Greencastle City Council Meeting 8/10/23



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Thank you

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you seven o'clock I'd like to welcome everyone to the August media contest comms council if we go rise for the Pledge of Allegiance

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the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God,

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indivisible with liberty and justice for all

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we want to apologize to into the sunlight here coming through our skylights. Just that time of year. Melanie, welcome Can you call the roll? Here,

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Councillor hammer Councillor Thomas? Year, Councillor Langdon, Councillor Cook, counselor Eckert and counselor Murray. Thank you

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to public petitions and comments. So I'd like to call forward. Andrew Young and Yanni Jackson from DePaul University. They're here this evening to give an update on the recently received holy crap prospect. Welcome.

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Thank you. Hi, I am Andrea Young. I am the Vice President for Finance and Administration at to PA I live in Cody's ward. My son just started second grade every pass so we are proud members of the Greencastle community and of the depois community.

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And I'm Deon Jackson. And I've shared with Mayor Dori it's been about a year since I've been to a city council meeting those who know me know I work for the mayor of my hometown. And so we had city council meetings every week and so I took a break from the city council meeting since moving to green castle. I'm a proud member of Ward one. We have an eighth grader who attends Greencastle middle school. She's an active volleyball player and a trumpet player. And I'm pleased to be here I served as Vice President for Institutional Equity at the PA

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and we wanted to come and give some updates to you all formally about our Lily, college and community collaboration grants in early spring depois received a $250,000 planning grant through the college and community collaboration initiative. This was part of the phase one of this project that Lily is is fighting and the Phase One planning grants will allow us to then apply for up to $25 million dollars in the spring to support infrastructure projects within the city of Greencastle. The key is the college and community collaboration piece. successful projects will need to and must benefit the whole and we're really taking that directive very, very seriously. We've formed a leadership team Mayor Dory is on it. Laurie is on it. We have the superintendent of Greencastle schools Jeff Gibby on it and we have the executive director of the Putnam County community, Putnam County Community Foundation, nice admirer on the leadership team as well. So we've been meeting and active and Deon will share where we're at right now.

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So one of the first things that we decided to do in our first meeting in May was to break up into two working groups through the summer. And so we spent time Andrea leading the RFP team and searching for an urban planning firm, and I spent time leading the community engagement team in developing a plan for how we will effectively engage our Putnam County and Greencastle community as far as community engagement is conserved. Where we are is the fact that we developed a plan and our first engagement activity was actually the Putnam County Community Foundation survey. And I hope that many of you had an opportunity to engage in that. Lisa has been great about incorporating those who get our feedback on the survey, we plan to use the results of the survey report in order to inform us of the needs of our community. Secondly, as far as communications, this meeting was the first one on our plan to attend to provide an update and we have a map from now through November. of places we will show up to provide ongoing updates throughout our time together. Also Andrea will share more about the firm that has been hired through a competitive bidding process to do development but we are partnering with them to do some engagement as it relates to forums in our community interviews with community members, and the like. We will have our first open community engagement opportunity in late August and we will publicize when and where that will occur to our community.

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So the main deliverable from this grant project is and a master plan of sorts particularly targeting the region. We're calling it the depois Greencastle corridor so that there's several series of blocks between deposit campus and downtown Greencastle, but it will likely have a little bit broader scope as well. We're really focused on housing as being a critical need for every buddy in the in the city. recreation opportunities, education opportunities and aesthetics. So really trying to comprehensively and collaboratively develop a plan that will allow us all to enhance our ability to recruit employees to have people choose to live and work and play and love in Greencastle. And so the firm we are working with AP development out of Brownsburg turn around for Brownsburg, Indiana, as well. They are our main planning team. They're supported by dealt design and KSK and the Barrett is route so they will be working together as Deion said to engage the community and to do master planning. So we want it to come to first share that feedback and indicate that we will be regularly releasing communications and coming to many of you to provide stakeholder input and would appreciate any questions or comments that you might have

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what is your proposal do the million dollar

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proposal is due in March so our goal is to have this master planning initiative finished by the end of the calendar year. That gives us all some time to consider what the grant proposal will look like and to get that written up to 25 million. That caught my attention. Yeah. matching funds required skin in the game. Yes. Wonderful question. Yes. So the 25 million can make up any funds they give us can make up to 30% of the project. So if we applied for a whole 25 million, that would mean that we're looking at an $80 million project. So a big piece of what we're doing with this master planning work is figuring out how can we actually generate the capital that would be needed for the matching portion, whether it's through leveraging developers or using private investors, existing funds, how do we how do we do that? That's actually probably the most significant piece of what we're trying to do.

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And you said infrastructure, so housing recreation, has transportation been in the conversation at all? Is that something that perhaps your group would

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look at? Absolutely. And I would encourage folks, you know, we sort of have some general parameters that we're thinking about, but we're genuinely open and seeking community feedback as we're shaping this. So please share with us directly come to the sessions that we're hosting. I think we are going to try to engage city council as a group to meet with the planning team if you're open to that and opportunities to really give that feedback.

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Right? What are the parameters that you're thinking about?

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So the things we were thinking or thinking about is housing, recreation, aesthetics and education, but that doesn't mean that that has to be the boundary.

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And I should note that the premise of our proposal for the planning grant was around workforce and emphasizing what it takes to attract workforce here and have workforce members live here. That was the big premise of our proposal.

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I think with the stellar foundation of stellar and some of the things that community has done, from what I can tell talking to a few other people, I've always been pretty tight lipped about this around the state but from what I can tell when we've you know, we're we're ahead of the game because of the foundation work that's been done. So hopefully that will bode well as things evolve over the coming months and result in some success with William down.

16:08:24

The coordinator invitation to that meeting, to talk about all I've heard is it Paul, Greencastle, we're not talking County.

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So I think again, our ideas can evolve. Certainly, I think our initial thought is even though 80 million is a big dollar amount when you're talking about transformative projects. 80 million doesn't actually go all that far. So I think for the purposes well, I know construction is expensive these days, you know. So So I so I think we are starting our scope really focused on Greencastle doesn't mean that that couldn't expand or that this is the first step in a more comprehensive vision for the county.

