Common Council

CITY COMMON COUNCIL OF HARTFORD CITY, INDIANA JUNE 5, 2023 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 June 5, 2023. ROLL CALL: Members of the council present were Michael Wolfe, Dustin George, Ron Dudelston, Ron Parrott, and Tony Scaggs. Also present were Mayor Dan Eckstein and Clerk- Treasurer Dana Whatley. Attorney Patrick Wright was in attendance on behalf of Attorney Brandon Murphy. MAYOR ECKSTEIN & CHERI BROWN: Ms. Brown and Mayor Eckstein shared the exciting news that the city reached their $10,000 goal for the Light Up Hartford City Campaign. In doing so, the city will also receive a $10,000 matching grant from the IHCDA Patronicity program for the purchase of holiday lights. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Mr. Dudelston made a motion to approve the agenda as submitted. Mr. Scaggs seconded the motion. The vote to approve was 5-0. Mayor Eckstein explained the city is holding a public hearing this evening and that he would entertain a motion to suspend the regular council meeting. Mr. Scaggs made that motion. Mr. Wolfe seconded it. The vote to suspend the regular council meeting was 5-0. PUBLIC HEARING: A.) RESOLUTION 2023-17 3M SB-1 TAX ABATEMENT: A member of the public asked what the total amount listed on the abatement. Mayor Eckstein explained that it was for $22 million in assessed value and would be a 10-year descending abatement. With no further comment, Mr. Dudelston made a motion to close the public hearing. Mr. Scaggs seconded the motion. The vote to close the public hearing was 5-0. Mr. Scaggs made a motion to re-open the regular Council meeting. Mr. Dudelston seconded the motion. The vote to re-open the regular Council meeting was 5-0. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: Mr. Wolfe made a note of a spelling error in the minutes presented. Mr. Parrott made a motion to accept the minutes with the noted correction. Mr. Dudelston seconded the motion. The vote to approve the corrected minutes was 5-0. OLD BUSINESS: A.) 2ND READING OF ORDINANCE 2023-03 AN ORDINANCE TO VACATE ALLEY BEHIND AMERICAN LEGION: Mr. John Oxley requested that this reading be tabled, and the process started over since he did not receive a registered letter from the  American Legion requesting the vacate. Mr. Oxley is an adjoining owner with the property next door to the American Legion. Mr. Parrott made a motion to table this topic until the July 5, 2023 meeting. Mr. Dudelston seconded the motion. The vote to table was 5-0. B.) RESOLUTION 2023-14 JB PROPERTY – TAX ABATEMENT (TABLED FROM MAY 2023 MEETING): Clerk -Treasurer Whatley explained that she spoke with County Auditor, Sharon Hartley and Ms. Hartley stated that parts of this abatement are abatable. She stated that the City Council can approve this abatement and the County Assessor will determine which items listed can be abated. Mr. Wolfe made a motion to approve the abatement. Mr. Scaggs seconded the motion. The vote to approve was 5-0. NEW BUSINESS: A.) RICHARD PHILLIPS – SIGNAGE OR SPEED BUMPS PLACED AT WEST CHESTNUT ST.: Mr. Phillips did not appear at tonight’s meeting. Mr. Dudelston made a motion to table this topic until July. Mr. Scaggs seconded the motion. The vote to table was 5-0. B.) JAYCI DICK – BLOCK PARTY – EVERGREEN WAY & MEADOW LANE ON 7/2/23: Ms. Dick requested permission to close roads at Evergreen Way & Meadow Lane for their annual block party. Mr. Scaggs made a motion to approve the road closure. Mr. Parrott seconded the motion. The vote to approve was 5-0. C.) 1ST READING OF ORDINANCE 2023-04 – BOT AGREEMENT WITH GM DEVELOPMENT FOR NEWBERRY BUILDING: Mr. Greg Martz with GM Development attended via phone and explained that his company is willing to loan Hartford City the remaining $300,000 to complete Phase I on the Newberry Building. Mr. Dudelston made a motion to approve the 1st Reading of Ordinance 2023-04. Mr. Parrott seconded the motion. The vote was 5-0. Attorney Murphy stated that we will hold a public hearing and second reading at the July meeting. D.) 1ST READING OF ORDINANCE 2023-05 - GILLMAN’S PETITION FOR VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION