Common Council

COMMON COUNCIL CITY OF HARTFORD CITY, INDIANA JANUARY 5, 2026 MEETING MINUTES CALL TO ORDER & WELCOME: Mayor Dan Eckstein called to order a meeting of the Common Council of the City of Hartford City at 6:00pm, January 5, 2026. ROLL CALL: Members of the council present were Ron Dudelston, Michael Wolfe, Tracey Witt, Bill Aspy, and Tony Scaggs. Mayor Eckstein, Attorney, Aubrey Crist, and Clerk-Treasurer Dana Whatley were also present. PUBLIC HEARING ON VACATION OF ALLEY BEHIND THE PIT STOP: Mr. Dudelston made a motion to suspend the regular meeting. Mr. Scaggs seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. Michael Wolfe – AYE, Tracey Witt – AYE, Ron Dudelston – AYE, Bill Aspy – AYE, Tony Scaggs – AYE. The vote to approve was 5-0. Mayor Eckstein stated that there has been a request to vacate the alley behind The Pit Stop prior to the INDOT highway 3 north project. There was no public comment. Mr. Dudelston made a motion to close the public hearing. Mr. Scaggs seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. Michael Wolfe – AYE, Tracey Witt – AYE, Ron Dudelston – AYE, Bill Aspy – AYE, Tony Scaggs – AYE. The vote to approve was 5-0. Mr. Scaggs made a motion to re-open the regular council meeting. Mr. Aspy seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. Michael Wolfe – AYE, Tracey Witt – AYE, Ron Dudelston – AYE, Bill Aspy – AYE, Tony Scaggs – AYE. The vote to approve was 5-0. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Ms. Witt made a motion to approve the agenda as submitted. Mr. Wolfe seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. Michael Wolfe – AYE, Tracey Witt – AYE, Bill Aspy – AYE, Ron Dudelston – AYE and Tony Scaggs - AYE. The vote to approve was 5-0. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES: A.) DECEMBER 1, 2025: Mr. Scaggs made a motion to approve the meeting minutes from December 1, 2025 as submitted. Mr. Aspy seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. Michael Wolfe – AYE, Tracey Witt – AYE, Ron Dudelston – AYE, Bill Aspy – AYE, Mr. Scaggs – AYE. The vote to approve was 5-0. B.) SPECIAL MEETING OF DECEMBER 18, 2025: Mr. Dudelston made a motion to approve the special meeting minutes from December 18, 2025 as submitted. Ms. Witt seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. Michael Wolfe – AYE, Tracey Witt – AYE, Ron Dudelston – AYE, Bill Aspy – AYE, Mr. Scaggs – AYE. The vote to approve was 5-0. OLD BUSINESS: A.) 1ST READING OF ORDINANCE 2026-01 - AN ORDINANCE TO VACATE A CERTAIN PUBLIC ALLEY IN THE ORIGINAL PLAT OF THE CITY OF HARTFORD CITY, BLACKFORD COUNTY, INDIANA: Mr. Wolfe made a motion to approve the 1st Reading of Ordinance 2026-01. Ms. Witt seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. Michael Wolfe – AYE, Tracey Witt – AYE, Ron Dudelston – AYE, Bill Aspy – AYE, Mr. Scaggs – AYE. The vote to approve was 5-0. NEW BUSINESS: A.) COUNCIL APPOINTMENT TO THE LIBRARY BOARD: Ms. Witt made a motion to appoint Ms. Morgan Massey to the Library Board. Mr. Wolfe seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. Michael Wolfe – AYE, Tracey Witt – AYE, Ron Dudelston – AYE, Bill Aspy – AYE, Tony Scaggs – AYE. The vote to approve was 5-0. B.) ORDINANCE 2025-15 AMENDED SALARY ORDINANCE FOR 2026: Clerk-Treasurer, Whatley explained that the Community Development Director line item was inadvertently left from the original salary ordinance. Mr. Dudelston made a motion to approve the amendment to the salary ordinance. Mr. Scaggs seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. Michael Wolfe – AYE, Tracey Witt – AYE, Ron Dudelston – AYE, Bill Aspy – AYE, Tony Scaggs – AYE. The vote to approve was 5-0. MAYOR’S REPORT: A.) FIRE CHIEF NICK PARROTT – TOWNSHIP INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT: Chief Parrott provided an unscheduled update to the council regarding the township interlocal agreement. He reported that after meeting with all the township trustees, they requested a one- year agreement term instead of the customary three-year term. The Chief views this as an opportunity to discuss future EMS-related matters later in the year. He informed the council that the trustees have already signed the agreement and that it would require signatures from the council and Mayor Eckstein after the meeting. The purpose of his report was to ensure the council was aware of the agreement’s context when it came before them. B.) MAYOR ECKSTEIN: The mayor gave kudos to the Clerk-Treasurer’s office for a particularly good audit report from the State Board of Accounts for the audit of years 2021 – 2024. He stated that the audit finished quicker than expected and under budget. COUNCIL COMMENT: NONE PUBLIC COMMENT: NONE ADJOURNMENT: With there being no further business, Mr. Scaggs made a motion to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 6:20pm. FOLDER 2/REC 57