Town Council - Regular Meeting

Ice to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Call to order the meeting of the town council. December 2nd, 2025 town council meeting minutes. Are there any questions or changes? I make a motion to approve the minutes as written. I'll second. All those in favor say I. I. All oppose. Ron Volunteer Fire Department. Balls in your court. [laughter] Thanks.

So, we we met with the fire department last week and kind of went over our draft of the contract and I think for the most part the department's okay with everything. They did ask if we would be amendable to putting a cap on their out of pocket for maintenance of the building for the year. Um, personally, I don't think that's a badass cut. Um, and I think we talked that in the past few years it's been for the most part under $1,000 a year um, total. And we're asking them to pay a,000 per occurrence, but they would like to say there's a an out of pocket max on that. Um, I don't know. We can talk about what that figure would be, but I don't think it's unreasonable to say, you know, especially the first year we're doing it to say we're going to ease into this. This is the most you're going to pay. I don't know what you guys' thoughts are on that, but

that's has there been a dollar amount that the cap would be? I'll let you guys know. We have discussed that. Okay.

And we we we threw the option of you know thousand couple thou up to 3,000 maybe max. Um but I mean obviously that's your guys's decision. I I you know realistically we'd like to have none but we understand. So, I mean, you know what, uh, historically, if the figures of what's been paid, I mean, obviously, that's not going to be a huge issue. You know, it's just what we're concerned of is if what if this is the year that there's a a bunch of stuff that happens, you know, um, and so if it's all, you know, if there's 10 different things that happen, they're each under $1,000, you know, real, I mean, realistically, that's probably not going to happen. But I mean, you know, we just that's a big gray area that's concerned. You know, with us already being, you know, in the red, we didn't want to set ourselves back any further. So, or as little as possible, but we're willing to be team players and help out where we can.

That number threw out. I was going to throw out 5,000. I throw out two. I'm comfortable with five. I was going to meet in the middle. He said three. You said five. I was going to go four. So [laughter] So we got two. We got two, four, and two at five. That's what it sounds like. Three and a half. Wouldn't be better. That's kind of a three and a half. Uhhuh. What's that? 3500. Might be okay with that. I I don't think you're going to hit that anyway, but I don't think so either, but it just gives us a cushion.

Yeah, I'm okay with All right, I will make a motion. Is that Is that all we want changed in the contract, but I just want to make sure that's the discussions that we agree on. We just that there just a little bit of clarification on the reporting yet, which I'm hoping to get that answer tomorrow. So I for everything I'm seeing, we're giving them everything that that code has. It's just something that has to be on the contract now because it's retired. So as long as Yeah. Yeah. And but a township emailed me today. Cara did and she said that what she was at a meeting and what the state was telling them is it's new stuff that we're not reporting. But I read the code and it's everything is in our report. So

it's new reporting in terms of being required. So maybe you guys are already doing that. Correct. We don't know. But I'm going to get final word. That way we make sure that you guys aren't, you know, on the hook for anything. Make sure you as far as actual report. I don't I don't think so. Yeah. Just make sure it gets done. So, okay. And then did you get a chance to talk to Dan about the other reporting the reporting that comes to us where we were saying, you know, like the quarter one last year was great and then it kind of fell off after that in passing. But, uh, Brian or Brian can speak for that too. We're going to that's going to be in the board meeting when official meeting that will be taken care of. Okay. Will we get the second, third, and fourth quarters? Yeah. Yeah, we can we can do that. Get everything caught up. Okay.

All right. I am going to make a motion to approve the Ronaldo Volunteer Fire Department 2026 contract for fire service with the addition of adding the $3,500 max for the year. I'll second that. All those in favor say I. I. All opposed. Thank you. Citizens comments, [laughter]

park department, police department. Well, I put the on Facebook that we're looking for a uh officer and I've gotten two applications. I've sent out four emails and I put the we're accepting applications till the 14th of Jan or 15th of January. Um, I guess sounds like we don't have a large pool of applicants at this point. Nope. [clears throat] Could it be tied to the fact that our pay is too low? It's exactly pay tied to the pay being too low.

