Common Council

CITY COMMON COUNCIL OF HARTFORD CITY, INDIANA OCTOBER 3, 2022 MEETING MINUTES CALL TO ORDER & WELCOME: Mayor Eckstein called to order a meeting of the Common Council of the City of Hartford City at 6:00pm on October 3, 2022. ROLL CALL: Members of the council present were Michael Wolfe, Dustin George, Ron Parrott, Ron Dudelston and Tony Scaggs. Also present were Mayor Dan Eckstein, Attorney Brandon Murphy and Clerk-Treasurer Dana Whatley. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Mayor Eckstein asked Council to move New Business “E” after Old Business “B”. Mr. Dudelston made a motion to accept the agenda as changed. Mr. Scaggs seconded the motion. The vote to approve the amended agenda was 5-0. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR SEPTEMBER 6, 2022: Mr. Parrott made a motion to approve the minutes as submitted. Mr. Scaggs seconded the motion. The vote to approve was 5-0. OLD BUSINESS: A.) 2ND READING OF ORDINANCE 2022-08 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 2021-14 AUTHORIZING ISSUANCE OF SEWAGE WORKS REVENUE BONDS IN ONE OR MORE SERIES: Attorney Murphy stated that there was a minor language change to this ordinance. Julie Bolling with Kreig DeVault stated the minor change was advised by Crowe and Baird due to the possibility that this bond could be placed with 2 purchasers rather than just one. The verbiage “in one or more series” was added. Mr. George made a motion to approve the 2nd reading of Ordinance 2022-08. Mr. Parrott seconded the motion. The vote to approve was 5-0. B.) 1ST READING OF ORDINANCE 2022-11 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING & RESTATING ORDINANCE 2022-04 FOR A WATERWORKS BOND: Julie Bolling with Kreig DeVault explained that this ordinance will look very similar to the sewage works bond. The Water Project won’t close until 2023. She stated there was a change in engineering firms and a change in the scope of the project. With these changes, it was decided to scrap the original ordinance and propose a new amended and restated ordinance. Mr. Scaggs made a motion to approve the 1st reading of Ordinance 2022-11. Mr. Parrott seconded the motion. The vote to approve was 5-0. C.) EARLY PAYOFF OF WATERWORKS 2013 BOND WITH 1ST FINANCIAL BANK: Julie Bolling with Krieg DeVault explained that in preparation for the new Waterworks bonds it was decided to approach 1st Financial Bank who holds the 2013 Waterworks bond to see if they would allow an early payoff. 1st Financial Bank agreed to allow an early payoff with no penalties. Ms. Bolling is asking for Council to give the Mayor approval to be the signatory on this payoff. Mr. Dudelston made a motion to allow Mayor Eckstein to be the signatory on the payoff of the 2013 Waterworks Bond. Mr. Parrott seconded the motion. The vote to approve was 5-0. D.) FACS HOLDINGS, LLC – SB-1 AMENDMENTS RESOLUTION 2022-26: Mr. Warren Brown handed out a timeline for the Southside School building project. FACS Holdings asked for this timeline to complete the roof repair work before winter sets in. Attorney Murphy had reviewed Resolution 2022-26 and approved it. Mr. Wolfe made a motion to approve Resolution 2022-26. Mr. George seconded the motion. The vote to approve Resolution 2022-26 was 5-0. E.) 2ND READING OF ORDINANCE 2022-07 – 2023 BUDGET: Mr. Dudelston made a motion to approve Ordinance 2022-07. Mr. Scaggs seconded the motion. The vote to approve Ordinance 2022-07 was 3-2. F.) 2ND READING OF ORDINANCE 2022-09 – SALARY ORDINANCE: There was much discussion about the salary ordinance. Mr. George recalls a discussion that the Police Department was to receive 5% more than any other City employee’s increase for 4 years starting in 2020 – 2024 to help with retention of police officers. Clerk-Treasurer Whatley played an excerpt and provided printed minutes of the August 3, 2020 City Council meeting which then Detective Crouse made a proposal for a flat 5% increase per year for 4 years for a total of 20% increase. A couple of councilmen remember a