Town Council - Regular Meeting

of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Call to order the meeting of the Rono Town Council, February 3rd, town council meeting minutes. Any questions for Sarah or changes? I'll make a motion to approve. I'll second. All those in favor say I. I. All opposed. The February 19th town council special meeting minutes. I'll make a motion to approve those minutes as written. I'll second. All those in favor say I. I. All opposed.

Technically abstaining. And then March 2nd um town council executive session meeting minutes. I will approve those as written. I'll second. All those in favor say I. I. All opposed. All right. Lock.

Yeah. Just wanted to provide everyone with an update on the water treatment plant project. Uh we got our geotechnical report back and unfortunately we didn't get great news on that. Um the site um um is built on fill material which causes an issue with the size of the SPR and how heavy it is. So we looked into a couple different options, the cheapest of which is what's called geop. And so what they'll do is they'll put this this tube in the ground and literally shove rocks into the ground in order to firm it up and to create a stronger soil that'll be underneath the SVR tanks. Um, at the moment it's looking that like that might be in the neighborhood of about $200,000. We don't know exactly, but that's what we're we're currently ballparking as that. We had some contingency that was greater than that. So, our hope is that overall by the time we get to the final design, that we're not increasing the budget overall, that we're still able to kind of keep bringing it down. But, just wanted to fill you all in on that. Other than that, we've continued to meet with Aaron to talk through the UV systems, all the SPR systems, the the screening systems. Um, we're getting all of those finalized and, uh, their location set on the site. Um, once we have all of that, um, we'll be able to have a a better 90% set that we'll be able to bring to the council and go from there. Um, additionally, we've been working with uh Tanisha to start the preparation of a presentation uh to the ready group um that apparently there is good news that we are still up for consideration um for their grant proposals. And so we started that presentation. We don't have anything for you tonight, but once we have something, we'll work through Aaron and get to you guys um for your guys' review and and obviously approval when we go ahead and give that presentation. So, um, that's really the only update I have for

tonight, but if there's any other questions, I'd be happy to to answer them and and based on their feedback, you may see a presentation after each presenter because they get they emailed yesterday, they want us to present next Tuesday. So, it's a quick turnaround, but we're hopeful that there's still fun thing available. Yeah. Yeah. So, we've got like we got that we've got the rough draft started and once we get that I I should be able to get it to Aaron before obviously we'll get it disseminated to you guys and if there's any comments or questions or concerns we can address those before the meeting when we present that. So, thank you everyone for your time. Thank you. All right. Citizens comments.

Any questions, concerns? Comments? on just that particular anything. Okay. And before you speak, if you don't mind saying your name and where you live in town, please.

Uh Jim Hipper, live in Frederick on Frederick Crossing in North Village. and uh you know they've been doing the highspeed internet cable installation and stuff and digging here and there. Uh I'm sure that ground's going to settle, you know, over time where they've dug down and where they planted or grow grass seed and straw or whatever. Um, if that does settle and need to be filled a little bit, is who is responsible for that?

They are. There's I put I don't know if copies are out. I didn't make that many, but I put a contact list for utilities one and Frontier. Okay. All right. also where they bored under uh Branson. Uh now there's a couple humps. I don't know if you're aware of that. I I lost the complaint on Friday. Okay. So, all right. And then also, why does the street lights not work down a pain and vine?

The bulbs are out. We don't have anything to get up there and change them. Um, they're not RMC poles. So, it's finding somebody with a bucket truck to get up there and change walls. I mean, it's been several years. Mhm. They are going to get replaced next year. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Through HST ramp. We don't We don't have any equipment to get up there. Chairman, most of the other street lights RMC maintains. Those those two they don't. all the questions I have. Any other comments, questions?

Just to reiterate, this is the public comment section. If you have comments, anything to say anything across anything in court in town.

