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

Now, yes, good evening and welcome to the June 8th, 2026 sport of works and safety. Roll call, please.

Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Thank you. Now, entertain a motion to approve our minutes from the last meeting. So move. motion second any further discussion hearing none all in favor say aye aye those opposed nay very good thank you um does anybody have anything all right Donnie anything this evening I have nothing Dan

Um, good evening. I'd like to inform the board that, uh. Harrison street project, the repaving project is going to get started here shortly. Um, with the. We locating a line at 5th street and Harrison at that intersection. This is to make, uh. This is to make room for some drainage improvements as part of that project. I don't expect it to take that long. We're still coordinating, but if there's a possibility, they may start in the next couple of weeks. With that part of it, um. No, real work would probably be done until. Or improvement work, I should say it's all real work, but. probably not till the 1st of August. So just want to inform the board.

Where does it start? Where does it stop?

What's that?

Where does it start? Where does it stop?

Probably 50 feet each side of the intersection from on Harrison. This, as we go through, we'll make some drainage improvements all the way from the park to Plum Street. Um, however, this is the only location where we have a conflict between the gas line and the drainage improvements.

Right? You repaid or you repaid them from Michigan to oak.

Where are we paving from? Yes, from Michigan to oak street. Um, with that being said. We will have to close that intersection for a few days. So, I just want to inform the board that's what's going on.

that include the sidewalk stuff yes sorry so this part is just the nips goes improving moving lines but then later in august it's actually going to go from michigan down jackson street right well so correct me if i'm wrong dan but the sidewalk portion that will be done this year is from oak to plum but harrison street will be repaved all the way from oak to michigan

that's correct gotcha finally seen what i've been asking for for 10 years since i was on the uh you were asking for that from my first year on council which would have been six and a half years ago been doing a lot and we've been actually it's been on the drawing board ever since about then dude so you keep me informed thank you you're welcome thank you seven years later thanks thanks dan Do I have anything to say?

I have nothing. We're going to have time to kill. Chief Howland.

Good evening. I was just wanting to let the board know that this week I'll be opening up an application process for. Full time position that's due to a member in our audience tonight has. Requested that he retire come Friday, so he ignited after 27 and a half years total with our department and 22 years as a career. Firefighter has decided that. he's going to move on to other things. So effective this Friday will be his last day with us. So I just wanted, I invited him and his crew here tonight just to recognize him for his service. Thank you and anybody that wants to stop by the station, he'll be there. All day doing nothing and we're painting Friday, accepting accepting well wishes and probably some cake and things like that. So, on Friday. Yep. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Short time.

Thank you, guys. Thanks.

Mike Collins.

I have nothing to deny your honor. Thank you.

You got a new intern working out there, do you? How's that going?

Pretty good.

Well, you know. Dance.

I got a question. Oh.

does he happen yes uh this week they're gonna uh chain of links is gonna work start working on his driveway and he anticipates it taking a couple days and uh we are going to do the um we've agreed to do the river rock on the side of the hill so we'll go out to stockburgers and get a loader to this river rock and we'll take care of the hill and hopefully that takes care of everything oh amen

Was there going to be a culvert put in at the end of the drawing?

Yeah, they're doing that, too.

Okay.

Yeah, hopefully that takes care. We've engineered, and we met out there two or three times, and we think this might work, right? I'm pretty confident.

Dan's confident, so it always counts. All right. Yeah. Perfect. Thank you. Thank you, guys. Appreciate it.

We're going to have Mike on the line, do we? Okay, Bill?

All right, City Attorney.

So in your packets is a copy of Executive Order number 2026-01. Pretty straightforward. I was contacted by a contractor last week working at the Corner Monroe and plum streets, they had an opportunity their demo guys were able to get in. Really quick and remove some concrete, but they needed permission to put a dumpster on the street to dispose of that. So had the mayor sign an executive order and we're just asking you to ratify that tonight.

Make a motion that we ratify executive order 2026. 0, 1, a 2nd.

Okay. We have motion in a second. Any further discussion? All right. Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Those opposed, nay. Very good. Thank you. That's all I have.

One request this evening from Hinterland Bookery. I keep saying that wrong. He is asking to close to parking spaces on these support street, June 27th, July 25th, August 15th and September 12th. Or is bubble. Look for Joseph, you want to come up and have any questions.

