The regular monthly meeting of the Millersburg Town Council was held on Monday January 12 th , 2004 at 6:30 P.M. at the Millersburg Town Hall .
In attendance were:
• The Clerk/Treasurer Wanda Chupp was sworn in and given the oath of office by the Town Attorney Doug Hayes.
• The Clerk/Treasurer gave the oath of office and sworn in the new Town Council, Marshal, Maintenance Director and Utility Superintendent.
• Council Member Dean Hawkins nominated James Winkler for President of the Town Council for the year 2004. Abe Beachy seconded and nomination was carried by a voice vote.
• Council President James Winkler nominated Dean Hawkins for the position of Annual Board of Finance President for the year 2004 Abe Beachy seconded and nomination was carried by a voice vote.
New Council President James Winkler called the meeting to order at 6:45 p.m.
A motion was made by Abe Beachy to approve the minutes for December 22nd and 29th, 2003. The motion was seconded by James Winkler and motion was carried by a voice vote.
• James Winkler made the motion to accept the following Positions & Outside Professional Services for 2004 Dean Hawkins seconded and motion was carried by a voice vote:
• Keith Hathaway Marshal
• Ben Eldridge Utility Superintendent
• Matt King Maintenance Director
• F.M. Teal Liability Insurance
• Employee Benefit Services Medical Insurance
• Yoder, Ainlay, Ulmer & Buckingham Attorney
• TRIAD Engineering Engineers
• Dean Hawkins Annual Board of Finance President
• The Goshen News Paper Publishing Agency
• Lee Nisley Park Board President
• H.J. Umbaugh & Assoc. Financial Advisors
• Farm Bureau Credit Union Financial Institute-Bank
• Park Board President Lee Nisley addressed the Council asking if they would approve for him to be the Park Board President for four (4) more years as his term was up on January 1, 2004 . The Council approved and the Clerk/Treasurer will attend the first Park Board meeting on Monday January 19 th , 2004 and give Mr. Nisley his oath of office. Steve Vail and Mark Neibert other Park Board Member's terms have expired also and they will need to be sworn in.
• Monthly Report-See Attached
• Superintendent Ben Eldridge informed the Council that he had talk to Dale Sterts from INDOT and for now the state has agreed to pay for an invoice from HRP Construction. The invoice was for relocating a 4” watermain on S.R. 13 that had to be lowered when the state was putting in the new storm sewer along S.R. in the amount of $3,746.00. INDOT originally had HRP to bill the Town of Millersburg .
• Monthly Report- See Attached. Superintendent Ben Eldridge explained to the new Council how to read and understand the report he sends to I.D.E.M. and the monthly report he gives to the Council.
• Monthly Report-See Attached
• Monthly Stats-See Attached
• Year End Stats-See Attached
• After much discussion on how to handle the theft of Borden's plastic trash cans. The Council determined that it would be the Town's responsibility for the two stolen totes at this time, but would like for the next contract to contain a clause holding Borden's responsible for any stolen totes. James Winkler made the motion to pay Borden's for the two stolen totes at a cost of $98.50 per tote Abe Beachy seconded and motion was carried by a voice vote.
• The motion was made by Dean Hawkins to change the Council Meetings from Monday nights to Tuesday nights starting January 27 th , 2004 motion was seconded by Abe Beachy and carried by a voice vote. The time will remain the same 6:30 p.m. Due to a conflict with the Town of Millersburg hosting the IACT Roundtable on Tuesday January 27 th , 2004 at 7:00 p.m. the regular meeting will start at 6:00 p.m. instead of 6:30 p.m.
• Amy Miller owner of Cornerstone Grant Management was sent a letter giving her some of the information she needed to start the Grant for repairing the wastewater plant. The first draft will be sent down state on January 23 rd , 2004 .
• The Clerk/Treasurer has received the numbers for the 2004 CAGIT Distributions for the Town of Millersburg . The Town will receive $50,492.00 for Certified Shares and $7,104 for Property Tax Replacement and $21,155.00 in EDIT money. Certified Shares were projected to be $58,841.00 and Property Tax Replacement $9,320.00, we were told to use last years numbers for the 2004 budget. The reduction for 2004 $8,349.00 decease in Certified Shares, $2,216.00 decrease in Property Tax Replacement and $1,125.00 decrease in EDIT money from projected funds that would be received.
• Maintenance Director Matt King presented a proposal for a new leaf vac as the old leaf vac is in bad shape and would cost too much to repair. It would cost $2,000.00 or more to repair the equipment according to Director King. The leaf vac has used 30 quotes of oil and 10 gallons of coolant this season. The equipment was bought from the Town of Syracuse and is a 1975 year model. The quote presented was from Brown Equipment for $25,000.00. The Town could also lease a leaf vac for five (5) years for $5,389.00 per year at 3.95% interest. Council President Winkler asked what kind of warranty would be offered on the new equipment. Director King answered a two (2) year warranty. Director King informed the Council that the town could also apply for a grant. Council President James Winkler directed Director King to look at recondition equipment and the Council agreed that he could start the grant process.
• The Town's attorney Doug Hayes informed the Council that he had information to share about the triangle piece of property at 202 W. Washington Street . Mr. Hayes has instructed Cripe Title to file a quiet title and vacate the street named Railroad Street . The property was on the County books as being a street called Railroad Street . The town had decided in 2003 to tear down the old water company building and put in a parking lot, but the Clerk/Treasurer found out after going to the County to get a deed that the property had been removed from the books. The Town could not do anything with the property until the issue was settled. The paperwork should be done in a week or two according to Mr. Hayes.
• Resident Duane Mahler was present at the meeting and gave the new Council some insight on how important getting a grant for the WWTP would be to the town. Mr. Mahler stated that back when the town first built the plant the Council applied for a grant, but the Grant Administrator made a mistake by not having an income survey done and sent with the grant. The grant was denied and cost the Town of Millersburg a lot of money. The rates had to be raised 150% and a bond issue applied for. The grant would have saved the town $500,000.00. He commended the Council and Superintendent Eldridge for going after a grant to repair the wastewater plant.
James Winkler made the motion to pay bills. The motion was seconded by Abe Beachy and motion was carried by a voice vote.