City Council

TOWN OF CICERO TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2025 at 7:00 PM Call to Order: President Lutz called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Ms. Gary gave the prayer. Mr. Lutz called for roll call. Members of the Cicero Town Council were present or absent as follows: Present: Joseph Cox Absent: Eric Hayden Dennis Johnson Christopher Lutz Emily Pearson Declare a Quorum Present: President Lutz declared a quorum with all members present. Others Present: Rhonda Gary, Clerk Treasurer Jeff Rednour, Police Chief Lance Overholser, Fire Chief Frank Zawadzki, Cicero/Jackson Township Plan Commission Director Terry Cooper, Street & Utilities Director Jim Hunter, Parks Superintendent Aaron Culp, Town Attorney Keith Bryant, Town Engineer Bruce Freeman, Storm Water Management Board President Dan Strong, Project Coordinator Approval of Agenda: Mr. Cox made a motion to approve the agenda as amended, Ms. Pearson seconded, motion carried 5-0. President Lutz informed those in attendance that tonight is election of officers for the council. He thanked the department heads and council for their support during his term of council president. Mr. Thurman, an engineer with Hamilton County was present to give an update concerning the progress of 236th Street. Mr. Thurman started by saying that the cold weather is a factor. He also stated that they are not off site and continue to work on the bridge. And like any other project it isn’t without complications and hasn’t gone as smoothly as planned as you never know what you’re going to run into when you dig. Not to mention two hurricanes which took utility employees off the project to deploy to those sites. Mr. Thurman addressed concerns from the public such as opening the cart path during construction, posting speed limit signs and the number of days 236th will be closed. He also addressed a detour mapping mechanism as well as concerns for the lack of coordination as multiple jurisdictions are closing roads at the same time to do construction. Mr. Thurman said that these projects are in the works sometimes for years and the window of time to use the funds is limited. Someone suggested a project page on the 1 county’s website. Mr. Thurman said that they could do better and will look into the suggestions. He then thanked the council for the opportunity to speak. 1. Election of Officers: a. President of the Council – Motion to Open Nominations for Town Council President – Ms. Pearson made the motion. Mr. Johnson seconded, motion carried 5-0. Ms. Pearson nominated Mr. Cox for President. There were no additional nominations. Motion to Close Nominations for Town Council President – Mr. Johnson made the motion. Ms. Pearson seconded, motion carried 5-0. Council voted 5-0 to approve Mr. Cox as Town Council President. b. Vice President of Council – Motion to Open Nominations for Town Council Vice President – Mr. Hayden made the motion. Ms. Pearson seconded, motion carried 5-0. Mr. Hayden nominated Mr. Johnson for Town Council Vice President. There were no additional nominations. Motion to Close Nominations for Town Council Vice President – Mr. Lutz made the motion. Ms. Pearson seconded, motion carried 5-0. Council voted 5-0 to approve Mr. Johnson as Town Council Vice President. c. Appoint 2025 Department Heads – Town Council Appointments: Mr. Johnson made a motion to retain all dept heads from 2024 for 2025. Ms. Pearson seconded, motion carried 5-0. They are as follows: Fire Chief – Chief Lance Overholser Police Chief – Chief Jeff Rednour Street/Utilities Director – Director Terry Cooper Planning Commission Director – Director Frank Zawadzki Parks Superintendent – Superintendent Jim Hunter Town Council President Liaison Appointments: President Cox appointed the following liaisons: Fire Department – Ms. Pearson Police Department – President Cox Street/Utilities – Mr. Hayden Planning Commission – Mr. Lutz Parks Department – Vice President Johnson Other Appointments Appointments to The Cicero Fire Commission – 4-year term. All are current. The Cicero Metropolitan Police Commission – 3-year term - Town Council Appointment Mr. Lutz made a motion to reappoint Jerry Cook to the Cicero Metropolitan Police 2  Commission. Ms. Pearson seconded, motion carried 5-0. BZA Appointment – 4-year term. All are current. Cicero Economic Development Committee (EDC) – 2-year term Gene McDonald and Dagny Zupin – (Town Council Appointments) Mr. Johnson made a motion to appoint Mr. McDonald and Ms. Zupin to the EDC. Ms. Pearson seconded, motion carried 5-0. Cicero Redevelopment Commission -Yearly–3 presidential /2 council President Cox appointed Mr. Hayden, Mr. Lutz and Ms. Pearson to the Redevelopment Commission. Mr. Lutz made a motion to nominate Mr. Cox and Mr. Johnson to the Redevelopment Commission. Ms. Pearson seconded, motion carried 5-0. Appointment to Storm Water Utility Management Board – 3-year term President Cox reappointed Mr. Lenze to the SWU Board for a three-year term. Appointment to the Hamilton County Emergency Management Advisory Council – Annual Mr. Lutz made a motion to appoint Chief Overholser to the Hamilton County Emergency Management Advisory Council. Ms. Pearson seconded, motion carried 5-0. Appointment to the Planning Commission – (During Old Business) Mr. Strong reminded the council that Mr. Johnson needs to be appointed to the Plan Commission. President Cox appointed Mr. Johnson to the Plan Commission. Approval of Prior Minutes: Town Council Staff Meeting Minutes, December 12, 2024, 7:00 PM Town Council Executive Session Memorandum, December 17, 2024, 6:00 PM Town Council Meeting Minutes, December 17, 2024, 7:00 PM Town Council Special Meeting Minutes, December 30, 2024, 9:00 AM Mr. Johnson made a motion to approve the minutes listed above. Mr. Lutz seconded, motion carried 5-0. Approval of 1/7/25 Claims: Mr. Lutz made a motion to approve claims as presented. Mr. Johnson seconded, motion carried 5-0. Council Committee Reports: 1. OTC Report – Nothing to report. 