Hello again, this is getting routine for you, right? That's why I picked a couple of dates instead of just coming on.

Yeah, there you go.

so just the same as usual same as usual the two parking spots in front of ivy terra ivy terra yes make the motion we approve the request second the motion is second any further discussion hearing none all in favor say aye aye those opposed thank you thank you number eight approval of claims

make it happen to approve the claims within our packet.

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

I move to accept the communications that are in our packet.

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

Motion to adjourn.

Very good.

That was easy.

Welcome back to the June 8th Common Council meeting.

Lynn, I'm just going to zoom it in. Could you join me in prayer, please? Gracious God, we thank you once again. We continue to thank you for the opportunity to come together as a body and discuss the needs of this city. We continue to seek your guidance and direction. We ask that you continue to open our ears so that we can hear and our minds so that we can understand. Lord, we ask you to continue to bless those who are employed by the city, be with each and every one of them, give them the safety that they deserve. We also ask, Lord, that you provide for the citizens of this great city, continue to bless them and continue to encourage them to be a part of this community. And Lord, we continue to pray for those within the state as well as this country in the world we ask you to continue to bring their concerns upon our heart so that we too can have a voice and say the things that we need to be saying be with us in everything we do these things we ask in your precious name amen amen thank you join me in the pledge of allegiance

nobody's online right as far as council okay uh roll call please uh entertain a motion for to approve the minutes from our last meeting

Motion second. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Those opposed, nay. Thank you. Anything from the board this evening? No, nothing. Thank you.

Yes, sir. Okay. I brought this up a couple other times in the last couple of years, but along the Greenway Trail, the crossing at Jefferson Street where the coffee lodge is, There's not a defined crossing there. There's no light there. It's a very busy street, especially certain times of the day. I was driving on Plymouth Ocean Trail the other day and the extension that we ran out through Price's Memorial Pond has a great light that is initiated by the pedestrians. people were actually the cars were stopping and obeying it but we need a defined crossing there one time we had on jefferson street back there we had painted lines those lines are gone if we need a we need a crosswalk with with a light and we should put that in our budget for next year

I can speak from our, and maybe Dan, you've been working on this. Come on, you can tell them some of the work you've been doing, but I know this, that our Complete Streets Committee has talked about that intersection for quite a while, but the latest is you were doing something, I can't remember what it was though.

Yeah, we actually are thinking about moving that just slightly and redesigning that intersection just a little bit. I don't know exactly how pressing we can get that done, how quickly we can get that done. I'm sure we can share some more information in the Complete Streets meeting later this summer on that. But yeah, I would agree with you that some improvements could be made to that crossing. I've used it myself and it's kind of a struggle.

Yeah, I'd like to see that sooner than later.

Is it possible? I'm sorry. Is it possible at least to get some lines down even if we couldn't have the light.

This year we can maybe there's something we could do more temporary while we. Figure things out because by the time we get something done, there could be quite a while.

I can't really speak for the street department budget, but it's. We have some major expenses with the street repaving projects. We do need to do some crack seal this year.

so if if the board's willing to appropriate more money that might be an option but i i don't know that we have the funds to do it this year i'm not suggesting that i'm talking about putting in the budget for that we certainly can do it for next year it might be more of a temporary put a hawk there's a couple things we could do just to you know the long-term goal that stretch is probably looking at 2032 2033 of a complete improvement along that whole corridor from city limits to city limits so but we do need to do something probably sooner than that for sure but yeah but we put it in 20 next year's budget that's good i got a quick question i if we hear anything more on that brownfield ramp down here is it over on water street

So they did just get back the results from the additional testing that we were required to do from the state. For the most part, everything came back exceptional. There's one item they want to dive into a little bit more and make sure they're understanding it and we'll get that information all pulled together. That was all shared this afternoon at two o'clock. So once they kind of get a better handle on exactly what that analysis holds, they'll be able to share that additional information with us and we'll be able to get that information sent out state and ideally get some blessings and be able to move forward and be done.

so that happened this afternoon yeah oh okay just after a few hours ago that's good news anything else dave we'll work on that that's yeah um i mean we have been talking about it it's just we need to do something we just need to come up with something it's more temporary than anything but something would be better than nothing okay

Went on to unfinished business ordinance number 2026-2261, an ordinance regarding permit and application fees for the city of Plymouth for second and third reading. If you recall, this is just an update. Dennis has done some work to evaluate the different fees for permits, and this more accurately reflects the amount of time and work involved by the city and is also in line with what other communities are charging.

