead maybe get it in process pay since it's time sensitive. All right. Do we have a second for that? Second. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed. Motion carries. Okay. Does anybody have any questions for Drew? We'll go on to commission commission committee reports. Air authority no report and BZA we do have a meeting scheduled for later in the month.

All right and fire uh I have a message from Nick. He says that things have been very quiet since his last report but luckily things have been pretty slow so not much of a report tonight. Um he hopes that everybody has seen the advertisements for the smoke detector installation program that Newberg Volunteer Fire Department has started. They will come to your home. It has to be home and it has to be in town. Um they will come to your home and put in a brand new smoke detector for you. Um any residents in town can reach out to the fire department. And is there a time frame? Uh I don't see one here.

Okay. So I'm sure there probably is some kind of one, but it's not here in his message.

Okay. Uh, Chief Zul, Deputy Chief Zul is going to be in charge for a while in the latter part of May and he says they're trying to make a point to go out under the public eye. So, you may see trucks parked at various events where you might be surprised that you wouldn't normally think about them being there, but no cause or alarm, just trying to be visible and get out in the community. Um, I think that's a great idea. I think that's a a really good publicity for them also. And I have also seen on Facebook that they are running differentformational

pieces that I think also are positive for us, for the town, for the for them as a department. And I'm just going to add to this um you know prayers for Madison and their historic loss last night. The church that's all. Yeah. Any questions for an Historic Preservation myself? We have our meeting tomorrow night. Do you know if we do have a quorum? I think so. Okay. Yes. All right. Paul Parks.

Yeah. Parks board. Uh first of all, Park Pal's annual meeting was on May 6th and uh nice presentation there. Then the following night was the uh monthly parks board meeting. The focus of course is on the Lud Dennis and the playground. A lot of updates there. Um the other issues that I think uh just ought to be kept uh top of mind to this group is the um and we mentioned it already tonight is the Gabian Basket project on the Rivertown Trail. and I appreciate Chris's all Chris's efforts with EREP to get the funding for what we need to do there. And then lastly, had a meeting this afternoon on cameras uh as it as it relates to the park system. And uh we're going to ask for a quote as to what camera coverage at Lud Dennis would be given the amount of investment that we're making in that park. And uh you know, we'll just bring that to the council when we have an idea of what that is and maybe we find a second money tree.

I'll start digging. All right. Thank you. Any questions for Paul, myself, or plan? We did not have a meeting. So, our next meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 1st. Please Paul. Uh no meeting, no report. All right, Steve. Storm water.

Storm water. met uh since our last meeting, first meeting with a full board which was great. We had uh uh it was great to have three people there. Everybody contributed and it was a good meeting. Drew's gone through most of the things that we talked about at that meeting. Uh our next meeting is June 1st. Because of Memorial Day, we're it's we're moving it to the next Monday. Okay. All right. Where did you meet here? When what time? 4:30 on what was the June 1st. So you'll be done by the time we're here for plan. Oh yeah. Yeah. It's the same thing we do.

It's just before BCA. So you can come and uh stay all night. Okay.

Gotcha. Any questions for Steve Street and uh yes, I have a street report from the assistant street superintendent, Richard Arthur, and they helped with another Earth Day event getting set up for it and I guess taking down also. They also helped with the winefest. They picked up trash around town, replaced several faded signs, cleaned up limbs and Grey Street, added no parking signs at the senior center, replaced no parking sign and no dumping sign at Ludennas Park. Sprayed stride walks, bricks, and needed areas around town for weeds. Trimmed limbs around the sound the t the signs and walkways as needed. Cleaned town parking lots and properties. cleaned drains, inlets, and outlets as needed, filled in a large area at Ludenis Park with dirt and seeded it. Um, cleaned up the limbs at the Ludenis Park. They busted up and hauled off concrete from the basin at Ludennis Park. They installed the new dock. They passed potholes townwide. They installed a one-way sign as you exit town hall and the parking lot. And they also installed a no right turn sign at Monroe Street and West Maine. They maintained trash and doggy bags along the walkway and downtown and blew the walkway and Water Street. So that's a lot for just a few guys to get done.

All right. Any questions for an Steve utility? I think everyone has received the uh utility motion motions in their p package from our meeting last week. Uh you can see there was a lot of things that were done and uh we'll certainly answer any questions for you, but I'm going to move that we approve motions 2 3 5 6 7 8 13 14 15 16 17 and 19. What about 18? 18 is shown in red, but we took care of it. Okay. All right. I'll second that.

