City Council

TOWN OF CICERO TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2026 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: Dennis Johnson Eric Hayden Jacob Everett Emily Pearson Declare a Quorum Present: President Cox declared a quorum with four 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 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: Ms. Pearson made the motion to approve the agenda as amended. Mr. Everett seconded, motion carried 4-0. Approval of Prior Minutes: Town Council Meeting Minutes, April 7, 2026, 7:00 PM Ms. Pearson made a motion to approve the minutes listed above. Mr. Everett seconded, motion carried 4-0. Approval of 4/21/26 Claims: Ms. Pearson made a motion to approve claims. Mr. Everett seconded, motion carried 4-0. Council Committee Reports: 1. EDC Report – There was no report. 2. SWU Management Board Report – SWU President Freeman had nothing new to report. Legal Counsel Report – Mr. Culp addressed the weight limit issue as previously discussed pertaining to Jackson Street. In the end, Council agree that 11,000 lb weight limit is a nice breaking point. Mr. Culp will create an ordinance to reflect Council’s desire. He will also include the three 20-minute parking spaces as discussed previously. Cicero/Jackson Township Plan Commission Report – Mr. Zawadzki had no updates. Mr. Strong had nothing to report. 1 Town Engineer Report – Keith Bryant 1. Wastewater – Mr. Bryant noted that Reynolds continues work at the plant focusing on oxidation ditch 2 and the existing clarifier rehabilitation, piping and other miscellaneous work to get everything switched over and hopefully get the project wrapped up. Reynolds Pay Application No. 21 was discussed. Ms. Pearson made a motion to approve Pay Application 21. Mr. Everett seconded, motion carried 4-0. Use of Other Contingency Funds – Mr. Cornelius , Project Manager with Reynolds Construction was present to explain the use of additional contingency funds due to unforeseen costs. Mr. Hayden and Mr. Everett inquired about the timeliness and over budgeted items in particular the 90% increase in construction equipment with only a 3–4- month schedule increase. Mr. Cornelius attempted to explain their justification for the additional uses of the contingency funds as they are nearly depleted. In the end, the discussion closed with Reynolds attempting to explain the magnitude of this change. Council didn’t seem satisfied. 2. 2024 Community Crossings Matching Grant (CCMG) West Jackson Street – Mr. Bryant reported that Midwest did the concrete work by Gymies. ADA markings will be addressed soon. Ms. Gary sent closing documents to INDOT and received confirmation from INDOT. 3. 2026 CCMG – Mr. Bryant relayed that the preconstruction meeting will be tomorrow at Town Hall. More information to follow. Mr. Everett inquired about the length of the project. Mr. Bryant will have a better idea tomorrow but initial thoughts from the contractor, Howard Asphalt, LLC were two to three weeks for the milling and paving portion of the project. 4. Morse Landing Drive Underdrain Project – Mr. Bryant stated that the project will begin this week. It was noted that despite preconstruction meetings with Frontier and their contractor where they agreed to delay their work in the project area, they placed some infrastructure there. After much discussion and debate of costs, Frontier is to remove what is needed to avoid conflict with the town’s project. 5. 2027 CCMG – Mr. Bryant would like some direction on the 2027 CCMG. Preliminary costs and scope documents were emailed to the Town on April 19 for consideration. Ms. Gary will dig into finding the match dollars. Mr. Bryant noted that due to CCMG reduction in the time between grant award and construction contract signatures, survey and design would have to proceed in May to be able to meet the grant requirements assuming a call for projects in July of 2026. President Cox asked Ms. Gary to add this to the next meeting agenda. 6. Task Order – Mr. Hayden made a motion to approve Task Order 2026-01. Ms. Pearson seconded, motion carried 4-0. Old Business: Bike Racks – After Council discussion and public input, Council agreed to do their own research to decide on locations. Mr. Hayden is opposed to the bike racks. New Business: E-Bikes and Scooters – Previous Clerk Treasurer, Ms. Unger was present to voice her concern for kids on e-bikes and scooters. She had submitted a letter prior to the council meeting. Her concern is that they go too fast (faster than cars), they do not notify walkers that they are passing on the right or left. It’s becoming increasingly dangerous. The causeway being the main issue. Mr. Culp clarified the different classes of bikes. He stated that Fishers has created an ordinance and he likes some of the wording. He will provide different 2 ordinances for Council’s review and recommendations. He will then create an ordinance for Cicero once he receives direction from the Council. Conversation continued concerning outdoor seating. Out of that conversation, benches were discussed and the need to amend the ordinance to allow benches. Council was in agreement to allow Mr. Strong and Mr. Culp working together to amend the ordinance to include the benches. Mr. Hayden then made a motion to approve Ordinance No 04-21-2026-01. Ms. Pearson seconded, motion carried 4-0. Miscellaneous: There was nothing. Comments by Citizens: Mr. Northcutt inquired about encroaching on the easement to install a fence. He noted that he would like to put a pool in his backyard, so a fence will be required. Mr. Northcutt is willing to absorb any costs associated should the town need access to the easement. He will also install two 5’ gates as part of his project to allow access by the town if needed. Mr. Northcutt will also have to address this with the BZA. After discussion, Mr. Hayden made a motion to allow Mr. Northcutt to encroach on the easement. Mr. Cox seconded. Mr. Hayden and President Cox voted yea. Mr. Everett and Ms. Pearson voted nay. Ms. Gary as Clerk Treasurer was willing to cast the deciding vote to break the tie vote by the Council. She voted yea. Motion to Adjourn: Ms. Pearson made the motion. Mr. Hayden seconded, motion carried 4-0. Signatures on Official Documents! Signatures of Cicero Town Council AYE NAY Joseph R Cox Jacob T Everett Eric C Hayden Dennis D Johnson Emily K Pearson Attested: Rhonda Gary, Clerk Treasurer The Next Cicero Town Council Meeting will be on (Wednesday) May 6, 2026 at 7:00 PM at Cicero Town Hall. 3