Is it just that or were casting the net to recruit people if we only posted on Facebook? It's the pay. It's the I can tell you right now. It's the pay. Where else is it? I warned you. Where else is it posted? It's on Facebook and people have posted it or re reposted it retiring right now 64,000. That's what I was going to say. I seen that posted right after Ronup. So that's obviously it's just regular not counting shift differential and stuff like that.

Fort Wayne's hiring in 70 starting at 70. I mean everybody's hiring right. So I would also encourage to post other places besides Facebook whether it's whether it's LinkedIn jobs indeed there's other recruiting sites that we is there the ability to get more money to put towards a starting um yes there is Ryan you want to talk about your meeting this past week if if we look at what the marshall current Marshall is making and what our deputy marshall is making

and we're going to be lower next year. I don't know. We haven't made a decision on the town marshall pay and all that stuff, but when you add those two figures, we haven't. No, no, that got removed from the ordinance today. Okay. Nick mentioned it last. So, you'll have to change them because you mentioned at the last meeting, I think. Yeah. Well, we did a range, right? We did a range for the new deputy, but we didn't we specified salary. Anyway, if you take those two figures and add it together and we're doing less for both next year, we have a difference.

So, I don't know how we're lacking funds to pay to get a deputy marshal in here. That is we're not going to get a good deputy marshal at the pay we're offering. It's not going to happen. I know we had discussions about this. I've warned you that this was going to happen. The applicants that we've gotten in are not good. I mean, I know for we know for a fact one's a felon. We're not going to get the quality that we need to get. We're definitely not going to get the quality if we only post on Facebook for an employee. I don't care where we post. I'm just I'm telling you, the county is hiring starting 64,000.

Fort Wayne 70ome,000. And I understand that those communities have more money, the county and stuff. Marco just hired one at 59,000. Marco just hired. I mean, we're not going to get the quality. One thing I do want to say, we want our town protected. One thing I don't want to happen is to increase pay of one department at the expense of another with benefits because that will probably ultimately be what happens. That's and then Brian probably needs to see the meeting that we were at this week. The warm meeting.

Yeah. So I I once a quarter all the towns get together. Um it's called warm and uh we had a representative from AIM which and he was former mayor of rights.

Warsaw I'm sorry Warsaw. And uh so he was it's a lot to take in and he was we were supposed to get emailed that PowerPoint and I have not seen that yet. I don't know if he either but uh in 2028 it looks like is when it's really going to hit the hardest. Um and the what the legislator said was that our income from property taxes is going to go down, but they're thinking they can offset it with an increase income tax. But he admitted that the increase isn't even going to come close to what we're losing in property taxes. But then they also said that there were three levels of this. Um the first level is a town that's mostly residential and that's like their 1% figure. Then there was one that had more industrial and then there's a town like Warsaw that's heavy industrial. They're going to be in the 3% bracket. So they're going to get hit way harder in their income. So, that helps us a little bit that we're going to get the smallest hit of the three, but it's still going to be a hit. Um, but saying all that, I agree with Mandy. Um, you know, even I was thinking if we bumped it to 55 for a deputy, which is still below what we're paying right now. Um, we're still lower than every other department that you guys mentioned. I still I don't even know if that's going to be enough. But um and I look at and I don't I know this is going public but and I don't want to slam on Andrews but how do they have the money to pay more than we're paying a police department? You know they have two businesses in Andrews. Where does all their revenue come?