All right. Any questions or discussion? All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed. Motion carries. Standing committees, finance, you want to do your thing. Pretty much have gotten everything taken care of. Right guys, Drew? As far as I know, Andrea, everything's taken care of, Chris. Okay. All right, good. Any questions for Nanette? Money trees. Money trees, right? Person stand. I I looked at Ronnie's fruit stand. He didn't have any either. He didn't have any, but they don't have a produce patch either. So, Paul, you have motions for

I do. And so, you want to preamble this at all or I'll do a little bit? I guess you can do a little bit. Okay. So, the personnel committee uh for uh several weeks now has been discussing realignment of the maintenance and uh street departments. And when I mean realignment, I really mean merging those two departments.

And so tonight uh I'm going to bring to the council a series of motions that uh codifies the merging of the departments and how we'll handle uh leadership of the department and also compensation related to that. So if I might start with my first motion and then we can just discuss and debate after that. So motion one is a motion to approve the merger of the street department and the maintenance department into one unified street and facilities maintenance department under the leadership of a single street and facilities maintenance superintendent. That's my motion.

I think it's an excellent idea. Do I have a second? And I will second that. Do we have any discussion? Any concerns? Questions? All right. And go ahead. You were you were going to say something. Go ahead. I was, but go ahead. Uh, couple things. One, where do storm water and MS4, do they fall within this criteria or are they separate or are they part of the utility, sewer utility? Andrew, weren't we talking about

So, yes. So technically um storm water has always fallen under the street department. Um there um MS4 wise there have been discussions and we've been talking to Russell about moving the MS4 component underneath wastewater. None of that has happened yet. Um but street in this new in this new merge department will continue to do storm water. um you now um have Noah on the team who comes from wastewater who has some of that right. So, not that they're exactly the same, but there's some, you know, similarity from the two where we'll have that um be able to work together. And obviously, just like with this collapse on Juliana, we had to have su sewer come out to camera it. So, they're still going to work together in that regard, but it will still fall under this this department.

Wish can sewer can can sewer be united with anything in the civil side or do they have to be scared? I mean, there's some complications with it. when you can I'm sure you can do it but you've got to be able to split your expenses and uh so it becomes well I mean it's it's work through that

yeah we went to a workshop where a a recent town has done it um so we've reached out to see how are they keeping track of hours worked how are they keeping track of of sewer money versus civil town money versus storm water money right so um we're trying to meet with all that Russell is working on stuff too. So there's a lot of things like that. Like so right now if we do call sewer out to either camera a line or it's a storm a storm water line, they invoice us now. Um so that way we're keeping everything clean in that regard. But if we were to want to do a bigger merger, what does that look like and how can we do that?

Yeah. In the doughnut counties and in northern Indiana, it's almost always sewer and and storm water together. And I think with our old infrastructure that we have, there's so virtually every project that's a storm water project has some sewer issues that go with always coordination. And and I I hate to see us make this those two items, storm water and MS4 into something that that they and haven't moved two months later when we realize that we need to do more.

Yeah. I I just I think that that's that's what you decided to do. There's some work that we're going to have to do on that that is separate from this. I mean, this is a pretty straightforward realignment later because everyone that's in the department's already doing that work essentially. Um already the MS4 component of it is being handled inhouse between Cook and I. Um, and there is I mean I know I've been saying it and I know Chris has said it and Chris has said it before. I mean to have a dedicated MS4 person would be phenomenal. That's what we need.

Um, and I know these last couple like Chandler just did a training on MS4. We have a training coming up a big conference. Russell's already going, you know, he's been going to these trainings. He's been reading up. So, we know it's out there. We know it's a possibility. We just don't really I mean as far as work-wise we probably could do it quickly but when it comes to the NET side of things and the accounting side that's where we're trying to figure out how do we make that work. I don't think we're comfortable making like a formal recommendation to you all yet until we have all that squared away. Um because just listening to somebody at AIM, I want to go see how they're doing it.

