Board of Public Works and Safety and Common Council - Regular Meeting

No.

Good evening. Welcome to the May 26th, 2026 Board of Public Works and Safety meeting. Roll call, please.

Mr. Berkman. Here. Dr. Miller. Here. Morrow.

Here.

Thank you. I'll entertain a motion to accept the minutes in your packet. I move. Second. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed nay. Thank you. Anybody from the board have anything to say? I have none. Thank you. Okay. Jump right into Donnie.

Thank your honor got an update on the red rock in the water meter out there was tested May 19th by any Simpson meter specialist that most people in northern Indiana uses the meter came back within American waterworks standards. So the meter is accurate and it is still.

reading and stuff looks like leaking so just an update on that so i mean that changes much but i'm not sure if we have to take any action on that at all actually so definitely pay their bill i guess yeah they'll have to pay it

The only other item I have tonight is the water department will be conducting our annual flushing of the city water mains. This could create temporary pressure fluctuations and some discoloration in your drinking water. If your water should become discolored, please run cold water for approximately 5 to 10 minutes. If the discolored water continues, please call the water department at 974-936-2543. The flushing will begin Monday morning and We anticipate it to last for about 3 weeks. We flush all of our main trunk lines 1st, from the plants to the tower. So we can't identify a specific area because once we get that done, then we go from the other plant to the other tower and then we start branching off on our larger mains. But they'll be working Monday through Thursday, 10 hour days. More efficient during that, and we'll get it over quicker. So if anybody has any questions, we will have a press release to the media tomorrow. So.

Well, I have them, I think probably shares it on the cities. Yes. Yep. Thanks, Danny. Dan everything this evening me tonight. Thank you. Very good.

Yes, I have nothing.

You sure?

Okay.

Stay seated. Chief Allen?

Nothing tonight, Your Honor. Thank you.

Chief Weir?

I'm just bringing to attention, I don't know if anybody knows, but we had a Pursued last month, actually, and a squad car was totaled out and insurance just contacted today with a total amount. They're going to reimburse us for which was. 26459 dollars and 41 cents. That was for a 2023 Durango. With just shy of 50,000 miles on. I've already spoke to Oliver to see if they were able to get another vehicle, another hybrid at the same price as I received the last three. And he just emailed me and said he found three more that have to be off another lot because they can't order 26s anymore. The next model here before they can even order one. But so I'm going to be, it'll be under the 50,000. So I don't have to do any, Bidding or anything like that, I'm just bringing it to your attention. So, you know, what's going on. This will meet all the specs that we've been getting there. Yeah. He said the only thing this 1, I won't have the ballistic is most dealers won't stock ones with the ballistic doors. So I'll probably make this 1, my vehicle on the 1 that I received last week. Well, I'll put that 1 back on the road with officers in and for patrol. And do we have the funds to make up the difference? I do and my equipment, yes.

Any equipment that needs to be replaced too?

Well, the cage because that was a Durango, so the cage won't fit out of that Durango into Explorer. So, but other than that, everything was pulled out of it radio, like, no, I borrow will be different because once again, it's gonna be a different fit, but all the major stuff is all removed. So, the department pulled all that out last week and. It'll just be transferred to. I'm just curious for 2016.

I didn't know if any of the any of that.

No, we took everything. We even took the cage out but we won't have no use for it because it's not going to fit anything. How soon can you get it? He's checking on us as he says he can't put in a thing till I give him a PO. So it shouldn't be long now. He said it probably a couple weeks to do a transfer from another dealer.

22,000 to get that down.

No, it'll probably be around 20,000 on my budget because the last ones came in at 46,000 and that was with the ballistic doors and that's a 3000 dollar option. So that should knock off 3000. So this should be up to 20,000 for a.

And then more importantly.

Everything's important, but how was the officer that was involved? Yeah, he was fine. He just sprained his wrist and the airbag hit him. Other than that, yeah.

Every single airbag went off. Yeah.

Do you need approval to do that?

I don't need bids or anything. I'm just bringing that to your attention so we know what was going on. Very good. I think it's enough. Thank you.

Thank you. I think everybody's here from the street. Is he online? No, I don't think so. Who's online? Okay. Mike, panelists.

I have nothing to knock on. There you are.

Mike Height.

Yes, Your Honor. I do want to point out our pool will open on June 1st. It's all ready to go. I want to give a shout out to Dave Cooper, who worked his magic on it. Because year after year after year, we're putting Band-Aids on it. But he got it ready for another year. So good for him and us.

All right. Well, that's good news. But that's it, Your Honor. Thank you, Mike. Bill? How do you say? Thank you.

uh you have anything this evening nothing tonight yeah well two requests this evening we're both from laura mann commercial city coordinator first one is to close michigan street for downtown events um for july 18th and 3 to 8 p.m for the downtown summer kickoff that's a Thursday, June 18th, sorry, Saturday, July 18th from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the Downtown Tractor Show and Saturday, November 28th from 6 to 6.30 p.m. for the annual holiday break.

Motion to approve the request.

Second.

Okay, we have a motion and a second. She's getting ahead of it this year, isn't she? So that's good. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed nay.

Okay, her second request is to provide payment to performers the evening of their performances during the mayor's summer of music. That's 10 Fridays from July 3rd through September 4th.

Make a motion to approve the request. Second. Okay, we have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed nay.

Yeah, nothing else tonight.

Thank you. We're going to get through this meeting quick. Can I make a motion to approve our claims? Motion. Second. Any further discussion? All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed nay. Acceptance of communications? We'll wait and second motion and second any further discussion. Say, aye aye. Very good. Good evening and welcome to the May 26th, 2026 Common Council meeting.

