Town Council Regular Meeting

TOWN COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING Thursday, October 16, 2025 at 7:00 PM Council Chamber Bristol Municipal Complex MINUTES CALL MEETING TO ORDER Bristol Town Council President Jeff Beachy called the regular meeting to order at 7:06pm on Thursday, October 16, 2025. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE led by Gregg Tuholski ROLL CALL Members present: Doug DeSmith, Dean Rentfrow, Cathy Burke, Gregg Tuholski, Jeff Beachy Others in attendance: Town Marshal Steve Priem, Legal Counsel Alex Bowman, Clerk-Treasurer Cathy Antonelli, Town Manager Mike Yoder, Fire Chief Nik Kantz APPROVAL OF AGENDA stands as published APPROVAL OF INVOICES  Motion to approve the invoices made by Cathy Burke, Seconded by Doug DeSmith. Voting Yea: Doug DeSmith, Dean Rentfrow, Cathy Burke, Gregg Tuholski, Jeff Beachy. Motion carries. APPROVAL OF MINUTES  Motion to approve the meeting minutes from September 18 and October 2, 2025 made by Doug DeSmith, Seconded by Jeff Beachy. Voting Yea: Doug DeSmith, Dean Rentfrow, Cathy Burke, Gregg Tuholski, Jeff Beachy. Motion carries. PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ITEMS – AWT rezoning & public hearing Consideration of Ordinance 10-16-2025-21, waive second reading and adopt on first reading. Danny Dean from Elkhart County Planning and Zoning and Ken Jones, Sr of JPR spoke to the details of the property. (restricted covenants to be added to the ordinance > to be sent to Mike/Jill tomorrow) Ordinance No BR 10-16-2025-21 An Ordinance to Amend Ordinance no. PC 32024-04 Known as the Elkhart County Development Ordinance by Rexzzoing the Area of Real Estate Herinafer Described from GPUD B-3, GPUD M-1, and GPUD M-2 to B-3, M-1, and M-2. Public hearing opened at 7:14pm to take comment to the AWT property Lester Otto of 18686 County Road 23, asked for clarification of the zoning. No residential at all. Hearing no further comment, the public hearing was closed at 7:15p. Alex suggests to revise the ordinance subject to written commitments, the adoption of the restrictive covenants. Cathy Burke motions to adopt. Danny Dean spoke to the planning procedures. Ken Jones spoke to the process as well. Council member Burke withdraws her motion.  Motion to approve Ordinance No. BR 10-16-2025-21 and adopt on first reading made by Doug DeSmith, Seconded by Gregg Tuholski. Voting Yea: Doug DeSmith, Dean Rentfrow, Cathy Burke, Gregg Tuholski, Jeff Beachy. Motion carried. REPORTS TOWN MANAGER Mike Yoder CCMG 2026-1 commitment letter CCMG project application is for a realignment of Ponderosa directly to the East. Maximum ask allowed is one million dollars. Our application will be for $947,000 and if approved, the Town will pay a match of $236K  Motion to approve the commitment letter for the Community Crossing Matching Grant application made by Dean Rentfrow, Seconded by Gregg Tuholski. Voting Yea: Doug DeSmith, Dean Rentfrow, Cathy Burke, Gregg Tuholski, Jeff Beachy. Motion carries. Wastewater Treatment Plant project SRF disbursement 37 $34,407 to Commonwealth Enginering SRF disbursement 38 $1,498,844 to Crosby Construction and $78,887 to retainage  Motion to pay the WWTP disbursements as listed made by Gregg Tuholski, Seconded by Cathy Burke. Voting Yea: Doug DeSmith, Dean Rentfrow, Cathy Burke, Gregg Tuholski, Jeff Beachy. Motion carries. Water Project SRF disbursement # 40 to JPR $51,654  Motion to approve SRF disbursement #40 to JPR $51,654 made by Cathy Burke, Seconded by Doug DeSmith. Voting Yea: Doug DeSmith, Dean Rentfrow, Cathy Burke, Gregg Tuholski, Jeff Beachy. Motion carries. SRF Disbursement 39 Niblock Excavating $85,700 Retainage $4,511  Motion to approve SRF disbursement #39 to Niblock $85,700, with a retainage amount of $4,511 made by Doug DeSmith, Seconded by Cathy Burke. Voting Yea: Doug DeSmith, Dean Rentfrow, Cathy Burke, Gregg Tuholski, Jeff Beachy. Motion carries. SRF disbursement # 38 Phoenix Fabricators $101,382, and $5,336 to retainage  Motion to approve SRF disbursement #38 to Phoenix Fabricators $101,382, with a retainage amount of $5,336 made by Cathy Burke, Seconded by Jeff Beachy. Voting Yea: Doug DeSmith, Dean Rentfrow, Cathy Burke, Gregg Tuholski, Jeff Beachy. Motion carries. St Joe Street water main project – reimbursable expenses Pay app # 1 Niblock $150,797.10 and Pay #2 Niblock $45,296.00  Motion to approve pay app #1 Niblock $150,797.10 and pay app #2 Niblock $45,296 made by Dean Rentfrow, Seconded by Doug DeSmith. Voting Yea: Doug DeSmith, Dean Rentfrow, Cathy Burke, Gregg Tuholski, Jeff Beachy. Motion carries. CLERK-TREASURER – Cathy Antonelli Ordinance No. 10.16.2025-22 Additional Appropriation $59,285.49 Council President