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Certainly we're making use of some kind of planning stuff and several things like I said, Well,

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lots of things going on, including this that have to do with you know, county plan, that kind of things.

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Okay, well thank you so much for your time, and we look forward to sharing more with you. Thank you

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Next on our public petitions and comments is Lisa designer with the Putnam County Planning Commission and she is going to quiz everybody for you read that entire document since yesterday. So she will there will be a test at the end here. Welcome

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today. I'm not here on behalf of the County Planning Commission. Today I am here on behalf of the Putnam County Emergency Management Agency as the deputy EMA director. So we currently have a multi hazard mitigation plan that is going to be expiring at the end. Of this year. Or I guess it has expired. So every five years we have to do a new plan. This is that new plan for 2023 is all about hazard mitigation for anything from wildfires, tornadoes, severe weather, whether that's extreme cold, extreme heat, drought, flooding, all of those things and how the county as a whole mitigates and to help the citizens not have so much of a burden when those things happen, and then also how to recover from when those things happen. The county, the town of Bainbridge, Cloverdale, rochedale and Russellville have already all approved this plan is currently with FEMA and the state to review for that. So this is just the last step is to get your guys's approval on that. I will attempt to answer any questions sounds like y'all haven't read it. So if you apply the five pages I could just start

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so I thought was was have Lisa introduce it say a few words about this evening and then allow you a month to kind of review it and then she has a simple resolution that will put on the agenda for next month.

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Also, I will tell you the county wasn't the only ones that looked at this plan. So the MCS looked at it. Scott Zimmerman's looked at it. Several other employees of the city have looked at it including fire, EMS, police, those everybody went into helping develop this plan it just wasn't a county thing. It we did do a grant for this, but our match is time. So I do have a sign in sheet. Everybody here counts towards that. So I will pass this around if y'all would just sign you just have to put your name. Title roll if you have one if you don't just put citizen or county resident something like that. So if you could fill that out for me that would go towards our match to help with that. Any other 20 questions? Sorry.

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How does the new plan differ from the old plan or is it very similar?

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It is very similar. I think a few things that were added into this plan was like Active Shooter shooter type incidences and also public health pandemics or vectors that that happen. Yeah, those were the two things were added to this plan.

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was gonna ask about public warning systems. So are there any upgrades or anything like that, that that's either coming or that you see that we have a need for any guests?

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Yes. And all of that is listed in one of the appendices that talks about all of the it talks about the hazards, what mitigation type is the goal and objective, an action to meet that goal or objective and then who's responsible for that? And then what grants or funding would take place so all of that is listed in that document. It's starts, you're more interested in looking at that specifically, it starts on page 120.

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Lisa had a chance to use the word raise the document yesterday when I first received it, and I'm curious whether there were any significant changes with respect to the sort of risk levels that each community within Putnam County, for example, I believe that that were low for earthquakes in Cloverdale is higher Are there any significant changes in between, comparatively i i know this put me on the spot,

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and only because I didn't participate in the development of the previous one because I wasn't in a position that I was at. So I can't honestly answer that question. I can say that there have been a lot of things that have happened in the last few years that maybe didn't happen when that current plan was was drafted. So I would say yes, there are probably some risks that have gone either up or down depending on the one I can think of mostly would probably be flooding because as creeks and rivers change course, more people are then could have flooding issues

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and the nature of residential developments change as well. Right?

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Yeah. So all of those things could factor

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into course, you were asking about earthquake. It's interesting in Cloverdale falls into an area in the state that requires earthquake proof construction, but are part of the county is not in that zone. So we don't have to follow that same construction standard.

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Any other questions from the board? Or the council? Don't know if the

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public has a question or

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questions or it is public record. So if anybody does want a copy of it, just reach out to me and I can get back to you. Thank you for

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your call, please. We can provide her contact information if you have any follow on questions or anything like that. Thank you, Lisa. We have five special requests. First, mostly for street closures. The first one is for the Putnam County Chamber and Main Street Greencastle, this was for Halloween on the square. Russell Are you going to cover this?

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Yeah, so we're,

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we're looking to

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close the streets. So pretty much the same footprint as

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for first writing

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for Halloween so we can do shirt trading on the square. So that would go random street from this the 231 down to Vine Street and then I want to kind of amend that if I if I can, because right now it's in the industry. We're looking at it just we were looking at just the block just right there on the courthouse square, but we'd actually like to extend that down just past the fire department and be able to include the next that walk and then just pass the fire department. So they usually participate and there's a lot of businesses over there. So we can do that. And the idea is to there's already businesses there but to also reach out to other community members, businesses, organizations, anybody that wants to participate, and also kind of come down there so a table or a chair or whatever, and pass out candy and so the idea in that is that helps keep it a little more contained. Previously, we were crossing, you know, so crossing Washington Street there and then crossing to 31 and a couple of spots on the other side. So at least that will eliminate crossing on the side of 231 and we'll still have the Washington Street the wild will have to cross and so we will lean on red Castle police departments and we can get some some help with that. But then otherwise, it's just side street crossings and we'll be able to hopefully create a pretty big event. We want to we want to do some cool things and have some absolute music out there and have just make it a whole event versus just you know going door to door and getting some candy or whatever you know what I am gonna dress up I don't want to lose weight yet but I but I am and that's actually one of the things we hope that those that participate will dress up and business owners and all that so we can decorate some some shops in the street and and get some folks out there so I heard that they were it was dressing too

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so so anyway, so So yeah, so with that I up for any any questions or anything that anybody has for that

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or have any questions? Sure. Mayer in the past, maybe you said it here. We've always opposed last Street to Jackson.

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The line gets so long that it goes all the way down the sidewalk bedposts

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always loves Wall Street.

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Okay, I am fit it's okay to add that. I would be just just fine with closing that and keeping that say to you that

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you're comfortable with that addition. You've been in the past just with the additional closer with respect to egress from the fire department itself.

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Yeah, because we can go outside.

