Minutes 10/18/17

Meeting Minutes – October 18, 2017

The Churubusco Town Council met on October 18, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. in the Town Hall. Members present were Council President Mark Pepple, Council Members Bruce Johnson and Frank Kessler, and Clerk-Treasurer, Madalyn Sade-Bartl. Also in attendance was area resident Pat Ligget; Linda Thompson, Post & Mail; Nicole Minier, Churubusco News; Town Marshal Mike Engle; Waste Water Treatment Plant Supervisor Bob Gray; and Town Supervisor, Jeremy Hart.

Council President Mark Pepple called the meeting to order, welcomed visitors and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll was called by Ms. Bartl.  All members were present.

Approval of October 4, 2017 meeting minutes:

Mr. Johnson made a motion to approve the minutes from October 4, 2017. Mr. Kessler seconded the motion. The motion carried 3-0.

Approval of September 20, 2017 meeting minutes:

Due to the inability to approve minutes from the September 20, 2017 meeting because of absences, the minutes from September 20 still needed to be approved. Mr. Johnson made a motion to approve the minutes from September 20, 2017. Mr. Kessler seconded the motion. The motion carried 2-0 with President Pepple abstaining due to absence.

Approval of Claims and Payroll Vouchers:

Claims Vouchers dated for October 18, 2017 in the amount of $79,385.35 were approved. Ms. Bartl stated payroll was again missing due to it not properly transferring from the Payroll program to the Fund program.

Public Comment:

There was no public comment.

Old Business:

1. Approval of Ordinance 2017-13- 2018 Budget: The 2018 budget had been introduced at the September 20 hearing and been advertised via Gateway. Seeing no changes, Mr. Kessler made a motion to approve the budget as presented. Mr. Johnson seconded and the motion carried 3-0.
2. Blue Lake Amendment: The contact between the Blue Lake Conservancy and Town of Churubusco had been amended and the Council felt comfortable with the contract as it was being presented. Mr. Kessler made a motion to approve to contract. Mr. Johnson seconded and the motion carried 3-0. The contract would now go back to the Conservancy for approval.

New Business:

1. Health Insurance renewal- PHP: Ms. Bartl presented the Council with renewal rates for PHP. The 2018 increase was only 3%- the smallest increase seen in several years. She stated this increase would be easily absorbed into the 2018 budget. Mr. Kessler made a motion to accept the renewal with PHP. Mr. Johnson seconded and the motion carried 3-0.
2. Paving quotes: Mr. Hart presented to Council a quote from Murray to repave the alley between C&A and Michelle’s in the amount of $8400. Mr. Johnson made a motion to approve the submitted quote. Mr. Kessler seconded and the motion carried 3-0.
3. 2017 Salaries:  Mr. Johnson asked if the current salary ordinance had allowed for an increase in elected officials’ pay. Mr. Kessler stated it had not.

Department Reports:

Jeremy Hart, Town Supervisor:

Mr. Hart presented the attached report. Mr. Hart stated the contact he made for smoke testing had never returned his calls. President Pepple wanted to know how we were going to get this done given no contacts had been made from the leads Mr. Hart and Mr. Gray had been given. Ms. Bartl stated she would send out an email to fellow Clerk-Treasurers and get contact information from them.

Bob Gray, Waste Water Treatment Plant Supervisor

Mr. Gray had nothing to report.

Michael Engle, Town Marshal:

Marshal Engle stated Officer Papenbrock and Officer Archbold had recently worked on some big incidents, one being a kidnapping and the other arson. He was proud of the work they did in the investigations.

Rick Krider, Park Supervisor:

Mr. Krider was not present.

Ron Felger, Town Attorney:

Mr. Felger was not present.

Council Reports:

Frank Kessler:

Mr. Kessler wanted to thank Madalyn and the whole Stellar Committee for the time and effort they had spent on the Stellar project. He was proud that Churubusco put its best foot forward.

Bruce Johnson:

Mr. Johnson did not have anything to report.

President Mark Pepple:

President Pepple did not have anything to report.

Madalyn Sade-Bartl:

Ms. Sade-Bartl reported that she was notified that Churubusco was not selected as a Stellar Community. She stated she had heard the program was going to be restructured and next year’s program would have a more regional focus.

She also reported she had spent the afternoon with Carrie from the DNR and completed the final walk through for the planting grant. There was currently an open grant round with the DNR that is due on Oct. 30 and Carrie had mentioned Churubusco should consider applying so a risk assessment and tree inventory could be completed at the Park.

Ms. Bartl had also attended the Community Crossing kickoff meeting the previous day and had sent out RFQs for engineering to five firms. They were due on Nov. 3^rd. OCRA’s Downtown Enhancement Grant is due on November 3^rd.

She stated she was working on that application for the alley activation between Shroyer’s and the STAR building. She and Jeremy would be completing 3^rd grade tree planting at the Park next week.

Kari would be gone tomorrow for SBOA state called meeting. Ms. Bartl would be attending the southern meeting Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.

Finally, Halloweenfest is next Saturday.

Having no other business and after all proper papers were signed, President Pepple adjourned the regular meeting.