LAPEL TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
MAY 16,2024

In attendance: Chad Blake, Brian Robertson, Lindsey Washmuth, Roger Fouse, Clerk-Treasurer Teresa Retherford

7pm meeting called to order

Request to amend the agenda to add to the presentation section of the agenda for the 4^th of July Committee

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

Blake opens the floor for public comments and concerns.

David Whitmoyer sent email about 400S. Asked for feedback. Blake states funding was not available at the time in 2023 for 400S. As soon as the Hot Box gets fixed, they will put this road on the list to review.

Presentations:

Comcast: No one showed up again.

Lapel Community Association: Event permit got filled out for the Village Fair. No questions from the council about it. Naselroad states INDOT approved the road closures needed for the Fair.

Motion to approve the permit made by Blake, 2^nd by Fouse. All in favor.

4^th of July Committee: Requesting the town’s approval to host a firework show wanting to be done on 4^th of July night. A professional contractor who is licensed and insured wants to put on the show at the Middle School Football Field. The school has approved of the field being used. The fire department has been contacted and is okay to be there as a safety protocol.  A layout of the launch, viewing and parking areas, permit application, and certification of liability insurance were provided.

Motion to approve 4^th of July special event permit pending police department review made by Blake, 2^nd by Robertson. All in favor.

A committee member will meet with Naselroad to discuss barricades and services needed for this event.

Washmuth asks about the Farmer’s Market being held in the church parking lot, if a permit will be needed. There will need to be one per Blake.

Clerk-Treasurer Report:

 Retherford talks about the gas loan that was taken out several years ago. The last payment was made this month. The house in Fishersburg needs approval for $ 6,080.00. The original owner sent in a letter stating the people living in the home should be the ones to be reimbursed. This property was being double billed.

Motion to approve the reimbursement of $6,080.00 to the residents of 9796 W Water St made by Robertson, 2^nd by Fouse. All in favor.

1216 Gwinn Lane has had a very large water leak for about a month and a half. The owner of the house asked Retherford to ask the council if they would write off the bill. Retherford told the owner she would adjust the wastewater portion of their bill, which she did. Norton suggests making a policy on this and table this until the next meeting.

McGuire stopped in yesterday and sent in the updated contract to McMullen for the water tower maintenance.

June 23-27 is the ILMCT Conference in South Bend, IN that Retherford will be attending. Boyce will be sending a paper that needs signed for the work order system. The original installation for the time clock system will be $5,395.00. And then roughly $1,200 a year for maintenance. A quote will be available at the next meeting.

Comcast is here. They are bringing in fiber into Lapel to cover 800 residences, 200 businesses, investing 1.8 million dollars.

Approval of Minutes:

They were not put on the agenda but there are a lot done.

Blake pauses regular scheduled meetings and opens a public hearing.

Public hearing for Ordinance 5-2024 for an establishment of a cumulative capital development fund. Norton explains the CCD fund.

Blake ends the public meeting and opens the regularly scheduled meeting.

Motion to approve the first reading of 5-2024 made by Robertson, 2^nd by Washmuth. All in favor.

Blake suspends regular meeting to open public hearing on the Lapel sewer system expansion.

Nathan with MS Consultants came with the preliminary engineering report for expansion of wastewater treatment plant.

Blake closes public hearing and reopens regular scheduled meeting.

Unfinished business:

Ordinance 4-2024 additional appropriations of funds in ARPA account. There’s $45,618.93 in this account that must be spent by the end of this year or lose it. The money must be appropriated before it can be spent. This is the second reading for the approval of additional appropriations.

Motion to approve Ordinance 4-2024 for the additional appropriations of ARPA funds made by Washmuth, 2^nd by Blake. All in favor.

New Business:

Presentation by Indiana Office of Technology. There is no action taking tonight, just getting it out there to have it discussed. This will help tie everything into one and make things more efficient, professional and secure. An official quote and vote will be done at the next meeting.

Department Reports

Planning:

Last week Shelby came in to combine property and was given a favorable review to put a berm in front of where they are now and where they do the concrete crushing. The height of the concrete cannot exceed the berm and the planting. They have four months from the time they get the permit to until they complete the project. They are taking a driveway out. It combines the entire property into one parcel again. The berm will be 15ft tall plus trees and run east and west.

Motion made to approve the replat of Shelby with the conditions of concrete not to exceed the height of the mound with vegetation and completed within four months of the approved permit made by Washmuth, 2^nd by Robertson. All in favor.

Weihe property got split into two lots. It was done in Planning.

Clark homestead on 1000 Atlantic Rd, South of 38, 25 acres that wants to split into five residential lots. It was tabled early this evening for legal review.   

Police:

SRO vehicle is back from getting upfit and will get it marked next. SRO Officer is signed up for school in November. 413 calls for service, which puts them at 1,841 for the year.

Utilities:

 Hot Box got fixed for $1,400.00. Refurbished the whole thing and is working great. Red dump truck has a very large antifreeze leak. Possibly a blown head gasket or cracked head. Would like to start looking for an F550 truck with the PTO in it. Blake states that the bond bank can be used for this. Need council’s approval to seek quotes on trucks and financing.

Motion to approve quotes and financing options for a new dump truck made by Blake, 2^nd by Washmuth. All in favor.

Utilities put down 6.5 tons of asphalt. Fixed a hole at Main and 14^th. Fixed all of 7^th street. Next week they will start at the Town Hall. Nikoloff worked on the budget after the last meeting. RPZ’s were put in at the water and wastewater plants and are good for a year. Duke Energy called and all the phone poles that hold the power for the streetlights are in very bad shape. The 22^nd they will start repairing them because they are the town owned poles. The blowers were serviced today. Blower #2 shafts are completely shot due to the pulleys and the belts not riding correctly with each other. Construction on the water plant-warranty ends tomorrow. Nikoloff would like to start a project using the vac truck and clean manholes every week. Nikoloff is asking for another employee to be hired for general labor.

Motion to advertise that we are accepting applications to hire for general laborer made by Blake, 2^nd by Washmuth. All in favor.

Robertson asks about getting a program set up for CDL’s because we need more employees with CDL’s. Blake will be talking to the attorney to get an agreement made.

Parks:

School board position has been replaced. Stacy Boles has been appointed to take Molly Bays position. Blake was given a quote for the playground mulch. Nikoloff has a community program coming in with children coming to help do work around town such as painting poles and putting mulch down.

Motion made to approve the purchase of playground mulch made by Blake, 2^nd by Fouse. All in favor.

Redevelopment:

 Getting rescheduled for next Thursday at Town Hall at 5:30pm.

Office:

 A special meeting must be scheduled for the 2^nd reading of CCD. If everyone could meet with Retherford after the meeting to set up a time to have this meeting. Norton suggests starting the budget hearings in June.

Council member comments or concerns:

Robertson does not feel like the town is getting their money worth from MS Consultants, especially on the Planning side. He would like to explore other options. Blake will be having a meeting with Dan to go over a list of concerns and will bring this up at the next meeting.

Approval of Claims:

Motion made to approve claims as presented made by Washmuth, 2^nd by Robertson. Blake abstains. Robertson, Washmuth and Fouse in favor.

Allowance Docket:

Motion to approve allowance docket made by Blake, 2^nd by Washmuth. All in favor.

Robertson asked Retherford about the SRO fund, making an appropriation for donations. Still waiting on McMullen to get back with Retherford.

Motion to adjourn made by Blake, 2^nd by Robertson. All in favor.

 

 

 

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