Time: 6:30 p.m.
Place: Remington Town Hall/13 E. South Railroad Street/Remington, Indiana 47977
Members Present
Susan Flickner, President; Dana Pampel, Vice President; James Stewart; Alan Schambach, Dalton Justice
Others Present
John Schuetzenhofer, Sandy Miller, Dale Budde, Mark Jones, Don Schuh, Mike Martin, Kathy Gross, Don Higgins, Jon Borgers (Wessler Engineering), Eli Williamson, Lyzzy Bahler, Rebecca Goddard, Jonathan Cripe, and Terri Budde.
President Flickner opened the meeting with the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance at 6:30 p.m.
Council President Flickner introduced and welcomed Dalton Justice to the Remington Town Council.
Council President Flickner addressed the Tri-County Seniors in attendance and welcomed them to the meeting.
Minutes of the January 6, 2025 Council Meeting reviewed. Council Member Stewart made a motion to approve the minutes. Council Member Schambach seconded the motion. Motion to approve the minutes passed with 5 ayes and 0 nays.
WESSLER ENGINEERING - Jon Borgers presented a Proposal for Professional Services regarding a Stormwater Master Plan. Said proposal is in the sum of Forty-five Thousand Nine Hundred Dollars ($45,900.00). No discussion heard. Vice President Pampel moved to approve the Proposal regarding a Stormwater Master Plan in the sum of Forty-five Thousand Nine Hundred Dollars ($45,900.00) with Wessler Engineering. Council Member Schambach seconded the motion. Motion passed with 5 ayes and 0 nays.
BOARD APPOINTMENTS –
Vice President Pampel moved to appoint Cheyenne Suitors to the Remington Park Board as the school representative and Renee Overbeck to the Remington Redevelopment Board as the school representative. Council Member Schambach seconded the motion. Motion passed with 5 ayes and 0 nays.
CITIZEN COMMENTS
A concerned citizen appeared inquiring about the new chicken ordinance that was passed at the January Council meeting.The citizen will be meeting with Town Manager Cripe on February 4, 2025.
An additional citizen requested clarification on when the chicken ordinance was passed and was informed it passed at the January 2025 Council meeting.
RWCDC/MAIN STREET – Sandy Miller
The next Senior Café will be held at the Wolcott Christian Church on February 15, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. for a fun evening of dinner and bingo.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS:
PARK – Dale Budde reported:
POLICE – Marshal Schuetzenhofer reported:
Monthly report distributed to Council. A copy of said report is on file in the Clerk-Treasurer’s Office.
Deputy Baird is starting his 4th week at the Law Enforcement Academy. He will attend the academy for a total of 16 weeks.
Regarding the pick-up truck squad, he is waiting to hear from the insurance company as to when they will pick it up.
FIRE: Mike Martin reported:
Monthly report distributed to Council.
Training is on-going at the Fire Department.
Physical’s (blood draw) start tomorrow. They will conclude in March with the actual physical examination.
A fundraising letter will be distributed by mail to town residents requesting a free-will donation to the Remington Volunteer Fire Department. In exchange for a donation, the donor will receive a free portrait.
UTILITY - Mark Jones reported:
The valve is leaking again on US 24. We need to install a new valve at a cost of Seven Thousand Three Hundred One Dollars Sixty-nine Cents ($7,301.69). The valve will be installed by First Merchant’s Bank and Remington IGA. Council Member Stewart moved to approve the purchase and installation of a new valve totaling Seven Thousand Three Hundred One Dollars Sixty-nine Cents ($7,301.69). Vice President Pampel seconded the motion. Motion passed with 5 ayes and 0 nays.
Don Schuh is currently taking on-line water certification classes through the end of March.
A broken water main was repaired on Wilber Street last week.
Gasvoda took one of the pumps at Advanced Auto that needed repaired. When it is fixed and returned, he has another pump to send with them for repair.
Josh Longest is taking online wastewater classes each Thursday.
Don Schuh has been training in the wastewater lab each morning.
Presented a quote from Waters Heating & Cooling for a radiant heater to be installed in the storage shed at the Wastewater Plant that will house the new vac truck. The cost of the radiant heater is Six Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($6,500.00). Council Member Stewart made a motion to approve the purchase and installation of a radiant heater in the storage shed at the Wastewater Plant in the sum of Six Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($6,500.00). Council Member Schambach seconded the motion. Motion passed with 5 ayes and 0 nays.