Jeff Beachy opened a public hearing to take comments at 7:32pm. Hearing no comments, the hearing was closed at 7:32pm  Motion to adopt Ordinance No. 10.16.2025-22 $59,285.49 made by Gregg Tuholski, Seconded by Cathy Burke. Voting Yea: Doug DeSmith, Dean Rentfrow, Cathy Burke, Gregg Tuholski, Jeff Beachy. Motion carries. TOWN MARSHAL – Steve Priem Marshal Priem reviewed the monthly operations report. Note: It will cost $3,695 to replace the flock camera on NRR battery operated with solar, more details to come. FIRE CHIEF- Nik Kantz Fire Chief Nik Kantz shared his monthly operations report The Bristol Fire Department will be participating with the Tackle Shack’s and Forest River Fishing Group’s annual “Fall Brawl” Bass Tournament, taking place October 25 at County Road 17 Six Span boat launch from 8a to 2p rain or shine. Contact the Tackle Shack in Middlebury for more details. BFD will be selling raffle tickets for prizes to help raise funds for the US Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots campaign. Toys may be dropped off at the fire department as well. October is Fire Prevention Month – the fire department recommends changing your smoke detector batteries when you change your clocks in the spring and the fall. It’s also a great time to clean out your chimneys and stovepipes before use to help prevent fires. Looking forward to participating in the Truck and Treat event October 25! PARK BOARD - Linda Powell Congdon Park - October 25 Truck and Treat event. Four trees will have to be removed in the park, with five replacement trees going in. ($200/ea) Christmas Tree Lighting December 5 at the fire station - refreshments and carolers, santa mail box for children to drop off Santa letters. Jill is working on park events for 2026 that may include free fishing days to promote activity and events to help promote the local businesses Mike Yoder shared report on corn dog festival, approx 12K attending. ADEC transported more than 4K people. Oct 14 and 15 the basketball court is slated for reconstruction ($31K) The court will be closed for a week and painting will be done in the Spring. The park board received notice from the Community Foundation of Elkhart County that they will be receiving an annual endowment distribution beginning this year, from a local family toward park improvements. Pickleball courts are beginning to crack. Park Board member Scott Dreamer suggested looking into the warranty. The splash pad has been winterized for the season. The next park board meeting is November 4 at 6pm and is open to the public. TOWN ATTORNEY – Alex Bowman Discussion surrounding the steps for authorizing an offer to make purchases of certain property within the town and using the average of two appraisals obtained for that property. 1) Molded Foam - average of the two appraisals is $103,250 2) Hitch Holdings LLC - average of the two appraisals is $243,400  Motion to authorize Alex and Mike to work through JPR for the acquisition of Molded Foam Products, with an average evaluation of $103,250 and the second being Hitch Holdings, LLC with an average appraisal of $243,400 for new road projects made by Jeff Beachy, Seconded by Cathy Burke. Voting Yea: Doug DeSmith, Dean Rentfrow, Cathy Burke, Gregg Tuholski, Jeff Beachy. Motion carries. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR (Public Comments to Council) Mihail Rebec and Paul Slagel, acquisition process inquiry regarding the golf course. They would like an opportunity to present a proposal. Legal Counsel Alex Bowman spoke to the inquiry and currently there is a bid process in place and two suitors currently engaged. They would have to be dismissed in order to entertain new bids. Discussion followed. Council President Beachy noted that Council would like to see upgrades to the course improvement wise. Mr. Rebec concurs, using the clubhouse as a good addition to the Town overall. The Redevelopment Commission must make recommendations moving forward and current bids would have to be voided, before any ability to entertain new offers. TOWN COUNCIL DISCUSSION ITEMS – no items this evening NEXT MEETINGS: November 6, 2025 7:00 PM Council meeting MOTION TO ADJOURN   Motion to adjourn made by Cathy Burke, Seconded by Gregg Tuholski. Voting Yea: Doug DeSmith, Dean Rentfrow, Cathy Burke, Gregg Tuholski, Jeff Beachy  Motion to adjourn made at 8pm. _________________________ __________________________ Jeff Beachy, Council President Cathy Antonelli, Clerk-Treasurer These minutes are a summary of actions taken at the Bristol Town Council meetings. The full video archive of the meeting is available for viewing at https://bristol-in.municodemeetings.com/ for as long as this media is supported.