TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
FEBRUARY 25, 2016 6:00 P.M.
SHIPSHEWANA TOWN HALL
345 N MORTON STREET
SHIPSHEWANA, IN 46565
PRESENT: Council; C. Arlene Lazzaro, Elmer J. Mast, Lynn M. Bontrager, J.M. Wilcher. ABSENT: Council; Roger D. Yoder. PRESENT: Staff; Mike Sutter, Kurt R. Bachman, Ruth Ann Downey. Public; George Bachman.
Council Vice-President, C.A. Lazzaro called the meeting to order, noted that Council President R. Yoder was absent. All other Council Members were present. C. A. Lazzaro noted that the first order of business was a public hearing.
PUBLIC HEARING HIGHLAND RIDGE RV TAX ABATEMENT
C.A. Lazzaro opened the public hearing portion of the meeting and asked Town Attorney K. Bachman to inform everyone regarding the tax abatement request. K. Bachman reported that Highland Ridge RV, Inc. has turned in a Statement of Benefits for Real Estate Improvements for $3,980,000.00 and for equipment in the amount of $1,700,000.00. They plan to hire an additional 40 employees at an average annual salary of $65,000.00 each. They are requesting a 10 year abatement that reduces by 10% each year. Tonight the Council will need to amend, confirm or reject the Confirmatory Resolution for this request. Highland Ridge RV has signed an abatement agreement with the Town where they will pay 5% of their savings to the Town to be used for economic development. C.A. Lazzaro asked for input from the public. There being no public input C.A. Lazzaro closed the public hearing portion of the meeting.
INVOCATION & PLEDGE: J.M. Wilcher gave the invocation and E. Mast led the pledge.
MOTION: L. Bontrager made a motion to accept the agenda with flexibility. E. Mast seconded the motion. Motion carried.
C.A. Lazzaro reported that Council Members should have received five sets of minutes and asked for corrections or additions. Discussion followed.
MOTION: E. Mast made a motion to approve the minutes as presented for the December 29, 2015; January 14 & 28, 2016; and February 11 & 16, 2016. J.M. Wilcher seconded the motion. Motion carried.
CONFIRMATORY RESOLUTION: K. Bachman reported this is the point of no return on the Tax Abatement for Highland Ridge RV. Discussion followed.
Vice-President C.A. Lazzaro introduced A CONFIRMATORY RESOLUTION OF THE SHIPSHEWANA TOWN COUNCIL FOR THE DESIGNATION OF AN AREA AS AN ECONOMIC REVITILIZATION AREA AND FOR THE DEDUCTION FROM ASSESSED VALUATION FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OR REHABILITATION OF REAL ESTATE AND THE INSTALLATION OF NEW MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT – HIGHLAND RIDGE RV, INC. Council Member J.M. Wilcher made a motion, seconded by Council Member E. Mast, that said Resolution be numbered and placed on first reading, and that the same be read in full at this time. Motion carried.
Said Resolution having been designated as “II-F-1-C(16)” and having been read in full, and the provisions of the same having been considered by the Council, Council Member L. Bontrager made a motion, seconded by Council Member E. Mast, that any requirements for a second or third reading be waived and that all rules of the Council, which unless suspended, might prevent the final passage and adoption of “II-F-1-C(16)” at this meeting, be suspended and that said Ordinance be placed on its final passage. Motion carried.
“II-F-1-C(16)” having been read in full was then placed upon its final passage, and on call of the roll the vote for the adoption of said Ordinance was as follows;
AYES: J. Mike Wilcher, Elmer J. Mast, Lynn M. Bontrager, C. Arlene Lazzaro.
NAYS: – 0 –
There being present at said meeting at least two-thirds of the members elect of the Town Council and “II-F-1-C(16) having been passed after unanimous suspension of the rules, the Vice-President thereupon declared said Resolution to have duly passed and adopted.
REZONE REQUEST/FARVER STREET: M. Sutter reported that the rezone would be from an S-1 to a B-2 for a camp store and future expansion of the Shipshewana Auction Campgrounds located at 460 E Farver Street. K. Bachman reported that the Ordinance will include a zoning map change. Discussion followed.
ORDINANCE: Vice-President C.A. Lazzaro introduced AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF LAGRANGE COUNTY, INDIANA ON THE 17TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2005, AS AMENDED, FOR THE PURPOSE OF CHANGING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION AND USES PERMITTED ON REAL ESTATE DESCRIBED IN THIS ORDINANCE FROM AN S-1 DISTRICT TO AN B-2 DISTRICT. Council Member E. Mast made a motion, seconded by Council Member L. Bontrager, that said Ordinance be numbered and placed on first reading, and that the same be read in full at this time. Motion carried.