INTO THE CITY OF HARTFORD CITY: Mr. Dudelston made a motion to approve the first reading of Ordinance 2023-05. Mr. George seconded the motion. The vote to approve the first reading was 5-0. E.) ANNE OWEN: Ms. Owen explained that there are two concerts are planned at Weiler Plaza in June. There is also the “4th Friday” vendor event being planned for June 23, 2023. She asked permission to close streets on Jefferson between Franklin & Main streets. Mr. Scaggs made a motion to approve the street closures. Mr. Parrott seconded the motion. The vote to approve was 5-0. F.) RESOLUTION 2023-17 - 3M SB-1 TAX ABATEMENT: Mr. George made a motion to approve the tax abatement for 3M. Mr. Wolfe seconded the motion. The vote to approve was 5-0.  G.) RESOLUTION 2023-20 – CF-1 FOR VILLAGES OF VAN CLEVE: Mr. Dudelston made a motion to approve the tax abatement for Villages of VanCleve. Mr. George seconded the motion. The vote to approve was 5-.0 H.) JEFF THOMAS – PAVING PROPOSAL FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE CSO PROJECT: Mr. Thomas presented a paving proposal from Brooks Construction Co. for the CSO project streets. He asked for permission to spend over $10,000 for this project. Mr. Scaggs made a motion to approve the proposal. Mr. George seconded the motion. The vote to approve was 5-0. I.) CODY CROUSE – HCPD ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS REQUEST: Chief Crouse asked for the following additional appropriations due to an error occurring in the Clerk-Treasurer’s Office. These amounts were earmarked out of the 2022 budget but were paid out of 2023’s by accident: GENERAL FUND: Repairs & Maintenance $22,241.84 Clothing Allowance 296.85 Gasoline 328.87 Mr. George made a motion to grant the additional appropriations. Mr. Scaggs seconded the motion. The vote to approve was 5-0. J.) STARTING WAGE FOR PART-TIME HELP: Clerk-Treasurer Whatley stated that as the part-time summer help was hired, we realized that the Water Department’s starting wage was $11.00. The MVH Department and Parks Department had their part time help starting at a lesser hourly wage. Those departments asked the Council if their starting wages could be increased to $11.00 amount as well. This affects six employees in total and they have been working for 2 months or less. Mr. Scaggs made a motion to approve the $11.00 per hour rate and pay it retroactively to each employee’s start date. Mr. Dudelston seconded the motion. The vote to approve was 5-0. CLERK-TREASURER’S REPORT: NONE MAYOR’S REPORT: A.) IHCDA PATRONICITY GRANT: Clerk-Treasurer Whatley asked that a Steering/Oversight Committee be formed with the administration of this grant. Ms. Whatley stressed that it is important to have this for audit purposes and to be transparent about how funds are spent. The Committee consists of: Mr. Tony Scaggs, Ms. Cheri Brown, Ms. Jessica Tabor, and Ms. Elizabeth Witt. B.) SATURDAY IN THE PARK & FIREWORKS: Mayor Eckstein reminded everyone that Saturday in the Park and Fireworks will be held on Saturday, 7/1/23 at Sigma Phi Gamma Founder’s Park with Fireworks being held that evening. PUBLIC COMMENT: A.) ANNE OWEN: She stated that Mr. McKinney has decided to sell his building to a group who will be taking over the care of it. B.) CHERI BROWN: 1.) Ms. Brown gave kudos to the Water Department for a successful 4th Grade Field Trip. 2.) JAG Movie Night – Ms. Brown explained that they attempted to have a movie at Weiler Plaza but had equipment failure. The JAG students worked hard preparing for this event and 3M was a corporate sponsor. There was a great turnout, and everyone had a fun time even though only part of the movie was shown. They will be getting new equipment before the next movie night. She thanked all those in the city who helped with the cleanup. Travis Smock with State Farm will host the next movie night. It will be held on 7/14/23 and they will be playing “Despicable Me”. ADJOURNMENT: With there being no further business from the Common Council, Mr. Scaggs made a motion to adjourn the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 7:03pm. FOLDER 2/REC 170325_002