Please join me in prayer. Gracious God, once again, we give you the thanks and the glory for allowing us to come together to discuss the needs of this great city and the residents within it. Lord, we ask that you continue to be with each and every one of them during these difficult times for some. and joyous times for others. No matter what the cause, Lord, just continue to be with each and every one. We ask, Lord, you continue to be with our employees, continue to provide them with safety each and every time they go out and do the job and represent the city. We continue to be in turbulent times, Lord, within this world, and we ask that you continue to be in our presence, continue to have your hand on the situation, and to bring things to a calm and understanding and acceptable solution. As we proceed with this meeting tonight, Lord, continue to give us the guidance, the wisdom, and the discernment to make the best decisions possible. These things we ask in your name. Amen. Amen. Thank you.

You can join me in the presence of the leader. Thank you. Thank you.

Somebody like to make a motion to approve the minutes from our last meeting. I move that we accept and approve the minutes from the last meeting. Second.

Motion and a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Those opposed, nay. Thank you. We're going to move into the public hearing phase.

I need a motion to- Make a motion to open public hearing for the historic firehouse renovation.

Second. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Those opposed nay. Very good. Shannon, would you like to talk about it?

Good evening everyone. Again, my name is Shannon McClote and I am with Baker Tilly. I am assisting the city with a grant application that we are going to submit to the Office of Community and Rural Affairs to renovate the historic firehouse. First thing that I'm going to do is circulate a sign-in sheet If those here would find just writing down the John Hancock to show that we had this hearing and these were in attendance. So there you go and circulate it back through. Okay, hopefully this will be short and sweet. I'm going to give you a quick summary and then I'll review the general public to ask any questions that you may have. So we have been working on this project at least for the past six months. I know that this has been something that has been on the city's list to do's for a while, but in turn finding the money to um move forward because you know that's always a concern on any capital improvement project that you take on but what we are looking at is an approximate 897 000 project of which we will be applying for a 750 000 grant through okra the city in turn will be providing a local match in the amount of $147,000. So if we can get all of this work done, it seems to be a relatively good ratio there as far as what your cash outlay will be. What are we planning to do? This project mainly is going to focus on the exterior of the building. I don't think that it's been touched for a couple years now i think the last time that we had was sometime in the in the 90s i believe is that we did some painting and whatnot and throughout the years mother nature has taken her toll on the exterior of the building so what we will be doing is and this is very small print so i'm gonna have to put my specs on and take a look at these things just to make sure i don't miss anything It will be masonry restoration. The entire four sides, we will be restoring the brick. I believe that that's going to consist of cleaning the brick first. There was a paint that was put on the brick several years ago, which quite honestly is eating away at the brick itself and causing it to chip. as evident by when you walk by there, there's bricks on the sidewalk and not kind of creating a little bit of a hazardous situation for the passerbys. We also will be restoring the cupola that sets up on the top. And if any of you have seen pictures, recent pictures, there are holes in that roof structure and a lot of the wood is in need of repair. And we're replacing it, quite honestly. In addition, we will be completely putting a new roof on the facility. So that should in turn take care of or negate any potential leaks that could damage the interior of the facility. And then we will be replacing all of the exterior doors that are on the building right now. If you go and look at them, the two storm doors that were put on are somewhat warped, and there's gaps, they're uneven, they're allowing air to get in the facility, rodents, things of that nature. And then the big... wooden doors in the front that they've seen better years. Anyway, that is what the scope of the project amounts to. Once the facility is all, from the exterior standpoint, is renovated, I do believe that the Heartland, actually, I think that they had taken possession of it right now. They're planning on leasing the facility. and utilizing it in the time being for extra studio space. But that's really kind of a sidebar to, I mean, we're trying to save the building so that it can be used for good public programming in the near and foreseeable future. Our grant application, like I said, will be submitted to the Office of Community and Rural Affairs. On June 7th, so the deadline is coming right around the corner. We've collected a lot of great support documentation and we've had our site visit with the representatives from Oprah and I think it all went well. There's no guarantee, however. This is an extremely competitive program. We've been down this road a time before in the past, but all we can do is put together the strongest application that we can. We will get it uploaded by June 7th. And then we should know sometime in mid-August, whether we were successful or not. It is an all or none type of a situation. You either get the full 750 requests, or if we are denied, we would be eligible. If so, you choose to reapply in their fall cycle, which is an October proposal and a December application. It pushes things back about six months, but I'm hoping we won't be there. I'm hoping that we'll get good news come August. so with that i'm going to open it up for any questions or comments from any of you and then the folks out here so that 870 000 is that like

That's where does that number come up? Is that just a brick and mortar? Does that include engineering fees?

It does include construction and non-construction costs. To have a specific breakdown for it, the actual construction is estimated at $778,250. Non-construction, meaning architectural, grant admin, that's estimated at $118,750. So the cost estimates for the renovations were prepared by a licensed architect who is very familiar with the building. In fact, Brent Martin with SRKM Architecture is here and has worked on several projects here in the city. And so... that is there was there any i think that those i think that there are his figures uh his costs for the architectural are built into that the non-construction but if we don't get it are we going to be hit with them well if you don't get it you won't sign a contract so i have to pay architectural fees um I don't know what Bryn's situation is as far as time incurred at this point, and Bryn, if you'd like to address, you can.

Right, Mark? It was 5-4-1-3-12 road. There you go.

Okay. Similar to Baker Tilly, we work on a contingent basis, so you don't pay anything if we don't get the grant.

Cool.

Correct one thing. We had, at the request of the city, we had a structural engineer file a report. There's a cost associated with that. And we had to submit to the state a change of use form when the building was used as a daycare. Now it's used as an art gallery. That's a change of use. And we did that pro bono, but there's a $172 fee to the state. So you will have those minor expenses.

Anybody have any more comments, questions from the board? You want to open it up to the audience? Anybody from the audience?

