Lapel Town Council

May 20, 2021 7:00pm

Lapel Eagles

Call to order: Attending in person was Chad Blake, Teresa Retherford, Jason Kleinbub, Lindsay Washmuth, Paula Lee, & Kourtney Krabbe, and attending virtually was Ashley Hopper town attorney. This meeting was open to the public to attend in person at the Lapel Eagles, or by joining the GoTo Meeting link that was posted to the town’s website.

Public Comment: Paul Madara, 6195 S 800 W Pendleton, asked if the Council has considered getting 800 W paved. Blake stated they are aware the road needs paved, and have it on the list to hopefully get done within the next two years. Blake closed the public comment section of the meeting due to no further comment.

Kristi Worthman: Worthman asked to be on the agenda for tonight’s meeting so she could express her concerns with the Town Council about a gas leak with her gas meter. Worthman believes she was treated unfairly by the utility department, and had to hire a plumber due to her meter being tampered with. Kleinbub states that our gas department followed the recommendations given by USDI, and proposes that we replace Worthman’s gas meter with a new meter, and send her old meter to USDI for testing. If USDI determines the meter was faulty, the Town of Lapel will pay Worthman’s plumber bill.

A motion to approve the April 15, 2021 meeting minutes was made by Kleinbub, 2^nd by Retherford; all were in favor.

A motion to approve the May 2021 docket claims as presented was made by Kleinbub, 2^nd by Washmuth; all were in favor.

A motion to approve the 2^nd reading of Ordinance 8-2021 was made by Blake, 2^nd by Retherford; all were in favor.

A motion to approve the 3^rd reading of Ordinance 8-2021 was made by Retherford, 2^nd by Washmuth; all were in favor.

Lee stated that June 12^th & 26^th will be golf cart/off road vehicle inspection days. You may go to the Lapel Police Department between 10am and 1pm on either day, or call the nonemergency line to set up an appointment.

Innovative Planning: Corrie Meyer with Innovative Planning is presenting a letter of agreement for consulting services for the Town of Lapel. Corrie had a big role in helping create the town’s new comprehensive plan, and this agreement will allow her to become an on-call planning directive for the Town. A motion to approve Innovative Planning Letter of Agreement was made by Retherford, 2^nd by Washmuth; all were in favor.

Kimley Horn: Tom Heustis with Kimley Horn provided the Council with updates & proposals on several projects. In order to put the proper drainage inlet in on 200 S, Kimley Horn needs to do some investigated title research due to the town not owning the right-of-way. A motion to allow Kimley Horn to start the title research process was made by Blake, 2^nd by Kleinbub; all were in favor.

A motion to approve Kimley Horn’s Agreement for Professional Consulting Services & Engineering Support totaling $76,300.00 for the CCMG 2021-1 was made by Kleinbub, 2^nd by Washmuth; all were in favor.  

Kimley Horn complied a report of the unofficial detour road conditions prior to & after the SR 32 work was done in 2020. The report shows extensive deterioration in these roads, and Kimley Horn recommends seeking reimbursement from INDOT for the rehabilitation. Lee asks the Council to allow Kimley Horn to assist the Town in getting the reimbursement paper work & documentation together to send to INDOT. A motion to allow Kimley Horn to assist the Town in the reimbursement process with INDOT was made by Blake, 2^nd by Retherford; all were in favor.

Eric Kastelic with Kimley Horn stated they have been assisting the Town with our Pavement Management Plan since November 2020. Kastelic discussed the final plan that was submitted earlier in the week, and stated in order to maintain good standings with LTAP, the Town must update their PASER ratings a minimum of every two years. The data that was used in the Pavement Management Plan came from November 2019, so the data will need to be updated by November 2021. The Council asks Kastelic to go ahead and work on a proposal to update the PASER ratings.

Retherford Replat: Keith VanWienen with Precise Land Surveying discussed the proposed replat of lots 10, 11, & 12 at 1024 & 1028 Walnut Street. The Lapel Planning Commission voted on May 6^th to send the replat to the Lapel Town Council with a favorable recommendation. The Retherford’s have already gone to the BZA to obtain a variance for a side yard setback. A motion to approve the Retherford replat was made by Washmuth, 2^nd by Blake; voting yes was Blake, Kleinbub, & Washmuth; Retherford abstained.

Ordinance 9-2021: This ordinance establishes a fund, and a potential plan for the use of the ARP money to be received. A motion to approve the 1^st reading of Ordinance 9-2021 was made by Retherford, 2^nd by Washmuth; all were in favor.

