Town Council Regular Meeting

TOWN COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING Thursday, May 16, 2024 at 7:00 PM Council Chambers - Bristol Municipal Complex and live streamed Town of Bristol YouTube channel MINUTES CALL MEETING TO ORDER Thursday, May 16, 2024 Council President Jeff Beachy called the Regular Council Meeting to order at 7:00pm. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Town Marshal Mike Albin. ROLL CALL Members present: Doug DeSmith, Dean Rentfrow, Cathy Burke, Gregg Tuholski, Jeff Beachy Other members: Town Manager Mike Yoder, Deputy Clerk-Treasurer/Assistant Town Manager Jill Swartz, Legal Counsel Alex Bowman, Town Marshal Mike Albin, Fire Chief Nik Kantz. Absent: Cathy Antonelli APPROVAL OF AGENDA Marshal Albin asked to add a staff change item to his portion of the agenda. No other changes. The agenda will stand as added. APPROVAL OF INVOICES  Motion to approve the invoices made by Cathy Burke, Seconded by Gregg Tuholski. Voting Yea: Doug DeSmith, Dean Rentfrow, Cathy Burke, Gregg Tuholski, Jeff Beachy. Motion carries. APPROVAL OF MINUTES  Motion to approve meeting minutes from April 18, 2024, April 25, 2024 and May 2, 2024 made by Dean Rentfrow, Seconded by Doug DeSmith.Voting Yea: Doug DeSmith, Dean Rentfrow, Cathy Burke, Gregg Tuholski, Jeff Beachy. Motion carries. PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ITEMS Elkhart County CVB staff presentation Terry Mark, Director of Communications and Public Relations of Elkhart County Visitors Bureau announced the 17th year of the Quilt Gardens and Heritage Trail event. May 30- September 15, 2024. Bristol locations include quilt gardens at the Historical Museum and Bonneyville Mill and there is a mural on the side of the Opera House. Terry thanked the Council for their support and shared a journal with each member. Janice Terry requests a variance to the Ordinance to house additional chickens Janice Terry, a local resident, asked for a variance to the Ordinance, with approval from her neighbors. She asked to expand to possibly 15-30 chickens. (egg laying and meat birds) Discussion included use, smell, clean up, ammonia smell, number of chickens. Legal Counsel Alex Bowman noted that an amendment to the Ordinance needs to take place before the request can be considered. Jeff asked Alex to amend the Ordinance through a variance process and have the variance describe the request of specific to each request, with a point that the neighbors say yes. Grace period granted to Janice for the extra ten chickens that she currently has while this is being updated. REPORTS TOWN MANAGER Mike Yoder Report to Board on activities 1) INDOT representative stopped by and spoke with Jill regarding a possible two-day partial road closure for a proposed major repair to the intersection of Vistula and Division in August, 2024. Mike Yoder and Council questioning the two-day repair, when the following year we will be having improvements in the same areas. Mike to get more information. 2) Street light vendor has set of plans for Vistula and Division from DLZ. Locations need to be planned. Legal document to be prepared to layout who will be paying for what. 3) Large load vehicles being charged for using local streets by State Police. Mike spoke with INDOT about using the local street routes as an approved route. 4) Economic Development opportunities in the work (commercial development and residential), moving forward with construction on Abby Thomas' property. Cathy Burke shared concerns from what she read on Facebook about the mosquito application. Discussion followed. Updated Commerce Drive sign proposal Mike asked to review these proposals with Eric from our street department and come back to the Council with design proposals. Council members Dean Rentfrow and Gregg Tuholski to review with Eric and Mike. Satellite Industries CF-1 Abatement for building expansion. Recommend approving as substantially compliant. Additional employee count: estimated at 60. Actual 129. Salaries: estimated at $2,186,64. Actual $5,644,763. Total net Real Estate improvements: estimated $9,886,194. Actual: $10,029,452  Motion to approve the CF-1 submission for Satellite Industries made by Doug DeSmith, Seconded by Dean Rentfrow. Voting Yea: Doug DeSmith, Dean Rentfrow, Cathy Burke, Gregg Tuholski, Jeff Beachy. Motion carries. Proclamation honoring the life of Wendell Shaffer  Motion to approve the Proclamation honoring the life of Wendell Shaffer made by Dean Rentfrow, Seconded by Doug DeSmith. Voting Yea: Doug DeSmith, Dean Rentfrow, Cathy Burke, Gregg Tuholski, Jeff Beachy. Motion carries. Jeff will deliver the proclamation off to the funeral home tomorrow. CLERK-TREASURER - Deputy Clerk-Treasurer Jill Swartz Pyrtotechnico Fireworks company – Town of Bristol winner of $1,000 calendar entry. Clerk- Treasurer recommends $1K credit, as opposed to $1K towards display.   Motion to apply $1,000 credit to the fireworks invoice for 2024 made by Dean Rentfrow, Seconded by Doug DeSmith. Voting Yea: Doug DeSmith, Dean Rentfrow, Cathy Burke, Gregg Tuholski, Jeff Beachy. Motion carries. Notice to taxpayers published;second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 5/16/2024-11 Additional Appropriation $575,440 FUND Fund Name Appropriation # Amount Reason # MS-4 – Monsanto Class Action 2500 MS-4 Stormwater 2500-001-310 $ 8,440 Settlement (St. Joseph River Basin to Tritium Inc.) 2203 MVH Restricted 2203-001-430 $ 57,000 CCMG 2024-1 Match and paving projects 2570 TIF #130 South SR 15 2570-001-412 $158,188.50 Right of way acquisition for water/sewer project 2570 TIF #130 South SR 15 2570-001-412.100 $321,811.50 CCMG 2023-1 Ineligible costs 4436 EDIT 4436-001-443 $ 30,000 Part of CCMG 2024-1 Match Grand Total: $575,440.00 A public meeting opened by Jeff to hear any questions or concerns regarding the adoption of Ordinance No. 5/16/2024-11 in the amount of $575,440. Hearing no comments, the public hearing was closed.  