- On 8/21/2025
- In Town
LAPEL TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
August 21 , 2025
In attendance: Brian Robertson, Gary Shuck, Roger Fouse, Chad Blake, Teresa Retherford, Secretary, and Jeff Graham, Legal Counsel
Motion to amend the agenda to add personnel discussion to New Business made by Robertson, 2nd by Shuck and all were in favor.
Public Comment and Concerns: Kathy Yaryar commended the town in dealing with her water. She stated that she is tired of the negativity. She's proud of this town. Stephanie Evelo voiced her concern about the water and would like an update. She is concerned about everyone's health. Robertson responded that the water project is complete but that it only replaced about one third of the pipes in the town and that we have an old infrastructure. Shuck stated that we would have to do another project, but it will take several million dollars. Blake stated that there is a misconception because our utility guys investigate brown water when it is reported to town hall. Robertson stated that utilities are rate driven. Kristie Worthman asked if there is concern within the town what's the harm of getting a second opinion. Shuck stated that just because this project is done it doesn't mean we have stopped working to find what we need to do but it means rate increases. Hutchison stated that our water is tested all the time. It is safe. Evelo asked if we know what's been replaced and what hasn't. Retherford stated there are schematics that show what has been replaced and what hasn't. Allicia West asked if it would be worth it to post updates as to what areas have been checked. She stated that people should come to Town Council meetings and get involved. She asked if we have looked into hiring someone to help write grants. Shuck said we are working on it. Dan Cutshaw responded that we are working with a Grant writer. Robertson stated that grants are a very small part of the payment for projects.
New Business:
Motion to approve Resolution 3-2025 a resolution for Mileage Rate Reimbursement was made by Blake, 2nd by Fouse and all were in favor.
Motion to approve Resolution 4-2025 a resolution to Ratify land sale on Atlantic Road where the bridge has been out made by Fouse, 2nd by Shuck and all were in favor.
Robertson made a nomination to appoint Shuck as the representative to the Fire Territory. There were no other Nominations.
Motion to approve Shuck as the Representative for the new Fire Territory made by Blake, 2nd by Robertson and all were in favor.
Dan Cutshaw with CDS Engineers presented two contracts. One for retainer to help with the sale of the gas utility and the water utility. The second contract is for the sanitary sewer rehab.
Motion to approve the Master Agreement made by Shuck, 2nd by Robertson and all were in favor.
Motion to approve Task A Agreement made by Fouse, 2nd by Shuck and all were in favor. ROW Permit: Comcast
Motion to table Comcast's ROW Permit made by Shuck, 2nd by Robertson and all were in favor.
ROW Permit: On-Ramp
Motion to approve the On-Ramp Permit made by Shuck, 2nd by Robertson and all were in favor.
ROW Permit: Brightspeed
Motion to table the Brightspeed permit made by Shuck, 2nd by Robertson and all were in favor.
ROW Permit: Fall Creek Plumbing
Motion to approve Fall Creek Plumbing Permit made by Blake, 2nd by Fouse and all were in favor.
Employee Handbook Update:
Motion to approve the updates to the Employee Handbook with the addition of a take home vehicle for the Utility Team Lead made by Robertson, 2nd by Shuck and all were in favor.
Robbie Castetter was not there
Old Business: There was no old business
Administrative Leave: Officer Montgomery stay on administrative leave without pay or with pay.
Motion made by Robertson to leave Officer Montgomery on unpaid administrative leave until his hearing, 2nd by Shuck and all were in favor.
Public Hearing: Lapel UDO concerning Floodplain Management
Robertson then suspended the regular council meeting and opened a Public Hearing for the Lapel UDO concerning Floodplain Management. Marcellus Johnson, Planning
Administrator for the Town of Lapel, explained the new Floodplain Management Ordinance.
It just has to be updated to comply with the State of Indiana.
Robertson then closed the Public Hearing and resumed the regular meeting.
Motion to approve the Floodplain Management Ordinance made by Fouse, 2nd by Blake and all were in favor.
