Meeting Minutes – April 16, 2025
The Churubusco Town Council held a meeting at 6:00 p.m. on April 16, 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 Clerk-Treasurer. The Council members were present or absent as follows:
Present: Mark Pepple, Devin Keener, Nathan Van Horn
Absent: None
Madalyn Sade-Bartl, Clerk-Treasurer, was also present.
Easement Encroachment Hearing- 323 W. Pleasant Street: Jeff Clark, owner of 323 W. Pleasant Street, was present. Mr. Clark was asking for permission to encroach on an easement for the installation of a new fence. Mr. Keener made a motion to approve the request. Mr. Pepple seconded, and the motion carried 3-0.
Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes: Mr. Pepple made a motion to approve the meeting minutes for April 2, 2025 as presented. Mr. Keener seconded, and the motion carried 2-0. Mr. Van Horn abstained.
Approval of Claims: Claims and payroll vouchers in the amount of $35,279.56 were approved and signed.
Public Comment: Brian Clark from the Suicide Prevention Taskforce informed the Council that they had secured grants to provide QPR training to other groups in the community. He also reminded the Council of their annual walk happening on May 10 at the Park.
OLD BUSINESS
1. Grant Administration Agreement- Ideal/Biggs, Turtle Meadows Grant: Mr. Van Horn made a motion to approve the agreement as presented. Mr. Pepple seconded, and the motion carried 3-0.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Whitley County Council on Aging: Jim Johnson from the Whitley County Council on Aging gave an update on the various programs and services they provided to the citizens of Whitley County.
2. Approval of Pay App 26- Project A, Crosby: Ms. Bartl reviewed Pay Application 26. Mr. Pepple made a motion to approve Pay Application 26 for $228,498.98, Mr. Keener seconded, and the motion carried 3-0.
3. Resolution 2025-06: Approval to Changes made to Personnel Manual- Mr. Van Horn made a motion to approve Resolution 2025-06 as presented. Mr. Keener seconded, and the motion carried 3-0.
4. April Penalties: Ms. Bartl explained that bills for around half of the community were delayed by the post office, specifically the Indianapolis distribution center. She added that while the penalty policy has always been that not receiving a bill or receiving a bill late is not an excuse for not assessing penalties, this particular situation was a little different since it did impact half of the customers. She was asking that they allow her office not to assess penalties for the month of April because of the situation. She stated shutoffs would still occur and late notices would still be sent as normal. They would just not have a penalty assessed for this month. Mr. Keener made a motion to forgo assessing penalties in April. Mr. Pepple seconded, and the motion carried 3-0.
5. Approval of Lee Jacobs Addition Re-Plat: Ms. Bartl explained the history of the re-plat and explained it had been approved by the Plan Commission. Mr. Van Horn made a motion to approve the re-plat. Mr. Pepple seconded, and the motion carried 3-0.
6. Riley Raise: Ms. Bartl requested that Riley Templeton be moved from Utility Assistant Tier 2 to Tier 1. She stated he is currently running the sewer plant by himself, and he has been a loyal full-time employee for the past four years without receiving any increase beyond the annual cost-of-living increase. Mr. Pepple made a motion to approve the pay change from tier two to tier one. Mr. Van Horn seconded, and the motion carried 3-0.
7. Sidewalk Cost Sharing Program: Ms. Bartl explained that there was a desire from residents to continue the Sidewalk Enhancement Program that was started in 2012. However, since the retirement of Stu Rasler, they had not completed any sidewalks even though they had continued to appropriate funds towards the program. She had some ideas as to how the Town could still offer the program, modeling it to the Façade Grant program that is offered to businesses. The Council stated they were in favor of changing the program and Ms. Bartl stated she would draft a policy and application for consideration at the next meeting.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Water/Street Department- Jeremy Hart: Mr. Hart presented the attached report.
Police Department- Dustin Papenbrock: Marshal Papenbrock had nothing to report.
Park Department- Rick Krider: Mr. Krioder stated they had some damage from recent storms. He also stated the park was very busy and Youth League opening day would be May 4th.
TOWN COUNCIL REPORTS
President Van Horn stated he and Ms. Bartl had met with the RDA about the READI grant for the Civic Center. The consensus was that the Community Coalition needed to cede their grant as the project was not ready and was no further to being ready as it was in September (when the RDA gave the first extension). Mr. Van Horn stated the building would probably be sold in the near future.
CHIEF OF STAFF/CLERK-TREASURER REPORT
Ms. Bartl presented the attached report.
There being no further business to come before the meeting, the meeting was thereupon adjourned.
Nathan Van Horn, President
Mark Pepple, Council Member
Devin Keener, Council Member
ATTEST:
Madalyn Sade-Bartl, Clerk-Treasurer