Good evening guys. I'm Sandy Garrison from the Marshall County Museum. I addressed you last time and I wanted to take a little bit of a different tack though. Last time I talked to you about history. Tonight I want to talk to you about economy. I believe you all got this several documents from the Ball State students who did a really wonderful study about downtown and the firehouse presentation was really quite amazing. We were very impressed. And I was just really struck by a comment that the students made about the economic value of this type of structure. They said, this is a potential goldmine for your city in a tourist and arts-based economy. It's an investment in what you're bringing to people, and it will pay you back, pay you back, pay you back. Don't think of it as a cost. Think of it as an investment. And so just wanted to Pass that along and encourage you if you haven't had a chance to look at these documents again, it was just a phenomenal presentation. And I also brought 2 packets of support letters from local businesses and citizens to share with Shannon. And Kurt, so had lots of support come in for the project as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Sandy. Would anybody else like.

Good evening, everyone. Anna Kitzman from the Heartland Arts Center. And I just wanted to take a minute to talk about, since the last time I think I addressed you via Zoom, and we do have some members I know that are tuning in tonight. But I just wanted to talk a little bit about the last couple of months that Heartland has been in the firehouse. and how we have had the opportunity to really activate the building and see just exactly what this building can do for the arts and what it's doing, I think, for the community. We have seen it come alive through exhibits, through classes. In fact, our largest Small Wonders, of sounds funny but our largest small wonders exhibit to date is taking place there right now we have filled it with almost 200 pieces of artwork by 80 regional artists and we're going to be having a wonderful celebration for that exhibition on friday night i believe i asked you for permission In the parking lot, I was really looking forward to that experience on Friday night and you are all welcome to attend. It's open to the public, but so we've seen it come alive through these exhibitions through workshops through classes. We're having community gatherings and meetings being scheduled through there right now. But what we're seeing so is how positively and strongly the community is responding when they do come in and see what the space looks like as it's been activated as an art center. They're pleasantly surprised by the architecture on the inside, especially when you go upstairs and you see those really tall windows and those big doors and the beautiful woodwork that you know just hardly exists anymore. And then, of course, like, how, how the building is being used and coming to classes and then, of course, checking out the exhibits. And so we're also really excited about hosting our America 250 celebration, which is our America, the beautiful exhibit. We think it's a really fitting space to be holding. this exhibit. So maybe there's something a little in the cards for the timing of this. But it's a wonderful place to celebrate not just the country's history, but Plymouth's history as well. And so I really just want to say that this has been a wonderful experience for us as artists. But I do encourage the community to come in and see exactly what it is that we're trying to save. And we do really support the preservation of this building. So thank you.

Thank you, Anne. Anybody else? Okay.

Hi, I'm Cindy Boner. I'm also a member of Heartland, but I don't want to speak about that. I grew up in Virginia. I was born in Virginia, and I grew up in a very historical part of the state. And I just want to say how the buildings that I was exposed to

But.

Uh, even though I'm not a resident of the city of Plymouth, uh, my family, and I do have multiple commercial property still here. I just think it's a great asset and I would strongly support. Um, even though I'm not a resident, I strongly support putting the money into it to preserve it. And, uh, with it being 1 of the oldest structures or the oldest structure of that kind in the state, I just think it's important. So I would lend my support to it. Thank you.

Thank you. Anybody else? I would just like to add something. So we started this down the road of, I asked Sandy and the folks from the Historical Society and the museum to get involved. We had to face a decision on what we're going to do about this structure. It was definitely needs something. And we actually probably been getting together, I bet you 20 months, but we've got a couple of years into this. every month this group has met without I don't think we missed a month the whole intent was to find purpose for it and and that's what we were searching for and this was all came together here in the last four months or so where they found a purpose also the cost you know it's hard for the city to swallow that big you know a million dollar project almost right and so we wanted to search out a grant to help with it and that's when Shannon got involved and then that's how this is all came about so we found the purpose uh I also the long-term use I think I have a strong feeling that Heartland's probably going to want to use this long term we don't know that for a fact yet but I got a really strong and they have some very creative ideas on what and they're just now starting to form those thoughts I think on what it can be Uh, for long term as well. So, and then the other thing is, if we were to tear it down. Make a parking lot there, you're going to have every bit of 400 to 500,000 dollars in that and we're not going to get a grant for that most likely. So. I think it's a win win from my seat and, uh. I support it, so I don't get a vote though.

But I will add that we have had two online surveys that one was actually launched by the Department of Natural Resources and it was statewide. And this building overwhelmingly, I think there was over like maybe a thousand people that had supported it and it won the favorite historic project of the year and then uh we just recently uh may 15th we kicked off kind of a local survey through the city's website uh and to date we've had over 400 people and uh have responded and they're all seem to be very supportive you know you have a few that question things and but that's that's to be expected i mean that's being good stewards of trying to figure things out but over i think right now it shows that of the 400 and some that have responded um 96 are in favor so

i do support it but my my ultimate concern is 30 years from now is this building back in the same shape we have multiple buildings in the city that have issues because this same same thing we've let them go so you know this does go forward we also need a plan on how to maintain this along with other buildings we can't get a 30-year buy-in and then let it go to the wayside again.

Yeah, we need to address that for sure.

That long-term goal has to be looked at as well. We can't just get the one shot again and let it provide a beautiful building for 20 years and then 10 years of it deteriorating after that. So that's my biggest thing with it. And also, I love historic buildings. I'm in the construction trade. But at some point, buildings, no pun intended, extinguished their lives. So where is that? Those are just my statements. I do support it because I know as an apprentice for Mr. Delta 31 years ago, that was the first project I worked on. So that's a little mean to me as well, but that's my ultimate concern is that

I have a plan in place. I agree with you, Randy. I would be bringing back later probably, if this all goes forward, we could put together in our budget something to annually maintain it. That's all.