conversation of 5% above all other city employees. Mr. George made a motion to table this until the November meeting. Mr. Scaggs seconded the motion. The vote to table was 5-0. G.) RESOLUTION 2022-24 – A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING INDEPENDENCE PARKWAY AS A CITY STREET: Mr. Dudelston made a motion to approve Resolution 2022-24. Mr. Wolfe seconded the motion. The vote to approve was 5-0. H.) JEFF THOMAS – CITY MECHANIC’S POSITION: Mr. Thomas introduced the plan to create a City-Wide Mechanic’s position. He explained that all departments except for the Wastewater Treatment Plant will be participating and helping to fund the salary. The salary has been determined as $70,500. The breakdown for covering the salary is as follows: DPW & Sanitation Department - $49,500 annually Water Department - $5,000 annually Fire Department - $5,000 annually Police Department - $8,000 annually Parks Department - $3,000 annually Mr. Wolfe made a motion to approve the City Mechanic’s position. Mr. Dudelston seconded the motion. The vote to approve was 5-0. I.) JEFF THOMAS – MOSQUITO FOGGER: Mr. Thomas presented a quote from Clarke for a new mosquito fogger in the amount of $12,800. He explained the need that the city should have a fogger of their own. Mr. Wolfe made a motion to approve the purchase over $10,000. Mr. Dudelston seconded the motion. The vote to approve was 5-0. J.) TRAVIS WILLIAMSON – STORMWATER RETENTION PONDS AT FREEDOM COURT AND INDEPENDENCE PARKWAY: Attorney Murphy stated that he’s looked into this, and these ponds are the property owner’s responsibility. There is no city liability. No action was taken. K.) VACATE ALLEY BETWEEN ATLHOUSE & PROPERTY OWNED BY CHAD OXLEY: Mr. Wolfe explained that Althouse is going to change their building plans and are working with AEP. Mr. Scaggs made a motion to table this topic until the December meeting. Mr. Wolfe seconded the motion. The vote to table was 5-0. L.) AUSTIN HESS – PURCHASE & VACATE ALLEY OF 300 BLOCK OF EAST FRANKLIN ST. BETWEEN MAIN & FRANKLIN STREETS: Mr. Travis Williamson stated there is a large utility running through that property and it won’t be able to be vacated. Mr. Dudelston made a motion to remove this topic from the agenda. Mr. Wolfe seconded the motion. The vote to remove was 4-1. M.) INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE 2022-12 – AN ORDINANCE OF GOLF CART ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO ALLOW SIDE-BY-SIDE VEHICLES ON CITY STREETS: Attorney Murphy introduced a draft of this ordinance for Council to review. He stated that we would bring it back for a public hearing and 1st reading at the November meeting. Mr. Dudelston made a motion to table until the November meeting. Mr. George seconded the motion. The vote to table was 5-0.  N.) RESOLUTION 2022-25 – A RESOLUTION ALTERING DEPARTMENT HEAD EXPENDITURE THRESHOLD FROM $5,000 TO $10,000: Mr. Parrott made a motion to approve Resolution 2022-25. Mr. George seconded the motion. The vote to approve was 5-0. O.) NEWBERRY BUILDING UPDATE: Mr. Warren Brown gave an update to Council on the status of the Newberry project. He explained that we had problems with the plans and had to resubmit updated plans to the state. Those new plans have been approved for the 1st floor restaurant. He stated that we are changing contractors. Quotes are currently being taken to finish the 1st floor. The next phase of the project will encompass the 2nd & 3rd floor. There are plans to have a joint special session between City Council, County Council and the County Commissioners to take place in the near future. There was no action taken. NEW BUSINESS: A.) BHJHS JROTC – FUND RAISING FOR TRIP TO NATIONAL COMPETITION: Master Sargeant Kaufman and two of his senior team leaders addressed Council and explained that the men’s Raider Team were invited to attend the national competition in Georgia. They were given very short notice to raise funds and he explained that they have raised about ½ of the $4,000 needed to go. Mr. Scaggs