I just had a I thought it would be more appropriate to enter the meeting to mention about the bridge, but it went down the foot bridge which just came out last year last couple days. I went down to do that and talked to the excavator operator that took it down and he said uh it didn't take very much pressure. All he had to do was use fairly small excavator just talking about twoft bucket. All he had to do was to put the bucket right in the center of that bridge apply a little pressure and it came right down. And so I asked him, "How were the beams constructed?" There was two concrete high beams. And he said, "Well, there were three stranded cables in each beam. One the top, one in the center, and one the bottom." And of course, you know that in a beam, the center one's neutral. It doesn't have any tension or compression. Top is in compression. The bottom's in tension. The bottom is carrying the whole road and uh so uh for and the cables were just about like between half and 5/8 stranded steel cable. That's all that was holding that bridge in. So if you if you got a couple of dozen people on here weighing that average weight 150 pounds, it would have taken up this. So this might be a source of comfort for any road resident that asks why it came down. It's not in my mind's not so much clearance problem structural deficiency.

I know everybody felt bad over having to worry about a foot and a half, but I think nobody in Rowano would have technical information on those beams. I'm sure even the surveyor didn't know how they're constructed, but I think God did. Yeah, I think God. Well, thank you for that information. All right. Anyone else? All right. We'll move on then. Um, next on the agenda is the park department.

Uh, just a couple things just update the the council um presented to you. I can't remember maybe a few months ago the the five-year plan that the park board wants to do uh for the coming seasons. And um for uh the first couple uh items on that list, we uh we're looking at um getting a new entrance sign. Uh we're in the works with that uh with designs and and stuff like that. And then the second one was uh with putting in pickle ball courts. Um I posted on social media uh that uh we are trying for the grant that we uh applied for when we uh tried to get the uh new playground equipment. and that's through the uh Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority. Um again, it's the matching grant just like the last time. So, if we can raise $50,000, uh they will match that. Um and then obviously that will be $100,000 that we can put towards the pickle ball court. So, um it's been started uh last Friday, so it's um not even a week yet. So, we've had a few donations and then I found out uh yesterday I got a call from Bate Bank saying they want to help and donate. So, they said they would like to donate $10,000 towards that project.

Nice. So, uh obviously we're getting a pretty good start on that, which uh I'm really surprised at that. So, hopefully by the um end of the uh term or contract with that, it's a 60-day um contractor commitment for that. So, hopefully before that time, we'll be able to raise that money and get that matching grant. But uh and then last thing, the the park board will meet next Tuesday around 6:30 here at the town hall. And uh if you guys have any questions for me, Dave, have you got an estimate at all about how much the pickle ball courts are going to cost?

If depending on Yeah. If we get everything with the grain and everything, um it'd be roughly about $120,000. Um obviously, if we don't get that, we'll we'll still get it done, but we'll have to do it in stages. Okay. Thank you. Mhm. Thank you. I have a quick question. I'm late to the show, but where are the location going to be? Um I'm not from if you're not familiar where the old volleyball court next. It's just uh west of the tennis courts. Okay. So, not too far. Yeah. Thanks, Dave. Thank you. Police department. Nothing.

All right. Superintendent of operations. Nothing probably. Wait a minute. Yeah. Okay. The first thing is resolution 2026-01. That is to for the town to be able to sell the 2013 F250. It needs approval. I'll make a motion to approve resolution 20261. I assume you're using the government bid site or something like that. Yes. All those in favor say I. I. All opposed.

Uh the next thing I have is a quote for a pilot program from utility supply. Um I had a conversation with you guys last year about our water meters. Um we don't have the support that we did. They switched hands as far as the distributor meters we used are being phased out. The way we read the meters are being phased out. So, it's time to look for a replacement. Uh, this pilot program will give us 8 meters. Um, we'll test them out. They're cellular read. So, all the information will come to an app on phone or computer. Um, so we want to test those out and see how we like them and see if we can start replacing the meters with those.

So, with that, you won't need to drive by the house. Won't need to drive by the houses. Won't need to go get read when somebody moves out or fill the pool. It can all be done. And that's what's being used across honey counting other towns. Correct. Every other town in the county uses that 2 meters. So what would be the cost to do I mean just say you're doing all of them. What what cost would you be looking at?

There's just over 400 I think 400,000 to do all of them at one time. But with this cellular we don't have to do it all at one time. We can slowly just start replacing them. So, as they start as they start failing, those are the ones you can start facing. Yeah, we we've got a list that, you know, some have problems now, so those the initial rate there's no cost. It's $2,000. 2,000. Okay. And that's what you need the motion for.

