Meeting Minutes – August 20, 2025
The Churubusco Town Council held a meeting at 6:00 p.m. on August 20, 2025, at the Boy Scout Building, 501 N. John Krieger Drive, Churubusco, Indiana. The meeting was called to order by the President with roll called by the Clerk-Treasurer. The Council members were present or absent as follows:
Present: Devin Keener, Nathan Van Horn
Absent: Mark Pepple
Madalyn Sade-Bartl, Clerk-Treasurer, was also present.
Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes: Mr. Keener made a motion to approve the meeting minutes for the August 6, 2025 executive session and regular meeting. Mr. Van Horn seconded, and the motion carried 2-0.
Approval of Claims: Claims and payroll vouchers in the amount of $127,910.54 were approved and signed.
Public Comment: Kayla Crance asked about the status of the Town Wide Garage Sale. Mr. Van Horn stated they would still happen but there would be changes in how they were advertised. Lisa Fensler asked about Halloweenfest. Ms. Sade-Bartl stated the deputy clerk was not able to assist with the event in any capacity. Mr. Van Horn stated he was unsure of its status.
Kayla Crance also stated there were several Churubusco businesses that were in contention for Fort Wayne Reader’s Choice. She encouraged people to vote for local businesses.
OLD BUSINESS
There was no old business.
NEW BUSINESS
Todd Thurber was present and gave a report about the status of the sewer project, water project, and CCMG project. He had several action items within his report. They are as follows:
1. Sewer Project A- Pay App #30- Crosby- $307,233.94: Mr. Keener made a motion to approve Pay App 30 as presented. Mr. Van Horn seconded, and the motion carried 2-0.
2. Sewer Project A- Change Order #9- $54,786.00: Mr. Thurber explained the change order items. Mr. Keener made a motion to approve change order 9 of Sewer Project A. Mr. Van Horn seconded, and the motion carried 2-0.
3. Water Project- DLZ Supplement 1: Mr. Thurber explained that a new contract for items outside of preliminary engineering for the water project had never been signed and all fees for engineering were in the bond total. Mr. Keener made a motion to approve the supplemental agreement with DLZ. Mr. Van Horn seconded, and the motion carried 2-0.
4. Salary Ordinance changes: Mr. Van Horn brought the Council a change to the 2025 salary ordinance that included an increase to the Deputy Clerk’s position from $27.96/hour to $32.15/hour- an increase of 15%- to compensate her for extra duties she was being asked to do. Mr. Keener had concerns about the large increase and felt that if an increase was approved, there would be a method to track what extra things she was doing and how much time those duties expended. He felt the Council rushed into giving a significant raise to Jeremy Hart without putting any accountability methods into practice and he did not want that to happen again. There was not a motion to introduce the ordinance.
5. Public Safety Recognition/Presentation: Mr. Keener invited members from the various public safety entities that serve the Town to attend the meeting and present their departments. Those present were as follows:
Nick Casey- Parkview EMS Director
Kyle Bair- Smith Township Fire Department Chief
Ed Scott- Whitley County Emergency Management Director
Dustin Papenbrock- Churubusco Police Department Town Marshal
They all gave summaries of what they do for the community, those who serve within their departments, and the successes within their departments. The Council thanked each of them for presenting and assisting with keeping our community safe.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Water/Street Department- Jeremy Hart: Mr. Hart was not present but left the attached report.
Wastewater Plant- Riley Templeton: Mr. Templeton stated all three clarifiers were up and operational. Ms. Bartl asked about another issue that had been brought to her attention about the weir needing replaced. Riley stated he was waiting for quotes.
Police Department- Dustin Papenbrock: Mr. Van Horn asked him about the speeding concerns on Line Street. Marshal Papenbrock stated he had not experienced speeding as being as large of an issue as what residents were stating it was and said the highest he had clocked someone on Line Street in the 20-mph zone was 27 mph. He and Mr. Keener also stated they were unsure about the feasibility of making Tulley and Line a 3-way stop due to driveway placements.
Park Department- Rick Krider: Mr. Krider stated the Park was still busy with the beginning of high school sports. He also stated he’d had community service at the Park a few times over the summer, and they had completed several painting and mulching projects.
Town Attorney- Brendan Ruff: Mr. Ruff had nothing to report.
TOWN COUNCIL REPORTS
Mr. Van Horn stated he had attended the Solid Waste meeting and would be attending the BZA meeting the following evening. He also stated he was meeting with the Chamber the following week.
Mr. Keener had nothing to report.
CLERK-TREASURER REPORT
Ms. Bartl stated she had been working on the 2026 budget as her DLGF meeting was the following Friday and revenues would be decreasing by at least $75,000 next year due to recent legislative changes in addition to a triple digit increase to the Town’s circuit breaker impact. She also reported that liability insurance was increasing by 11% and she would not have health insurance numbers until after the budget had to be submitted, but she was anticipating a large increase with that expense.
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-Tre