And then essentially our I think our bigger plan without getting too much into it is you do have the merger of the maintenance and the streets together if you guys approve it and then if there is another bigger merger, do we merge it into a department of public works, right? And then everyone just comes under one umbrella. So then consolidate sometimes consolidating these two into one will make the next one easier than consolidating three separate ones. So

I could be behind it but I would have to make sure that we don't forget that that point that that there may be reason to have another move down the down the road and we don't just forget about it and say we're better off now. We need to

and we've talked to when we sat down with the potential superintendent. We've talked down with the current assistant. Um we even talked to the the guys in the department. So everyone's aware of our bigger game plans. Um so they all kind of know that and a lot of them are they know the MS4 is that component behind it just because of all the state regulations. They've all been attending the trainings that are put on by the regional group. Um what for the past year the the regional co-op group that we're a part of uh the whole the whole team from top to bottoms attended those trainings that have been offered as a group and um they just had one recently and there'll be another one coming up down the road.

But no, we we're aware and it's not just because of how what MS4 is and everything that's coming down from the state. It is front of my mind. It's completely unfunded by them too because they run hand in hand with utilities so much and and the to my mind we need that public works. We do the be careful because you know unlike a lot of places we have 90% of our sewer customers sewer customers are outside of town. You can't have reception that they're paying for in town issues. We have to be careful about how That's why I'd like to meet with the controller for the town

where they're they just did it and kind of see how they're doing it. And obviously they don't have 90% of their system outside of their town limits. But still I want to learn how they're doing it to have that perception to not have it that there's some some challenges there. And plus we have the Novo Solutions software coming too that will help keep track of what what the work they're doing and and the thought of getting into a consistent invoicing situation is not something I want to do. So yeah, there's there's definitely like dollars and figuring out how we're going to move forward with that. But it's one thing that we've already talked I mean Russell's aware of it, utilities aware of it, sewer's aware of it. So we're all

the the software system that we've been working on building uh with our partners, it's divided in there and there's set two sets of work orders. The inventories are all split to where if you ever did get to that point to emerge, um it's all going to be right there. If they're on one work order, they're documenting it. It would track it by time. Yeah. So, we're going to have the ability to do some tracking that we currently don't have. And that should be live hopefully by the another month or so. Well, it brings accountability into the equation

because we'll be able to report, you know, the the reporting that you see now from the departments is going to change significantly once we throw that switch live and have a few weeks of of being under it. I'm going to be able to pull more detail than you've ever seen and so will she to where we can go address by address, you know, what they're doing and we'll be able to like at the utility board, we'll also be able to provide some utility reports that that you're not used to seeing. And then after you have a couple years of that, you can start pro uh planning a little better on your your maintenance cost and some of that such as well once we have the data set to show what we're doing so that we can work smarter and maximize our time and our money.

Okay, we've talked so long I'm not exactly sure where we are.

There's a motion in a second, but I think Ann was say something. Uh this is probably a legal question. Maintenance is a position. Street is a commission. How does this happen that it can be just dissolved as a commission? Commissions have formal legal authority. They have regulatory or oversight ability. If you want to roll your eyes, just roll them down here. Um, they have independent decision-making authority. This is part of our constitution as a town, as a street commission. So, I think you need to look at doing away with that first before you do away with anything else. Uh, because I'm not sure you can really just say we're not going to do it anymore. uh committees, we have committees, we have commissions. The difference between the two, committees are advisory. Committees are created to investigate specific issues. Um so street is not a committee. Maintenance is not a committee. But how can we again how can we just say we're done? We're not having this anymore. I think as part of

don't we need to look at our list of commissions? And when I look online, they're all mixed up back and forth and back and forth. Some things that are commissions are listed as committees. Some things that are committees are listed as commissions. So my question is how will we dissolve street as a commission?

And I don't think we can necessarily you don't have to dissolve street as a commission itself. you can still have a street commission and it's one of the things that we've talked about, you know, in the past two years, the street commission's never met, right? And how do we get these these these meetings back on track and maintenance- wise? Yes, maintenance is a department. Maintenance is a title. Street itself is a street commission set to talk about and and advise on the streets itself, not necessarily the department itself. So we could still have that street commission and that street commission should start meeting and should start talking about some of these projects that are out there and that that we are doing. And so I think you could keep that street commission. I mean I I don't know I can refer to Wisher but I think we could keep the street commission and just merge the two and just have a separate

we're just having this we're having the same what we're proposing is have the same leader in both over both maintenance and streets. I don't nobody talked about disillusion. Nobody's suggesting disillusion. We just want to have the person that manages streets and the person that manages maintenance to be the same person. But why would you have a street commission if you don't have if you don't have that department anymore?