No idea. Unless it's coming from like Marco. I think we talked about how you were wanting to know how they afford three and she said well for this year they're using LIP. So we could use slip funds until they run out. Right. Not knowing what's going to happen in 2028. I mean, there's just no guarantee. That's an option. So, I guess what is the question tonight? Are you asking should we raise the range? Is that what the question is tonight? I think so. Yeah. And it's currently posted what 45 to 53. Yes. So maybe 45 to 55

because if they had no academy, how do we justify paying them the same that we would pay? How much is higher? You said 59 59 59's Marl. Sorry. I think Warren's I think Warren's the only department that's less less that accurate. They are less now because a new guy just started but before Jason left they were hiring. I think I think they hired their new guy at 50 with no. Yeah. Well, that's another salary, but yeah, I think they hired him at 50 with no academy. What was your comment, [clears throat] sir? I'll show you.

Well, my my concern is we just have not gotten a very large applicant pool to be able to make an informed decision. Are you handing out the same applications that I am? Yes, except mine. I had two people come in last week and ask and I didn't know if either of those had turned it in, but No, we got two applications. [clears throat] Do I have a motion to change it? Yeah, I'll make that motion. I'll second it. All those in favor say I. 45 to 55. Yeah. All those in favor say I. I. I all oppose.

Do you have anything else, Jim? No. Thank you. Uh, superintendent of operations.

Uh, just a couple updates. Had a meeting with IDM last week on number two. They're receptive to the degree pile stating. Um, they want us to prove what's in it. So, that has been proven once, but we'll have to do it again. Um, in talking tome, they want to try to see if we can coax them into allowing us to leave what's underneath the debris pile. So, we're going to take some geo samples and see what those come back at. Um, so that requires doing that stuff in the next 45 days. Uh, and by doing that, that saves us millions of dollars.

Very possible. [clears throat] Um the lift station, the control panel is in. Uh API is off the next two weeks, so they will start in January getting that in and trying to fence the product up. Um and then I got a call from INDOT last week about the community crossings that we didn't get, but we are on a short list. um if some funds aren't claimed or the bids come in a lot lower than what was awarded um they will want that list to get funding. So they want us to go ahead and bid it out as soon as possible. Did they tell you how short the list is? No. But if they're making that call and asking them to bid it.

So they want [clears throat] us to bid it out as soon as possible. So we're looking at probably February announcing that getting bids out. So Awesome. So, we bid it but don't get those funds for some reason. They're not tied to awarding. No, but that'll be a stipulation and USI knows that, right? Okay. That's all. Nothing.

I'm sorry. I did have something. Sorry. So, um, just our commissioners, two of our commissioners, especially Commissioner Rob Miller, help facilitate a meeting with members of our team, and I'll let them elaborate on the content if they choose to, um, with the commissioners with two of the commissioners and our county surveyor to see if we can try to come to some type of consensus on our pedestrian bridge that the drainage board would like removed. I don't think there was very much movement on that, but I wanted to uh publicly thank our commissioners for trying to get that together. And I still encourage Thursday morning for anyone in the town of Ron Oak that wants to keep that pedestrian bridge show up at the drainage board meeting. And it is my hope that just because someone can do something doesn't mean they should do something. And until someone for me personally explains why we need to remove the bridge that it's more than just because it's a foot and a half shorter that there's actual hydraulics or analysis something scientific and fact driven by someone who is licensed to tell me that

I do [clears throat] not support their removal. That's it. Thank you. So, at that meeting last night, um I am very discouraged because we were basically told that it doesn't they don't have to give us a reason. It's in the floodway. Um we have to raise it. Um we were also told that if we don't come with a plan for an alternative other than removing it that we will not win and that they will vote and we will have to remove it. And again, that's being led by a surveyor who is not a licensed surveyor, who's not a hydraologist, who's not an engineer, and has done no one analysis.

Was the exact words of Tom Wall, a county commissioner, that did not come out of Jerry knee's mouth, right? But he's the catalyst behind it. And while Tom is on the drainage board too and and Tom was the one that said if we do not come to them with an alternative plan meaning that we will raise it that's basically if we have come with a plan to raise it where it needs to be based on the floodway and DNR and they threw a lot of stuff in our face last night. Do they actually show code where DNR requires it to be lifted because of where it's located at elevation? So my my other question would be if we didn't have the other two foot bridges, would they be making us take this bridge out?