Make a motion to pass ordinance 2261 on second reading. Second. Third.

Okay, we've got a motion and a second and a third. Any further discussion? Hearing none, you want to roll call vote, please?

Hall?

Yes.

Becker?

Yes.

Rothwald? Yes. Langenhacker? Yes. Milner? Yes. Morrow? Yes. Starr is absent.

Make a motion to pass 2026-2261 on 30.

second motion in a second any further discussion hearing none roll call vote please oh yes yes yes yes yes yes yes i have a question uh what do those fees take practice um you're gonna ask october 1st so uh that was written out um

There's a specific statute dealing with fees through the building department. So permit fees, we are required to wait 90 days from the date of advertising before they can go into effect. So we set it out to October 1st, or I set it out to October 1st to give a clear date that's at least 90 days from when the clerk children will be able to advertise this. Normally with any ordinance that imposes or changes a fee, it has to be advertised, but it can go into effect immediately while it's being advertised. There's a separate statute that controls permit fees I do have one other item of unfinished business that is not on your agenda. Recall the last meeting Clerk Treasurer brought up ordinance number 2026-2255, which was the ordinance to create a non-emergency lift assist fee for the fire department. That was brought to you in February, and on my advice, you postponed it indefinitely. I still believe that was the correct procedural move under Robert's Rules of Order and parliamentary procedure. However, as Clerk Treasurer has informed us, it creates a problem for her. And I understand better now what that problem is. She has physical books that are bound containing all of the records from the council. And so, you know, the practical reality of her responsibility butts up against parliamentary procedure there. So to resolve this issue, you have a couple of options. 1 is. You could make a motion and take action on it anytime, including tonight. However, since it was not on the agenda and I don't know that anybody was prepared to discuss that, we can also put it on the agenda for your next meeting and you can consider whether to take action on it at that time. I don't know what the recommendation will be, but one option is if you were to defeat this particular ordinance We can take more time and decide whether to bring it back under a different ordinance number at a later date. 2026 dash 2255.

That's my recommendation.

So I leave it up to you. My recommendation is that you not take any action tonight since no 1 was contemplating this tonight and we can have. Put it on the agenda for your next meeting.

They were supposedly going to have a meeting on it. Does anything come out of that?

So it was discussed as as part of the work we did with and focus and when we got to the end of that work, the. The emphasis kind of shifted to some of the internal operations of the fire department. The mayor has formed a committee and they have been meeting weekly to discuss some of those issues. I'm not involved in that, so I can't really speak to what's happening in those meetings. Although I can say what I have seen from the outside is they have some new recruits for the volunteer department and they're working on some marketing efforts to increase that enrollment. A lot of other discussions I know that are ongoing. But, yeah, the emphasis from those meetings have not been as focused on this particular fee.

No, but we did talk about it. Okay. And Steve and I are working on that plus other, which we need to get together on. So what I think will happen is we're going to come back to you in pretty short order. On several things that we want to change, and that will be included in that as far as fee structures that that's what we got to.

Yes.

Um, and so that's we have talked about it in that group actually. Okay. And so I'm not in those meetings.

I have a question. So. We're going to incorporate other fees. So the new fee structure is going to be totally different anyway in all likelihood, right?

I think so.

So why don't we just get rid of the one we have and move along?

That would be my recommendation. That's what we should do. Okay.

Yeah, part of the fees, it's been quite a while since we've looked at our fees for ambulatory care with transports and ALS and BLS service. So that's a big thing that we need to kind of review. And so kind of along with all that, we'll incorporate everything once we're finished putting those fees together.

I agree with you, Dave. I think it's to do it all at once, to clean.

So I'll make a motion.

we have to take it um no no your motion would be for second reading because that's where we were when it was postponed they passed on second i didn't see that in the minutes okay well that's why the clerk treasurer keeps the minutes because she's much better at it so so then we would the motion would be to defeat it could be yeah to deny if that's what we want to do so

uh make that motion i'll make a motion that we deny on third reading 2026-2255 second that we have a motion in a second um is there any other further discussion on this we're all good um it would be my recommendation as well that we do this and we will be back hopefully in short order a whole list of them so um there's no further discussion uh roll call vote please well Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

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

Yes.

