LAPEL TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
JULY 20, 2023

In attendance: Noah Bozell, Chad Blake, Brian Robertson, Gary Shuck, Lindsay Washmuth, Paula Lee, and Evan McMullen, Town Attorney

7pm meeting called to order

Motion to amend the agenda to add Kleinpeter Grant Administration Contract made by Washmuth, 2^nd by Blake and all were in favor.

Floor was opened for public comment: Jason Hight 225 W 14^th spoke to board back in March regarding damage to his yard caused by huge water leak during Atlas’ portion of the water project.  Hight asking for remediation of yard work to be finished and lawn restored to its original state. Council to discuss issue and meet with Bellucci to discuss.

Floor was closed to Public Comment.

Bellucci presented Pay Apps 11 & 12 to Council from Atlas.  Both Pay Apps would come from OCRA funds so Kleinpeter can close out OCRA portion of project.  Pay Apps are for work that has been completed and quantities were verified by inspectors at the time.  Shuck asked to table payment until meeting can be held with Atlas.

Motion to table Pay App #11 made by Shuck, 2^nd by Bozell and all were in favor.

Motion to table Pay App #12 made by Shuck, 2^nd by Blake and all were in favor.

Update 2022 CCMG Project Round 1-work is complete holding retainage on Pay App #5 until punch list is deemed complete.  2022 Street Repair project work is finished and Pay Apps are being presented tonight. 

Pax Verum- Colt Carpenter- working with State to get highway interstate signage.  INDOT has advised trailblazing signs have permission for installation from the Town.  Signs requested to be installed on Vine Street and Old 132.  Blake says the road belongs to the State and therefore that is their easement and they need to give permission.

Carpenter also requested the use of Central Park for a disc golf event on August 12.  Council advised Legal staff to look into signage, Council to discuss and speak with Carpenter next week.

Simmerman Farms: Chad & Laura Pilkington, Steve Caplinger presented an upcoming event to Council “Farm Fest” on October 14 at Simmerman Farms.  While this event is outside the town of Lapel Caplinger just wanted to inform the town and the Council of the upcoming hog roast/concert event.

Clerk/Treasurer Report: Fund report presented to Council.  2024 Budget is being compiled, meeting with DLGF to be rescheduled.

7:28pm Bozell paused the regular meeting to open a Public Hearing for Resolution 20-2023-A resolution authorizing additional appropriations from the American Rescue Plan Act in the amount of $162,557.82 for Kimley Horn engineering fees $13,908.91 and Midwest Paving Pay App #4 $148,648.91.  There were no questions or comments from the public.

7:28pm Bozell closed the Public Hearing and re-opened the regular meeting.

Motion to approve Resolution 20-2023 made by Washmuth, 2^nd by Robertson and all were in favor.

7:31pm Bozell paused the regular meeting to open a Public Hearing for Resolution 21-2023.  A resolution authorizing additional appropriations from the Motor Vehicle Restricted Fund $ 11,523.72 for Midwest Paving App #2 $2,716.20 and Midwest Paving App #3 $8,807.52.  There were no questions or comments from the public.

7:33pm Bozell closed the Public Hearing and re-opened the regular meeting.

Motion to approve Resolution 21-2023 made by Robertson, 2^nd by Blake and all were in favor.

Motion to approve May 18 minutes made by Bozell, 2^nd by Blake voting yes, Bozell, Blake, Washmuth and Robertson.  Shuck abstained.

Motion to approve May 22 minutes made by Bozell, 2^nd by Robertson and all were in favor.

Motion to approve May 30 minutes made by Bozell, 2^nd by Shuck and all were in favor.

Motion to approve June 9 minutes made by Bozell, 2^nd by Shuck, voting yes, Bozell, Blake and Robertson.  Abstain, Washmuth and Shuck.

Motion to approve June 15 minutes made by Bozell, 2^nd by Shuck and all were in favor.

Motion to approve past due accounts to be sent to collections/written off made by Washmuth, 2^nd by Shuck and all were in favor.

Motion to approve Kimley Horn Professional Services Agreement made by Washmuth, 2^nd by Blake and all were in favor.

