Lapel Town Council

July 15, 2021 @ 6:30pm

Lapel Eagles

In person attendance included Chad Blake, Teresa Retherford, Jason Kleinbub, Paula Lee, Kourtney Krabbe, and Jeff Graham, Town Attorney. No members were present virtually. The public could attend tonight’s meeting either in person at the Lapel Eagles, or online using the GoTo Meeting link provided on the Town of Lapel’s Facebook page.

Blake opened the meeting with public comment for anything that is not on the agenda. Mrs. Jones at 232 W 10^th Street wanted to express her concern for receiving a disconnect notice for her utility bill, and all the golf carts that are untagged & driving on SR 13. Lee asked Mrs. Jones if she was available to come in Friday morning to discuss her utility bill. Blake stated residents need to contact the Lapel Police Department when they see golf carts that are not tagged. Being no further comment, the public comment part of the meeting was closed.

2022 Budget: Janet Alexander stated that due to the town’s current reimbursement mess with INDOT, the MVH budget for 2022 will be unfundable through the DLGF. Alexander suggests the town transfer the $30,000 in MVH savings to MVH checking, and have MVH checking borrow a $150,000 temporary loan from one of the town’s other funds available. This temporary loan would have to be renewed on an annual basis, with payback of $40,000/year starting in 2023. Alexander also suggests the Council consider funding the Park fund out of Cascadden funding instead of using property tax money. This would allow for more property tax money to go to the general fund, and MVH fund. No decision was made tonight as Alexander wanted the Council to take her suggestions under consideration.

Sheller Replat: Keith VanWienen with Precise Land Surveying stated the Lapel Planning Commission gave a favorable recommendation for the replat of lots 15, 16, & 17 at 104 S Ford Street. Landowner, Paul Sheller, wanted to combine all three lots in order to build a new home in compliance with the new zoning codes. A motion to approve the Sheller replat at 104 S Ford Street was made by Blake, 2^nd by Kleinbub; all were in favor.

CommonWealth Engineers: Rob Belucci stated he had submitted the town’s SWIF (State Water Infrastructure Fund) application. The town’s pending water project qualified us for this funding, and winner announcements are estimated to be released in approximately three weeks. The town is asking for $1,000,000. Belucci also stated he would touch base with Pat Callahan about water/sewer rate studies.

Kimley-Horn: The Council decided to pass on CCMG 2021-2 due to the current reimbursement issues going on with INDOT.

Drew Wolfred with Kimley Horn stated he sent back the revised reimbursement of $86,000 for the unofficial SR 32 detour to INDOT, and waiting for their response.

Wolfred said the CCMG 2020-2 project that includes 200 S, Vine Street, 10^th Street, 500 S, Brookside Road & a couple roads in the Brookside addition, will begin its concrete work this Monday 7/19/2021. Due to school starting on 8/11/2021, 200 S, Vine Street, and 10^th Street will be the first roads worked on. Asphalt work is currently scheduled for the second week in August. Due to 200 S right-of-way not having the proper easements needed, the 200 S drain will not be fixed during this project.

Bids for CCMG 2021-1 project are due at the Lapel Town Hall by 4:00pm on 8/12/2021. A special Town Council meeting will be held on 8/12/2021 @ 7:30pm to open the bids. Awarded contract for the project will be announced at the regular Town Council meeting on 8/19/2021 @ 7:00pm.

A motion to approve May 20, 2021 meeting minutes was made by Kleinbub, 2^nd by Retherford; all were in favor.

A motion to approve June 17, 2021 meeting minutes was made by Kleinbub, 2^nd by Retherford, all were in favor.

A motion to approve the July docket claims excluding vendor 1925 was made by Blake, 2^nd by Kleinbub; all were in favor.

A motion to approve Resolution 7-2021 which establishes a policy for virtual meetings was made by Kleinbub, 2^nd by Retherford; all were in favor.

A motion to approve Resolution 8-2021 which allows the transfer of $35,000 from sewer savings to sewer operating was made by Blake, 2^nd by Kleinbub; all were in favor.

Resolution 9-2021 was tabled, and will be discussed at a future meeting.

