LAPEL TOWN COUCIL MEETING
FEBURARY 15, 2024

In attendance: Chad Blake, Brian Robertson, Lindsey Washmuth, Roger Fouse. Teresa Retherford, Clerk-Treasurer and Attorney Even McMullen

7pm meeting called to order.

Blake asks council members if they have any changes they would like to make to amend or take a motion to approve agenda as presented.

Motion made by Robertson, 2nd by Washmuth. All in favor.

Floor open for any public comments or concerns.

No public comments.

Presentations:

Brian for the 700 improvement presentation is not present.

David and Jeremey with Comcast presentation is not present.

Clerk-Treasurer Report:
Retherford states that all 1099's and W-2's are done. She will be working with Jane to get the annual financial report done. Been working on minutes. September is not completed yet, but October is done.

Approval of meeting minutes for October 26, 2023. Motion made by Washmuth, 2nd by Robertson. Blake and Fouse abstain. Robertson, Washmuth and Shuck in favor.

No public hearings on the agenda.

Unfinished business:
None

New Business:
Ordinance to amend the UDO for Town of Lapel for rezone. Ordinance 2-2024 to change the zoning at 12 W 7th St for UDO. Rezone the property from residential to institutional. Shuck asked if this is just the first reading. Per McMullen only one reading is required for the rezone ordinance. Motion made for Ordinance 2-2024 by Shuck, 2nd by Robertson. All in favor.

Ordinance 3-2024 rezoning property O St Rd 13, Lapel. Rezoning from agricultural to light and general industrial. Recommended by the planning commission who has heard and reviewed this rezoning. Robertson states its favorable exhibit 5 which takes a portion along 13 and South of Trinity as light industrial and center section as general industrial. Just 20 acres, not all of it. Motion made for Ordinance 3-2024 by Shuck, 2nd by Fouse. All in favor.

Consider proposal for public work services and tornado siren testing. Professional service contract to make sure our tornado sirens are working properly. The contract is $450 per siren per year. The town has 2 sirens. Per Shuck it just shows 1 siren in the contract. Motion made to approve the contract for maintenance of electromechanical sirens of $450 per site by Robertson, 2nd by Washmuth. All in favor.

Proposal for professional services from Graham, Farrer, and Wilson P. C. our current legal representation.

New contract for this year for $750 a month for all regular and routine activities for the town. Any non-routine litigation matters will be billed at $250 per hour. Motion made to approve contract by Shuck, 2nd by Robertson. All in favor.

Contract renewal for professional services from MS Consultants.
Norton states the changes to the contract and explains why the changes. Washmuth explains what she thinks about this contract. Motion to approve the professional service contract with MS Consultants with revised amount of $80,000 per year made by Washmuth, 2nd by Blake. All in favor.

Nepotism and Conflict of Interest Disclosure Forms: Blake did not receive them yet. Norton will be getting the forms to Blake soon.

Consider a quote for professional services for Callihan Utility Consulting:
Utility rates get reviewed every couple of years. Water and gas rates are due for review. The quote for water rate study is not to exceed $4,500.00 and is estimated between $3,500 and $4,500.00. The quote for the gas rate study is not to exceed $4,750.00 and is estimated between $3,750.00 and $4,750.00. Motion made to approve rate studies made by Shuck, 2nd by Washmuth. All in favor.

Expenditure exceeding $5,000:
Purchase of vehicle for SRO. Loan through Crossroads Bank. Dealership out of Louisville, KY had a vehicle come up that is available. Once approved the vehicle is ready for pick up and the officer starts working at the school on Monday. Motion made to approve purchase of $58,104.95 for SRO vehicle by Washmuth, 2nd by Robertson. Blake, Robertson, Washmuth, and Fouse all in favor. Shuck is not in favor.

Discuss gas utility reimbursement:
The Town of Lapel filed a Class Action Lawsuit and won. The money from the settlement could be distributed amongst the current gas customers over the next two years. The council will review the lawsuit that was won and discuss it at next month's meeting to see if they can agree on how it gets distributed.

Department of Reports:
Police Chief Naselroad is out of town but gave Blake a copy of his reports. Hiring of Officer Nivens as SRO starting next Monday.

Planning:
There was a meeting last week. Everyone was notified that the meetings are now held at the Lion's Club on the 2nd Thursday of the month at 6:30pm. Andrea Baldwin a town citizen was also elected to the BZA committee. The planning committee is recommending a 2nd citizen from the planning commission, Amy Egly for consideration for the BZA. Vote to approve Amy Egly as the council appointee to the BZA. Motion made by Robertson 2nd by Washmuth. All in favor.

Utilities:
Atlas packed up and moved on last Friday. They did come and pick up the last of their belongings this week. Nikoloff talks about the radios and asks if they are going to be paid to keep them or moving on to a different system. Blake believes they already voted and approved this. Inventory is almost done with the utility department. Chris Higgenbothum in utility passed his WT3 test February 5, 2024 and is now a certified operator. Nikolof asks about gentleman who put application in again, if he can be hired on the utility epartment. The budget needs to be reviewed before an answer can be made. Motion to approve cellular at the wells made by Blake, 2nd by Shuck. All in favor.

Rob talks about Atlas and what is going on with their work. Blake gives his opinion on how we should move forward. This project was supposed to be completed over a year and a half ago. Most recent extension expired on October 23, 2023. Shuck voices his opinion in this I project, also. Rob must report back to Atlas on what the town wants to do about the contract. Retherford asks Rob if he has got other estimates from other companies, and he has. Robertson asks Rob for his opinion. Motion to move forward with Atlas granting them I the opportunity to present a change order for completion of project made by Blake, 2nd by Robertson. Blake, Robertson and Fouse in favor. Washmuth and Shuck are not in favor. Rob will be in contact with McMullen before contacting Atlas.

Parks:
Meetings have been moved to the 4th Thursday of every month at 7:00pm. March's meeting will be on the 14th after the planning meeting. All meetings will be at the Lion's Club. Asked if budget has been made yet. Retherford is working on closing the end of the year, once that is done then they will have an amount for the budget. There is still an open seat on the Parks Committee.

Redevelopment:
New member, Nate McKeon is now on board. Still need 2 members that are a resident of the town to apply and be voted to join the Redevelopment Commission.

Office:
Need to be thinking about how to appropriate the ARPA money. It must be spent this year or dated to be spent next year. Kimley-Horn bill is $19,000 and still needs to be paid but needs an appropriation. Interviews are set up for next Thursday.

No comments, questions or concerns from council members.

Approval of Claims:
Retherford sent a copy of allowance docket to emails. Motion to approve claims as presented made by Washmuth, 2nd by Robertson. All in favor.

Motion to approve the Allowance Docket made by Washmuth, 2nd by Blake. All in favor. Motion to adjourn made by Blake, 2nd by Fouse. All in favor.

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