Council - Regular Meeting

Alright, I won't make note. It appears that we're back live on the live stream, so apologies for anyone that was trying to watch on the live stream. We've had some issues there, but we are back live there. Alright, next item on the agenda is concerning the railroad. So attached is an agreement with the railroad. Some ongoing photos.

Of the railroad.

And then there's also some questions on what our next steps would be. I think the next step is sending a letter to the railroad. Is that right, Alyssa?

That's what he suggested.

So the attorneys.

Did you set out 80,000 foot?

I think that, and I think it's in there too, in the email. Also, John, pictures that we didn't take on East Washington, where the trees are like obstructing the road. I mean, basically, I know you've trimmed them down several times because they were hitting cars as they were driving by. We didn't get a picture of that in there, did we? No. But I noticed they're getting overgrown again to where they're... Yeah, I took a look at that. but you shouldn't have to be doing that. I guess I would say that they should be responsible for.

All right. The attorneys note is recommendation to provide formal written notice to the railroad requesting address the overgrowth and maintenance concerns. Utilizing these photos, he's standing by pending tonight's meeting, what our guidance is going to be. I think I'm in favor of sending a letter. I think we probably should have Alex draft the letter and send it.

Did you want to address anything about deeming these crossings out of service of school buses, gas tankers, don't have to stop, open doors? I think it's 20 years this year that they haven't had a break.

I'm okay with requesting that. I don't know. And I don't think it hurts to put it in his letter if they would be open to doing that. I think just whenever we send it back to Alex, if we want to put those problems in and just get his feedback on if it's something we can request.

Yeah.

I'm okay with that. Tim?

Have Alex draft a letter to the railroad?

Yeah, I would say just draft a letter to the railroad. And then if we want to include... The items that John just mentioned, I think that's fine. Consider it inactive.

To address commercial vehicles stopping there.

okay um anything else on the road all right we're going to move to old business this is ordinance 2026-18 I, we submitted this to the, it was submitted to the council last week for consideration. We issued a public hearing notice. I'm going to start out by opening up for public comment regarding ordinance 2026 S18 and ordinance amending the rates and charges for the waterworks utility. the public have any questions comments or concerns it was last month or sorry it was brought to the board last month we approved it for public notification all right again public any questions comments concerns All right, I will close it to public comment. I think I can start reading the ordinance and you can interrupt to approve. All right, so actually, first of all, council, any questions or concerns, topics we'd like to discuss regarding the ordinance?

No.

All right. I will do the first reading. for our vote. So ordinance 2026-18, an ordinance amending the rates and charges for the Water Works Utility, whereas the St. Paul Water Works in St. Paul, Indiana operates a Water Works Utility for the benefit of rate payers within the town and in the surrounding areas. I'll make motion to approve ordinance. I will second. All in favor?

Aye.

Aye. All right. This is the first reading. We will have this open again next month. Next is ordinance 2026-19. Again, this was introduced at last month's meeting for public notice issued. Our public hearing starts tonight. I will open this up for public comment, questions or concerns. Again, I'll ask for any questions, public comments or concerns.

I did have a question. Is the report that we're facing on the report, is that available somewhere for us to look at as well?

I'm sure that we can get a copy of that. Has he submitted that digitally?

I'm not sure.

We can take a look at that and then we'd be happy to provide that.

Yep.

I can kind of speak to that in some regards, but certainly if there's additional questions, we can provide that. As far as kind of long-term in regards to both the water and the sewer. Our rates have not been increased for some period of time. The water works utility was operating at a loss. The sewer utility was operating at a very minimal profit. Obviously we have ongoing issues within the town regarding with our inflow and infiltration getting into the sewer system. And so one of the big things that this will allow us to do is there are minimums required and I'll ask you guys to correct me where I stray here. There are minimums required for us to apply for grants where we have to have minimum rates. And in order to apply for those grants, we were well below those minimums. And so one of the big things that this will do will enable us to continue to maintain the system and invest in it long-term. But really the bigger thing is our system is to a point that it needs large, A very large investment, and so it allow us to go and ask for grants that we can have a matching grant where we would issue a small portion of that and hopefully get a 50% or 80% whatever is available to us match to that. So we have at this point we've had in the past several months we've had issues with lines breaking and going in and repairing those digging those up. So obviously ongoing maintenance like that it'll enable us to Does that answer your question?