No, you still have the department. you have just I don't want to talk over you, but I I think this is I mean, and I appreciate the fine legalistic point you're trying to make, but we're just trying to put somebody over both departments. It's not complicated, which is it's not and I think you're suggesting that somehow this is irregular and until two years ago, we did have meetings actually. Yeah, that's what I was saying. to get back into that. And that was one of the things when we interviewed people for this position, we talked about like we want to get back and have these meetings. We want to get back and discuss these things. Um, well, we have a lot of commissions that don't have meetings other than street, right? A street commission.

So, there's a street commissioner, but there's not a commission. It's just a commission. There's just a council person who's a designated commissioner for that topic. There's not like a body or a board for any of these. Some of them there are but not street there's not there's not a commission that's ever been and it's and it's one of those things that and it's one of those things I and you talked to me early about you know the name is the department name is really long and I think one of those things is to make sure and whether we eventually get to the point where we merge it into just a different title but why it's still that department is street and facilities maintenance because street's still a component of it and facilities maintenance is still a component of it so sorry

no you're fine I was just saying That's kind of why that title is the way that title is.

I think we should look at changing the ordinance. So 31.04 as commission ships and list the commissioners which is the street commissioner, sewer commissioner, police commissioner, fire commissioner, parks commissioner, land use commissioner and airboard commissioner. We should look at changing the street commissioner to the street and facilities commissioner or something like that. Sometime we change land use commissioner um and then you know back to what I was saying there's not a board or body for those separately there are some but commissioners of particular departments shall have no independent authority or jurisdiction to act within the department to which he or she is assigned except to specifically authorize the law or ordinance that said commissioner shall he or she report on the activities of his or her department. The council person shall may as a commissioner in not more than two positions. So on those commissions, I think we just we just look at changing the street commission to match the new department and have that street commissioner report on the activities of that department which would include street maintenance and that seems to solve it.

I can write that.

This isn't about me being the street commissioner. This isn't about me giving a report. Um, this is about making sure if we're going to do this that we do it properly and disband the street commission because it will no longer exist. And also just the history of this having been through several different councils where street continued to be demeaned. I don't want to see that happen with this. By erasing them as a commission, are we losing the resp are we not showing a respect for what what they do?

That's going to come that's going to come later because we're going to propose that for their new duties, combined duties, that there be salary adjustments, too. I think that's fairly respectful. Questions?

Yeah. And just a history for everyone up until I think I mean I've been here 10 years up until maybe 20 years ago it all was one. Um and then um it it for reasons that I we could go into but it got separated right and I think it works well together. I mean that was one of the things when we sat down with the assistant he wanted more working with that department. I mean, that's all we constantly heard was helping out. And so, if there is going to be that constant back and forth, then why not just have those and then you just have more help on both ends.

Hey, after listening to Steve, I'm convinced that every employee we have should just pull out a card every day they come to work to determine where they're supposed to be that day, what job they'll do. I see it exactly the opposite.

What? I see it exactly the opposite. I mean, consolidation, efficiency, uh leadership matters. I mean, we're employers, right? And we have Noah Schmidler. I mean, he he uh you know, I'm new, but he's proven himself in a short time. We ought to give him more responsibility. That's what responsible employers do is they give their best people the jobs that need to get done. So I'm I'm I'm a fan of his right now. The maintenance folks don't fit under any of the commission, right? They're not under any No commissioner is responsible for the maint. So this will give them a voice on the council.

I think it makes sense to do it that way. I think it's a good point that we didn't think of to deal with the commissions, but I think we ought to change that one to to match the department. Thank you for acknowledging that. I don't occur to me. So I think we just we can make that change and that would evolve. And to your point earlier, it may be worth at some point looking at this whole list of commissions have been in place since 1995 and see if that's the best, you know, if there's other way. Yeah, actually before that time it was all one. It was street and maintenance were together because there was only one person who was who did both

who was doing maintenance. Gerald was doing maintenance. And then um when the pool started to deteriorate, he started spending much much more time there in the park and and working on the pool, keeping it going and uh it became more difficult to justify paying him out of street and more of his more of his salary coming out of sewer not sewer coming out of uh park. Um so that's how that's how it got separated to start with but before that it was together so I guess we have two ways to go here. Um, call for the question or table until we get rid of the street department as a entity. Well, as a matter of efficiency, I would like to go ahead and vote on this motion and then Chris can write up a resolution to dissolve

and to make it under one. Just change the name. Yeah, change the name. Not dissolving anything. Yeah, it would just be updating the name. So, council, I guess we'll call for the question and you can present your motion again and then we will Sure. Just to review the motion, right? We're we will be this motion is to approve the merger of the street department and the maintenance department into one unified uh quote street and facilities maintenance department. It'll be under the leadership of a single street and maintenance, excuse me, street and facilities maintenance superintendent. That's the motion.