And also Mandy did bring up about the surveys and the hydraology studies and uh Tom flat out told us they're not required to give us any of that. Yeah. Just because you're not required doesn't mean you should I 100% agree with you. I and I think it's a very poor um assessment and and not very good for the town of Real Oak when things are done like that. I agree. I just if I think we're going to have to get attorneys involved. It's going to it's it it's going to turn dirty. But at what cost? That's what I'm saying. I mean, we're I just

I left, like I said, I left so depleted last night. Um I just I just don't think we're going to win. [clears throat] Did they give a time frame for when we have to present this plan? Thursday. Thursday. Well, I as I understood it, what they said was that if we wanted to raise it and ask for more time to get the whole plan put together, they would give us the extra time. But they also told us that they had looked at raising it and they felt that it was not economically feasible because the age of the bridge that it's all I thought we thought about what we read last last month that it said it couldn't be raised.

Well, so this is one of my frustrations because the story changes every I'm almost positive I I mean I'd like to find that but I'm almost positive what we read last month said it couldn't be raised, right? It does change and that's what that's the sense of frustration that if it if I could see in statute or DNR where it shows in a floodway at this elevation it should be removed I would feel differently. I have not seen that, right? And I've seen nothing that shows that it's been hinderance other than someone saying in 2015 and 2017 debris got stopped on the bridge. But then I would say, what kind of flood year did we have then, right?

That was like a hundredyear flood. That's not every day and not a reason to remove that bridge because if it got caught on that bridge, it got caught on the other bridges, yeah, we had like 5 in of rain in an hour at that flood. Everything's kind of flooding. I removed things off of the state highway 24th bridge that were caught up. I mean, the flood was huge. Don't you never build a bridge high enough, I guess. I mean, unless it's, you know, astronomical. Don't be wrong. Now, now you're you're saying how Exactly. The Baltimore Bridge wasn't high enough. Exactly. [laughter] If you want to go there.

Yeah. Just to throw something out there, I know it doesn't mean nothing, but other than years ago when I was on the park board, we were trying to do a a project at the park. went to the surveyor's office, a different surveyor at the time. Um, but he told me that he had no say down there that because it's a flood plane that we had to go through DNR or whoever it was probably FEMA. That's Yeah, through FEMA to get But that was like months worth of or maybe like almost a year's worth studying all this stuff. So, I would just dropped it. But that So, it's funny now that now they can say. So, that's what they said last night that we'd have to get to DNR. [clears throat] Mhm. It would take months. Yeah. Yeah, that's what they flood plan was going to take forever and we just got dropped it, but they had no control.

So, do you think that that was scare tactic to just get us to Oh, absolutely. Well, that's what's going on. But also, as Nick said, and I agree with this totally, if we hadn't put those two bridges in, that corner bridge was a standard and it was fine except for 100year flood. So, obviously, you don't want to put in a bridge lower than that because that will restrict that flow. So we put in bridges higher. Now apparently we've changed the standard because of the higher bridges and the bridge that was fine before isn't fine anymore because we have higher bridges. I guess my question would be too what did it flood other than the park? That's I mean which is designed.