Thanks.

good i'm good i just want to try their sign-in sheet can i actually if council would mind signing this sign in that would be great and then pass it down to lynn and uh but that's all i have and i hope that uh we uh receive good news come august and we get to move forward Other than that, I do think once that, Jeff, are you prepared for the local match resolution that I had said? It's on the agenda. So it's there on the agenda and you're fine with everything there. Okay. Other than that, we're good.

Make a motion to close the public hearing. Second.

We have a motion and second to close the public hearing. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, nay. Thank you. Okay, next up and application to vacate or habitat for humanity parcel public hearing.

I'll make a motion to open the public hearing.

2nd, okay, we have a motion and 2nd, any further discussion or none all in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed nay. Very good. Okay.

So, yeah, this public hearing is regarding an application to vacate a certain right of way within the city of Plymouth. The applicant is have to have for humanity of Marshall County, Inc. I'm going to try to explain this, but representatives of Habitat for Humanity are here, so they can correct me and answer any questions you might have. The property is just off of Dora Lane on the northeast side of the city, and you have a map included with that application. The plan is for Habitat to replant that area so they can divide it into several different residential parcels so that housing can be constructed on those parcels. My understanding is that their intention is to sell those parcels to a developer who will then construct houses there. The reason that they're requesting to vacate these sections of right-of-way, the ones indicated on the map are so that they can do that replant and use some of that area for those residential parcels. They also intend as part of that to extend door lane to the south, and the city is making plans to extend Berkeley Street from where it ends now east to connect to the new door lane extension. I will tell you that we are holding the public hearing tonight because by statute, once we receive the request, we are required to hold a public hearing within 30 days. However, I'm not going to be asking you to take any action on this request tonight. 1 of the issues that still needs to be resolved is when, if you choose to vacate. Those right away sections, you'll do it through an ordinance and then typically vacated right away is divided among the adjoining property owners. Now, to the east of these parcels part of it, it joins. with the property of new song church part of it adjoins with the property of custom 3 llc and it will be much cleaner if they can come to an agreement with those property owners as to who will take title to the vacated portion my last i spoke with them that agreement has not been finalized so i would recommend that you wait until they finalize those agreements and i can use that to finalize an ordinance to present to you at a later date That's the information I have. I can try to answer questions. I would invite Mike, I don't know if you or James, someone wants to come up and represent. I'm there.

You're going to do it? Yeah, I'm right here. Nathan Twitner.

Yeah, sorry. Yeah.

Nathan Flickner. We're just trying to get these alleys vacated so we could design a more better use coming through there on the streets. There's some small alleyways in there right now that are really hindering it. We want to really straighten those out and make it really accessible with trash trucks and that the property to the east, the church is going to donate us a triangle in there to straighten the alley out and make it go straight along that whole line. Um, really, I get I'm here for any questions you have about doing this. Um, I know on alley vacations, this is all within a flat. So it's there is some different rules on those. I'll have to look up on that to see if. Make sure you have the half with right on that. Um, typically, if it's platted, it's all the people within the plat that would get half width and not people out on the meets amounts, especially for undeveloped, uh, alleyways. Um, that, uh, that were never in use or. Or developed, so we'll look into that a little more before you make your vote.

Okay, is this going to require another hearing? Um.

It's not going to require another hearing. It will require an ordinance to be passed in order to vacate that right of way. And I just want to say, whatever those issues are with the joining property owners or within the plat, my recommendation was to resolve those questions before you take that action so that it doesn't create an issue later on for Habitat or any other property owners. So, it will come back with an ordinance to be considered later. but not another hearing.

Does anybody have any questions? No. Okay.

Good evening again. I was asked by Whiteman's and the city attorney, Mr. Huyen, Talk to the 3 property owners that are joining as far as vacating these 2 streets and the alley. I talked to new song church. They're all for it. I talked to pastor rich driver who's been heading up their construction and he's all for it. I talked to John Oliver this afternoon. He has no problems with any of this. The last 1 who did initially. six months, maybe a year ago, had a little pushback was Custom 3 LLC, and that is Adam Souder, and he and his wife own the Beck Clinic, and then they own all the property, the ground around the Beck Clinic. Adam wasn't sure he wanted Berkeley Street to cut across there. He wanted it to follow up New York and stay right tight to the property line of uh new song church and his northern property but when i saw him today he had a change of heart he's okay with it now he couldn't be here tonight he had a little league game but uh he's okay with berkeley going straight across and then eventually having a slight arc and matching up with the right away that the city already owns off coming off of richter uh road so uh i feel adam's on board now so those are the three property owners that i was Told to contact, and I did that this morning and I feel I've got there a point. So this is an initial drawing that Whiteman's have done for us. Here's the Marshall County health department. So, what would happen is Illinois street would extend over here and then there would be 2 housing lots here and those houses would have driveways off of Illinois. And then there would be 3 lots in the middle and door lane would go in front of them. But this alley would come behind and go behind them. And these houses, since it's narrow would have to access their garage or whatever from the alley behind. And then these 2 lighter ones down here that are in question a little bit, then there would be 2 more lots on the South side and they would face Berkeley and then their drives and everything would come off of Berkeley. So, again, Illinois street extended over to here alley down around behind and then Berkeley coming in behind Oliver forward and long garden courts right here. Would come over and then eventually come over here and tie into right away. That's already been acquired. So that's what I was asked to do. I did that this morning and got what I feel is the blessing of those 3 affected properties. So habitat. we we don't have a purchase agreement yet but we the michigan firm that's already building five houses and they've built several others and they build all the ones on berkeley or excuse me on baker street um they would like to buy this property from us but i can't do it until i know we've got the street in now we did get an indiana ready grant dean byers was able to accomplish that along with st joe county and elkhart county those habitats are all going together And we'll be putting out the bid here pretty soon to get door lane put in, the alley put in. And the only infrastructure that has to be done is the sanitary is already in there. We do need to put a water line. That water line will be a part of that. Project too, but so right now, that's why we're asking for these streets to be vacated. We just don't feel they're needed anymore. The whole scope. It's changed. This was going to be commercial at 1 time. It was a mixed use that whole mining labor development, but when 90's somewhat closed down, excuse me, Jefferson or 9, 8, then it's all changed. Everybody's thinking Oliver Ford all of us there a little bit on how this is to be handled. So. That's why we decided to change these to residential. That's what Habitat would like to do. Again, my family started this development over there with the blessings of Brent Martin and the Nightlinger family. Then when my mom passed away a few years ago, the family donated it then to Habitat for Humanity. That's why Habitat now is involved and not Michiana or the Delt families. If that clears that up a little bit for you.