Motion to approve on second and final reading Ordinance No. 5/16/2024-11 in the amount of $545,440 made by Cathy Burke, Seconded by Gregg Tuholski. Voting Yea: Doug DeSmith, Dean Rentfrow, Cathy Burke, Gregg Tuholski, Jeff Beachy. Motion carries. Amendment to Salary Ordinance No. 5/16/2024-12- consider suspending rules to adopt, corrects certain job descriptions, increases summer employee hourly rate. Alex notes an error on page 11 in regards to personal time.  Motion to correct the typographical error (five personal days) on page 11 and amend the salary ordinance as presented made by Cathy Burke, Seconded by Doug DeSmith. Voting Yea: Doug DeSmith, Dean Rentfrow, Cathy Burke, Gregg Tuholski, Jeff Beachy. Motion carries.  Motion to forego first reading and adopt on second reading the amended salary ordinance made by Jeff Beachy; seconded by Dean Rentfrow. Voting Yea: Doug DeSmith, Dean Rentfrow, Cathy Burke, Gregg Tuholski, Jeff Beachy. Motion carries.  Motion to adopt the amended ordinance to pass on first and adopt on second reading made by Cathy Burke; seconded by Gregg Tuholski. Voting Yea: Doug DeSmith, Dean Rentfrow, Cathy Burke, Gregg Tuholski, Jeff Beachy. Motion carries. TOWN MARSHAL Mike Albin - Marshal Albin reviewed the April Operations report. - Code Enforcement - Randy Cripe is focusing a lot on signs posted on telephone pole. - Staff changes - Nick Russo had moved to Florida, but is now back in Indiana and will be starting tomorrow as a Detective at the BPD. He will be a great asset to the department. - Dustin Lundgren has been promoted to Lieutenant. - Marshal Albin has dedicated the last 27 years in the Bristol Police Department. He shared a few of his experiences and timeline of his career, while noting that he is the longest tenured  police officer at the BPD. He will be stepping down from his position and leaving the department. Cathy shared a couple memories of working with Mike and Jeff thanked him for all he's done for the community and wished him well. FIRE CHIEF Nik Kantz - Chief Kantz reviewed his April Operations report. - Picture fundraiser in the works. Watch your mailbox for details. - Community reminder: Please be mindful while cleaning up your properties and remember it is illegal to burn inorganic material, such as your garbage. Chief Kantz told Marshal Albin that it's been an honor to work with him and he appreciated everything he did for them. Jeff noted the tremendous bond that the two departments have created together over the last few years and he thanked Chief Kantz for the service that the BFD provides to us and offered prayers for their safety. PARK BOARD Linda Powell The Town’s street department superintendent, Eric Funkhouser, attended the last park board meeting to partner with them on shared ideas for some upcoming project plans. (playground equipment borders, ADA ramps, additional mulch) Congdon Park - plans for electrical upgrades around the walking path may not happen this year. Eric and park board discussed defining the parking lot better and Eric will make sure the fishing pier is in good working condition, possibly adding a coat of paint to it. $6K will be put towards picnic tables. Dean shared some thoughts of where the picnic tables might be able to be placed. Cummins Park - Eric has repaired the elliptical machine. Scott Dreamer, Park Board President, has a contact name for providing maintenance on the exercise equipment at the park. He also wants to consider expanding the parking on the west side of the pickleball courts. A bench is being considered down in the walking path. Hermance Park - waiting on a pier permit. Five year plan - there is a survey on Facebook to find out what people would like to see in the parks. Food truck discussion - good idea (lunch/dinner) maybe like a first Friday. Jill to work on a plan. TOWN ATTORNEY Alex Bowman The sewer and water bonds pre-closing coming up and Jeff's signature is needed on several documents. Eminent Domain update: The Court appointed three appraisers last week. They are to be sworn in on June 2, 2024 and given instructions on the process and report back to the Court by July 8, 2024. When the appraisal reports have been shared with Counsel then an Executive session can be called to review. NEW BUSINESS - No new business at this time. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR (Public Comments to Council) no public comment this evening. TOWN COUNCIL DISCUSSION ITEMS Doug DeSmith - no discussion items this evening. Dean Rentfrow - no discussion items this evening. Cathy Burke - no discussion items this evening. Gregg Tuholski - no discussion items this evening. Jeff Beachy - No discussion items this evening, but Jeff thanked Marshal Albin again for his service. NEXT MEETINGS: May 21 RDC meeting, TIF comprehensive plan review 7:00pm June 6 RDC annual meeting 6:30pm June 6 Council meeting 7:00pm MOTION TO ADJOURN  Motion to adjourn made by Gregg Tuholski; seconded by Cathy Burke. All in favor. Meeting adjourned at 8:30pm _________________________ ______________________________ Jeff Beachy, Council President Jillian Swartz, Deputy Clerk-Treasurer