And I will second that motion. Do we have any other discussion? I'm going to vote against it because I think we're putting something into effect that we need a little bit more study on. I'd like to hear what Chris Okay. comes up with. Move to table. Well, wait. There's a motion. There's a motion on the floor. No. Move to table proceeds all other motions on the floor. And Chris Wisher is not going to come up with anything. All All we're doing is changing the name. I'm going to go with an ordinance that says the street commissioner shall now be called the street and facilities maintenance commissioner or whatever. Yeah,

that's it. It's semantics. As far as I'm concerned, from a legal standpoint, I think the street commissioner still is the council. responsible for you know overseeing or or or uh liaisoning with the street department which will now be this new department

and and to and to Chris's point you know there there's a street report that's given um at every meeting and like he said but there's never been a maintenance person and you guys have never I mean minus me putting it in my report there's not ever been any oversight on on the maintenance right besides your town manager and your now your deputy or and when I took over facilities. I mean, so that's where, you know, all this stuff is really going to come together and somebody else taking hold of that whole thing. And then if you have a commissioner above it, just a little bit more oversight within that maintenance side over substance a little bit. I think we can make that second the ordinance change just to bring it in line from an ordinance standpoint, but everything else.

Is there reason we have to do it tonight? Are we waiting on I mean you're just now going to run a department for another two weeks w with short right and you know we've already I mean everyone's aware of it everyone's as far as staff are on board with it um you don't have you know any employees that are currently in there that are against it um so I mean it's really up to you but I don't nothing ordinance-wise or commissionwise will change I mean I don't I don't know. I guess I move to table. If there's a second, there's there's already you're the second person that said that is your second. Pardon?

Is that your seconding? The first motion to table. Did I second it? Was there a second? I seconded the first motion. So, there's a motion to table and there's no discussion on the motion to table. So, let's have a vote. I'll second the motion to table. just vote on the motion to table and if there's three votes then we can just I before we started this I wanted to ask you a question legally is there any reason why we shouldn't vote yes to com combine the two no legally I don't think so let's vote on tableabling it okay but there's a vote there's a motion on the floor and let's do it let's do it by roll call

okay Steve Steve Shoemaker motion to table. No. Paul Perry, nay. Stacy, no. Anna restaurant. Yes. Hughes? Yes. Now I call for the question. Okay. I would like it to be a roll call vote as well. Okay. Okay. So So we're not getting a motion to table. So the we're back to the voting of the merger, right? Okay. Steve Shoemaker, yes. Paul Perry, I Stacy Kger, yes. Ann restaurant, no. Leanne Hughes, no.

Okay. Motion carries. And I would like to qualify my vote by saying it's too bad this wasn't thought of before tonight. Everything's not ironed out. But well, we thought I mean as far as we're concerned for the horse. Well, as far as we're concerned on legal advice, we had every you did right to do this and in the proper order. So, I don't think there's a legal issue with it. I don't I think it's a semantics issue that we can clean up, but I don't think it's a legal issue. Thank you.

All right. The next motion, uh, I make a motion to appoint Noah Schmidler as the street and facilities maintenance superintendent at an hourly rate equivalent to an annual salary of $72,000. The position shall remain classified as an hourly position under the town's compensation structure effective retroactively beginning May 11th of 2026. I second that motion. Do we have any discussion? I I have a question. Where does where does Gerald fall into this? So he's completely under the um zoning the zoning. He's not part of maintenance or street.

He doesn't do any maintenance. He was made you guys two three years ago made him inspector. So he's your building inspector, your um really works, you know, he does the code enforcement. He works completely and totally in with the zoning department. Okay. Thank you. Any other questions or discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. All those opposed. No. Okay. Motion carries. My vote was not against Noah. I think the world of him. Oh, he's great. I know, but I I just hate Russian. You just thought you'd be obstructive. Is that what you were thinking? Do what? What?