2. EDC Report – Nothing to report. 3. SWU Management Board Report – Nothing to report. Legal Counsel Report – Mr. Culp had nothing at this time. Cicero/Jackson Township Plan Commission Report - Director's Report - December 2024 Permit Revenue: December 2024 = $5,110, YTD: $63,971 December 2023 = $4,927 YTD: $97,006 3  Difference: Month = +$183 YTD: -$33,035 A total of 17 building permits were issued in December 2024. Sixteen were within corporate limits (of which 0 were for new homes). One permit was issued for Jackson Township (of which, 0 was for a new home). Estimated Cost of projects permitted $919,565. Next Planning Commission meeting is 1/8/25, and will be held at the Red Bridge Park Community Bldg. BZA for January has been cancelled due to lack of business. Town Engineer Report – 1. Tamarack – Mr. Bryant reported that he has spoken with MI Homes and there are some things that need to be cleaned up in Tamarack Section 4. Mr. Bryant will reinspect once the snow melts. He believes that MI will be ready to hand that infrastructure over to town in February or March. 2. Water – Mr. Bryant said that there is nothing new to discuss. 3. Wastewater – Mr. Bryant stated that Reynolds continues to move forward. They are about 18% complete as of the end of November. Little work was done in the last two weeks of December. The focus is still on Oxidation Ditch #1 i.e. concrete pours, piping and the sludge building improvements. 4. West Jackson Street – Mr. Bryant relayed he has a preconstruction meeting with Midwest Paving this Thursday (1/9/25) at 1:30 pm. He will relay that information (including the anticipated construction schedule) once that meeting is concluded. Mr. Hayden inquired if Mr. Bryant was aware that the seating area may be included at the southwest corner of Byron and Jackson Streets. Mr. Bryant had been informed of the possibility and said that there will be time to do that once the project gets started. 5. 2025 Community Crossings Matching Grant – Mr. Bryant stated that Mr. Strong and Ms. Gary have been working on the grant application for Morse Landing Drive and Catherine Street. Old Business: a. Employee Handbook Amendment – Ms. Pearson made a motion to approve the amendment to the employee handbook. Mr. Johnson seconded, motion carried 5-0. b. Comcast – Livestreaming – Chief Overholser informed council of the quote in the amount of $234.95 (monthly) from Comcast for livestreaming meetings. After a brief conversation, Mr. Hayden made a motion to approve moving forward with Comcast. Mr. Johnson seconded, motion carried 5-0. New Business: a. Joel Thurman – 236th Street Update – moved to the beginning of the agenda b. Parks 5-Year Plan – Superintendent Hunter stated that he received approval of the 5- year parks and recreation master plan from the state. He will review and update the council. He will get it signed by the parks board at their next meeting. c. Easement Encroachment – Mr. Zawadzki started by saying that he is neither for nor against the information to be presented; however, the encroachment is something he is required by ordinance to reject. Afterwards, Mr. Hession presented drawings and sketches to illustrate what he is proposing, which is a variance to encroach on/and 4  into an easement to rebuild a deck on his property. After a lengthy conversation, council agreed to allow the encroachment, pending a signed and recorded agreement by Mr. Culp. d. CD – Ms. Gary informed the council that the 12-month CD will mature this week and inquired if council wishes to reinvest. After a brief conversation, they would like to reinvest. e. Encumbrances – Ms. Gary informed the council of the encumbrances from 2024 to 2025. f. Retreat – Ms. Gary advised council that council historically holds the annual retreat in February and asked if they would like to get that scheduled. After a brief conversation, President Cox asked council to think about some dates. He also asked Ms. Gary to add it to the next council meeting agenda. Miscellaneous: There was nothing Comments by Citizens: a. Ms. Mitchell thanked and complimented Superintendent Hunter for all the work in the parks area. b. Ms. Pearson thanked Director Cooper and his crew for an outstanding job cleaning the streets after the snowstorm. Motion to Adjourn: Mr. Johnson made the motion. Ms. Pearson seconded, motion carried 5-0. Signatures on Official Documents! Signatures of Cicero Town Council AYE NAY Joseph R Cox Dennis D Johnson Eric C Hayden Christopher J Lutz Emily K Pearson Attested: Rhonda Gary, Clerk Treasurer The Next Cicero Town Council Meeting will be on January 21, 2025 at 7:00 PM at Cicero Town Hall. 5