Yes. Yes.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Yes. Yes. Yes.

um so we have two we have two uh planning commission amendments uh for you this evening on first reading um the first one trying to make sure I get the right document pulled up here for you First one is 2026-07. What this document and ordinance is seeking to amend and update is on two different parts. The first of which being for accessory structures, we're upgrading that size and scale from 120 square foot to 200 square foot. That's in association with the building code. When you start getting into footings and foundations, it doesn't mean that the So the permitting status, you wouldn't need a permit until up to 200 square foot. Anything below that would not need it. You still have to meet setback requirements though, just as you would if you had a 10 by 10 today. On top of that, we are also proposing a clerical amendment to the ordinance where roofing and reroofing was conflicted within the ordinance itself. On one section it was requiring a permit and then another section of any exemptions. was indicating that it did not need a permit. We're just seeking to clarify and fix that by removing it from the exemptions list and keeping it within the permit required list. Any thoughts or questions?

So the structure is we don't have to get a permit. You still have to meet the standards, whatever it is. Anybody checking that, make sure that's what's happening.

it's part of the development standards for everything who's checking to make sure yeah it's not permanent it's no different than if you wanted to put in a 10 by 10 by 10 today you're not required to have a permit for that you're still required to meet the setback requirements it would be a violation of the ordinance that's what i'm saying today tomorrow yesterday just you can do it violations occur all the time comments on this one again it's only first reading so well it doesn't work no it doesn't no

this came as a favorable recommendation from the planning commission as well with the amendments so we're just just a procedure requirement for amendments to the zoning ordinance um They require a public hearing at the plan commission, and then the plan commission makes a recommendation. To the council, because it's already been through the public hearing a recommendation process. It only requires 1 consideration and 1 vote. So. You would take action on it now. This is a firm in their recommendation. But you, I mean, you are, you're the.

Yeah, they recommended it. So what they recommended. making sure that you have the correct copy. Items 13 and 14 would remain within that section. When we took it to Planning Commission initially, those items were struck. Those would remain. That was a part of the recommendation that came out of the Planning Commission.

Make a motion that we approve PC26-07. Second.

We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion?

I have a question. I guess I just wasn't quite following what you were asking, Randy. Are you saying that there should be stricter requirements?

If you don't have to get a permit, we're just... I mean, somebody can go ahead and do it as long as they meet the standards, but nobody's there to double check it unless, like Lynn said, a neighbor complains about it, and then we go out and investigate it.

it's free reign under that 200 square feet and that's where we are today anyway correct that's where we're at at 120. we're proposing to increase it from 120 to 200. just 200 is when you start getting into footing and foundation requirements under the building code i guess my question is is that wise so Your comprehensive plan zoning committee made the recommendation to the planning commission to do this. Planning commission backed it up with the amendments to the ordinance that's proposed to you tonight. So I'd say there's some sufficient recommendation behind it.

And just to clarify, we're scratching 13, but there's a new 13.

No, 13 and 14 are remaining the exact same. Those aren't, that's not changing. That was the planning commission's recommendation to have that adjusted. So the only thing that's being struck is re-roofing out of C1 exemptions. Okay, we have a motion and a second, right? Yeah, we did. And Don, for clarification, your motion is based on the Planning Commission's recommendation. That's correct. Okay, thank you.

Motion and a second. Any further discussion?

Anything?

All right. Roll call vote, please.

Call.

Thank you.

yes becker yes yes yes yes tomorrow yes okay okay so next we have pc 2026 is zero eight uh this is another zoning order it's amendment uh We were in front of the Board of Works last time to make amendments to the Knox Box requirements under Council. Sorry. It's a blurb meeting at this point. We went forward and made adjustments to Plymouth code for Knox boxes. This is the carbon copy of that within the zoning ordinance itself. Why it's located in two places is beyond me, but it does exist that way. So when we made the proposal to you to make that adjustment under your city code, we wanted to make sure it again, falls in line together under the zoning ordinance itself. So that's what we're seeking to do this evening. We're adjusting the word Knox box to emergency key box. So it's not necessarily based on brand, even though that may be the overwhelming predominant user or the brand of choice. And then we have the expansion from the Plymouth fire chief and then adding or designating or building commissioner in accordance with the city of Plymouth building code. And that's kind of where it begins to reference back to the code we adjusted in our last meeting.