You just wanted to obstruct. Is that what is that? The No. No. Paul, we're going to say, "All right, I have another motion. Motion to increase the hourly wage." This is to Ann's um concern about whether we're showing proper respect to our um to our employees. I make a motion to increase the hourly wage by $1.50 50 cents of Richard Arthur and Clint Minky effective retroactively to May 11, 2026 in recognition of the expanded responsibilities and operational expectations associated with the merged department structure. That's my motion. I will second that motion. Do we have any discussion?

That's a different figure than we got on our report. I don't think so. I didn't think it was an hourly. I thought it was a flat that's coming. That's that's that's this is for two of them. Yeah. Okay. All right. Thank you. All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed.

Next motion is I think to what Ann was talking about. Uh there's I would like to make a motion to approve a one-time $1,000 stipen payment to Assistant Superintendent Richard Arthur in recognition of his additional supervisory and operational responsibilities assumed during the transition period following the retirement of the street superintendent. And those uh effective dates will have been uh April 1, 2026 to May 10, 2026. And that's my motion. And I will second that motion. Is there any discussion or question?

That's been past practice and so I think you know maybe it wasn't it wasn't planned for like it maybe should have been in the beginning but I'm glad that personnel is bringing it forward. Thank you. Any other discussion? All those in favor say I.

All those opposed. Next motion will be to hire Andrew Watkins for the position of civiltown laborer within the street and facilities maintenance department at a starting hour hourly rate of $21 per hour contingent upon successful completion of background screening and drug testing requirements. I will second that motion. Do we have any discussion or questions? All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed.

Next motion and the second to last of the motions uh tonight for this motion to approve the 2026 seasonal splash pad staffing roster and wa wage rates as presented for the 2026 operating season. I will second that motion. Do we have any discussion or question? All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed. Motion carries.

Last motion from the personnel committee for tonight is a motion to approve the hiring of Kelton Castile for wastewater collections on&m position at a starting rate of $25 per hour contingent upon successful completion of background screening and drug testing requirements. I will second that motion. Any discussion or questions? All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed. Motion carries. Thank you everyone.

Thank you for all the research you did. Lyanna Arts Commission. Uh we have a little bit of a problem with our meeting date. Um the meeting would normally be scheduled what falls uh May 25th, what falls as Memorial Day weekend. And now Stacy is part of our part of our arts commission and you have plan meeting the first. So we're not quite sure. We just discovered this earlier tonight. So I need to poll the arts commission and see what they want. Um so anyway.

Okay. All right. Any questions for Lyanna? Lyanna. Sidewalks.

Uh sidewalks. We have actually uh moved the meeting and it's my fault. I have a conflict. It was going to be on uh Tuesday the 19th, which would have been next Tuesday. And so I have asked if we could move it either in time or to the Thursday of that week, which would be the 21st. and I pulled everybody and we decided on uh it being on the Thursday at 2:30. So, we'll be here then and then we've got Well, that'll come under the next thing.

All right. Then we have growth in progress. I have a question for tomorrow. Lanna, what's the status with Driftwood's uh sidewalks right now? Um we still are waiting for some of the reports. My understanding is there's some that were repaired. Yes. And met met the tolerance. There were some that were repaired and didn't meet the tolerance and there's still some to be still to be some to be done. Is that Yeah, that's correct. And he has whittleled off a lot of the issues that How are we tracking that? just between Riley's tracking it and Drew and Drew I think Gerald's doing the

Gerald's doing the Gerald's got the the equipment to go out and track and then Riley's got a spreadsheet that she's working do the spreadsheet if you want there are time elements that they need to be met that need to be met to to do this we haven't met with him since about a year ago but they're working through the time that we gave them I mean there's They we have had talks with him. Yeah. Not visit this next meeting on next Thursday and we'll come back with please. Okay. All right. Any other question or growth in progress then? Lyanna

uh growth in progress meets that same Thursday next week on the 20 uh 21st and we are meeting at four o'clock on this one. Okay. Any other questions for growth in progress? Steve, miscellaneous business. I have none. Thank you. Paul, none for me. I have none. And I'm sorry, but I have a whole lot. Um, I'd like to wish a happy retirement to Booneville to Newberg Elementary School principal Holly Arnold.

