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, Robert Braaksma, Alan Schambach
Others Present
Mark Jones, John Schuetzenhofer, Dale Budde, Donald Schuh, Mike Martin, Brett Schwab, Sandy Miller, Eli Miller (TCHS senior), Eric Zarse (TCHS Senior), Cathy Gross, Barb Harper, Rebecca Goddard, Jonathan Cripe, and Terri Budde.
Meeting opened at 6:30 p.m. by President Flickner with the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Minutes of the October 2, 2023 Council Meeting and October 2, 2023 Public Adoption Hearing for the 2024 Budget reviewed. Council Member Braaksma made a motion to approve the minutes. Council Member Stewart seconded the motion. Motion passed with a vote of 5 ayes and 0 nays.
PRESIDIO GROUP – Brett Schwab
Discussion heard regarding rezoning the south side Schilli property on Highway 24 from I-1 to B-3. Brett stated there will be 10 single one-level units that are 700 square feet and will house 1-2 people per unit. Rental price will be between Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) and Seven Hundred Dollars ($700.00) per month. He estimates the units will be available mid-2024. Council Member Stewart made a motion to approve the zoning change from I-1 to B-3. Council Member Braaksma seconded the motion. Motion passed with 5 ayes and 0 nays.
CITIZEN COMMENTS
A citizen informed Council of an issue where the alley next to her property was blocked for almost 2 months. She credited the Remington Police Department in helping with this situation.
RWCDC/MAINSTREET – Sandy Miller
• Remington Mainstreet Organization is selling poinsettias again this year. It is the major fundraiser for the Mainstreet Organization. Orders are due by November 9, 2023.
• The popcorn and apple cider event on Trick-or-treat night was a success. They served 325 people that night.
• There will be a holiday open house at TCI on November 18 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• She applied for and received 2 grants to aid in supporting the 55+ dinners that are held monthly at the Wolcott Christian Church.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS:
UTILITIES – Mark Jones reported:
• The new trench panels are in and ready for use.
• 2 – 500 ft. piece of hose were pulled last week.
• The wastewater department recently had an IDEM inspection. There were no write ups.
• Mark will attend the AWWA Winter Conference in French Lick, Indiana December 5 – 7.
• There were 3 new water taps put in last month.
• There will be new service installed at Remington Farms.
• The 2 bollards have been installed in the alley of Town Hall to protect the railing.
STREETS - Don Schuh reported:
• Leaf vacuuming has kicked into high gear.
POLICE - Marshal Schuetzenhofer reported:
• A copy of the monthly police department report was presented to Council. A copy is on file with the Office of Clerk-Treasurer.
• New tires were recently installed on the squad truck.
• He will start SOP training tomorrow.
• His cell phone is currently not accepting text messages from anything other than an iPhone. He is working on this.
FIRE –Mike Martin reported:
• A copy of the monthly fire department report was presented to Council. A copy is on file with the Office of Clerk-Treasurer.
• They doubled up on training in the month of October.
• They held a program at TCP and also an open house at the fire station for fire prevention week.
• The annual chili and pork burger dinner will be December 2, 2023 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
PARK – Dale Budde reported:
• Finished trimming back the trail on both sides
• All shelters have been winterized.
• Park Board will be installing new bathroom partitions in Shelter #2 and #3. The block walls have been removed for that installation.
He's Helping with leaf vac
TOWN MANAGER - Jonathan Cripe reported:
• He attended a CCMG training in Plainfield in October. He learned that we will have to have someone PASER certified soon to continue applying for the CCMG grant.
• The timeline for applying for Round 1 of the CCMG will open January 2, 2024. The Town will be applying for One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00) total project money, which includes the Town’s 25% portion of Thirty-seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($37,500.00).
• The asset management plan was submitted and accepted on October 18, 2023.
• The ADA and Title 9 paperwork has been submitted and is awaiting a response as to whether it’s accepted or not.
• The park equipment subcommittee recently took a field trip to various play grounds. Information will be provided when a meeting is set up.
