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

okay good evening and welcome to the august 24 2026 board of public works and safety meeting uh roll call or roll call please just a roll call yeah thank you entertain a motion to approve our minutes from the last meeting good night I have a motion. A second. We have a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed, nay. Thank you. All right. Jump right down into it. Donnie, anything this evening?

I have nothing tonight, Your Honor.

Thank you. Dan, anything?

Nothing tonight, Your Honor.

Dennis?

I have nothing tonight, Your Honor.

chief weir chief weir uh jim come on man just happy to be up here good to see you again mike are you here wow okay mike height you online oh yeah i i wanted to hear jimmy's voice so i think online tonight so um but your honor i'm sorry

i have nothing not here and bill that was simple mr city attorney i guess i break the street then um i do have a couple of things uh the first is resolution number 2026-1209 a resolution to amend the fire protection and emergency medical services agreement between the city of plymouth indiana and west township marshall county indiana this agreement has been in place since 2013 And Terry, the West township trustee reached out to me, he did an update of their inventory and wanted to amend the agreement to reflect the current list of vehicles and equipment that are owned by the townships. That's the only thing that's changing with this amendment is the schedule a, that is attached to it with a list of equipment vehicles. I will tell you also that Amy nap was the center township trustee. reached out since I put this on the agenda and she'd like to do the same update for the center township contract so I should have that for you at your next meeting but I'll ask you to approve this resolution to amend the contract to update that schedule a so moved okay we have a motion and a second any further discussion any questions hearing none all in favor will say aye aye those opposed nay very good very thank you Okay, and the other item I have is an easement agreement with Plymouth foundry. So this is related to the Harrison street trail project. And as we were going through all of the right away easements for that trail. if you look at the parking in front of the Plymouth Foundry office, all of that parking is actually in the city's right of way. And our intention was not to disrupt their parking, but to use their existing sidewalk, which is actually on the Plymouth Foundry property. So when we asked them to grant an easement for that sidewalk space, so we could put the trail where the existing sidewalk is and allow them to keep the parking, They asked for reciprocal easement so that they know that they're guaranteed to be able to keep that parking where it is. At the same time, we learned that their machine shop, which is the building to the west, closer to the railroad tracks, actually encroaches onto city property by a foot or two. This easement also grants them a perpetual right to keep that building where it is, With the encouragement, we did ask to put language in it that says that if that property ever ceases to be used for commercial or industrial purposes. So, if anybody comes in foundry shuts down someday in the future, and somebody wants to develop that parcel into something else that these easements will go away. And the new owner will not be able to build anything new in that encouragement.

but if the new owner were to come in and not make any physical changes, everything would remain the same? Everything would remain the same, yeah.

So if the owners of Plymouth Foundry decided to sell the foundry to a new owner and maybe they convert it to another type of industrial use, as long as that building remains where it is and continues to be used, then it can stay with the, the easement will stay in place.

Chair?

Yes.

The sidewalk, That put a boundary that goes right up by their building.

No, there is some space between the sidewalk and the front porch. There, I don't remember how much, maybe 6 feet or so, and the design for the trail sidewalk is going to be wider than what's there, but it will extend toward the street side. So the back of the sidewalk will say exactly where it is. It'll just be about three feet wider extending into the street, and that brings the parking out that far, narrowing the drive lanes.

And you're going to use their existing sidewalk?

I believe the plan is to remove that sidewalk and replace it with one continuous stretch so that it's not pieced together. That would be blacktop?

The sidewalk? Yeah. No, it'll be concrete. So it'll be concrete both? We're calling it a trail, but it's actually a sidewalk.

It's a sidewalk. Right. Portions of it down Harrison Street will be asphalt, but the portion in front of the foundry will be concrete.

As I'm seeing the tree, they're staying. There's two of them?

Yeah, they will actually be extended out that same three feet. So they'll be in the same location and just extend a little farther than what they are now. They'll be removed and rebuilt, but it'll look like the same thing. And there may be some utilities that have to be relocated within those islands and the vegetation will be replaced as well. I don't remember exactly, but I think we were going to remove the larger trees and put something smaller there just to allow better visibility. We've had several discussions and a couple of meetings with the foundry leadership and their attorney and Worked out all the details there, so everybody is satisfied with the plan. So, I'd ask you to approve this easement agreement so that we can finalize this and continue on with the trail project.