Yeah, yeah, that definitely does. I was just curious, like, what, if, you know, estimates, things like that. I tried to watch some of the YouTube videos. It's still a little wonky. Obviously, I don't get your, can't get your X7, so I rely on that. Yeah. Kind of going back through some of those.

Yep.

It'd just be good.

So really, we've kind of been told that we need to help ourselves before they're going to help us.

Yeah.

And I will say also, I don't know if you've signed in, but I think for the public comment, we have to list your name and your comment there or a summary of your comments. So it just, whenever, before the night's over, if you can just make sure you have that signed in. We have it up here. Thank you. Any other public comment or questions? All right, I'll close public comment. All right, from the board, any questions or concerns or discussion regarding the ordinance? No. All right, I will move into consideration and do the initial reading. Ordinance 2026-19, an ordinance amending the rates and charges for the Sewage Works Utility, St. Paul Sewage Works, and St. Paul, Indiana operates a Sewage Works Utility for the benefit of the rate payers within the town and the surrounding areas.

I'll make a motion to approve the ordinance.

I'll make charges of sewer. I'll second. All in favor? Aye. Aye. All right. This was the first reading. We'll have another reading next month. Alright, we have one more public hearing regarding ordinance 2026 dash 20 and ordinance amending the rates and charges of the sewage works utility by the establishment of a monthly stormwater user fee. I'll open this up for public comment. Again, any comment from the public? Alright. I'll close public comment. Does the board have any questions, concerns, or anything they'd like to review in regards to this ordinance? No. All right. I will put it for a vote. Ordinance 2026-20, an ordinance amending the rates and charges for the sewage works utility by the establishment of a monthly stormwater user fee. I'll make a motion to approve. I'll second. All in favor? Aye. All right, the next item is the CCMG grant. We have the bid from Dave O'Mara. I believe they were the low bid in regards to paving. And Alyssa, I think this just needs our signature approval, correct?

All right, I will put this up for a vote.

Is the board in favor of accepting the agreement between the town and Dave O'Meara as the contractor? When are they going to start? Will not begin before May 19th and will be substantially complete before September 30th.

They don't give an exact start date. I'll make a motion.

Yeah, there will be a pre-construction conference

I'll make a motion to approve O'Meara as the road repair. I'll second.

All in favor?

Aye.

All right. So I'll sign off on this. I think that is all we have on the agenda. I will open up for public comment. Anybody from the public have anything they'd like to bring before the board?

We're going to move the meter over on West Washington. One of them is frequently being hit by snow clouds. We're moving it back over the yard so that when this is done after that, it will be out of the way. We've also got a storm sewer that's, I don't know, it's got a sinkhole coming in. We're going to have to dig it up.

Where you're at?

over on Main Street in Harrison.

Main and Harrison?

Yes, they're here at Harmon's house. It's right where the new storm storm was put in three or four years ago.

And I don't know if they're going to join us back in it, but it's going to hold us by three, four, five hundred feet. Okay. All right.

Anything else? Have you checked into that speech sign? I know we talked about you looking at it.

Yeah. Josh was... I do want to, sorry, go back on the paving grant.

I know we talked about this a little bit last week. Obviously, first street is very important to us. What is the next step for us to apply to?

That next round of application. I apologize. I can't remember right now. It's not July. I think it's like September maybe is when the next round will open up.

Being a concrete street, is that different? I'm supposed to go to the password street. Oh, the rating for the rating classes? Yeah, sure.

I'll have to, I'll ask Chad to make sure, but I don't think, I think it would still be rated similarly based on the level of deterioration of that road. And so, yeah, I know parts of that road are pretty good.

That was kicked out of this one for some reason, I don't know.

Did we ever determine why that was kicked out?

It wasn't really anything definitive. I think Chad asked and the response was kind of It wasn't clear to me. So I know that's the most important one for the town. And so I think what I'll talk with him about is let's get that application together and run a by and by ahead of time. I think it would make sense.

Do you see any concerns here with why this wouldn't be accepted?

Yeah. Because I know the town as part of this year's budget authorized additional funds. So if we can get grant money, and I think there was maybe one or two other streets that also got kicked out. So if we can just kind of go back, make sure we don't miss that deadline. If you can maybe help us on that.

Yes. One down by your house. Is that Frank, where the train tracks were? It really caused that to fall apart.

Built in rumble strip.

Yeah. There's your speed box.

Yeah. All right. I will make a motion to adjourn. I'll second the motion. All in favor? Aye.

Thanks, everyone.