Requested permission to post that the Town will be hiring part-time summer help for twenty (20) to thirty (30) hours this summer. Council agreed that the part-time position could be posted.
STREETS – Don Schuh reported:
He has been taking classes and working with Dale.
TOWN MANAGER – Jonathan Cripe reported:
Presented a right-of-way permit request for Bright Speed which took over Century Link. Discussion heard. Vice President Pampel made a motion to approve the right-of-way permit for Bright Speed. Council Member Stewart seconded the motion. Motion passed with 5 ayes and 0 nays.
Invoice Cloud Community Notification System will cost One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) per month. It will take approximately two (2) months to implement. We will have to manage the phone list. Discussion heard. Council Member Stewart moved to approve the installation/payment for the Invoice Cloud Community Notification System at a cost of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) per month. Council Member Schambach seconded the motion. Motion passed with 5 ayes and 0 nays.
Presented a proposal from E P Collaborations in the sum of Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00) to complete an income survey. Discussion heard. Council Member Schambach moved to approve the proposal from E P Collaborations in the sum of Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00) to complete an income survey. Vice President Pampel seconded the motion. Motion passed with 5 ayes and 0 nays.
The request to INDOT regarding US 24 and I-65 cross traffic has been sent. They are investigating it.
KIRPC met last week. Town Manager Cripe will be helping them up a few items in their policy manual.
Jerry White, our OCRA Representative was at the meeting and discussed many grants that are available through OCRA. Jerry White will be in Remington on Tuesday, February 4, 2025 to introduce the new Executive Director.
The staff recently completed Title IV training.
He will be meeting with Wessler Engineering soon to learn how to update our GIS maps.
The USDA has been awarded $6.3 Billion Dollars for rural infrastructure, but the lead line replacement project is not a part of this program.
Community Crossings Grant Committee has informed Town Manager Cripe they would like Remington to hold its bid opening earlier this year. We will open bids the week before the April 2025 Council meeting.
Jasper County will be meeting with Town Manager Cripe regarding the Kentucky Street bridge replacement.
The Gateway signs are installed and complete. Everyone thought they looked great!
TOWN ATTORNEY – No report.
Informed Council it is their decision whether to require the Fire and Police Departments to have yearly physicals. Discussion heard. Council urged the police department to complete an annual physical this year.
NEW BUSINESS
Town Manager Cripe requested to be the legal signer is for the Community Crossings Grant documents. Council agreed that Town Manager Cripe will be the legal signer for all documents related to the Community Crossings Match Grant.
OLD BUSINESS
Clerk-Treasurer Budde requested clarification regarding the non-sufficient funds checks that are returned to the Town and whether we are allowed to charge a returned check fee. Discussion heard. Attorney Goddard will research this issue and provide additional information.
Council Member Stewart raised the issue of extending the park trail. Discussion heard. No action was taken.
CLERK-TREASURER
Presented a list of Cancellation of Warrants. No discussion heard. Council Member Stewart moved to approve the cancellation of warrants list. Council Member Schambach seconded the motion. Motion passed with 5 ayes and 0 nays.
The December 2024 financial analysis statement and Fund Report were presented. Vice President Pampel moved to approve the December 2024 financial analysis statement. Council Member Stewart seconded the motion. Motion granted with 5 ayes and 0 nays.
Presented the Combined Appropriation/Revenue Detail History by Fund for January 202. No discussion heard. Council Member Schambach moved to approve the Combine Appropriation/Revenue Detail History by Fund for January 2025. Council Member Stewart seconded the motion. Motion passed with 5 ayes and 0 nays.
Presented the Employee Distribution Summary for January 2025. Council Member Justice moved to approve the Employee Distribution Summary for January 2025. Council Member Schambach seconded the motion. Motion passed with 5 ayes and 0 nays.
Reported to Council some of the issues regarding current bills circulating through the House and Senate regarding reducing property tax payments. She urged the Council Members to contact our representatives to discuss this issue.
Council Member Stewart made a motion to approve the claims as presented. Council Member Schambach seconded the motion. Motion passed with 5 ayes and 0 nays.
Meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.