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With that in mind, I'd be happy to move to approve the street closure request with the amendments requested by Chief Burgess regarding Jeff walnuts. Jackson in

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motion seconded by Veronica and Cody. Any further questions? Hearing none, please indicate your proof by saying aye. Aye. Aye. Thank you Next is one of our own. As you know we sponsor the farmers market and we contract with the chamber to operate that. And with the Greencastle Music Fest coming up. I've been working with Madison Hanna to relocate the Farmers Market on that Saturday have the August 26. So we're looking at putting most everybody in the Jackson Street parking lot. And then if there was overflow maybe on Indiana from Washington to Walnut, it looks like we're going to have enough electric capacity in the parking lot and we should be able to keep our way there but didn't want to have that extra just in case. So this is just a one Saturday relocation of farmers market.

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Street closure I'll second that.

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motion a second to approve. Are there any further questions? Hearing none, please indicate your pro by saying aye. Thank you. Next is ANP plumbing. Mr. Montgomery is here. If you want to step forward and explain your request, they need to do some repair work on Indiana Street. And as we kind of talked about what they were going to do, we felt it might be safer just to go ahead and close the street instead of trying to run traffic by so go ahead.

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We just need to close the street there in Indiana for scoops that are waterlines leaking, so we know that we have to backtrack and be able to go through the sidewalk. So the factor it's going to take up the door to the road. Like you were saying it is higher in that area because it's just past those parking spots that are right there. With backdrop on to park so yeah, I mean, closing the whole road would probably be a little bit safer bet because it's already gonna be a tight squeeze and the other side of the backdrop there will be close it. Our goal is just for a couple of hours really all the backdrops there and once it's done it'll be opened up for that we won't need to close anymore

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What's the timing on the closure?

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As far as like when we want to close it? You're saying so we're planning on starting the 21st 22nd is what we're planning on doing the project on the 22nd. So it'd be first thing in the morning, we get there, close it down. And hopefully by lunch as long as everything goes smooth over lunchtime we'll have it already reopened.

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Ministry closure

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motion second to allow for the water service repair at scoops ice cream on Indiana street any further questions or discussion? Hearing none, please indicate your approval by saying aye. Aye. Thank you. Next we have a request by Putnam County comprehensive services and records here for the green light Arts Festival. Snow This is in regard an add on to the farmers market

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and of course

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we have built the stars have aligned finally for our festival and we're able to do this downtown in conjunction with First Friday again with farmers market but we have now 40 artists coming and we need a little more space which is a good good problem to have. So we would like to extend Friday nights closure that's normally for First Friday all the way past last hollow down to college, to have that extra block for staging and potential overflow of vendors if possible. And then on Saturday morning, taking what's normally shut down when Indiana scoops the same same block and having that on closed off on Saturday morning as well so farmers market can extend in that direction. So we tend to have a lot of their space Saturday morning. This is a great, great collaboration. I couldn't be more excited in my final year here to finally pull this off. So look forward to your approval on that. And I'll take any questions that you have about Russell's great help and all this by the way, Paul Your vote will have alcohol at the summit was an excellent others like the first party and others might have been alcohol rumors but that's their that's their perspective.

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Approve the street closure as presented.

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Discussion

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Good question. Any

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issues with the

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bank to be we'd be blocking there.

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Just go back sorry. They lost all the side on the side we can

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see. We

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did have to they have another interest they can come into but I've looked at purging as who actually owns that building to know what's going on. I did not talk directly with the agency.

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Who was the second we have a motion and second to approve the treatment street closure request from conference or services any further questions? Hearing none please. Okay, you're approved by saying hi. Thank you very much

16:26:08

personal thank you all for city is very Castle citizens grateful for being so kind to me the last almost 10 years and I really hope the relationship with PCCs city continues in my absence.

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Last meeting with us your pastor

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you're always welcome to

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follow along and a citizen like to have many reasons to come.

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Okay, next we have a request from Point University Joe Harris. Good to see you again for Center for Diversity and Inclusion.

16:26:49

Hello everyone. My name is Joseph Harris. I'm Assistant Director for the Justin Dan Christian Center for Diversity and Inclusion. On August 24. We'll be holding a welcome back block party from 7pm to 10pm. There'll be right in front of the center and we're requesting to have a street closure on Hanah street just between Indiana and Jackson's will be a very small footprint. For this block party we'll be having food games a DJ, the DJ will be facing the music towards the interior of the university now towards the out of and they will stop strictly at 10pm So

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that's our list and you know what the questions were things is this. So is this something like the community you come to also manager you may not push it out, large scale whatever but

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we are working with a couple of community partners are gonna be tabling. So really is the introduction to our students just letting them know something. Sometimes services that we provide also some of the services that are offered in the community. So we have some vendors and some of the stores from the community come down and take as well. So they have a collaboration here.

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Second, motion second. To approve the street closure request for the Center for Diversity Inclusion paper the questions or discussion? Hearing none, we're going to get your approval by saying aye

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aye.

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back for another school year. Okay, next. We have Department reports and we have several of our department heads are here this evening. If there's any questions that might arise.

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Scott

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in your report, yet you mentioned the town of Rochdale and their planning commission now being part of or whatever the arrangement is as far as county and city planning conglomerate. What's that mean to us? Sure.

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I put together here and I was Indiana code allows municipalities for the comprehensive plan and Planning Commission to have zoning or land use jurisdiction in an area approximately two miles around the city limits. Since community growth usually tends to form an outward trajectory make sense? For the standards inside seems to be the same as the areas where growth will happen. However, when and again, this is by the Indiana code and county planning agency that comes in the area planning commission by virtue of handling planning for a municipality. In this case, Russellville and rochedale. All municipalities lose their opportunity and oversees zoning standards outside their city. Now, in our case, however, the Putnam County Planning Office has been working with our planning office to adopt standards for the area around Greencastle that conforms closely to current standards as possible. Also, use of psychological posts. There are some additional questions. Now, point out that this can be a benefit, particularly for the community in that we won't have the traditional well first go to the city and you work out you know your site plan and your land use and oh now you go to the county to get your building permits and they handle the inspections and everything that will all be under the county handling and therefore verifying what those site development plans are land uses, etc. But as I mentioned, we're working to make sure that our standards that we've had in place for the two mile fringe can be as easily transition as possible. A lot of that land. That is in kind of development area, you might say a lot of that is zoned agriculture, to promote the type of residential development you might want to expand. More than likely will end up being rezone to a residential zoning anyway, not that you cannot build houses and subdivisions given a district. So I think I've just suddenly started getting a little more detail than the lines.