USDI public works proposal to bore a new gas line service at 435 Walnut Street, a relocation of a meter.  Proposal cost of $3,150.00 to bore in the new service line.  Proposal does not include 2 individuals for an 8 hour day and 4 hours for the bore rig.  Shuck noted that this installation would cross over a high pressure gas main that feeds Brockway.  Shuck suggests running line from the front, run around the side of his property to the back location where he would like meter installed and not use a boring machine but use our crew for installation.  This would be an overall cost savings to the Town. Blake stated this should not be a cost to the Town as it is the resident who is doing the remodeling and wishes to have the meter moved.  Bozell and Robertson agreed.  Legal Counsel McMullen agreed with Blake, this should be on the homeowner.  McMullen states we should only bill for tap fees and costs incurred to Town not the installation/work.  Bozell asks that more discussion be held regarding this matter before any decisions be made.  Special Meeting to be held August 3 for further discussion.

Motion to approve customer agreement from I AM GIS for utility software mapping in the amount of $6000.00 made by Blake, 2^nd by Bozell and all were in favor. Service agreement to begin on 8/1/2023 and run thru 7/31/2024.

Park Impact Fees & Road Impact Fees-work session to be held to determine fees for upcoming ordinances.

Regal Computer Services fee increase proposal. Office/Police and all town emails need to move to in.gov emails and websites.  Discussion to be held at Special Meeting August 3.

Special Events Permit- Council pleased with layout of document.  Will discuss fees/fines ordinance at Special Meeting August 3.

INDOT Unofficial Detour SR 13 over Mud/Sand Creek, 56 mi N of SR 38, Replace Superstructure Contract R-41499, Des 1702923.  INDOT closing 13 just south of 500. Council to look over detour route and discuss at Special Meeting August 3.  Road will need to be videoed, and documented as to condition before the project.  Shuck stated there is a weight limit on that road and asks that we put up extra signs and extra barricades noting that this is not suitable for trucks..no trucks over 40 feet. Shuck asks for barricades at 800 & 38, County Line & 500 and 13 & 500 and then have the police department enforce the weight limits.  Naselroad again brought up that the road is a Lapel road and that he could write a ticket for an ordinance violation but would have nowhere to collect a fee as the Ordinance Bureau Ordinance has not been finalized. Shuck stated that if that was the case there was no point in putting up all the signs and the barricades if the police could not enforce it, it would simply be a waste of time. The road will be torn up and you might as well have wreckers at TLC because you’ll be dragging trucks out of ditches. McMullen spoke and said that we did have an Ordinance Bureau Ordinance but that it was outdated.  McMullen to present an updated Ordinance Bureau Ordinance at a future meeting.

Motion to table Innovative Planning and the Planning Workshop invoices made by Shuck, 2^nd by Washmuth and all were in favor.

Police Update- SRO officer posting was put out.  August 21 Officer Diaz goes to the academy he’ll be out for 16 weeks.  Run reports were presented to Council year to date. Traffic calls are down, criminal call are up as well as domestic violence, overdoses and batteries.  Discussion was held on SRO MOU, McMullen has asked to be a part of future discussions regarding SRO.

Planning Update- Robertson gave a brief update on the LKQ Rezone which was continued by the Planning Commission.  Brockway would like to donate the old golf course to the Town.  Cole spoke on the fiber hut.

Park Update-Katie Hutchison presented that the Resolution passed for 5 year park plan.  No news on the farmers market, was waiting on event permit information.  Hutchison also informed Council that South Madison is asking for an update on the grant project.  No work has been completed to date Park Board may be in danger of losing grant. 

LRC Update- Blake gave an update on the recent changes of how TIF funds can be spent.  Members of LRC are to bring a list of projects that TIF funds can be spent on for budgeting in 2024.

Blake informed the Council that while Officer Diaz is at the academy, vacations were already on the schedule meaning all shifts will need covered.  This will push the police overtime budget by 25 to 30 thousand dollars to finish out the year.  Dax Norton from MS Consultants has suggested hiring a part time officer as a cost effective measure.  This should eliminate the hit to the overtime budget.  This would be in addition to the SRO as well.  This cost has been figured around ten thousand dollars. McMullen asked if an inter-local agreement had been discussed.  Blake stated it would cost more than our local officers. Naselroad stated currently there is money set aside in the budget for a part time officer.  There would be no increase to the budget as far as equipment and outfitting the part time officer. This would be a non-benefited position. Blake asked the Council for approval to create the part time patrol officer position that would fall under our current wage structure.  Discussion to continue at Special Meeting.

Special Meeting set for August 3 at 6pm at Town Hall.

Motion to approve claims as presented made by Bozell, 2^nd by Blake and all were in favor.

Being no further business to discuss the meeting was adjourned.

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