• An open house for the new Town Hall has been set November 21, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• He is working with Hamstra Builders on small warranty items at Town Hall.
• Presented a proposal from KJG Architects for a schematic design for the ambulance building. He requested this proposal be tabled until he can meet with Jasper County.
• He will have bids returned on replacing the roof on the Service Building at the December 18 Council meeting.
• Presented a quote to fertilize the downtown flower pots in the amount of Two Thousand Seven Hundred Ninety Dollars ($2,790.00). Said quote was tabled to the December 4 Council meeting.
• Installation of the Depot security cameras has been postponed to January 2024.
• Service Building doors will be installed by Mulhaupt’s either the 2nd or 3rd week in January 2024.
• Recently completed continuing education to maintain his notary public status.
• Attended an IFA meeting with Mark Jones and Joshua Longest in Rensselaer, Indiana. Both Mark and Josh received credit hours for their attendance.
• Received an email from 313 S. New York Street who will need to replace a clay sewer service line with plastic. They are requesting assistance up to One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) from the sewage insurance fund. Discussion heard. Council Member Schambach moved to approve the request from 313 S. New York Street for up to One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) assistance in replacing a clay sewer service line to be paid from the sewage insurance fund. Vice President Pampel seconded the motion. Motion passed with 5 ayes and 0 nays.
• The Town’s website traffic was up 40% for October.
(Council Member Schambach leaves the meeting.)
TOWN ATTORNEY – Rebecca Goddard reported:
• She’s working with the Town Manager regarding the permitting process.
• She’s working on several nuisance properties in Town.
• The wind mill project will apply for a special exception in late spring or early summer 2024.
OLD BUSINESS –
• The White County Booster Project is completed. Wessler Engineering has given the okay to process and pay the retainage payment. Clerk-Treasurer Budde informs Council it is included in the APV register.
• A portion of a letter from Jasper County Community Services, Inc. dated November 1, 2023, was read informing the Town that as of November 1 the Remington Senior Center is no longer in operation. They will have all of their equipment removed before December 31, 2023.
• A Memorandum of Understanding and Agreement with the Association of Indiana Counties Tax Refund Exchange and Compliance System presented. Attorney Goddard noted she had not reviewed the Memorandum of Understanding. Town Manager Cripe informed Council we entered the TRECS program but didn’t receive training due to COVID happening. He was told the MOU would need renewed before the billing clerk could begin training. Council Member Braaksma moved to approve the Memorandum of Understanding and Agreement with the Association of Indiana Counties Tax Refund Exchange and Compliance System. Vice President Pampel seconded the motion. Motion passed with 4 ayes and 0 nays.
NEW BUSINESS:
2024 proposed meeting dates presented and were approved by Council.
CLERK-TREASURER
• September 2023 financial statement and Fund Report presented. No discussion heard. Council Member Stewart moved to approve the September 2023 financial statement and Fund Report. Vice President Pampel seconded the motion. Motion passed with 4 ayes and 0 nays.
• October Payroll Distribution Report presented and reviewed. No discussion heard. Vice President Pampel moved to approve the October Payroll Distribution Report. Council Member Stewart seconded the motion. Motion passed with 4 ayes and 0 nays.
• September Combined Receipt/APV Report presented and reviewed. No discussion heard. Council Member Braaksma moved to approve the September Combined Receipt/APV Report. Vice President Pampel seconded the motion. Motion passed with 4 ayes and 0 nays.
• Additional Appropriation Resolution No. 2023-11-06-001 presented. Discussion heard. Vice President Pampel moved to approve Additional Appropriation Resolution No. 2023-11-06-001. Council Member Stewart seconded the motion. Motion passed with 4 ayes and 0 nays.
• Clerk-Treasurer Budde presented Council with a status update of the State Board of Accounts audit.
Council Member Stewart moved to approve the claims as presented for November. Council Member Braaksma seconded the motion. Motion passed with 4 ayes and 0 nays.
Meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m.
Next meeting: December 4, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall.