Common Council

COMMON COUNCIL CITY OF HARTFORD CITY, INDIANA JUNE 1, 2026 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, June 1, 2026. ROLL CALL: Members of the council present were Ron Dudelston, Michael Wolfe, Bill Aspy, and Tony Scaggs. Mayor Dan Eckstein, City Attorney Tyler Rotstein and Clerk-Treasurer Dana Whatley were also present. Tracey Witt was absent. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Mr. Dudelston made a motion to approve the agenda as submitted. Mr. Scaggs seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. Mr. Wolfe – AYE, Mr. Aspy – AYE, Mr. Dudelston – AYE, Mr. Scaggs - AYE. The vote to approve was 4-0. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES: A.) REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF MAY 4, 2026: Mr. Dudelston made a motion to accept the minutes as submitted. Mr. Scaggs seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. Mr. Wolfe – AYE, Mr. Dudelston – AYE, Mr. Aspy – AYE, Mr. Scaggs – AYE. The vote to approve was 4-0. B.) SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES OF MAY 11, 2026: Mr. Dudelston made a motion to accept the minutes as submitted. Mr. Scaggs seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. Mr. Wolfe – AYE, Mr. Dudelston – AYE, Mr. Aspy – AYE, Mr. Scaggs – AYE. The vote to approve was 4-0. OLD BUSINESS: A.) UTILITY SUPPLY CO. – NEPTUNE GATEWAY PRESENTATION: Mr. Scott Dunlap made a presentation to council for a program that will automatically read all water meters in real time. After some discussion, Mr. Wolfe made a motion to approve moving forward with this program. Mr. Scaggs seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. Mr. Wolfe – AYE, Mr. Dudelston – AYE, Mr. Aspy – AYE, Mr. Scaggs – AYE. The vote to approve was 4-0. B.) MS. JUDY SODDERS – 1400 N. WALNUT ST. – FOLLOW UP ON ALLEY VACATION: Ms. Sodders requested last month vacation of an alley. A resolution has been prepared but additional steps are required. Ms. Sodders is required to send letters to the adjacent landowners of this alley. She must also receive sign off from all utility companies with easements or lines in the alley area. Once these steps are completed this request may move forward. C.) UPDATE ON INDEPENDENCE PARKWAY: There was much discussion on how to acquire a privately owned road. The council remembers that they agreed to adopt this road a couple of years ago but there was question as to whether the process was fully completed. There was discussion about the city entering into a contract with the current owners to service this road by plowing and other general maintenance. Further investigation if needed to move forward with this. NEW BUSINESS: A.) MR. CASEY DICK – ROAD CLOSURE REQUEST FOR JULY: Mr. Dick was unable to attend tonight’s meeting. Ms. Judy Sodders made the request to close Evergreen Parkway on July 12, 2026 from 10a – 4pm for the annual block party. Mr. Wolfe made a motion to grant the road closure. Mr. Aspy seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. Mr. Wolfe – AYE, Mr. Dudelston – AYE, Mr. Aspy – AYE, Mr. Scaggs – AYE. The vote to approve was 4-0. B.) MS. JUDITH PORTER – INDIANA SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER/ BALL STATE UNIVERSITY: Ms. Porter gave an update to council for the Indiana Small Business Development Center. She made her annual request for funding in the 2027 budget year. Mr. Scaggs made a motion to approve $3,500 out of the 2027 budget. Mr. Wolfe seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. Mr. Wolfe – AYE, Mr. Dudelston – AYE, Mr. Aspy – AYE, Mr. Scaggs – AYE. The vote to approve was 4-0. C.) CITY LOTS FOR SALE: The city plans to sell several lots to encourage development. The properties are: 705 W. Franklin St., 414 N. Monroe St., 802 S. Pearl and 806 S. Pearl. It was discussed that to sell city owned property a formal process must be followed, including appraisals and a public bid process. The process can be expedited for properties assessed under a certain value. Some of the properties mentioned fall under this assessment rule. The council must appoint itself the disposing agent to manage the sale. Mr. Dudelston made a motion to formally appoint the council as the disposing agent over these properties and give the mayor authority to move through the process. Mr. Aspy seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. Mr. Wolfe – AYE, Mr. Dudelston – AYE, Mr. Aspy – AYE, Mr. Scaggs – AYE. The vote to approve was 4-0. D.) PROPERTY FOR DEVELOPMENT: There is a lot behind the Street Department in the Industrial Park that the city would like to sell for development. This property falls under the same appraisal and bid process as other city lots. Mr. Dudelston made a motion to formally appoint the council as the disposing agent over this property and give the mayor authority to move through the process. Mr. Scaggs seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. Mr. Wolfe – AYE, Mr. Dudelston – AYE, Mr. Aspy – AYE, Mr. Scaggs – AYE. The vote to approve was 4-0. E.) ANNUAL OPERATIONS REPORT FOR LOCAL ROADS AND STREETS: Clerk- Treasurer Whatley explained that HEA1461 now mandates that municipalities over 5,000 in population must submit an annual operations report for local roads and streets to LTAP (Local Technical Assistance Program). The submission is to be presented to the governing body annually as well by June 1st. The submission is necessary for road funding and applying for CCMG grants. The report was provided to council for their information as mandated by the state. F.) PETOSKEY PLASTICS – TAX ABATEMENTS: Mr. Dudelston stated that he and Economic Development Director, Mr. Warren Brown still need to make a site inspection at Petoskey Plastics. Mr. Dudelston made a motion to table these resolutions until the July meeting. Mr. Scaggs seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. Mr. Wolfe – AYE, Mr. Dudelston – AYE, Mr. Aspy – AYE, Mr. Scaggs – AYE. The vote to approve was 4-0.  G.) 3M – TAX ABATEMENTS: Mr. Dudelston stated that he and Economic Development Director, Mr. Warren Brown still need to make a site inspection at Petoskey Plastics. Mr. Dudelston made a motion to table these resolutions until the July meeting. Mr. Scaggs seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. Mr. Wolfe – AYE, Mr. Dudelston – AYE, Mr. Aspy – AYE, Mr. Scaggs – AYE. The vote to approve was 4-0. H.) CROSSWALK PAINTING PROJECT: Mr. Dudelston talked about the community project to paint crosswalks in celebration of America’s semi quincentennial. The painting is to take place on June 5th and 6th. He stated that this project was funded completely by generous donations from several businesses, and he thanked them all. There was no tax money spent for this project. He welcomed all who would like to volunteer their time and talents. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT UPDATE: A.) COMMUNITY SHRED DAY: Everyone was reminded that Community Shred day will also be on Saturday, June 6th from 9am – 12 noon at City Hall for residents. B.) ARTS IN THE PARKS: Arts in the Parks is going on from June 1st through July 17th. There are flyers at City Hall and on Facebook. People were encouraged to sign their children up. MAYOR’S REPORT: NONE COUNCIL COMMENT: MR. RON DUDELSTON – Mr. Dudelston thanked Mayor Eckstein and the Department Heads for their leadership in managing an incident at Sherwood Trailer Park. Their proactive approach prevented a potentially negative situation that it could have become. Mayor Eckstein also thanked our city attorney and Ms. Cheri Brown for their involvement with the trailer park too. MR. BILL ASPY – Mr. Aspy stated with the new change in trash pickup schedule for his district, there was some miscommunication with some on when to put their trash out. He stated that he is sure this will work itself out in time. He agrees that this change will create a better, more cost-effective system moving forward. PUBLIC COMMENT: NONE ADJOURNMENT: With there being no further business, Mr. Scaggs made a motion to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 7:16pm. FOLDER 2/REC 50