Department Reports:
Police: Chief Naselroad said Officer Jackson completed field Training and has been released for solo patrol and will start his first day at ILEA on September 2, 2025. Officer Nivens and Lee completed A-Ride. The police department responded to 549 service calls this month and filed 20 criminal charges. Naselroad stated it is time to replace 4 or 5 vests. Naselroad stated there has been a huge influx of juveniles driving e-scooters and e-bikes and we need an Ordinance. The police department received a large number of bike helmets they would like to hand out.
Planning Update: Public Hearing for Arbor Homes with improvements. Commission voted for an unfavorable recommendation, and it will come to council next month.
Utility Update: Hutchison brought a quote for a skid of water meters.
Motion to approve the purchase of a skid of water meters made by Shuck, 2nd by Blake and all were in favor.
Hutchison brought to council that he would like to discontinue putting fluoride in the water at the water plant. It is not mandatory to do it so he would like to discontinue it. Motion to discontinue the use of fluoride at the water plant made by Robertson, 2nd by Fouse and all were in favor.
Hutchison stated that 404 Woodward Street the sidewalk is torn up from a tow truck driving on it. Robertson stated he would like to look into it a little more.
Hutchison asked if he could take a water course in November. The cost is $500 from AWA. He said this is the first time they are offering it and it would be a Monday through Thursday course and then take the test with IDEM on Friday. Robertson asked if anyone else would want to and he stated Teague Scherer may want too as well.
Motion to approve Hutchison and Scherer to take the water course made by Robertson, 2nd by Shuck and all were in favor.
Hutchison also brought to the council's attention that the Freightliner dump truck was paid of this month and he got a quote for a skid steer and wondered if they wanted to go ahead and approve to get with the Bond Bank on interest rates. He got a quote from Reynolds Farm Equipment for a 325 track machine with a power rake and a rotary cutter for $94,900.00. The trencher we already have will work on it.
Motion to pursue the Bond Bank to get quotes on financing made by Robertson, 2nd by Blake and all were in favor.
Shuck would like to look into feasibility of hiring another full-time utility laborer.
Parks: Katie Hutchison, President of the Park Board stated that all field use agreements have been signed and taken care of. She wanted to thank the Utility Department for taking care of several projects. They installed the new piece of playground equipment and removed the volleyball court and planted grass seed. The ball fields at Brookside are brown again and the grass is gone.
RDC: Blake said they did not meet this month.
Clerk-Treasurer Report: Lisa has been working on a list of several people who live in Fishersburg that aren't paying their bills. Retherford wants to know if you can put a lien against the properties. Graham said that we can. Retherford will get Jenny Reske, the Town Manager started on that project to get a process. She asked if it could also be done for
Storm water and Graham said that it could. Retherford reminded Council that they have a
Special Meeting scheduled for September 2nd for the Gas Utility. It will be at the Lion's Club at 6:30pm. She also wanted to see if they would set up another one for next week for potential merger with Stony Creek Township. Council decided to meet on Tuesday August 26th at 6:30 at the Lion's Club.
Motion to approve the Memorandum of Understanding for the July 30, 2025 Executive Session was made by Robertson, 2nd by Fouse and all were in favor.
Motion to approve Minutes for July 17, 2025 and July 30, 2025 made by Robertson, 2nd by Fouse and all were in favor.
Retherford stated the AIM Conference will be October 21 through October 23 rd . Motion to approve the claims made as presented by Shuck, 2nd by Fouse and all were in favor.
Motion to approve the allowance docket made by Blake, 2 nd by Fouse and all were in favor.
Council Members Comments and Concerns: Shuck explained that now that the Fire
Territory merger has happened, there will be full-time staff at the Lapel Fire Station starting January 1 , 2026. The response time will be about ninety seconds. Robertson stated they will also be Advanced Life Support as well.
Motion to adjourn the meeting made by Robertson, 2nd by Shuck and all were in favor.
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