A motion to suspend the rules and allow for the 2^nd & 3^rd readings of Ordinance 9-2021 was made by Washmuth, 2^nd by Kleinbub; all were in favor.

A motion to approve the 2^nd reading of Ordinance 9-2021 was made by Blake, 2^nd by Washmuth; all were in favor.

A motion to approve the 3^rd reading of Ordinance 9-2021 was made by Retherford, 2^nd by Blake; all were in favor.

Ordinance 10-2021: This ordinance establishes guidelines for fireworks in the Town of Lapel. A motion to approve the 1^st reading of Ordinance 10-2021 was made by Kleinbub, 2^nd by Retherford; all were in favor.

On-Ramp Indiana: ORI was unable to attend tonight’s meeting. They were going to talk to the Council about the specifics on how to make internet available as a town utility.

Conflict of Interest: Conflict of interest statements must be renewed per project, or on an annual basis. Since Blake works for a vendor that the Town, he must renew his conflict of interest statement every year that he is on the Council. The Town of Lapel was using WC Signs as a Vendor before Blake became a council member. A motion to approve the conflict of interest statement for Chad Blake was made by Retherford, 2^nd by Washmuth. Voting yes was Retherford, Washmuth, & Kleinbub; Blake abstained.

WC Signs Quote: Blake presented a quote from WC Signs for (4) 3X5 Bulldog Flags, & (3) 8ft fitted half back table skirts for a total of $912.00. A motion to approve the quote from WC Signs for $912.00 was made by Retherford, 2^nd by Washmuth. Voting yes was Retherford, Washmuth, & Kleinbub; Blake abstained.

Park Board Member: There are currently two open spots on the Lapel Park Board. One spot is to be appointed by the Lapel Town Council, and the other spot is to be appointed by the FLCS Board. Blake recommended Katharine Cox for the seat to be appointed by the Council. A motion to appoint Katharine Cox to the Lapel Park Board was made by Kleinbub, 2^nd by Retherford; all were in favor.

Street Closure: Pax Verum is asking for some street closures during their BeerFest on August 21^st from 3:30pm – 7:30pm. They would like Main Street to 10^th Street be closed from 12:00pm to 9:30pm, & 9^th Street from Main Street to Ford Street be closed from 2:00pm to 4:00pm. Pax will have temporary fencing up, 4 emergency exits, security on site, and have capped the number of tickets at 1,000. Pax is asking that the Town provide the barricades for the street closure. A motion to allow the street closures for Pax Verum’s BeerFest on 8/21/21 was made by Retherford, 2^nd by Kleinbub; all were in favor.

Discussion was held on obtaining an Ordinance Violation Bureau.

Police Update: Chief Naselroad gave an overview on the department’s monthly activities.

Park Update: Katie Hutchison with the Lapel Park Board stated she reached out to four companies to get a quote for overhead netting at Brookside Park. The companies in Florida, and Ohio did not reply with a quote, the company in Illinois provided a quote of $95,000, and the company in Indiana provided a quote with $59,950. All the quotes include netting & installation. Overhead netting was tabled until further research can be done on obtaining the funding. The Park Board is working on obtaining additional quotes for playground mulch, and expanding the two parking lots at Brookside Park.

Planning Update: The Planning Commission approved the Lapel Commons Preliminary Plat contingent that they meet 100% of the greenspace required, or obtain a variance from the BZA. Jeremy VanErman with CommonWealth Engineers stated that the current Lapel Commons drainage plans fall short of the zoning codes. Montgomery Farms Phase 4 drainage has been sent back to the Madison County Drainage Board. VanErman suggests the Town work with CommonWealth to look at the current drainage ordinances.

Utility Update: Armacost stated that the salary ordinance does not have a rate increase for when an employee completes all the qualifications for the gas department. Steve Selby received his certified qualification to be a gas operator on 4/20/2021. Armacost would like employees to receive a $0.75 raise when they receive this qualification. Armacost also recommends that Selby be moved to the gas assistant position versus a utility laborer. Armacost & Hutchison stated the audit they had with the IURC went extremely well. Armacost asked the Council if we could post a job ad for a full-time utility laborer due to recently losing an employee. A motion to start the hiring process for a full-time utility laborer starting at $15.00/hour was made by Blake, 2^nd by Kleinbub; all were in favor.

Armacost asked if we could also hire two seasonal employees to work from June to September. A motion to start the hiring process for two seasonal employees starting at $12.00/hour was made by Blake, 2^nd by Washmuth; all were in favor.

Armacost passed her wastewater exam, and is awaiting her official letter in the mail.

No further items to discuss; meeting was adjourned.

 

Back