She has announced her retirement. She's been at Newberg, I don't know, five, six years maybe. Uh, started out at Castle High School. Um, Women's Club of Newberg is placing a green plaque at Pleasure Club next Thursday at 9:00 in the morning. If you would like to be there for that, that's um the second neighborhood that they have recognized and Pleasure Club is such an interesting neighborhood with such an interesting history that I I'm very pleased that they are doing this. I don't know how many of you are connected by Facebook to a site called Strong Towns, but if you aren't, I would highly suggest that you get yourself on it. Um May the 11th there was an article titled when the decision is too big for the city and it's about data centers and it's about the little towns just like ours um all over the country that are being faced with decisions and they're actually following a Minnesota town of 10,000 people called Herman Town and they are currently negotiating with Google to build a large data center and I I'm sure I'm not the only one who's getting

letter after letter after letter after letter. And so this is this is just something good to read about how it's being handled in one other small town without a whole lot of um things that you don't really care about. It's just it's just the nitty-gritty. It's the people and how it's going to affect them. And then speaking of that also, um I am saddened by the increasing number of empty properties we have, business properties that we have downtown particularly and I some spaces are unusable, some spaces are empty, some spaces are emptying. What can we do? What can we do? What what's going on? what can we do to draw people back? Because there's no sense in putting up signs. There's no sense in doing a, you know, a lot of things that we're doing if that's not what's working or if people aren't coming. And they don't come if there's no reason to come. So, I know we go in cycles. We've gone in some very serious cycles. We've had some really bad times. But right now we have an awful lot of empty business property particularly and also we have a lot of houses that have been for sale for months that are just sitting. So what's going on? What's what's happening that's affecting us? I brought this up three or four months ago and asked if we could pursue.

I remember putting together like an ambassador committee that would call on various small businesses that might be the type of business we would want to pursue. I still maintain that. And finally from last night's meeting this is the Museum of the Coal Industry in Lynville. And I will leave this with Andrea and you can make copies for people or have some out here also to advertise the things that they have going on for the rest of this year. I think the most interesting one has to be July 25th where they advertise. They have a date with Big Kate, the drag line,

one of the biggest ones, if not the biggest one ever built. So I'll just leave that for you. Okay. Thank you. I have two things. Sorry. I'll try to make it quick. Okay.

Okay. First off, um, this is sort of a good thing as part of the America 250. Something that's going on all across our nation is recognizing our de declaration of independence which was the original was read aloud on July 8th and that happens to fall on our town council meeting and they were asking the various uh towns and counties to follow suit and all over the country other towns andor counties will be reading the Declaration of Independence. It happens all across the country at 5:00. I asked at the meeting last night, how long does it take to read aloud the Declaration of Independence? And the answer I got was maybe 10 minutes or so. I'm asking if we could do it outside town hall before July before we begin our July 8th meeting. What do you think about that?

So, at five o'clock, I'm just asking. I think that's fine. What do you guys think about it? Good. I just would hate for us to not be doing that when all across the country that's going on. Okay. Well, uh, Nanette, I guess I'll get with you and Andrea and Chris and see if we I just need to find out if I need to notice that meeting at 5:00 versus 5:30. If everybody's going to be in attendance, I'd like to see it publicized that we're doing it. So, you know, we can work on a on a press release and I mean, might as well just throw it on the just reading the declaration. There's not any

or action or whatever the list is in the open meetings on. We'll probably just do it. Okay. I just want to make sure we're not debating anything and we're not making decisions. We're just being present. Actually, um I've been working on publicity of it all day and and I've contacted both Mike Blake and Angie Humphrey and they were very enthused about the fact that I'm hoping we can do it. I didn't think we were doing it. So, you know, we'll go ahead with some other publicity too if you think it's okay for us to move in that direction. Okay. I say so. Then my other thing is just

real brief. Um, I had two people call me this last week and a half or so about the graffiti seeming to get worse again out on the trail. Um, I know when I've brought it up before, I've been told just be patient, they'll wear themselves out. Well, they haven't. I mean, it's still pretty bad. The latest graffiti. Is that the same group that No. No. No. This not the chalking thing. It's a different It's a This is more malicious. Kids. Kids. Kids. Yeah. Okay. And school's not even out yet. Yeah. Yeah. This is all done down on the on the

on the bridge. Yeah. It's not You saw the picture you all sent out. That's good. The unfortunate part to me No, go ahead. Go ahead. The unfortunate part to me is the fact that by virtue of being our neighbor down here at the end of Water Street that they tag just not public property but private property. Right. And that's that's the worst trespassing.

