Meeting Minutes – March 19, 2025

by Madalyn Sade-Bartl on April 1, 2025 in Meetings, Minutes

The Churubusco Town Council held a meeting at 6:00 p.m. on March 19, 2025, at the Town Hall, 215 Home Avenue, Churubusco, Indiana. The meeting was called to order by the President with roll being called by the Deputy Clerk-Treasurer. The Council members were present or absent as follows:
Present: Nathan Van Horn, Mark Pepple
Absent: Devin Keener

Mr. Zachary Zehner, counsel to the Council, and Natalie Blessing, Deputy Clerk-Treasurer, were also present. Madalyn Sade-Bartl, Clerk-Treasurer, was absent.
Easement Encroachment Hearing for 956 Wheatfield Lane & 926 Wheatfield Lane: Mr. Van Horn opened the easement encroachment hearing for 956 Wheatfield Lane and 926 Wheatfield Lane. Mr. Pepple made a motion to approve the easement encroachments for 956 Wheatfield Lane & 926 Wheatfield Lane, which was seconded by Mr. Van Horn and approved unanimously.
Approval of Meeting Minutes March 5: Mr. Pepple made a motion to approve meeting minutes from March 5. Mr. Van Horn seconded. March 5 minutes were approved 2-0.
Approval of Claims: Claims and payroll vouchers in the amount of $353,499.61 were approved and signed.
Public Comments: There were no public comments.
Old Business: There was no old business.
New Business:
1. Approval of Pay Apps – Project A – Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades – Mr. Pepple made a motion to approve the Pay App for Project A for the amount of $198,841. Mr. Van Horn seconded and the motion carried 2-0.
2. Approval of Change Orders – Project A – Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades – Mr. Pepple made a motion to approve the change order for Project A. Mr. Van Horn seconded and the motion carried 2-0.
3. Water Bill Adjustments – Ms. Blessing explained that because of the weather, some of the reading routes had to be estimated for the last two months. She had gone through those routes and presented the council with a list of over/under estimates and explained why adjustments were necessary to avoid overcharging residents. Mr. Pepple inquired if the Town was getting to a point where estimating would no longer be necessary. Ms. Blessing advised that around 340 of the around 900 meters had already been changed over to radio reads, and that once those were all changed out, estimating would no longer be necessary.
Department Reports
• Water/Street Superintendent, Jeremy Hart, emailed the attached report.
• Wastewater Superintendent, Zach Geiger, stated that they had lost power at Windsor over the weekend, but the generator operated as it was intended, causing no disruptions.
• Town Marshall, Dustin Papenbrock, advised the new officer was on his own and doing well. The new SRO, Garry Jones, is at “SRO School” this week for training. He also stated the Durango waiting at Copsgear to be fitted, but they did not provide a timeline for completion. He also stated that his officer out on leave was hoping to be back in May.
• Park Director, Rick Krider, stated they are about to start the busy time of the year. They’ve got 3 new batting cages and a new scoreboard going in. He also stated that the Scout Building got new floors last week and he was given approval to get a new stove and fridge for the building.
• Mr. Zehner advised that he had sent over the MOU to the council for the residential project with Mr. Biggs and asked the council look over it. He advised they can take action on the MOU at the next meeting.
Council Reports: The Council had nothing to report.
Chief of Staff/Clerk-Treasurer Report: Ms. Bartl was not present, and Deputy Clerk-Treasurer, Ms. Blessing, had nothing to report on her behalf.
There being no further business to come before the meeting, the meeting was thereupon adjourned.