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So did rochedale have a two mile fridge? Y'all weren't the only one that was affected by that

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one time Cloverdale had a two mile fringe but there was a disagreement between the town of Cloverdale the county and the county took over. I remember that. So we will lose some authority and to our friends. Ultimately though, the city if somebody is going to develop a nice project that's going to have some density to it. They're going to want city water city sewer, and in the past for the most part. The philosophy has been if you want city water, and particularly city sewer that you have to be annexed into the city. So we do lose some immediate control that city does have the issue of negotiating on utilities and things like that.

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And I will simply say that I did really enjoy working with Lisa on those two mile fringe areas, and being a part of the county's steering committee for the comprehensive plan and they're gonna find out Thank you

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madam line is we don't have a choice.

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Okay, well, I thought combination. Great. Can you join us for that?

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Kudos to you and your staff, and a six year old grandson and we spared i don't know how much time over there. But I had a chance to go from waterslide and water slide to the board. And as you know, the guards rotate. So it was a time to have a conversation about who they were where they were from. And it was a really good summer. Now Mother Nature certainly helps. But I just want you to know this The staff was so what we'd like comparison to previous years that you probably know that but I want to say that publicly and I also wonder what the latest is on the lights on sportswear. Well,

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first of all, all the credit with regarding aquatics and goes to the management staff over there. I had little if anything to do with it. I went over there like you and admire the operation. Every time I went over there I was just amazed at the way that the lifeguards and staff went about their business. It's it's I would I would single this out as one of the more one of the better operations within this part of the state maybe statewide. They've done a great job and Kristin Matt, and the other staff members were just terrific. So thank you.

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It was great. You got that five minute break and they're all gathered in the break room and took the time to say look, you know, thank you so much

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for what you're doing. Right. And I know they appreciate that. They really like to hear that but it's warranted they deserved it. Chris and I were talking today looking at next year's calendar. This year, we were open for 10 weeks. we think we might squeeze 11 weeks out of the facility next year. A lot of it has to do with the academic calendar, which we don't have yet but we're hoping we might get 11 weeks out this year

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which would be terrific.

16:35:34

Some people on the local school boards to delay a school.

16:35:40

Terrific, you're referring to. I think we. Have any specific information. I know we had a couple of firms that were interested in

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guiding us to folks from the engineering department

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that I mean that that that project is going to move forward. And once we're ready to start, I would imagine that will be it won't take very long and and we're gonna light up the sky out there. And that's really what we need to do.

16:36:21

It's going to be great.

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Great, can you give us an update on the bathrooms and

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baking show ever be? Yes. We met yesterday with regard to bro ban and the bathrooms. The bathrooms are going to be renovated prior to the rest of the phase two. And we're moving forward on that. Basically, you know, as I as I sit here and talk about it, so I would imagine I don't have a date or a timeline or anything but I would imagine by the end of September, maybe October the bathrooms

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will be fully renovated. We already we've already awarded

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the contract, right? And we've made we've made a couple of adjustments to that. But I think it's it's gonna be a facility that as much as you can be proud of a bathroom prouder the bandshell and I haven't spoken

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recently, so I don't know where we sit. We were exchanged emails because I was trying to catch up with him as well. He was on the country but he

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said he's back on. So yeah, he's been he's in and out of the country a lot, which, you know, I'm jealous of that but it's but we're making progress. Phase two itself is moving forward. I think it's gonna be terrific when it's finished. Once phase two is done. probands who's going to have a completely new look to it? It's going to be safer. It's going to be ADA compliant. And, you know, I'm really really excited with with what align engineering has done for the project. And it may not happen as soon as we had hoped, which really isn't that big a deal based on the timing, you know, the critical issue with this data set, it's ready for spring 2024. We don't really know a lot of improvements are over the affected in the wintertime and things like that. But as long as it's completed before Memorial Day, celebrate for that type of thing. Opening which I know it will be. It's going to be terrific. I think you're it's going to be a project you're all going to

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be very, very proud of.

16:38:59

Awesome, thank you. My pleasure. Thank you. Thanks. Great. And you want to say anything about sign up for Fall softball or anything.

16:39:09

We've got 12 teams playing the second session of our summer league. We had our second rain out of the year last night, Mother Nature goddess. The first rain out was in an exhibition game so it didn't really have any effect. We will have a fall session. This summer session will end the week of Labor Day and we will have a tournament for both divisions and then we'll start following that will get us to about mid November. And then we'll do it all over again next spring. So but he's been terrific. We've got 12 teams right now and I've got four or five teams that are people that are reaching out and wanting to join joining the

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League in the fall. So for those watching at home if you want to organize a fall team just

16:40:01

give Greg a call. Right and in essence, if we do delay the construction of phase two, that would have had an adverse effect on softball because the areas of the park they're going to be affected. So it may be a blessing in disguise that we that we delayed the construction part of phase two, the main construction.

16:40:26

Thank you very much.

16:40:29

Questions. I have one more. Chief job. You don't have to come all the way up just listen.

16:40:40

up three weeks ago, I had a personal personal family experience here in town. My daughter, granddaughter in town for some medical visits and between the three of us we did a number of things in town and finally decided to go out to eat and that the intersection at the armory. The vehicle we were in died right in the middle of the intersection bit busiest intersection in town at noon and fortunately we had some people come and help us pull push my V my daughter's vehicle out of out of the intersection. And officer Eastham showed up and asked if we needed any help, and he directed the traffic and Officer McDaniel showed up and he took care of my granddaughter who was in the backyard backseat scared to death about what was going on at the color record for us. And in a half an hour. We were all well taken care of. So kudos to those two gentlemen. Yeah,

16:41:48

absolutely. I'll pass that on. Chris, can you come up for a second?