So one idea about this uh sort of flows from the camera conversation we're having at Lud Dennis. I think we want to see what that uh would look like in term really in terms of cost. we've seen the technology and it's very um very adequate for what we would need to monitor you know parts of the trail where these kinds of things could happen but you know one kind of one thing at a time but the solution to that would be cameras

so we we started a discussion or I I met with a vendor after the chief gave a presentation at the parks board last month and I've been working through different vendors and uh before this meeting we met with chief and Dr. Perry and myself met with the vendor that several of the municipalities in southwestern Indiana work through and there's some gamechanging uh stuff out there and we're going to work on getting some pricing because it has to be affordable. But one of the things from a trail standpoint, I've been working with the trail coalition on some of the different grant opportunities and we're trying to depending on we feel like there's a way that the grant process can pay for some of the upgrades along the trail part to where the town would have to do more of the work to cover what would be needed in our park facilities. So, we're trying to differentiate that, but we're working on getting some some dollar amounts to put together a tailored solution uh for Newberg. Not,

you know, not taking somebody else's solution, but we're trying to do something in a way that we can afford that also has everything we need in it that's out there technology-wise.

Okay? And uh you know we we'll probably be prepared to make a presentation down the road. But um if it wasn't for Chief given that uh presentation at the parks board, was it last April or April? Um about a month ago at the parks board meeting, it really opened my eyes to some things. So, we started working right away on uh you know, I've also got a call into some talkbox people or the call box people and I'm working trying to get a meeting out at USI because I know that they have a trail system and um they've done some security upgrades within the past year and I want to learn from what everybody else is doing.

And just so you're I mean I've been here 10 years and the graffiti issues, right, have is an issue. There are cameras at a Ron Trailhead. There's cameras at the lift station, but where the internet's come and all that stuff has changed so so much, right? We were always told we can never have cameras on the on the bridge, right? There's no way to get internet out there. I mean, there's so many different ways now. And that's what we're kind of just working through is to try to button all that up. there's enough internet between some of the available properties that we own. They can they can beam it with antennas and stuff to cover that area to where the the question would be like on a call box, what would be appropriate because that area down there would be an opportunity for a call box if there was one.

Um, but we're still working through what that looks like and we're really preliminary on a lot of that stuff. But the other thing that I put in that text when I notified the council about the the damage and then the the fix, um there's some products that that we didn't stock that we're going to stock just so that we have it now on hand. Thankfully, the the graffiti was done with a Sharpie and cleaned off very easily. Um in my past experience, and I know Andre's had it as well, there's some other products out there that we're we're now going to have hopefully by the end of the week. So, next time it happens,

we'll be able to react immediately. We'll we'll make a police report and work through it. And then the ultimate goal, I think, to kind of build on what Dr. Perry has said, um, is to work towards getting some sort of camera system in certain parts of our park system and our trail system where it makes sense. Okay. I I agree with all that, but in the back of our minds, I think we ought to start thinking about some kind of a an ordinance or something that puts some meat in this. But if if somebody is found doing it and why can't I would say ordinance I mean that's it's it's

state statute would have way more teeth than a civil ordinance would criminal charged. So if we start making that known that it's a criminal offense. I think it's probably already known that it's a criminal offense. I don't know. They That's why they do it at night in the dark.

The the only the only type of fence like that where it would get bumped up per state statutes in a cemetery. Uh if you if you do an act like that in a cemetery per the state code, it automatically bumps up to what used to be a felony, but I guess it's a different number now. But that's the only area of the state that I know would take like a simple vandalism like that and bump it up to something more component. And trust me, I used that for 18 years. Yeah. Okay. That was my only two things. It's it's frustrating I think for everybody, everybody in the town, everybody here. So it is. Okay. Nette, approval of claims.

Hey, all claims have been provided to council 5 days prior to this council meeting for review. I'd like to request that these claims plus sewer adjustments be approved for payment in the amounts of for civil town 1,31,22353. This includes a good portion a good portion of this dollar amount is for the playground for sewer1,23,639.39.

I'll make a motion to approve all claims properly signed including any sewer adjustments to be paid. Do I have a second? Second. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed. Motion carries. I'll make a motion to adjourn at 7:30. Do I have a second? Two. 7:32. 7:32. Happy 500. Drew helped me with one of my ties last month, last meeting. All right. All in favor? All those in favor say I. I. All those