made a motion to give them $2,000 to go to Nationals. Mr. Dudelstson seconded the motion. The vote to approve was 5-0. B.) ANNE OWEN – ON BEHALF OF CINDY GROSS – ART’S COUNCIL TRUNK- OR-TREAT: Ms. Owen asked the council for permission to closed the roads on 10/28/22 from 7:00pm – 8:30pm. She would like Main Street on the north side of the courthouse square and Jefferson Street in front of the apartments down to Franklin St to be closed. Mr. Jeff Thomas said he would have roadblock signs and trash cans placed there on Friday. Mr. George made a motion to grant the road closure request. Mr. Wolfe seconded the motion. The vote to approve was 5-0. C.) ANNE OWEN – ON BEHALF OF ASHLEY LAURENCE – HOLIDAY MART SATURDAY NOVEMBER 5TH FROM 2PM-7PM: Ms. Owen stated that the County Commissioners gave Ms. Laurence permission to hold the Holiday Mart on the empty lot next to Veteran’s Park. She is asking for High Street on the west side of the courthouse to be closed to hold the chili cookoff. Mr. Jeff Thomas stated he would make sure the roadblocks and trash cans will be delivered to that spot by the 5th. Mr. George made a motion to approve the road closure. Mr. Dudelston seconded the motion. The vote to approve was 5-0. D.) ANNE OWEN – OCTOBER ZONING MEETING: Ms. Owen stated that the zoning meeting had to be postponed so she will come to the November meeting to give an update.  E.) EASEMENT FOR TRANSMISSION LINE WORK AT INDUSTRIAL PARK: Mr. Eric Warren with ORC Utility & Infrastructure Land Services, LLC addressed council on the transmission line work from the Deer Creek substation to the Hartford City substation for AEP. He explained that the easement has been changed from a 50- foot easement to a 60-foot easement. This work will cross over city owned property in the industrial park. ORC will pay $25,000 per acre and there is 1.109 acres needed. The payment to the City of Hartford City was $27,725. Mr. Parrott made a motion to approve the easement. Mr. George seconded the motion. The vote to approve was 5-0. F.) NICK PARROTT – KNOX BOX ORDINANCE: Mr. Parrott explained to Council what a Knox Box is and how it works. Attorney Murphy stated that prepare an ordinance to have a 1st reading in November. Mr. Dudelston made a motion to give Attorney Murphy direction to prepare an ordinance. Mr. Parrott seconded the motion. The vote to approve was 5-0. G.) CODY CROUSE – SPEND OVER $5,000 FOR NEW POLICE CARS: Chief Crouse explained that the Police Department has 4 vehicles that are ready to be retired. Qty 2 – 2014 Ford Explorers (1 may still be utilized in a different capacity) Qty 1 – 2016 Dodge Charger Qty 1 – 2010 Dodge Charger He explained that he obtained quotes from John Jones Chrysler and Fletcher Chrysler. He also tried to obtain quotes from Chevy and Ford with no luck. His best quote was from Fletcher Chrysler for a quantity of 4 2023 Dodge Durango’s. The Board of Works approved financing through Citizens State Bank for a 4-year loan of $195,000 which also includes $10,000 to upgrade each vehicle. Mr. Scaggs made a motion to allow Chief Crouse to spend over $5,000 to purchase 4 Durango’s from Fletcher Chrysler. Mr. George seconded the motion. The vote to approve was 5-0. COUNCIL INPUT: A.) MICHAEL WOLFE – Mr. Wolfe thanked Jeff Thomas for taking care of a homeowner’s problem with a low hanging wire. Mr. Wolfe texted Mr. Thomas to look at the wire and soon after that the homeowner called Mr. Wolfe back thanking him for taking care of the problem so promptly. B.) RON PARROTT – Mr. Parrott asked if the Board of Works had discussed the 2023 contract with the Animal Shelter. The mayor explained that they have not discussed it yet. The mayor stated that the contract would most likely be the same. C.) RON DUDELSTON – Mr. Dudelston encouraged all the council members to look up the ordinances online. ADJOURNMENT: With there being no further business from the Common Council, Mr. Dudelston made a motion to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 7:48pm FOLDER 2/REC 160723_002