16:41:54

We live right here in the intersection of Bloomington and 231 and secondary Street and we've seen more than one tractor trailer going down to 31 Not only did three my wife was going north to 31 and a tractor trailer was coming. She and two other vehicles had to get out of the way and make a turn out into a size three. And we had seen multiple tractor trailers ignoring the signs up by the Veterans highway you know going north anyhow, you know not supposed to. My wife observed one tractor trailer coming off on the side streets. The tractor trailer driver got out and move cones away with somebody on Wednesday after came by and saw this happen and put the cones back in place. Do we have any recourse with people who are ignoring that advice

16:42:50

that request? Well, we deal with people there's issues and then we can take appropriate action. A lot of the truckers were finding our phone or GPS and African attention to the signage, which I still can't understand too that you can't miss it. And unfortunately, sometimes there's a language barrier or someone that drivers and things like that. They're just glued to the GPS. And it's been an ongoing problem. It has been and we've got officers in those areas that monitor the traffic and are doing what we can but with the delays and different things. It's just been an ongoing problem that we're gonna have to

16:43:25

deal with for the future. Is that something you can

16:43:28

issue a ticket for? Is there any of that and I think we have issued a few

16:43:36

it's just obviously you've got this tractor trailer coming

16:43:40

up and we've had an accident there too. And it's it's been a concern. Unfortunately, it's not just a tractor trailer. Yeah, cars and trucks. Yeah, the cars are a little harder to catch. Yeah. We have brought this issue to him that attention on multiple occasions.

16:44:04

And we've asked them to check on the traffic control devices at least once a day because we find that people are moving around or people are being kind of smart aleck II and go by with their trucks and just knock off the cones or knock down one way side so we have brought this to their attention on

16:44:25

multiple occasions.

16:44:29

Whatever you can do insurance public safety

16:44:33

is the primary focus. Oh my god. Thank you. Thanks for answering my email, graffiti issue like your response. I appreciate it. No problem. Questions. I will mention our fire department along with a number of other emergency. Emergency responders were recognized by the Department of Homeland Security last week and for the group effort at Ferncliff with the rescue there's a lot of hard work by a lot of folks with making that a successful outcome for the individual. So with that department heads are dismissed and I don't think we've got anything else on the agenda for for that so everybody have a good evening. Move on to other reports. also like to thank Duke Energy for a gift of $17,500 10,000 that will help with some of the recovery after the storm and then $7,500 will go to the fire department and that's to help support after the response to the storm. I think John's gonna use that to help make some improvements out at the training center. And also I forgot to mention this but I would like to thank our departments. If any of you made it out to national night out it was a great evening and a lot of participation from across the county and a lot of our departments participated on the YMCA project. Dirt Work continues on the site. With yesterday's rain we had about an inch and a half of rain. We lucked out compared to some other parts of the of the state but so not a lot of work today, but they were still working out there. Friday. Tomorrow. Work starts on the detention areas. And the dirt that's to come out of the detention areas is going to be used to help build up the building pad. So that work will start tomorrow. And then on Monday they'll be doing some testing of the first what they call the first lift of the building path and then they will do some additional proof road testing of the South parking area. So there they've been out there for about the last week or so. Pushing a lot of dirt if anybody would like to go out there after hours. I do have a key to the gate. You have to show you a lot of dirt moving around the apple pod the waterline project shouldn't be complete sometime in early September. They're currently switching over people on the services and they're moving along reasonably well. With that. Unfortunately on the US 231 project, I don't have any new news other than the fact that the cost estimates for all the additional work are provided to me on August 9, and that is reviewing the change orders and because of the significant cost of this change order. There are some extra approvals required by mdot. So hopefully they keep assuring me that that is moving they'll try to move that forward as quickly as possible. I know the contractor wants to get moving, as well. The chip and seal project by end south of town should be done the roads open after some striping work I think finishing up on a 240 project travel lanes have been repaved are doing shoulder work out there but traffic is flowing Locust Street, we're moving south, I send an email out to everybody with some detailed information. And Eric I'll get you a press release maybe for early next week on that. But if the weather cooperates that project is looking at a completion date of roughly September 15. But we are still going to continue our civic redecorating our community crossings projects will start shortly here later this month early next month. Primarily the first project will be poplar Street from locust all the way to Madison. And some of that work will be full depth reconstruction. Others will just be Mellon overlay to work won't be quite as extensive as local street because we don't have any storebrand or other underground utilities. Most of the curb and sidewalk has stayed in place. So it's really just a pavement. Then we'll move on to other other projects involved in that or Madison Street from poplar to Washington and then Washington Franklin garden side which is a simple millon overlay, Amman street and on overlay in Ohio Street. Part of that mill and overlay our sidewalk projects will probably get started next week as well. They're scattered sites around the community. So that's, that's working. And I mentioned last month that we hired Ron price. This is a project being funded through our ARPA dollars for small business assistance and we pay Indiana State for this. So the first bill flat is in the claims this evening. They've already had one workshop I when when he signed on I encouraged him to try to get some of our local contractors interested in doing in that work and potentially work for us in the future. And about 12 I think companies show up and people show up for get a very nice presentation over at the PA on that in that. Apparently this is the first time somebody has done this around the state. And I was pretty pleased when they said for people out to help provide the assistance so hopefully it'll helps us as well in the future with more bidders on our public works projects. We sometime later this summer we'll be doing utility relocation on North Jackson Street. That schedule is somewhat up in the air because we have to coordinate with the railroad and we're waiting on the railroad on that one. Sherwood lift station project soon as the materials come in for that battle, get started to do that. That's only been on our books for some 20 years or so. So caught up on that. And I'll be replacing that force mate as well. So a lot of work going on around town. We do appreciate the public's patience with us. I know there's been some criticism on social media that seems like everything's torn up and there were a couple of projects that we weren't aware of like the chip and seal on 231 That just kind of showed up but as I mentioned to people, some of those that are in that is doing it's nice to have indot spending some money in this part of the state and particularly in our community. So lots of things going on again, we do appreciate everybody's patience.

16:52:10

Bill, what's the timing? I'm trying to remember where I read your memo and until and thank you for that on all the construction so when does the seminary and walk us through the intersection? Shut

16:52:23

down? I hope it's ever opened in May. Yeah, we've we we've been alerting the contractors on all these projects to big events going on. And so they will the intersection will actually be closed during the day, August 14 through the 18th. But they're going to reopen it at night. And then they will have an open for moving day at the PA August 19 to 20th. So and then after that, they'll remove the pavement so that they can come in to replace the pavement in that intersection.