Correct. I mean it really upset me that year cuz we put all brand new dirt on the diamonds and it all washed away. But you know I mean that's that's what that's designed for. I don't know of any houses downstream, upstream I should say, they got flooded because of that. I mean I mean some businesses got flooded downtown in that flood but that was a that was a different tree. So that was a dumpster [laughter] blocked up. And Brandon, what you're talking about, that's when they were going to approve Polar Avenue's bridge and that's when DNR got involved and all they were going to do was improve the bridge

and DNR got had to be involved in it. Also, I just I remember a year or two ago, didn't um Pipen County have an engineer come and look at all the bridges in the county? Well, those are those are those are main bridges, not pedestrian bridges. They do countywide inspe bridges, not the pedestrian. Okay. They're required to do countywide bridge inspections, but they told us they didn't want to pull it away. And that's why they're saying that we have to pay 100% of this one because it's on private property. It's not a county bridge. It's our bridge, right? Yeah. Cuz when I asked Jerry [clears throat] Yeah.

why it was decided the town would pay for it. Um I got the codes thrown at me. Well, I guess No, I mean like literally thrown at me. He threw the paper at me. It was not a public meeting. That's right. I guess we wait to see what happens on Thursday and then we I guess my question what our course of action needs to be. My question to the drainage board would be I know the way it works out in the county um they pay taxes property owners pay taxes into the drainage board to handle certain items a ditch being or yeah ditch being dredged creek stuff like that is their tax money that we're all paying towards that creek you know what I mean that they have

that they have you know that's what they the surveyor that the drains board gets that tax money and controls that so why are they making the town [clears throat] They wouldn't cuz they're saying the bridge is what's impeding and the bridge is private property. It's not theirs. It's not theirs. So for them if it was an improvement to the actual ditch, whatever. Well, ask them to lower the ditch a foot and a half. That might make sense. In our objection letter, we did include questions of what other alternatives have been looked at to which we've received no answer. To which when we look at maintenance records, it sounds like we're not going to. Yeah. So unless you want it, if you want it removed, don't show up. If my understanding is that we file an appeal letter,

they make a decision on Thursday. I think it's final. That's my understand if they make a decision the decision the hearing after Thursday's hearing. You can file an appeal from the hearing, but that's when attorneys get involved and it's more money throwing at something. You can't do it. I guess let's find out what happens Thursday and then we can determine our course of action. That's what time. Yeah. 9:45. 45 at the court at the courthouse. 306 correct 206 206 [clears throat] and I guess the biggest was I I wanted to thank Rob if you don't mind Rob at least helped set that up. So I'd be willing [clears throat] to ask those questions same questions I spoke here if that's okay.

Absolutely. I mean the more support we have the the better. I mean there's got to be some reason why that they're wanting that removed. Yeah.

Um, while we're talking about that, um, it was brought up during that meeting that our meeting minutes in August were incorrect and I did follow or follow, excuse me, I did watch the YouTube video of our recording and they and they were correct. It was wrong. So we need to remove the statement um where Jerry mentioned Phil Hibert and we are going to replace it with Huntington County surveyor Jerry Hannah informed council that the drainage board drainage board discussed removing the bridge on 104 2018. So those meeting notes will need to be updated.

Okay. Thanks, Anisha. Councilman Terry, Councilman Brian Humphre. Um, as far as items of business, you guys stole all my thunder, but u I do want to reiterate again as last year how much I appreciate this council. This has been a difficult year. Um, we've made a lot of tough decisions. Um, and we haven't seen eye to eye on everything, but I don't think we should. Um, that's why we elect five instead of one person. Um, but I think everybody treats each other with respect and that's rare in politics anymore and I just want [clears throat] to thank you all for that. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

And that's all I have. Vice President I have is I'm going to piggy back on that and and the employees uh that help make this town what it is. It's because of you guys. uh we're just up here making decisions, but you guys know what you're doing in the day-to-day operations and it doesn't go unnoticed, that's for sure. So, thank you for what you guys are doing for us. That's all I have. Thank you.

All right. Um next on the agenda is the ordinances for the um salary for employees and for the elected officials. Um this these amounts were discussed at the last meeting. So, we just have to vote on the ordinance. So, I just need a motion and a second. I'll make a motion to approve ordinance 202509 salary for elected officials as written. I'll second that. All those in favor say I. I. All opposed. I'll make a motion to approve ordinance 20250 salary for employees as written.

