City Council

TOWN OF CICERO TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2025 at 7:00 PM Call to Order: President Cox called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Ms. Gary gave the prayer. President Cox 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 Cox declared a quorum with all members present. Others Present: Rhonda Gary, Clerk Treasurer Jeff Rednour, Police Chief Frank Zawadzki, Cicero/Jackson Township Plan Commission Director Terry Cooper, Street & Utilities Director Aaron Culp, Town Attorney Keith Bryant, Town Engineer Dan Strong, Project Coordinator Approval of Agenda: Mr. Johnson made a motion to approve the agenda as amended, Ms. Pearson seconded, motion carried 5-0. Approval of Prior Minutes: Town Council Staff Meeting Minutes, February 13, 2025, 7:00 PM Town Council Meeting Minutes, February 18, 2025, 7:00 PM Mr. Lutz made a motion to approve the minutes listed above. Mr. Johnson seconded, motion carried 5-0. Approval of 3/4/25 Claims: Mr. Lutz made a motion to approve claims dated 3/4/25 as presented. Mr. Johnson seconded, motion carried 5-0. Council Committee Reports: 1. OTC Report – Ms. Pearson had no report. 2. EDC Report – President Cox had no report. 3. SWU Management Board Report – SWU President Freeman was not present. Legal Counsel Report – Mr. Culp had nothing at this time. Cicero/Jackson Township Plan Commission Report - Director's Report - February 2025 Permit Revenue: February 2025 = $4,448 YTD: $7,445 February 2024 = $4,174 YTD: $6,575 1  Difference: Month = +$274 YTD: +$870 A total of 13 building permits for February 2025. Eleven were inside the corporate limits (of which 0 was for a new home). Two permits were issued for Jackson Township (of which, 0 was for a new home). Estimated Cost of projects permitted $12,223,475. The Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for March 12th at the Town Hall. The next BZA meeting is scheduled for March 20th at the Town Hall. Both committees will meet and have items on the agenda. The draft of the Comprehensive Plan will be discussed on Mar 12th. We are still looking for applicants to attend the Qualified Individual training held on March 11th at Flix brewhouse. All contractors should attend due to a new IDEM requirement. See Mr. Zawadzki for registration details. Town Engineer Report – Keith Bryant 1. Tamarack – Mr. Bryant relayed that the punch list inspection list is complete in Section 4 and recommended that the town accept the infrastructure. Mr. Culp will put together a resolution to accept the infrastructure and move from a performance bond to a maintenance bond. President Cox inquired if the issue with the trees has been resolved. Mr. Bryant replied that it has based upon response from MI Homes (not possible to confirm if all are alive at this time). 2. Water – Mr. Bryant stated that there is nothing new to report. 3. Wastewater – Mr. Bryant reported that Reynolds continues to work on pouring concrete, sludge building, piping, etc. He asked that council approve Pay Application #8 previously emailed for consideration. Mr. Johnson made a motion to approve Pay Application #8. Ms. Pearson seconded, motion carried 5-0. 4. West Jackson Street – Mr. Bryant said that Midwest Paving has delayed the 3/17/25 start date due to concrete subcontractor schedule. They will regroup tomorrow and hope to get a new projected start date from the contractor. Mr. Bryant believes they will start on the east side of Jackson Street. Mr. Lutz inquired about notifying business owners. Mr. Bryant will construct a letter to send to business owners. Mr. Hayden inquired about the seating areas. Mr. Bryant assured Mr. Hayden that they are in the current contract. 5. 2025 Community Crossings Matching Grant – Mr. Bryant stated that Ms. Gary was told from INDOT that the town is successful with the grant so he has submitted a task order for the project and asked council to approve same. Mr. Hayden made a motion to approve Task Order 2025-01. Ms. Pearson seconded, motion carried 5-0. Old Business: a. Parks Board Additional Member – Mr. Strong stated that the Parks Board is increasing their board members from four to five as discussed at the last staff meeting. Mr. Culp prepared an ordinance as required. b. GO Bond – Ms. Gary stated that she has contacted Baker Tilly in regard to a General Obligation Bond for the town. The rates seem to be a little higher than anticipated. She suggested that the council decide on the amount they wish to bond and which type of bond they would like to secure. After a brief conversation, Mr. Lutz suggested that the council members bring a list of projects they are considering bonding and bring it to the next staff meeting. Ms. Gary will add that to the next staff meeting agenda. c. Concrete Bids – There were three bids for concrete work at the baseball/softball fields. They were as follows: 2  Ms. Pearson opened and read aloud the bid from Prater and Sons Concrete, Inc in the amount of $40,375.00 which included a donation of $5,000.00. Mr. Lutz opened and read aloud the bid from Tragesser Concrete Forms, Inc in the amount of $55,616.00. Mr. Hayden opened and read aloud the bid from Elbrecht in the amount of $2,000.00 which included a donation for labor in the amount of $18,000.00. Afterwards, Ms. Pearson made a motion to accept the lowest bid contingent on Mr. Culp and Mr. Hunter’s approval. New Business: a. 2024 Boat Dock Fee Resolution No. 03-04-2025-01 – Ms. Gary stated that the resolution for 2024 Dock Fees was overlooked, so she presented it to the council for approval. Mr. Johnson made a motion to approve Resolution No. 03-04-2025- 01. Ms. Pearson seconded, motion carried 5-0. b. 2025 Boat Dock Fee Resolution No. 03-04-2025-02 – Ms. Gary presented Resolution No. 03-04-2025-02 for 2025 Dock Fees. Mr. Johnson made a motion to approve the resolution. Ms. Pearson seconded, motion carried 5-0. c. Hometown Heros Resolution No. 03-04-2025-03 – Mr. Johnson made a motion to approve Resolution No. 03-04-2025-03 which has been previously discussed. Ms. Pearson seconded, motion carried 5-0. d. IT Agreement – Ms. Gary asked council to approve the IT Agreement with Bizserv. After a brief discussion, Mr. Hayden made a motion to approve and allow Ms. Gary to sign. Mr. Lutz seconded, motion carried 5-0. e. SB 355 – Mr. Culp briefly explained Senate Bill 355 and the impact to municipal elections. After a brief discussion and council’s unanimous disapproval, council asked Mr. Culp to construct a resolution stating just that. Mr. Culp will do that before the next staff meeting. f. Invoice Cloud Agreement – After a brief discussion, Mr. Johnson made a motion to approve and allow Ms. Gary to sign the agreement. Ms. Pearson seconded, motion carried 5-0. g. Ground Lease and Purchase Option – Mr. Strong asked council’s approval for the ground lease and purchase option. Mr. Hayden made the motion. Ms. Pearson seconded, motion carried 5-0. h. Peerless Midwest Proposal – Mr. Strong asked council’s approval for the test well proposal. Mr. Hayden made the motion to approve and allow President Cox to sign. Mr. Lutz seconded, motion carried 5-0. i. Additional Parks Board Member Ordinance No. 03-04-2025-04 – (previously discussed) Ms. Pearson made a motion to approve the ordinance. Mr. Johnson seconded, motion carried 5-0. Miscellaneous: a. Catherine Street Update – Kudos to Chief Rednour for the new signage on Catherine Street. b. Food and Beverage Tax – Mr. Hayden noted that the town received $4362 this month for January disbursement. 3 Comments by Citizens: Mr. Frye, Jackson Township resident, inquired about the next Plan Commission meeting. Motion to Adjourn: Ms. Pearson made the motion. Mr. Johnson 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 March 18, 2025 at 7:00 PM at Cicero Town Hall. 4