TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
October 16, 2025

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

Public Comment: Several Residents spoke up about the brown water and the safety of it.

Presentations: Event Permit for Christmas in Lapel

Motion to approve the Christmas in Lapel Permit made by Shuck, 2nd by Robertson and all were in favor. Waste Water Study: Krohn's & Associates gave the results of the Wastewater Study.

CDS Engineers, Inc Water Main Replacement: Dan Cutshaw stated that the towns' water tests under all contaminants. He stated that he has looked into how much it would cost to replace all the water main in town. There is 73,000 lineal feet of water main in Lapel. About 10,00 is relatively new. About 9,000 feet were replaced a couple years ago in Commonwealths Project so that leaves roughly 54,000 feet that need to be replaced. To replace and upgrade to bigger pipe would cost roughly 30.3 million dollars. There has not been a rate study for this yet but a guess it would triple to quadruple water rates. He stated that there are a lot of factors that are causing brown water. A lot of our pipes are old which means it's old cast iron pipe. In cast iron pipe you get scale build up which causes the pipe to be smaller. When the water moves faster than normal it breaks that scale off in the pipe and stirring it up more than likely causing the brown water. He stated another cause is probably the tank/water tower. It is very common for towns that have high iron and manganese to have a film or sludge in the tank/water tower. The town is in the process of having it cleaned now. Ford Street Well has been cleaned. The wells are not the source of brown water. We cleaned them for capacity. State Road 13 Well will be cleaned probably in November.

New Business:

Motion to introduce Ordinance 2025-05, the Wastewater Increase Ordinance made by Blake, 2nd by Shuck and all were in favor.

Motion to introduce Ordinance 2025-06, the Limb Ordinance, made by Fouse, 2nd by Washmuth and all were in favor.

Motion to introduce Ordinance 2025-07, the Drainage Ordinance, made by Shuck, 2nd by Washmuth and all were in favor.

Motion to pass the first reading of Ordinance 2025-08, the ROW Permit Fee, made by Blake, 2nd by Fouse and all were in favor.

Motion to approve Resolution 2025-06, Lein Procedure, made by Shuck, 2nd by Washmuth and all were in favor.

Lapel Sesquicentennial Celebration. Retherford asked if any of the Council members wanted to be involved with the Lapel Community Association to plan for it.

Atlas Retainage Release.

Motion made by Robertson to release the retainage to Atlas, 2nd by Washmuth and all were in favor.

Old Business: Development Agreement with Comcast. Tabled

Ordinance 2025-4 Budget Ordinance

Motion made by Robertson to adopt Ordinance 2025-4 Budget Ordinance, 2nd Washmuth and all were in favor.

Ordinance 2025-03 Gas Sale Utility Ordinance

Motion made by Robertson to adopt Ordinance 2025-03 Gas Sale Ordinance, 2nd by Washmuth and all were in favor.

Department Reports

Police: Chief Naselroad stated that Officer Jackson is still in the Academy. Officer Lee was hired for the vacant spot. Reserve Officer Foster has resigned. The vests should be delivered November 11 , 2025. Blake stated that the Crossroads proposal is the one he had permission to get a quote for the rotation vehicle, 2020-2 was paid off in January. This vehicle is a part of the normal rotation.

Motion made by Washmuth to purchase the 2024 Police responder Option 2, 2nd by Blake and all were in favor

Planning Commission: None

Utilities: Shuck stated they are going to do a replacement plan for signs and upgrading the signs at Old State Road 132 and 300 South. Smoke Testing for the sewer will start next Tuesday. Cutshaw stated that residents should pour water in their drains. Allicia West and Kristie Worthman volunteered to help pass out fliers the next day. Wright Family Practice offered their golf cart to the volunteers.

Parks: Their meeting for November has been moved to November 13 at 7:00pm and their December meeting has been moved to December 11 at 7:00pm.

RDC: Did not have a quorum and they still need a member.

Administration: Shuck introduced Jennifer Reske as our new Town Administrator.

Clerk-Treasurer Report: Robertson stated that he has been contacted by several people about the Trick or Treating hours. Due to the Lapel High School Football game that will be played on Halloween can it be extended to Saturday November 1 , 2025 as well.

Motion made by Washmuth to allow Trick or Treating on both Friday the 31 st and Saturday the 1 st from 5:00pm to 8:00pm, 2nd by Shuck and all were in favor.

Retherford stated that she would be out of the office October 21-23. She also stated that she sent out a Boyce Quote to upgrade the Neptune meter reading system.

Motion made by Blake to approve the quote from Boyce for $1195.00 to upgrade the Neptune system, 2nd by Robertson and all were in favor.

Motion made by Robertson to accept the Minutes for August 21 , 2025 Regular Meeting and September 2, 2025 Special Meeting, 2nd by Shuck and all were in favor.

Motion made by Shuck to except the Claims as presented, 2nd by Washmuth and all were in favor except Blake who abstained.

Motion made by Washmuth to except the Allowance Docket as presented, 2nd by Fouse and all were in favor.

Council Member Concerns: None

Motion to adjourn made by Robertson, 2nd by Washmuth and all were in favor.

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