We have a water bat reserve fund that we transfer money into. And I would suggest using that fund for this project. the the start out. Yes.

And I'll make a motion to approve the water debt fund to be used to start um that $2,000 process for getting those eight meters. I'll second that. All those in favor say I. I. All opposed. Um and then I have annually we have to update the uh waters emergency response plan. Other than dates, nothing has changed from the previous two years. So it just needs a motion of approval for the emergency response plan. I'll make a motion to approve the emergency response plan for 2026. Second. All those in favor say I.

I. All opposed. our skid loader. Um, in the early 2000s, a brand new skid loader was bought. We were in a a program where for $2,500 a year, they brought us one every year. We're no longer honoring that. Um, but they did agree to give us a 60-month warranty on one behalf for $2,500 total for the 60 months. Total for the 60 months. So, I'm looking for approval for that. Make a motion to approve the Bobcat warranty in the amount of $2,500. I'll second. All those in favor say I.

I. All opposed. Uh spring cleanup. Last two years. We've done it in the middle of the week or the week after um the town wide garage sales seems to have worked very well. Um let's see if you guys are okay to continue that for this year. What day is that? And you do regular like that's regular and electronic I think in the Yes. So Omnis sources bring some bins for electronics as well but not hazardous correct no hazardous correct.

So you need to approve the date. Yes. I'll make a motion to uh to set the spring clean up, I guess, our cleanup in town date of May 13th from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm. So second. All those in favor say I. I. All opposed. Uh then we have water main extension agreement blocker. You guys want to explain that since you're still here?

Yeah. So, uh, we have a proposal, uh, for you today of just under, uh, $60,000 to do a next phase of a water mane extension on the east side of US 24 up from the Dollar General up towards uh, the saloon and and to the corner of um, uh, 24 and uh,00 900. Yes.

Um, we don't have an exact uh, path set yet. We've been working with Aaron to try to determine that. But we think no matter what path we choose that this this U proposal is good for. One thing we didn't include in this proposal after discussion with Aaron was the creation of the easement documentation because we don't know yet how many easements we're going to need. And so once we have that final number locked in, we'd be able to give you guys a better price and and have some more um have our number better locked in in terms of what we would actually need to do based on how many easements there are. Um so this would be the tomographic survey, the design phase, um bidding, construction administration to watch over um and check in with whoever ends up doing the work. Um everything throughout all of that. Um it is uh I apologize here 48,700 of that is uh lump sum and then 11,000 of that is hourly rate the bidding and the the the uh construction administration is on an hourly rate. Um just that way if we don't spend as much time we don't charge you guys that full amount. So um that's the proposal. Like I said, we're working with Aaron to try and lock in the actual location and once we have that, we'll be able to to kind of get going on this. So, if you have any questions, we'd be happy to answer those. This will not only, you know, give access to water for the businesses over there, but also fire protection and the ability for future development.

Questions? Sarah, where the funds come from? You tell me um what do we talk about water operating? I mean I think for right now this portion of it could just come from the water but like when we actually do the project then we'll have to look and see if that's the best option. Like I said we do have that water reserve fund that it may not cover the entire thing. Um nor do we want to drain that account but definitely to look at that too. But for this phase of it, we should be okay with that water. Yeah.

And I would make that motion to go ahead and proceed with that. I'll second that. All those in favor say I. I. All opposed. That's all I have.

Thank you, Councilwoman Tanisha. Other than just really important uh thank Mueller for their help in pursuing the funding from the ready 2.0 grant. We've really stayed after this andounded it. Also, Commissioner Rob Miller has been he's gone to meetings with us and been engaged to kind of help leverage the county support to get what could be, you know, two plus million dollars to help offset the wastewater treatment plant. So we those of you who've been here for multiple meetings know I've been pretty dogged about it and as council we've been after it pretty hard. So just thanks everyone who's kind of hung in there still bearing. Thanks.

Counciloman Terry Edmonson to say, Council Member Brian Humphre.