16:53:04

Window from your office. Yes. So look at that our city clerk treasurer has worked with Kenny to pass that Republic Services and our fall heavy trash day will be Saturday September 30 at Republic Services from 8am to 12 noon, and it's free to everyone. That's the city utility customer

16:53:25

and we will be mailing letters out again

16:53:34

given my way

16:53:38

Yeah, I don't have anything to report necessarily but but I did want to comment on on something a few weeks ago, also on social media. Somebody had commented that they were moving to Greencastle and was kind of asking you know, what's it what's it like and what's there to do and things like that? And and honestly I was a little heartbroken that a lot of responses. I know that social media can breed that negativity so so I didn't put a whole lot of stock in it but it did say kind of funny with me because I think some of that is also it does. Show maybe public perception or whatever, to some degree. And, and so you know, some of the things are all there's nothing to do and whatever and strangely enough the what the one thing that kept coming up with was there's nothing to do but farm work and something else but that kind of struck me. But anyways, I'm bringing that up because I think that those type of things are important to know and I think as city leaders I think it's I think we need to know that you know try to you know reach out or you know tamp that down too much so we can I did reach out to the lady she moved to Texas or reached out to her. Just sent her a message and kind of shared my story and also somebody moved here, you know, nearly a couple of decades ago and all that. But, but I also want to say publicly that if if there's somebody who you will know what to do or you're not you want to get involved, you're not

16:55:34

involved.

16:55:38

I wouldn't say that. I don't think so. I think I mean, I think that sometimes it's hard to know what to do or where to go or what's going on. There's a lot of avenues that we share information and all of that but but there's a there's there's a council here and people in city hall that you can reach out to end so if if you feel like there's nothing to do or you're worried you're wondering what to get involved in. They'll reach out to some of us I definitely want to hear from you and see how we can get you plugged in but but there's there's a whole council here and like I said and city hall and there's other organizations and things like that. So I just want to say that publicly that one. It's not a good look for a move into the to the city but also reach out to us because we can get you plugged in and there's a lot of fun things to do going on around here. And so there's people that can point you in that direction too. So so if it may be their fault, I don't know whatever. Then now you have it you have an excuse you have you have a reason to reach out and so reach out to us and

16:56:44

we'll help you find some stuff let's see. Let's see put together softball team set a plug for us. For the follow me I have nothing to everybody else stole my thunder with everything else I said before I don't have a whole lot to say. Thank you for saying what she said Russell. And I think especially for all of us who are leaders in the community, we're

16:57:16

pastors

16:57:18

for good neighborliness. So let's keep that up.

16:57:26

Just thank you Jason Kenney liaise with the cemetery a summer that went well. Jason he does a great tour before your member ID returns expire. I highly recommend you get out there and get the DCP tour because documentation is really cool. The layout of the cemetery mastermind is really neat. It's still the famous concatenate the world design. Very cool. Highly recommended. Thanks, Jason.

16:57:56

Any update on the

16:57:57

Wellness Center agreement with us little

16:58:00

that's been worked out. We're working on

16:58:02

and worked on it for a year. Well, we're working on it now. You know where we are and we know what we're doing and we're working on it and we've I've been staying in contact with the hospital. We've been talking with the hospital redevelopment and outside counsel on the relevant parties to the to the agreement and we're very close. We're making great

16:58:27

progress. Good. I was not aware of many of the

16:58:34

questions approval of the minutes is our next item on the agenda and these are the minutes from the July 14 session. So I'll entertain a motion if there's any additions or corrections and they would approve the minutes. Okay, motion a second to approve the minutes I think for the questions and discussion. Hearing none please signify by saying aye. Aye.

16:59:07

Any opposed or abstentions?

16:59:15

Next is approval of city claims. Dave, did

16:59:18

you get the claims do we have direct payables of $191,933.77 the larger one is total Alliance $20,965.60. Heaters more sales $11,516.76. The usual Republic Services large charging $43,703.39 aligned engineering. Three invoices still weighing $41,515.74 local street is the largest of those Romain and campus link are the other two going to Vita the architecture firm at 101 16 cents. Mark cuts through Jackson Street appraisals $8,450 And then the controversial KNs engineering expenditure of $29,016. Why project Common Council claims and other aligned civil engineering for $17,372.50. We've got turnout here for for members of the fire department at $13,266.42 Coex contraction This is the final payment for phase one at home and part $90,525.03. And then, Indiana State University check from the Mayor's Office for $13,340. For small business technical assistance. I think this is what you were planning on the workshop. And the total one on the county council claims is $179,148.30 I don't have the city employee or the

17:01:24

retirement contributions. They are coming around

17:01:34

they'd be approved for the purposes of public much passes down to Dave and then he'll soon back for signatures. So you can read the last couple of the packet

17:01:53

they were all

17:01:56

$633,803.93 pension contributions of 18,000 508 and 98 cents and with that I move approval

17:02:10

claims be approved.

17:02:15

Emotional SEC second to approve the claims. Are there any further questions or discussion? Hearing none Please indicate your approval by saying aye. Aye. There Any abstentions? Okay, we have two items of additional business. asked your indulgence if we could maybe do the date for Halloween before we talk about stormwater utility. Halloween is on a Tuesday evening. We saw earlier that they're going to do the trick and treating downtown for five to seven and I apologize I meant to look up what we approved last year but I think it was like six to eight. And is that is that a reasonable for somebody want to make a little five game? What's that? Five eight, I think it is five to five days. Okay, sorry. I

17:03:07

didn't get a chance to look it up. Halloween on Halloween. Saturday first, second, motion.

17:03:21

Real motion a second to make the door to door trick and treat hours from five date on Tuesday. How we need any further questions or discussion. please signify approval by saying Aye.

17:03:38

Any upstate

17:03:42

Laurie will let us know what the family costumes are.