I'll second that. All those in favor say I. I. All opposed. All right. Um, next on our agenda is we had new focus HR um go through our employee handbook and make updates, make sure we're compliant with state and federal law. Um, Sarah provided us a copy with the of the handbook. Um, are there any questions or anything that needs to be discussed?

No, [laughter] we're not talking all the time. No, I have nothing. So, and just so everyone knows, this brings us up to compliance. Correct. All the rules. First time ever probably. Yeah. Um, I will make a motion to approve the new employee handbook. [clears throat] No second. All those in favor say I.

All opposed. All right. And in addition to the employee handbook, um, New Focus HR has an annual maintenance program that you pay $150 for. And what they do is they will make changes and they will keep us compliant. with state and federal law as changes occur. Um, so I would like to um it also includes any changes that you guys want to make. Oh. Um, so there's no additional fee if you ever want to make changes.

And so I feel as though it's important to have that so that we are compliant and continue to stay compliant since we haven't been compliant for a long time. So, I am going to make a motion to u move forward with new focus HR's annual maintenance fee of $150 per year. I'll second. All those in favor say I. All opposed. That's all I have. Sarah. Okay. Town council meetings for 2026. Um give you a list. 6 o'clock on the first Tuesday of each month except there's two in December, the 1st and third week. and I just need you to approve those so I can advertise those in the newspaper.

I'll make a motion to approve the scheduled town council meeting the town council meeting times for 2026. Second. All those in favor say I. I. All opposed. And then my annual ask of transfer accounts in the red. So any amounts that we would have gone over that are in the same category as another one that we've been under um I can transfer those but I just have to have council submission and then I will submit you a list of those that were over and under and where they came out of um in January. So I just need a motion for that. I'll make a motion to move forward transferring your accounts from the right. I'll second that. All those in favor say I.

I. All opposed. Also an annual ask is the TRX registration form that allows the attorneys to file against um pass through utilities. Um this is for uh Mandy to sign. Um just authorizing the attorneys to do that. I'll make that motion to approve the annual checks registration form. I'll second that as well. All those in favor say I. All opposed.

Next is the methodism policy. Um, it is required for all elected officials to sign a methodism policy annually. I've given you each one. I just need that a copy of that back completed prior to January 1st. And then the next thing that I have is defate bank. Um, we have three CDs that we had 4.5 interest on for 6 months. Um, that did come to an end and so I reached out to her federal who gave us 3.65% and Business offered 4.2. 125. So Randy and I both went to the bank and or maybe did online and signed for those um three different CDs. One for water, general, and then sewer. And also um I am going to create an investment ordinance. Um it's recommended by state board of accounts to have an investment ordinance um that allows us to do this a little more freely.

And when you said you went to bank, you went to Baptist or stay. Correct. Sorry. Yes. Yes. instead of saying we're done. Stay up. Okay. So, I just want to let you guys know that. Okay.

And then the last thing that I have is I put a a form up there for you for range electric. It's a quote. Um it just has some information on the park project, the lighting project that uh you guys approved. Um for the small and large diamond, the total amount was 62,830. And then uh Dave Misler, the park president asked for an additional 255346 December 2nd, which is a total of 65,38346. However, that project is not complete yet. And so what's been paid out is 40,8336, which will be paid today um after you approve it. Um but what I'm asking is to take the $24,58010 and convert that into 2026 so that it doesn't out of their uh park budget. It will we have 75,000 per projects next year and and Dave's concerned that taking $24,000 would be a lot. So, I'm just asking permission to be able to do that.

I make a motion to encumber $24,58010. All those in favor say I. I. and all of those. And that's all I have. Any old business presentation of bills and utility adjustments? I'll make a motion to approve um the bills and utility adjustments as presented. I'll second. All those in favor say I. I. All oppose. I will motion to adjourn the meeting. I'll second. All those in favor say I. I.