Okay, we have a motion in a 2nd, any further discussion. All in favor will say aye. Aye. Those opposed nay. Motion carries. Thank you. So I have for you. We have a request.

We have a request this evening on behalf of the Plymouth Kiln Learning Lodge. Dennis Daniel is here to speak on that in regards to the space under the water tower on Parkview Street during the Blueberry Festival. Come on up, Dennis.

Apparently, they figured I was here, so I could just speak on their behalf. Same request we submit every single year. Yeah, well, thank you everybody out there.

What do you use to make a motion to approve the request? Okay, we motion in a 2nd, and for the discussion. Hearing none all in favor will say aye. Aye. No, as opposed nay. Very good moving right along then. Number eight is approval of claims. Motion to approve the claims that were in our packet.

Okay.

Motion in a second. Any further discussion or none on Pharaoh? Say aye. Aye. Those opposed. Number nine. No acceptance of communications. Thank you. Got a motion. Got a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none all in favor say aye. Aye. That was Boesnay. Now, Dave, number 10. We have a judge here.

Second.

Very good.

okay good evening and welcome to the august 24 2026 common council meeting um councilman ecker if you lead us in a prayer please join me in prayer please gracious god once again thank you for this wonderful opportunity to gather together to discuss the needs and the wants of the city lord we continue to ask that you give us the ability to listen and understand what's before us and give us the ability to discern and make the best decisions possible. We continue to ask, Lord, that you provide protection and safety for our employees, be with our first responders, be with all department heads and their staffs as they continue to go about doing the job of this city. Lord, we continue to pray for this country. We pray, Lord, that we can come together, have civil conversations, and come up with reasonable solutions. We continue to pray for the world as well. along the way that we can come together as well and come and find common ground so that all can live in peace and harmony. We ask you to be with the mayor and his administration as they continue to deal with the daily ins and outs of this business. Continue to be with us, lead and guide direct us. In your name we pray. Amen.

Thank you. Join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Pledge of Allegiance to the flag on the air. all right please okay I'll entertain a motion from the minutes from our last meeting

Move that we accept the minutes from the last meeting. Okay.

Okay. And a 2nd, any further discussion. Hearing that all federal say, aye, aye. Thank you.

Um, except we have a public hearing for a K industries. Motion to open the public hearings.

Okay. We have a motion in 2nd to open the public hearing any further discussion. Hearing none on federal say, aye, aye. That was opposed today. We are in public hearing mode right now. So, Jeff, are you going to... Greg?

I don't have a lot to say for the public hearing, but again, this is part of the process for a tax abatement that's been requested by AK Industries. At your last meeting, you heard about their project and what they're planning. You approved the declaratory resolution. So this is the next step before you consider the confirmatory resolution later in this meeting. I think Greg Hildebrand is here to speak for them as well.

Greg Hildebrand with March County Economic Development Corporation. I would like to speak in favor of this tax statement. We heard last week how this particular piece of equipment will be adding some new jobs over at AK Industries and it will also help retain the 200 that they already have over there. These are well-paying jobs and it will open up a new, not necessarily a new line, but expand a sector of their business that they are looking to expand into. It'll be a five-year phase in personal property tax abatement. With me tonight is Steve Davis. He's in sales, has been employed there at AK Industries for several years and is very familiar with all the aspects of the production over there. If you have any individual questions about the piece of equipment that they're looking to get or Or what their plan plans are, if it's approved.

So, we have any questions.

All right, I appreciate your support and thank you.

Okay. Thank you. So, we'd like to make a motion to close the public hearing. Okay, we have motion in a 2nd, any further discussion. You're not on paper. Say, aye. All right. Thank you. All right. anything from the board this evening i have nothing good with that okay jumping right on down all right

We have some ordinances for a 2nd and 3rd reading. 1st, 1 is ordinance number 2026 dash 2264 are an ordinance fixing salaries of appointed officers and employees, fire and police personnel of the city of Plymouth, Indiana for the year 2027. this is the annual salary ordinance. You approved it on 2nd reading at your last meeting and now it's just to be approved on 3rd reading.

So with that, some cake on this, and I'm a little confused, Jeff, because I thought that you included all the departments.

