Minutes 9/16/20

Meeting Minutes – September 16, 2020

The Churubusco Town Council met on September 16, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. in the Scout Building. Members present were Council Members Bruce Johnson, Mark Pepple, and Nathan Van Horn; and Clerk-Treasurer, Madalyn Sade-Bartl. Also in attendance was Nicole Minier, Churubusco News

Council President, Nathan Van Horn, called the meeting to order and led the pledge. Roll was called by the Clerk. All members were present.

Approval of Meeting Minutes for September 2, 2020:

Mr. Johnson made a motion to approve the meeting minutes from September 2, 2020 as presented. Mr. Pepple seconded, and the motion carried 2-0 with Mr. Pepple abstaining.

Approval of Claims and Payroll Vouchers:

Claims Vouchers dated September 16, 2020 in the amount of $142,884.83 were presented and approved.

Public Comment:

There were no public comments.

Old Business:

1. 1.       Park Camera Project: Ms. Bartl updated the Council on the Park Camera project. She stated ASG had informed her the last of the equipment had come in the previous day as a couple of the cameras were on back order. ASG had contacted their utility division to schedule boring of the lines and the hope was the lines would be bored within the next two weeks and ASG’s technician would be out the week of October 5 to start installation.
2. Halloweenfest: Ms. Bartl stated she had sent out a survey to residents concerning Halloweefest. Of the 176 responses she received, only 13 stated they would not be participating in any events with 10 voicing there should not be trick-or-treating. Sixty percent of the responses also indicated that while Halloweenfest is usually held the Saturday before Halloween, they would like it to occur on Halloween since October 31^st fell on a Saturday this year. Ms. Bartl stated certain precautions would be made during the Chamber trick-or-treat event such as requiring masks on all participants and parents, cancelling the hayrides, having one way pedestrian traffic on sidewalks, closing Washington Street to allow for plenty of room for the costume contest, and hand sanitizer stations. She had contacted the Whitley County Board of Health and they approved these precautions. The survey also found that most respondents wanted trick-or-treating to be held from 5-7 (the times it has occurred in the past few years). The Council approved of the precautions and the event by consensus.

New Business:

1. 1.       Legion/Main Street beautification: Ms. Bartl stated she had been approached by Lee from the Legion concerning their sidewalk and steps on Main Street. Lee was wondering if the Town would be redoing the section sometime soon as they were in rough shape and needed replacing. Ms. Bartl reminded the Council that the section was scheduled to be done with the original Main Street beautification project but was scrapped due to lack of funds. She and Mr. Hart still were planning on completing it and was hoping to do it in 2021 until revenue forecasts indicated lower revenues. However, since advertising the 2021 budget, updated forecasts had come out and the Economic Development fund would not see as hard of a hit than was originally anticipated. She recommended that during the budget’s public hearing, EDIT be bumped higher in anticipation of the project. Mr. Pepple asked how much that portion of Main Street would cost. Ms. Bartl stated the opposite side was around $68,000 last year, and while it was a shorter stretch of sidewalk, she stated Stu did not think it would be as much due to the amount of concrete that needed to be used on the opposite side of the street. She stated he thought it would probably be around $60,000.   

Department Reports:

Jeremy Hart, Town Supervisor:

Mr. Hart was not present.

Bob Gray, Wastewater Treatment Plant Supervisor

Mr. Gray was not present.

Dustin Papenbrock, Town Marshal:

Marshal Papenbrock was not present.

Rick Krider, Park Supervisor:

Mr. Krider was not present.

Ron Felger, Town Attorney:

Mr. Felger was not present.

Council Reports:

Mark Pepple:

Mr. Pepple had nothing to report.

Bruce Johnson:

Mr. Johnson stated he had a solid waste meeting the following week.

Nathan Van Horn:

Mr. Van Horn had nothing to report.

Madalyn Sade-Bartl:

Ms. Sade-Bartl reviewed her attached report.

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