17:03:52

People thought I was in the hospital. Next week, I'd like to take a little bit of time to

17:04:03

look at the

17:04:07

you know we had work session on the right options for stormwater and we'd like to get some guidance from counsel as to what rate they'd like us to focus in on and then we can go and you know, have some public meetings and some meetings with some of the larger potential ratepayers. So I put together a summary chart so that we can maybe focus our efforts. You might recall from last time that we looked at four different rates, the first one being a $5 monthly rate per hour. edu or Aru, which is equivalent residential unit and that rate would increase by 25 cents per year up to a rate of $6. Then we also looked at a rate of $6 increasing by 25 cents to seven and a flat rate of six and a flat rate was seven. So I kind of outline those four options here. So the rate is the first line of each of the boxes. The second line is the estimated income based on an estimated number of er uses 12,300. And then broke that down based on the budgets that were kind of discussed roughly, you know in the first year for example, for the $5 rate about 400 Some 1000 would be available for kind of general operation streets, we've been cleaning drains, cetera, et cetera. And then 325,000 would be available for large capital improvements. So like a major storm sewer project or something like that. There is some small scale capital money built into the operating side but that was more like, you know, changing out of cash base or maybe some minor curb work or something like that. And then I think when I mentioned this last time, I put together kind of a rough estimate that of what we're currently currently paying for in the general fund or our motor vehicle highway. That would be replaced by this so roughly about 300,000 That first year so that's that's the fourth line each of the boxes. So obviously, if the rate is a little higher, it generates a little more money, but that's a greater impact on our citizens. And, you know, again, you know, we've got some, some big landowners that are going to feel this from a rate standpoint. So for example, the $5 rate, each of us as a householder, that'd be $5 A month extra on our utility bill. So for business, it's going to vary a little bit depending on how much acreage they have how much impermeable surface you know, a small business it might be five or 10, larger business it might be 2531 of our major businesses, it could be several 1000. So once once we narrow down the array, we'll run some calculations and be able to pass that out to you so you can get a feel for the impact of the floor for watching discussion.

17:07:33

Okay, refresh my memory, our neighboring towns already charge a stormwater utility. We're one of the few that

17:07:42

didn't bring the list down on me but like Fillmore Cloverdale are ones that have you know, we have that list from across the state of similar size communities and there's quite a

17:07:55

few that have moved in this direction. I understand the need for putting this in place because of our drainage issues and the projects we have coming up but my my personal Lane would be let's start with the $5

17:08:07

as low as possible to impact our

17:08:12

people that live here. And their water bills.

17:08:14

That's that's what we're we've been fortunate that we've reduced to at at money for stormwater projects. And then with these community crossings projects in that will pay for stormwater water work related to roadwork. So we've been able to use leverage those dollars in that can continue with this. Utility some of the capital money might be used to match a future community crossings grant

17:08:42

and leverage those dollars. We get some grant money a year or two ago to offset some increases

17:08:48

we were planning to do for a water pot and likewise that okra funding source can also be used. They do provide for stormwater projects under that program. So that could be a future opportunity where this this funding source could leverage

17:09:09

those dollars as well. You'll want to do say the monthly hit for a residential

17:09:15

place when typical single family residence wouldn't be $5 if we

17:09:19

start at the $5 tip, okay, refer to the Community Foundation as a come up with a survey. But I'm anticipating the number one need is going to be housing and you heard the boss say that tonight the first thing that balance was housing and these numbers are a drop in the bucket when it comes to what might have to happen from a city point of view, and I'd rather see us go to the $7 range and have money that we have some flexibility to use $7 more

17:09:56

a month it's it's not catastrophic

17:09:58

for most households. I guess my only counter argument to that would be is it least isn't my expectation, but my expectation is on December 31 That that this money would be necessarily used to subsidize a developer potentially that this this money is going to be used to repair our existing problems in some of our neighborhoods. And we need to we need to be thinking about the folks that may have a little less resources and other ideas.

17:10:36

I'd be more inclined. To support Stacey, her thoughts battles in motion, just because we've been certified American. I think we can probably all anticipate that this will get up there in the next council year or inevitable have been inflation or other factors. So I think we're probably getting there at some point, but there's no harm in starting

17:11:02

the lowest potential option. We just ran this five years out. There's nothing to say that if for example, we started five and increase in a quarter every year we just keep going another four years and get up to seven I think

17:11:21

yeah, so I would probably be more inclined

17:11:24

to

17:11:29

go with what they say and somewhere in the six or $7 range. And in thinking about that I certainly understand the impact that it can have. But I also think we can we can say with some degree of confidence that it's already very expensive to do the things that we're doing and it's not going to get cheaper. Right. And so, I think there's also a frustration for folks that you know, we get you get the increase than an increases next year. You know, and understand that we're trying to get to I understand, you know, we can we can always get there but, but I think also trying to be good stewards and make sure that we have those funds available for things that we know cost is going to grow on. It feels like now might be a good time to do that. And then and just hopefully it's a it's a set it and forget it type of thing. So I mean, I guess the difference we're talking about about a buck or two. And I know because I've been in I've been in that situation where you feel like you don't have to have two dimes to rub together. But, but that but that $2 Stretch also. I think it can happen. I also think that it just benefits the overall so that will be my two cents. I

17:13:10

mean, if it's if it's about the seven, I will go for the six for sure. I will leave

17:13:15

it to that point. I've never had it before we've always been creative and found other ways to find the money to do these projects. So

17:13:25

that's why I think we start No, I agree. But I also think that our citizens will say want us to cover and on a on a hope and a prayer that we find later. Right? I mean, I think that that and I'm sure they also say they don't you know, nobody's going to be happy to give it up. Right? I mean, I'm not saying I'm happy to give it up. But I'm saying we also you're exactly right. And we always have and I think that there will be ways that we can do that.

17:13:53

But I don't think it's

17:13:57

I don't think it's the best way to operate off of

17:14:00

I hope we can in the future. I recognize this point that that we need to get our foot in the door to get the grant opportunities for grant money. That's a huge part of establishing the stormwater utility in the first place irrespective of freight. I'm inclined to sort of meet in the middle. I'd like to think about a $6 rate even whether or not we go with a sliding thing baked into tonight's proposal. I just don't want to walk out of this room tonight without having established the utility as the good launching this plane off the ground. Because that's the most important thing right now so that we can begin to pursue these grants because we have we've already identified many stormwater needs in the community and there are more that are that I've not seen on lists that that I'm aware of both through through anecdotal evidence as well as direct evidence of driving my car down the street and make it sufficient out. And I know that the avenues and areas of your first Ward as well are particularly in dire need. Of these things. I'm really inclined to start in a place where we have the leverage to move swiftly to address the needs of our infrastructure that are sort of gated because it is a public good that this community needs sooner rather than later. Yeah.