It should include all should be appointed personnel and employees of the city. yeah it's uh everyone except elected officials what what's your with the fire place so uh okay that was my understanding with everybody uh yeah and if i had to guess i believe it calls out fire and police specifically because employment of fire and police members um is controlled by different statutes in state law so that just indicates that it includes appointed officers and employees and fire personnel and police personnel. Thank you.

Yes, I have one question on the assistant chief firefighter. Is he going to go Monday through Friday to assist you? Yes.

Okay.

Wow.

Okay. We'll just follow up on Delane's question. What is the plan for weekend coverage for leadership?

There's two reasons for proposing that we do this. One is to provide better coverage. And what it's doing is, over the last couple of years, Really what I wanted to do is add a 7th person to each shift. What this is allowing us to do is Monday through Friday, basically during the day, which is the hardest time for us to get volunteers into the station because of their other jobs. and such nights and weekends are not as hard to do that with this is going to give us that seventh person per shift Monday through Friday during the daytime what that also allows is for consistent operations and such during the day so that if I'm tied up on more administrative type duties we still have a chief there that can help with operations during those days

And then what would be the schedule for the assistant chief firefighter paramedic? How would that schedule look? What would that schedule look like?

so assistant chief firefighter is that is that a filter he he uh that position will uh continue to remain on shift as they have been 24 on 24 off yeah yeah yeah they work the same schedule as everyone else um so that's that's down the road as as we grow as other demands become uh needed that is the other position that i would like to see come today's down the road when it's possible. But for right now, that position would remain on shift.

Another thing that I'd point out procedurally, this ordinance is just the salary for the position. We've not changed the job description to move that position from a shift position to the Monday through Friday. That'll take another step.

And also we're not, that's,

ordinance is providing the position we haven't budgeted we're not to that point to budget that position yet what this does is it simply says that if that position is filled this is what the salary for it will be i guess just one of the questions i had was if the um assistant chief and then you got the paramedic assistant chief why wouldn't they do all people

I don't know the answer to that. I did not prepare this.

Well, one's going to be.

Are you asking for the salary or are you asking the job salary? So, so when going today's the Monday through Friday position, it would be a set salary. That is. That's what they would be paid the salary when they're on shift. Would allow for overtime and so it's a little bit lower salary, but in essence, they could. With overtime that built in overtime and stuff, they would be making. Upwards of that amount.

Okay.

In fact, we probably will make more than that. Like, your paramedic assistant probably will, with overtime, make more than...

Possibly, depending on coverage needed and such, yeah.

Okay, so any more questions or anything?

I'm sorry. I'm related to the fire.

Okay.

There was a... One of the highlighted items under the Park Department was the stipend for the certification of pool and spa operator, which is a unique certification. We give stipends in other areas for CDL. who really does this pool and helps a little bit, I believe, with the aquatic fetter as well. Not anymore?

No, he doesn't have any. I think they've called him with questions and he's given advice, but he does not manage that pool. All right, well, that's good.

So anyway, I think the stipend of 25 cents should be increased. For our about that.

Since this is being presented for 3rd reading, if you'd like to make that change, you can make a motion to amend the ordinance that's in front of you. And then if the council approves that amendment, then we'll make that change for 3rd reading.

Yes, I just wanted to get some feelings from the other council members. So.

I would recommend just procedurally that you get a motion and second to get this on the table before you take any action to amend it.

And there could be other, if you have any others also, you'll want to somebody else have something else. Yeah. Well, I think procedurally we should probably. Procedurally, I would suggest. Then we can talk about, after somebody makes a motion in a second, we can talk about, or a motion, then we can talk about any changes that might want to, and any discussion is fine at that point. So I would recommend we make a motion, somebody make a motion to accept this ordinance on the first motion, and then we have a discussion. That's what I would suggest. Does that make sense? Yeah.

So it'd be a motion to approve 2026-2264R on third reading. And with a motion and a second, then it's up for consideration and you can make amendments to it before you vote on it.

There could be several things that you want to discuss, or it could be just that one you're talking about right now. I'll make that motion. Okay.

I'll second that.

All right. We have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion, Dave?

Just trying to figure out how this works. I know.

Now we can talk about it. Now it's just a procedural move. At this point, like I said, if you want to make a change like that or any other changes, you can propose amendments and the council can vote on whether to make those amendments.