I think the only thing I have I just like to reiterate I many of you might have saw it. I made a post on the discover Rono um page, no, the Ronach Indian hometown happening page about the bridge. And I tried to be clear in that post that what I was saying was not representative of this council. Um, that was me as a resident. Sometimes we forget that the five of us live in this town and things that happen here affect us just like you. And uh, I also wanted it to be very clear that that was not our decision to pull that bridge out of there. Um, and um, you know, I tried to keep my comments such that it was minimally offensive to a number of people, but uh, I just that was not directed by the council that was not cooperation of the council. That was just me as president.

That's all I have. Thanks, Vice President Nick. One thing I'd like to do is publicly u give a shout out to Aaron and his crew um as we hopefully are ending our winter season. Don't say that. They they have done a phenomenal job with the the streets and getting them cleared and and safe for for passing and stuff. So, fantastic job with all that. You saw March Mad. We're good. Says we're good. Sexual is weak. There's no You can't get You can't get salt anyhow. So, we're good. You can't get salt. We're good. So, but no, great job with the crew and staying after that. Do a great job.

Thanks. All right. I have two things to go over. Um, last month we were presented with multiple mowing bids for Ron Park. Um, I'm hoping everyone had time to review. Um, we need to have some discussion and make a decision tonight. Um, mowing season is upon us. So, therefore, the snow is gone.

So, I didn't know if anyone had any comments or discussion or if anyone wanted to make a motion. I know one of the bids that we had received was from Bob Thomas who has done a fantastic job for us the last several years and though it may not be the lowest bid, it's close. Um I would think that's where my vote would go. Is that a motion? Is that a motion? I'll make a motion to uh give the mowing bids to Bob Hermas for 550 um per mow and $1,000 per ditch cut.

I will second that motion. All those in favor say I.

I. All opposed. Um, next we received a draft um contract from Parkview EMS for the uh quarters that they use in the fire department building. Um, we're not going to vote on it tonight. I just want to make sure that everyone looks at it and within the next week or so um, email me with any concerns or changes. Park View is very cooperative. Um, they are very easy to work with. um willing to ma make changes that we see fit. So if everyone could get back with me and then I will get it over to them for them to finalize, we should have it back by the April

meeting for for the over at Old Town Hall.

Yeah, that's why I said the the EMT orders at the fire department. The only changes that I saw were our fuel box needs to be added and then something the state like if we were to sell the building or whatever that we could get out of the any other I agree with those as well as if anyone has anything else that they can think of when they're reading through the contract. It's actually very simple, easy to read contract. um just let me know and I'll get that back the changes back to them and they should have it back to us prior to the April meeting for everyone to look at again and then we will vote. Um that lease agreement will begin May 1st. That's all I have for treasurer ceremony. Um, the Ron Oak redevelopment commission met yesterday. Um, and we presented the tip annual report. I've provided that to you guys. I think Brian was the only one that wasn't here for that, but hopefully he had time to look at it. And I just need approval also from the council. I realize the roadal redevelopment is the same as the council, but we do still get it approved in our meeting minutes.

I make a motion to approve the road of redevelopment commission 2025 tiff annual report. I will second that. All those in favor say I. I. All opposed.

Uh the second thing I have is Metler insurance amendment. Um after he was here at the last meeting, um we noticed a couple of things that needed to uh values needed to be increased and so he has sent over an amendment. So um I sent that to you guys. The difference is $3,927 in addition to what we've already paid. So I just need approval for that. I will make a motion to approve the increase in of insurance in the amount of $3,927. I'll second. All those in favor say I. I.

All opposed. And the last thing that I do want to mention is um the town hall office will be closed March 27th through April 3rd. Um several of us will be on vacation. payments can still be dropped in uh through the box and we'll have envelopes outside. Um and then also they can also leave a message and we can call them back that go straight to our voicemails or emails. So just want to make mention that that will be closed. That's all I have.

Um any old business? Um presentation of bills and utility adjustments. I will make a motion to pay the bills and adjustments as presented. All those in favor say I. I. All opposed. I will make a motion to adjourn the meeting. Second. All those in favor say I. I. All oppose. Thank you.