Any questions for me? So transfer of properties, rights, and all that stuff, what has to happen? How does that go about it?

In order to make this, well, your decision will simply be to vacate the city's ownership of that right of way. And it's really not up to the city to determine who becomes the title owner to that. It was my recommendation was that that issue get resolved so that we're not creating future problems for habitat or any other property.

Thank you.

Uh, who's expensive the water line that would be a part of it would be hard to put in as part of our grant that yes, we have to put that in. This is what I understood. I'm sorry. And then part of. Berkeley. I'm not sure I think the city I'm thinking is going to extend it over to door lane, but probably that little bit of Berkeley in front of those last 2 houses right here. Those 2 lots down here would be ours to do habitats and then the alley going behind there. So that would all be a part of habitat and part of the bidding process that we will put up a bid here pretty soon once we're assured we're vacating. these streets and we we know we've got our ducks in world row before we let a contract to do that we'd like to see that done yet this year if it gets pushed back a little bit too far it would be first the next spring but we're really hoping if if we can get the bidding process done and get a firm that can fit that into their schedule yet this year uh get that accomplished this year and then uh we will pursue uh the firm out of michigan to uh get some purchase agreements there to buy those seven lots and build some more houses seven more houses so they won't be habitat homes um i just want to assure you that they're going to be homes that fit that not that habitat don't but um but habitat won't be building these homes i just want you to know that this will be uh some other builder will build the homes and we'll sell them those lots

I have lot number one in my house in this. So the commercial aspect of it is a horrible thing because we've not had one good commercial. Even the current commercial owners of it have been good neighbors too. The neighbors in the neighborhood.

They haven't been?

No. It's horrible. I'd love to see Dory Lane develop so that we can't have a perking lot there by the County health department, they park behind there. In door lane.

Yeah, no, they do right now because it's not used for anything else.

But I don't disagree with that. They shouldn't be so housing, but I don't want to see any of these small lots again. Like, between me and the neighbor, there's like a 66 foot drop. I don't want to see tiny homes in these. And I hope you find a better developer than what's developing there now because they don't follow our city standards as far as when it comes to silt fence. There's silt running down Dora Lane. on the last few rainstorms so they are they have not been a very good neighbor i've expressed that to them i know that one situation there is quite a bit of a hill right there so that does lend it yeah before that silk to run down there but from your house that they that's so it's up quite often too on the houses that were um right there on the roundabout those houses that they're developing there has been They have not been out there. I'm just making that statement. I would love to see somebody else or we're going to need to police it.

Yeah. I mean, the building inspector.

Yeah. That's a full-time position. I mean, I'm just wondering, like, I think we need to make it harder for them to get a permit if they're going to continue to Rick's standards. I'm just throwing that out there.

Yeah. They do have a big interest in purchasing, but I'm not telling you it couldn't be somebody else.

Yeah, I'm just pointing that that's a feeling that they have not been a great developer for this town. We had them across the street, right, Dennis? They developed and we had some... On Baker Street, yes. Yeah. So we've had nothing but issues with them since they've started developing in the town. But I support... Turning this into more residential. The commercial aspect of it was horrible. Thank you. It has been horrible since I've been one of the first houses. But I like that, but I want to see more of something sketched out on paper so you can see it and make sure you taste it, smell it, and like it before we . Any other questions? Thank you for hearing this out. Make 1 more comment. Sure.

On these alleys, we're vacating our undeveloped, but we are replacing them with developed alleys and developed roadways and they'll be built to the city specs and everything. And then at the end, once we get the lots formed and the roads built, then we can dedicate that back as right away to you. So you'll, you'll still be getting it back as right away.

And in fact, Stephen. And that's another thing we need to look down the road, whether the additional cost is going to be to the street department and everyone else. So before we take that into dedication, we need to look at that and look at the budget for our street.

And that'll be part of the replant process. So this is just one step in that process.

Very good. Anything else? Motion to close. Still moved.

Second.

Okay, we have a motion and a second to close the public hearing. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Those opposed nay. Okay. Moving on. Anything from the board this evening?

I just wanted to thank The fire department and just the community members that showed up for the bed and bed practice for Jimmy, that just shows what the dedication that those guys put into it and the support of our community for one of our own members of the community. It was just, uh, it was outstanding to see how many people were there.

Very good turnout. Thank you. Anybody else? Okay. Well, we'll move on down to ordinance number 2026-2259. There you are.

So back on February 9th, you postponed indefinitely ordinance number 2026-2255 an ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Oklahoma to implement or implementing a fee for non-emergency responses and lift assist at residential care facilities on Burberry. So because this has been postponed indefinitely, there are now seven ordinances after this one that was postponed. And in order to keep our ordinance book flowing forward, this postponement is preventing this. so i would like to either deny it so you can back up something with it i don't know what the process would be jeff well i can give you an update on what we're doing about that i mean that helps but how would you so you'd go back now and change these numbers no we can't because we're moving forward they can't so this one either this one this 2255 either needs to be denied or whatever, and then we move forward with the new ordinance so that I can continue on with all the ordinances now that have passed since this one to keep our book in order.

i'm not following it completely but this is to be updated where we're at on that we've got a committee that's been formed um that are meeting every wednesday some of you are in the room and the fee structures that we are going to be presenting is coming down the road but i think in this case we could uh do they have to make that decision tonight no but i just want them to let's talk about it and figure out the best way to

I guess that the next meeting, I'm glad you brought it up.