I apologize. We have a motion and a second, but we haven't voted on it.

Right, because it's under discussion. So if he's going to make an amendment, now would be the time to make the amendment before you vote.

I guess one of the questions I have is, if you don't have a CVI, there are certain things that you can't do, correct? So my comment is, if in this case Cooper, it's a specialty, if we don't have it, does the pool stay open or does it shut down because we don't have the certification?

Well, we would outsource that job. we'd have to have somebody from outside perform that function. Yeah, like Mark Hayden.

Thank you.

Now, is it appropriate to ask for the amendment to the ordinance?

Yes, you can make a motion to amend the ordinance to change that stipend to whatever you feel is appropriate.

And if there are other items, do we need to do that all at the same time?

You could do all at the same time or you can do multiple amendments.

I'll just do the one I suggested then. So I make a motion that we increase the stipend for the certified pool of spa operator to $0.50 an hour.

It's an amendment to that. Yes, that would be an amendment to the ordinance and we have a second.

Okay, is there any other further discussion on any other items on there?

Okay, so you have a motion and a second for an amendment on the table. If you call the question, the vote will be whether to make the amendment that Dave has suggested.

Any further discussion on that matter? Hearing none, roll call vote, please.

On the amendments. Cole?

Yes.

Ecker?

Yes.

Crabwell? Yes. Long and Ecker? Yes. Miller? Yes. Morrow? Yes. Starr? Yes.

Okay. So that amendment is approved. You can propose other amendments or have any other discussion.

Okay, we have a motion and a second. We have an amended motion and a second. Is there any other? Last call. Okay. And then roll call vote, please.

This is to pass the ordinance with the amendments.

Yes.

Call. Yes. Becker.

Yes.

Brackwell. Yes. Morgan Ecker.

Yes.

Milner. Yes. Morrow.

Yes.

Star, yes.

Okay, the next ordinance for you is ordinance number 2026 dash 2265, an ordinance to amend the code of ordinances of the city of Plymouth concerning the aviation rotary fund. So we've had some. Discussions recently, because the Plymouth airport is saying much more fuel than in previous years. Bill is. I think out there pumping fuel pretty much constantly just to keep up with demand, but that's created a cash flow problem for the refund that he needs to purchase the fuel. And in investigating this and figuring out how to fix that problem, we discovered that the ordinance dating back to 1998 does not match the state statute for how to calculate reserves in the rotary fund. Also that the clerk treasurer inherited a spreadsheet that had an incorrect formula in it. So she's fixed the formula and this ordinance will correct the city ordinance to the part of the statute. And hopefully going forward, Bill won't be in the same crunch that he's been in.

Make a motion we pass ordinance number 20262265.

Okay, we have a motion in a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor will say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed, nay.

Good.

So that was second reading. You need a third reading now.

Motion to pass ordinance 2026-2265 on third reading.

Second. A motion and a second. Any further discussion? All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed, nay.

Good, and the next 1 is on summer 2026 dash 2266, an ordinance fixing salaries for the year 2027 for the elected officials of the city of Plymouth, Indiana.

I'll make a motion will be. Organs number 2026 that 22.

2nd, a motion in a 2nd, any further discussion. Hearing none, all in favor will say aye. Aye. Those opposed, nay. Thank you. That was your second reading and that requires a third.

Sorry. Make a motion we pass ordinance 2026-2266 on third reading.

Second.

Motion and a second.

Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor will say aye. Aye. Those opposed, nay. Okay.

And I don't know if there's any other new business or if we're ready to move down to the resolution. The next item is resolution number 2026-1208, a resolution of the City of Plymouth confirming the adoption of a declaratory resolution designating certain real estate to be within an economic revitalization area for purposes of personal property tax abatement pursuant to Indiana Code 6-1.1-12.1, etc. This is the tax abatement for AK Industries.

I'll make a motion we pass resolution 2026-1208. Second.

We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Those opposed, nay.

Thank you.

Okay.

I do not have a 1 Marshall county update for you. Nothing new to report since your last meeting and Ty did not give me any information to report for the comprehensive plan update. So I don't have that either. That's all.

Thank you perfectly to the floor. Anybody else have anything this evening. Okay, then number 8 acceptance of communications.

If you accept the communications and.

Hey, we have motion in a 2nd, any further discussion. Hearing none all in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed nay.