17:15:50

I was out of the state assuming I think that in addition to you know, things, increasing year to year, I think it's very rare also that we go into a project and everything's like, Oh, here's the plan. Okay, we started and we finished playing right. There's always, you know, something, something weird or unforeseen or whatever, that happens to these things too. And so, so just

17:16:18

out to us. And that's exactly what those emergencies we get more and more unfunded mandates from the state government about Ms. Work, storage storm sewer and in the fact of the matter is most of most many, many, many communities in India have had this for 20 years. When we looked at doing it 20 years ago. We looked at two to $5.20 years ago. And yeah, we're just starting but we should have done this. I mean, this should be we were behind a lot of other communities. In this regard, and we are in this for community.

17:17:01

And the figures here are based on what 12,300 Er use. And I would think it would be the hope that that number would

17:17:13

increase that. For example, if somebody there's a like if there's a vacant lot in a subdivision, it's counted as a disk. It's like a fraction of any RU. When that person builds a house there then it's a full vru so that would you know add to that

17:17:31

12,300. So any other kinds of projects that we've talked about or are in

17:17:40

the future or whatever that might come

17:17:42

about are two good examples are in the new apartment project. That would add to that town that was in my mind, the Duke Energy Project that's being built behind Walmart would add to that our owns why it adds to that. So yeah, I mean, that number is gonna go up over

17:18:01

time to

17:18:04

what will this do to our

17:18:05

schools and our churches? Well, that's why I'd like you guys to give me a rate to focus in on

17:18:12

tonight. So

17:18:14

you want one tonight? I would like it would be very helpful if you guys could narrow it down to one right and then we can run some calculations. You know, we have scheduled with our consultants and public outreach meetings, and things like that, but it's hard to go to the public and say, Well, we're looking at a bunch of different rates. Let's give them a rate that we're going to focus in on and then they can respond to that. Is that too high too low or, you know, are they comfortable with it or

17:18:42

whatever it would apply to schools. I mean, it's like an asset. It's not a tax or assessment

17:18:48

like utility.

17:18:53

And if we're going to institute this new drainage ordinance, it requires a lot more oversight by the city and in I don't do that you all understand how many complaints we get all the time about drainage on properties in between properties and between two property owners. And so this just requires even more time engineering assessments, at certain review plans, etc, that that we're going to have to contract out because staff

17:19:31

well, because we'll need engineering and

17:19:33

all sorts of other things. So if we're going to comply with the drainage law, then we're going to have to

17:19:42

find is the need is there and the need is there. I don't know. I mean, the LogStash issues here. There's, there's some maintenance issues that need to be done, you know, our public works department goes around and cleans to catch basins where you strip the sweet streets and all that's part of the hemisphere because we're responsible for both stormwater quality and quantity. So, you know, the reason we have on all of our catch basins don't don't bring this here. Is to try to encourage people not to spill things in there would have an adverse impact on water quality. So we do have some, you know, mandatory statutory responsibilities with MS for which we partner with DPA. And, you know, this is going to be a chunk of change. For the paws really are the largest landowner

17:20:35

in the city. I was going to mention is a bit of a double edged sword. Yes, this impacts our schools. Yes, this impacts our churches and our community, but for the very fact that that the PA has been able to take along with those churches and schools, flex up a tax exempt status in the community. This is one way to recoup some some put some skin in the game for helping to pay their way with respect to stormwater in our communities. And you know, if there's a way to, obviously we're not talking about obviously we know that that both churches and schools and and the university are going to do what they can to pursue exemptions, or whatever they're called to. Credits. Thank you against some of the assessment everybody's gonna be paid something. And it's definitely

17:21:52

as I currently speak,

17:21:54

property that is a tax on government. You know, that we're still providing services for please hire for more. No, at least this was quote, according to me that we can recover some of that cost anyway.

17:22:16

Thanks. That's important and more Thanks for your comments.

17:22:21

Well, we can beat this till the cows come home. I would move that we establish a stormwater utility rate of $6 increasing by 25 cents per year to $7. Over the coast course, though, five years.

17:22:44

Already and we want, you're not you're not yet establishing

17:22:47

utility, you're recommending that we

17:22:50

study that. Okay, right forward, and then there's a whole bunch of stuff that goes

17:22:55

from the ordinance here as well, public hearing on it and and you'll have a whole

17:23:02

lot more coming to adoption today. Recommendation for

17:23:08

to move forward with that.

17:23:11

That's a motion to get some start.

17:23:15

We have a motion in a second to focus in on the $6 rate with an annual increase of 25 cents per year. Going to $7 in emotion a second on that any further questions or discussion? Okay, Hearing none, please indicate your approval by saying aye. Hi. Again, I don't I'm sorry,

17:23:41

we have a oppose

17:23:45

to oppose Okay. Well, this gives us a start, there will be no further review. You know, they're making a further change, but we can spend time focusing on this rate. And then, you know, there will be a chance to when the when the ordinance comes forward for adoption to make some adjustments or stay with what we've studied. So we're not wanting to launch into it yet. I just want to, you know, I can spend a lot of time doing all four of these. I want to kind of focus in and then that helps us explain to the public a little better. Okay, thank you very much. That concludes our business for the

17:24:27

evening. So I want to carry a motion picture

17:24:29

I so move.

17:24:33

Question. Duke Energy I know we can do some tree training. Have we gotten a more update schedule? Do you have any idea their timeline,

17:24:41

sent letters to some residents in town now they're there. In fact, the team from the street department so they were on College Street today. I noticed they were over by cheesy

17:24:58

so it's happening. Okay, a bunch of they have their trucks over by your large building at night. Just received the message about them coming Monday. So emotional second to adjourn. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Thank you very much.

17:25:22

Remember