Thank you. Yeah. So we are working on that's part of this committee's job is to make recommendations. On other fee structures as well. So. Okay, all right.

I can answer procedural questions, but I don't know how that affects your ordinance book. So yeah, let's figure that out and we'll figure out the best way to address it. So yeah, moving on to ordinance number 2026-2259, an ordinance to amend the City of Plymouth building code to require emergency key boxes. This is before you for second and third reading.

This only affects any new renovation and or new construction. Jessica Retro.

Correct.

Okay.

Make a motion that we pass 2026-2259 on second. Second. All right.

We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? All right. Hearing none, roll call vote, please.

Hall?

Yes.

Becker?

Yes.

Graf Wall? Yes. Martin Ecker?

Yes.

Milner? Yes.

yes star yes motion passed 20 26-22 59 on thursday that's right third motion second second third and fourth i'm just uh any further discussion we'll call vote please call yes becker yes yes yes yes yes

Next is ordinance number 2026-2260, an ordinance regarding permit and application fees for the City of Plymouth. And I think I explained when this came before you on first reading, but this is based on a review of the actual time and expense of the City to review these applications. So it's recommended to adopt this ordinance to adjust those fees.

This, just so you all know too, this is something that I see on the daily. We're getting ourselves back in the ballpark with other communities. So, I would make a motion that we pass ordinance 2026 that phone view 60 on second reading.

Second. Okay, we have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? We'll call vote please.

Call?

Yes.

Becker?

Yes.

Bratwold? Yes. Langenhacker? Yes. Helder? Yes. Morrow? Yes. Starr? Yes.

And you can motion to pass 2026, 60 on 3rd region.

Okay, we have motion and a 2nd, any discussion. Hearing none roll call vote, please call. Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Okay, the next item is a tabled resolution. That is resolution number 2026-1201, resolution of the Common Council of the City of Plymouth to approve the application of OCIO Jaime and Jaime's Grocery LLC for a commercial revitalization rebate program grants. This was tabled at your last meeting.

Before we take it off the table, is there a representative? Okay, so I make the motion that we remove 2026-1201 off the table.

Second. Okay, we have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, nay.

Okay. So off the table, so if the applicant would like to come up and address any questions you have.

Hello, David. How are you? I mean, like, everybody knows, you guys, that we're going to move in from the grocery store to the 211 So we're planning to go down there and we're struggling to get the building looks better. So the building in the front, the windows are blocked. And we'd like to see if we can make it looks better. Like the people can see from inside, from outside to inside. And that's our goal. We're planning to fix it like the sun and the earnings outside too. in the future. We just try to make it looks like much better than how it looks right now, because it looks older. It looks, I mean, bad. So we're planning to see if we can get some brand. We got two coats, one from Harris Glass from, it's $13,860. But I used to have one before for $18,000. I think the price down to $13.80. And also, I have another one from here from Plymouth that's $24,000. And also, I have another one for $27,000. So I'd like to see if we can get the one for $13,000. And that will save us a lot of money. But I don't know what you guys think about it.

Everything I've heard of. TAB, Mark McIntyre:" New regulations right. TAB, Mark McIntyre:" I just appreciate you guys coming tonight last time we table it just because there's no representatives here.

So, I'm sorry, I just, I mean, I have to receive the survey my mom's day.

There you go. Yeah. Yeah, I understand. Yeah, I'm sorry. I don't have any questions.

I just had 1 question. It just caught me off guard when I saw the quote from Plymouth glass and handwritten form. Right? That that does me. I've never. I mean, let's still hide away.

We get 3 of them.

Yeah. And then. The other 1 was more professionally done, so.

And the 1 from Harris class is from a local sport. They're the ones who did the brand new building down there. Down there. Yeah. Oh, yeah. The other 1. so that's why we decided to go with them. And also that, I mean, we just tried to get the price down. We don't have to change the glass. Like, the frame, we just want to change the glass. That's why they've been the place out for 13,860. That's a big difference right there.

Yeah, I'd take a motion and we pass for every week. 2nd.

Okay, we have a motion in a 2nd, any further discussions.

No, but I'm glad you guys are moving into a bigger space. Congratulations. Thank you.

Thank you. We see you guys down there. That's your store. I mean, it's like I told my brother, we get an older, we've been here 25 years, never stopped here. This first time we come here, up here. I mean, we never asked for anything, but this time we're just thinking on like, make the place look a little better. And I mean, we're going to see you guys probably in the future because we need some more help. Look, we need to sign on the Arnie. I just get some quotes. And I don't know yet how much it's going to be.

I'll make a comment. You know, that's why this grant's available. So I wouldn't go there.

We want the beautification of the city.

And I mean, we just like, we have a meeting every weekend, like on Fridays. And that building is going to be, if that building looks nice, I mean, everybody's going to, I mean, it's only for the community, not for, I mean, actually it's not for us.

You want it inviting. You want it to be inviting.

Right.

Do you have a time frame?

Before November. But we would like to see this windows before like August. And also, I mean, if you guys like planning to like have a big nice looking sign for like the park, that'll be like perfect right there. Because we don't want to take the sign down. We just want to, I mean, that is a lot of money to put a deal sign down there. It's, I think it's like, it's a 12 foot long. by 18. That's a long one. That's going to cost another $18,000 to put a new sign right there. But we don't want, I mean, we don't need it. We just want the army.

You've taken possession of the building already, right?