DC 2026, actually. Second.

Motion and second. Any further discussion? Roll call vote, please.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

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

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

The City of Plymouth has received four donations, one in the amount of $1,000 from Interior Credit Union to be used for the Mayor's Summer of Music, one in the amount of $200 from Belltopia LLC to be used for the tractor show, and two in the amount of $1,250 each, one from Oliver Ford and the other from AK Industries to be used for sponsorship of police vehicles. masking if you wish to accept the donations with the restricted terms conditions and purposes attached to the donations if so the donations will be receded into the monetary gift fund so i'm saying ocean in a second any further discussion you said that the last two were for striping the cars for sponsorship of the police cars yes anything else uh

All in favor will say aye. Aye. Those opposed nay. Thank you.

Another item that's not on your agenda is I am seeking your approval for lodging in Michigan City for the ILMCT conference July 12th through 16th. The destination is 49.1 miles one way from Plymouth. The overnight travel allowance for lodging must be greater than 50. Second. Thank you.

I have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor say aye.

Aye. Opposed, nay.

Hey, we have next ordinance number 2026-2262, an ordinance to vacate a portion of the alley east of Dora Lane and south of Illinois Street, New York Street, east of Dora Lane and Hoover Street. This is for first reading. This is the ordinance that correlates to the public hearing you had at your last meeting. It is first reading and so no action is required, but I noticed that Mike Delve is in the audience. So if you have any questions for him, I'm sure he'd be happy to answer them. or we can just move on if you want to move on. I don't want to hear from Mike. You said that, not me. I did. In that case, next is resolution number 2026-1205, a resolution of the City of Plymouth in support of Project Fire Buddies. I will say that I drafted this and I sent it to Chief Palum. I knew that our Jacobs was on vacation, so I asked Chief to distribute it amongst whoever should look at it before it came to you just to make sure that they didn't have any questions or suggestions and one of the first responses that came back was from art jacobs on vacation with a recommended change to the ordinance which i thought was a good one or the resolution uh so i don't know if uh chief holland has anything to add but this is the resolution expressing the support i think it's important enough to read it i'd be happy to here it is

I got it.

So resolution number 2026-1205, resolution of the City of Plymouth in support of Project Fire Buddies. Project Fire Buddies was established in 2016 to bring joy to kids struggling with critical illnesses because no child should fight their battle alone. Since then, Project Fire Buddies has grown into one of the largest nonprofit organizations in the world with new chapters joining every day. local chapters cultivate connections with their fire buddies to build personal relationships provide gifts and unique experiences and assist families in obtaining essential medical equipment and supplies the mission of project fire buddies is as follows we are firefighters who offer support to children fighting critical illnesses their battle will not be fought alone project fire buddies is a beacon of hope for every family we have the honor to serve The Plymouth Firefighters have formed a local chapter of Project Fire Buddies to support and promote the mission of Project Fire Buddies in the communities they serve. Plymouth Firefighters have fully embraced the motto of Project Fire Buddies that real superheroes live in the hearts of small children fighting big battles and have committed to supporting children within our community struggling with critical illnesses. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Common Council of the City of Plymouth, Indiana as follows. Section 1, the Common Council fully supports the creation of a local chapter of Project Fire Buddies and commends the dedication of our Plymouth firefighters with their continued service to the Plymouth community. Passed and adopted by the Common Council of the City of Plymouth, Indiana, this 8th day of June, 2026.

I'll make a motion to approve resolution number 2026-1205.

We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor will say aye. Aye. Those opposed, nay. Very good, and thank you very much.

In other business, I do not have a One Marshall County update. Pay attention, there will be news coming for One Marshall County any day now, but it's not mine to share. And plan directors indicating no conference plan update either.

Thank you.

All right. Privilege of the floor. Anything else this evening from anybody? Kyle, I thought you were going to.

No? Okay.

Mike, you don't have anything? No. All right. Number seven, acceptance of communications.

Move to accept the communications as in our package.

Motion and a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Aye.