LAPEL TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
JULY 17, 2025

In attendance: Brian Robertson, Gary Shuck, Lindsay Washmuth, Roger Fouse, Chad Blake, Teresa Retherford, Secretary, and Evan McMullen, Legal Counsel

Motion to amend the agenda to move the MS Consultants Gas Utility decision to before Public Comment due to Washmuth needing to leave early and to add minutes for June 1 9, 2025 and June 25, 2025 made by Robertson, 2^nd by Washmuth and all were in favor.

MS Consultants: Gas Utility Bid

Motion to accept The Gas Utility Bid from Citizens Energy Group made by Washmuth, 2^nd by Robertson and all were in favor.

Public Comment: Alicia West asked questions about who would appoint the replacement to the Redevelopment Commission and what is expected from the members. She also asked where we are when it comes to the well head protection and the conversations with Lapel Stony Creek Township. Hutchison stated that we have a wellhead protection program. Robertson stated that we are in conversation with Stony Creek Township.

Presentations:

Pax Verum event permit for Way Out Beer Fest. There was no one from Pax Verum. Retherford stated that it is the same as the previous year. Hutchison asked if he could make a recommendation that Pax Verum has to get a street sweeper in after the Festival.

Motion to approve the Pax Verum Way Out Beer Fest with the addition of street cleanup by Pax Verum made by Shuck, 2^nd by Robertson and all were in favor

New Business

Fee Adoption: Marcellus brought up the recommendation from the Planning Commission to adopt a $200 fee for an application for vacating alleys. It will have to have a Public Hearing.

Washmuth left the meeting at 7:20pm.

Old Business: There is none

Public Hearing: There are no Public Hearings

Department Reports:

Police: There were 546 calls this month for service and 2768 for the year. There were 8 criminal charges.

Light up Lapel donated $1000 to each the Police department and the Fire department. Village Fair was uneventful at PD standpoint. The new officers in training have moved to the next phase of their training.

One will go to the academy after Labor Day.

Planning: Marcellus presented a potential problem with downtown parking requirements. It's basically impossible for a new business to move into town. There was also a Public Hearing for the Floodplains.

Planning Commission is sending a favorable recommendation to the council at the next meeting.

Utilities: The street sweeper worked well that we rented. They gave us a discount on it. Peerless did flow testing on our wells and high service pumps. We are waiting for a quote for the pumps. It was recommended that the pumps be replaced at both wells. The State Road 13 well is operating at 48 percent below its rated capacity and Ford Street well is operating 60 percent below its capacity. New hires will be ready to go on call as of July 24^th . Hutchison then asked if could possibly have a take home vehicle. He is spending a lot of time driving back and forth. Just to drive back and forth to work. Blake said it just needs to be an update to the handbook as policy.

Parks: They would like to get rid of the gator and purchase a bunker rake. It will benefit them more than a gator. They could trade in the Gator for a bunker rake.

Motion to allow the Parks Department to trade in the Gator for a bunker rake made by Fouse, 2^nd by Blake and all were in favor.

RDC: Just had bills from Reedy and they are seeking an additional member.

Clerk-Treasurer Report:

Retherford said she had completed all the Gas Budget refunds in the amount of $59,643.14 and would like the council to approve the adjustments on the accounts.

Motion to approve the adjustments batch list for refunds made by Blake, 2^nd by Fouse and all were in favor.

Retherford stated that she would be in French Lick for the ILMCT classes August 10th through the 13^th . Motion to approve the minutes for June 19th, 2025, and June 25th, 2025, made by Shuck, 2^nd by Blake and all were in favor

Motion to approve the claims as presented by Shuck, 2^nd by Fouse and all were in favor except for Blake who abstained.

Motion to approve the allowance docket made by Blake, 2^nd by Fouse and all were in favor.

Council members' comments and concerns:

Blake wants to look into replacing the server at town hall after it had a malfunction last week and has been patched together. He would like to seek quotes for a new server.

Motion to allow Blake to seek quotes for a new server for town hall made by Robertson, 2^nd by Shuck and all were in favor

Motion to adjourn the meeting made by Blake, 2^nd by Fouse and all were in favor.

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