Yeah, we're already working on it because we're planning to move down there before like October. So by October, we'll be down there. Because right here, I mean, it's going to help to the city for the parking too, because the parking is like, you know, we got no parking. And people's coming in like crazy.

You're busy. You got a lot of traffic then. It is.

I mean, we're expecting to have all these people there. I'm okay. I'm not too good at my English. Yeah, we plan it. I mean, we are all about this. Like I told you guys, 25 years, first time we came, we stopped here. And people say, go up there and say, no, we're not going to ask for anything. But, I mean, sometimes we need it. Yeah, sure. Sure. We're glad you're here.

Thank you guys. Okay. We have a motion in a 2nd, didn't we? I think we did. Yes. Okay. Any further discussion. A roll call with that. Okay. Oh, yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Yes. Thank you. All right. Donations to the City of Plymouth.

Well, the City has received six donations, two in the amount of $1,000 each, one from Alison Garman Bright Eyes and the other from Locke Mueller Group. Two in the amount of $500 each from Spytrek CTE, all of which are to be used for the Mayor's Summer of Music. Also received one in the amount of $200 from First Federal and one in the amount of $100 from First Source Bank to be used for the Tractor Show. I'm asking if you wish to accept these donations with the restricted terms, conditions, and purpose

attached to the donation if so the donations were receded into the city monetary gift fund so moved second okay we have motion second any further discussion hearing no one there will say aye aye those opposed nay carries thank you

and next on the agenda is ordinance number 2026-2261 another ordinance regarding permit and application fees for the city of plymouth this is before you on first reading so it does not require any action uh next we have a couple of resolutions uh the first one is resolution number 2026-1203 a resolution of the city of plymouth supporting grant application for the restoration of the historic firehouse and city hall I need to explain to you, this is not the resolution that Shannon was speaking about during the public hearing earlier this meeting. This is a different resolution for a different grant application, also supporting the restoration of the firehouse. And Kurt's way in the back, Kurt Garner is assisting with this, and I've asked him to come and explain this particular grant application.

so uh uh kurt garner one two nine five four sixth road plymouth um as part of our committee that's been meeting over the last 20 months or so uh i was charged with trying to stretch the city's dollars uh so to speak and so there's two grant applications that i applied for one was through first source we're waiting to hear back on that grant application and the other is uh what they call historic preservation fund grant and that is uh through the dnr um and it's a 75 000 grant uh 50 50 so project the max you can get is 75 000 out of 150 000 project um the idea is that The matching funds, and I think Jeff's going to probably explain this, the matching funds for that grant application cannot be the same matching funds that are for the OCRA grant application. That's why we're parsing this out. We will score extremely high on this grant application through Indiana DNR. We have done a similar grant application for those of you who were on the City Council before when you applied for the feasibility or conditions assessment that SRKM They get the letters right in the right order did before that was about 2016 2015. so they, they wait these grants based off of previous performance and. You receive the grant and you performed well, they base it off of having all of your match in place. Hopefully this resolution passes and you'll have your match in place. They base it off of community support. As you know, there's been a lot of community support behind this. And as Shannon McLeod had mentioned, DNR's own uh contest or challenge they call a bracket challenge um the firehouse came out on top in that challenge so this can be really hard for dnr to say no to a grant application i think for for the firehouse um but anyway uh all of those things kind of add up um the the other piece that weighs uh into that grant application is if um Principal Investigator Services and Project Coordinator Services are off the grant. Those are off the grant and I'm donating my time to do those so because you have that off the grant and it's being donated that allows you to to gain the maximum amount of points on that grant application or on that section so um i can answer questions the idea is that we have to separate one piece of that project in order to apply separately for this application and it will be the cupola and uh and the round window the uh restoring the round window that's in the tower So the project cost is $167,075 would be applied for. And so we're asking you to commit the additional amount for the match.

So if we don't get the OCHRA grant and we do get this, we'd still be in the food loan?

We can't, yes. Now, the nice thing about the way these things are being staggered is they'll be able to apply again for the OCHRA grant. uh this fall and we won't have to have our project started um or completed you know within a time frame before that so we can just kind of roll this piece back if we get this grant i think it's awesome if i understand correctly i'm talking with you jeff that the 75 000 that the city would be responsible for would be applied or be put into the 27 budget

it can't be used if the city has to actually appropriate and and spend that money so we actually there's a stack of multiple grants that uh we are considering and pursuing for the firehouse uh the big one is the okra grant that's going to be the largest and do the bulk of the work as cur was explaining this grant through the dnr would certainly assist with that it would would take care of that cupola be able to to restore that window which was not included in the original estimates maybe do some other free up some of the okra grant money to do some other of the items that maybe were excluded from the original estimate we are also we've already applied for a grant through the first source foundation our hope is that if we're successful with that grant then that would provide the our grant Um, there's also an opportunity through the community foundation and possibly other grant resources that we are investigating to try to add to that stack. So. If we are successful with the grant and the grant, and none of the others, and the city would have to spend the 75,000 to master doing our grant that would have to be budgeted for in the 2027 budget. Yes.

The grant is for next year or.

So, the grant, we already have funds in the budget this year. If as long as they are committed by the end of the year, we can use that money. That's already been budgeted. And as Kurt mentioned, and I don't remember if Shannon explained it, the OCHR grant, there are two application rounds per year. If we are not successful with this application that's due in June, then we intend to reapply for it in the fall when the next round opens up. And that just shifts the timeline on some of this. So this first resolution that's before you right now, 2026-1203, is the resolution in support of the application for the DNR grant.

It's a lot of what we're doing, it feels like, yes.

I'm going to make a motion to approve resolution 2026-1203. Second.