Salary Ordinance Amendment: Utility Superintendent Mary Armacost asked the Council to allow an employee to receive a $0.75 raise when they become fully certified in gas. Blake proposes the amount be $1.00 instead of $0.75. Armacost had no objection to the $1.00. A motion to approve the 2^nd amendment to the 2021 Salary Ordinance which allows employees to receive a $1.00 raise when fully certified in gas, was made by Blake, 2^nd by Kleinbub; all were in favor. A motion to allow retroactive pay for Steve Selby who became fully certified in gas on 4/20/2021 was made Blake, 2^nd by Kleinbub; all were in favor.

Utility Update: Gas Operator Brandon Hutchison presented to the Council a proposal to install a gas main on the east side of SR 13. Hutchison states he has been approached by multiple residents along 13 who would like gas service but there is currently no main accessible for them to tap into. USDI estimates this project to cost $35,000. Hutchison states he understands the residents are not annexed into Lapel, but they are in the town’s service area. Attorney Jeff Graham suggests the Council look into adopting an ordinance to establish in district, and out of district rates. The Council and the legal staff are going to look into the rates, and whether or not the project would be feasible.

Residents will notice on their August utility bill that the trash rate is increasing from $15.27 to $15.67 per month. This increase aligns with the CGS contract that was signed 4/20/2018.

Armacost states we currently have 20 Sensus water meters left, and are currently unable to get more due to the current chip shortage. Armacost is able to get some Neptune water meters which differ from our current ones, but are compatible with our Neptune system that is currently used. Rob Belucci said radio read water meters could be purchased using ARPA funding. Discussion was tabled until ARPA funding is received, but the Council told Armacost not to have a stock of meters less than 10.

Armacost asked the Council for permission to send Brandon Hutchison & Steve Selby to the Midwest Damage Prevention class in French Lick on 11/9-11/11/21. The cost of the class & hotel fees would be approximately $695. A motion to send Hutchison & Selby to French Lick for the Midwest Damage Prevention class on 11/9-11/11/21 not to exceed $800 was made by Blake, 2^nd by Retherford; all were in favor. Kleinbub stated their paid time would include the drive time from Lapel to French Lick, class time, and drive time from French Lick to Lapel.

Armacost presented a contract from W.W.Williams for annual maintenance for $1,200. A motion to accept W.W.Williams contract for $1,200 was made by Blake, 2^nd by Kleinbub; all were in favor.

Armacost present the Inohva Pneumatics annual maintenance agreement for the blow motors at the waste water plant for $1,602.88. A motion to approve Inohva Pneumatics annual maintenance agreement for $1,602.88 was made by Blake, 2^nd by Retherford; all were in favor.

The Fourth Street storm drain request, and dead trees around town topic were both tabled for a future meeting.

Chief Kelly Naselroad provided the Town Council with a brief overview of the Police Department’s last month.

Lapel’s Planning Consultant Corrie Meyer, recommended Banning Engineering as a supplemental building inspector at $105/hour. The town’s attorney has reviewed the contract with Banning Engineering, and saw no issue with the contract. A motion to approve Banning Engineering’s professional service agreement was made by Blake, 2^nd by Kleinbub; all were in favor.

Kleinbub brought a proposal to the Town Council to use some of the ARPA funding to give the town’s employees a one-time hazard premium. He stated that some of the communities around us have already announced their intentions to give their employees a hazard premium. Kleinbub would like use about 7.5% of the town’s total allocation for this one-time hazard premium. Kleinbub proposed giving each of our five full time police officers $5,000 each, and each of our 8 full time town employees $2,000 each. A motion to allow for a one-time hazard premium of $5,000 for each full-time police officer, and $2,000 for each full-time town employee was made by Kleinbub, 2^nd by Retherford; all were in favor. Town Attorney Jeff Graham will have a resolution ready for the August meeting.

Jeff Graham informed the Town Council that the members of the Lapel Redevelopment Commission need to be reappointed on a yearly basis. Blake appointed himself, Paula Lee, and Shaun Cofer during July’s LRC meeting. Members Amanda Paddock, and Pamela Shuck still need to be reappointed. A motion to appoint Amanda Paddock & Pamela Shuck to the LRC was made by Retherford, 2^nd by Kleinbub; all were in favor.

 

 

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