All right, we have a motion and a second. Uh, any further discussion, I'll just say this is what we set out to do is try to find them. So, it'd be the least amount of money out of the city's pocket. They seem to be really busy at finding those ways. So I appreciate that. So we have a motion and a 2nd, any further discussion. Very none. You better roll call that. Oh, yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes. Yes.

borrow yes star yes okay thank you the next resolution resolution 2026-1204 a resolution authorizing application submission and local match commitment this is the resolution for the okra grant that you had the public hearing for earlier this meeting uh very similar you need to authorize the application and what was the number of that job 2026-1204 what's on the agenda is that not correct that's correct oh they send it you send it this morning here this afternoon yes that's why we're not seeing it yes i i apologize this was late um i was out of the office friday in meetings when uh shannon sent it to me so i didn't get it out to you until today thank you make a month okay we have motion in a second any further discussion

call vote please oh yes yes yes yes yes yes i'm going to take a break from somebody else thank you thanks all right now we are going to hear from our fire buddies and so this is exciting stuff that they're going to share with you and we want no money

My name is Eric Jacobs, 1221 M Street, Plymouth, Indiana. Aaron, I'm going to give your name and address.

My name is Aaron Wagers and I live at 11208 Shady Lane Drive, Plymouth.

Aaron and I are both new board members for a project called Project Fire Buddies. Project Fire Buddies is a 12-state, about 165 chapters of a group of people that want to help children that are terminally ill. It's not necessarily part of the Plymouth Fire Department, it's its own chapter, but every member of the Plymouth Fire Department voted to participate in this group. Even chief column supported it and was part of helping bring it here. So, myself and Ed, Mark, Paul, Matthewson and Justin Wade serve on the board. What project fireplaces is an organization that if you have a child is internally fills out an application on the national fire Facebook page. and gets approved. Once they're approved, they're in our territory, in the fire department's territory, they become our buddy. And we will shower them with love by providing them with gifts, trips, whatever they need to help support that family in their time of need. It is critically ill children. And as you know, the Plymouth Fire Department, we see everybody in the worst of times. We've been looking for ways we go through the schools. We do extra drills in the home. We take the fire safe house to the schools. We try to interact with our children in our community and we're trying to find another way to bring happiness to the children. If they're critically ill and basically our mission, we're firefighters who offer support. to children fighting critical critical illness the battle will not be fought alone project fire buddies is a beacon of hope for every family we have honor to serve so once a child is approved we'll be assigned that child we'll get to know the family well and we need your support because i know we've got the chief support we want your support because we you we will use fire department equipment to bring that joy we could do a fire parade for that child we could go over for uh Cookies cook out or something for that child as we send them off to something they're going to do to drop off presence or whatever we need to do with them. What's really nice about this. We do have a child that we're in the process. We just now started up. We just got officially approved last week and we do have a child that we're not announcing it yet, but we don't even have any funds yet, but we're supported by national and we will do fundraisers. We have it's called the beast. At blueberries, the weightlifting competition, and that's going to be a fundraiser for this. We have to do at least 1 fundraiser, some sort each year, but then they support it as a national organization. And I was shocked at how much they offered to support and everything. So, we just want to let, you know, be aware of it and hopefully support us as we do this.

Yeah, I don't know. I would suggest that we do an official resolution showing our support from the city of Plymouth. We could have that drafted up for next meeting. That'd be great. And. Yeah, that's be my, I think that's a.

That's a great idea and I'd be happy to draft that.

Okay. Thank you. So I think you'll get our support for sure. Thank you.

We are doing an announcement with the news media tomorrow night at our fire training tower because we'll be doing training. So we'll have everybody there. It was a great opportunity to have everybody there. And Aaron will get to talk tomorrow night with the news media. Right. And it'll be done. What time is that? It's 630. And you're more than welcome. And you can even become a volunteer firefighter and start your training.

There you go. Thank you, everybody. I appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay, I'll give you a brief 1 March county update. I've been telling you for a while now that 1 March county is working on hiring his 1st employee in the community coordinator position. I'm happy to report that an offer has been made and accepted and we expect that individual to start. In early June, I will let. One Marshall county make the official announcement, but just know that that's coming and to add to that good news. There was a 2nd place. Applicant who was such a strong applicant that some organizations are currently exploring ways to keep that individual offer them at least a temporary position with some other for some other organizations in the community to. Bring them to the community also, and hopefully find them a more permanent. Role to play, so that's great news. Other than that 1, March kind of continues to work in various areas. 1, in particular, the community development corporation is launching a more in depth marketing analysis to work with. Developers and home builders to create more opportunities for residential housing across Marshall County. We're waiting on a proposal from them should be the next week or 2. we've asked that we met with them and talked about the specific needs we have in the city of Plymouth and they're coming back to us with a proposal of how we can work with them to meet some of those needs. So some great movement there and. On addressing some of those housing needs.

A question I think I just saw something recently that people who are don't have the money to do any improvements to their homes. And apply for some money through the city to do that.

And I believe that it's not through the study. It's through the county. So, Marshall county did apply for another owner occupied rehabilitation grant through. And those applications are open now, I believe, if I understand right, it's kind of a tight timeline.

So June 15th.

Yeah, thank you.

They didn't get enough applicants.

Okay, so now, through June, thank you for bringing that up. It's good to get that news out through June 15th. Any homeowner who is in need of some repairs or renovations that are home and maybe struggling to afford that can apply to the program. and try to get assistance through that. It's the same grant that the county had previously. It was very successful and it allows them to do it on a rolling basis. So hopefully this becomes an ongoing program that will continue to support homeowners across Marshall County. Anything else? That is all I have for you tonight.

Anything to sign? Nothing to that. Okay. And privilege of the floor. We do have privilege of the floor. Would anybody like to speak to the board tonight? You're gonna stay quiet tonight, huh? Okay.

Believe it or not.

Wow, okay. Moving on. Motion to accept the communications that was in our packet.

Second.

Okay, we have a motion and a second. Any further discussions? And then all in favor will say aye. Aye. Opposed nay. Thank you, Randy.