Said Ordinance having been designated as “III-B-2-a(17)” and having been read in full, and the provisions of the same having been considered by the Council, Council Member L. Bontrager made a motion, seconded by Council Member E. Mast, that any requirements for a second or third reading be waived and that all rules of the Council, Which unless suspended, might prevent the final passage and adoption of “III-B-2-a(17)” at this meeting, be suspended and that said Ordinance be placed on its final passage. Motion carried.
“III-B-2-a(17)” having been read in full was then placed upon its final passage, and on call of the roll the vote for the adoption of said ordinance was as follows:
AYES: Elmer J. Mast, Lynn M. Bontrager, J. Mike Wilcher, C. Arlene Lazzaro.
NAYS: – 0 –
There being present at said meeting at least two-thirds of the members elect of the Town Council and “III-B-2-a(17)” having been passed after unanimous suspension of the rules, the President thereupon declared said Ordinance to have duly passed and adopted.
- Sutter requested a motion authorizing him to send a letter to the County if necessary for the project to move forward. Discussion followed.
MOTION: L. Bontrager made a motion authorizing the Town Manager to write a letter if necessary to the County giving a favorable recommendation for the project. J. M. Wilcher seconded the motion. Motion carried.
TRAFFIC CONTROL ORDINANCE AMENDMENT: M. Sutter reported that this Ordinance will make the intersection at North and Morton Street a three way stop. Discussion followed.
Vice-President C.A. Lazzaro introduced AN ORDINANCE FOR THE CONTROL AND REGULATION OF TRAFFICE IN THE TOWN OF SHIPSHEWANA, INDIANA. Council Member E. Mast made a motion, seconded by Council Member L. Bontrager, that said Ordinance be numbered and placed on first reading, and that the same be read in full at this time. Motion carried.
Said Ordinance having been designated as “IV-A-1-a(32)” and having been read in full, and the provisions of the same having been considered by the Council, Council Member L. Bontrager made a motion, seconded by Council Member E. Mast, that any requirements for a second or third reading be waived and that all rules of the Council, which unless suspended, might prevent the final passage and adoption of “IV-A-1-a(32)” at this meeting, be suspended and that said Ordinance be place on its final passage. Motion carried.
“IV-A-1-a(32)” having been read in full was then placed upon its final passage, and on call of the roll the vote for the adoption of said Ordinance was as follows:
AYES: Elmer J. Mast, Lynn M. Bontrager, J. Mike Wilcher, C. Arlene Lazzaro.
NAYS: – 0 –
There being present at said meeting at least two-thirds of the members elect of the Town Council and “IV-A-1-a(32)” having been passed after unanimous suspension of the rules the President thereupon declared said Ordinance to have duly passed and adopted.
LAWN MOWER PURCHASE: M. Sutter reported that it is time to replace the John Deere mower, Facilities Superintendent, Joshua Koontz has put together the mower comparison sheet in your paperwork. Our recommendation is that you go with the 72” Kubota from Crystal Valley they are giving us $7,000.00 for our trade in and it is a diesel unit. Discussion followed. M. Sutter noted that the mower would be paid for from Food & Beverage Tax money.
MOTION: J. M. Wilcher made a motion to purchase the 72” Kubota from Crystal Valley at a cost of $6,771.00 which includes a trade in of $7,000.00 for the John Deere mower. E. Mast seconded the motion. Motion carried.
STREET SWEEPING PROPOSAL: M. Sutter reported that last year Best Sweeping Specialist, Inc. swept our streets every other week. On the off week the Town uses their street sweeper. They are offering us the same hourly rate as last year of $104.00 per hour and they usually take about 3 hours, longer for the spring and fall clean-ups. Discussion followed.
MOTION: E. Mast made a motion to have Best Sweeping Specialist, Inc. sweep the Town streets at $104.00 per hour on an every other week basis and to have them do a spring and fall clean up at the same hourly rate. J.M. Wilcher seconded the motion. Motion carried.
EMPLOY SUMMER HELP & SET WAGES: M. Sutter reported that last year we hired Dakota Koontz as our Summer Employee. D. Koontz takes care of the equipment and gets the job done. He would like to come back this summer and would work from May until August or September helping with mowing and various other jobs. I recommend we hire him back at $9.50 per hour. Discussion followed.
MOTION: L. Bontrager made a motion to hire Dakota Koontz as the Summer Help for the Town at $9.50 per hour. E. Mast seconded the motion. Motion carried.
EASH SALES SEWER BILL ADJUSTMENT: R. Downey referred Council Members to their paperwork for a printout of the Eash Sales Utility Account and a letter from Jay Eash. In the letter he explains that they had a leak in the puppy barn and the water drained out on the ground. On their February bill their consumption was 89,000 gallons. Their average consumption is 6,900 gallons. They are a storm water and sewer only customer. If you approve the sewer adjustment to 6,900 gallons of usage their total bill due would be $160.55. Discussion followed.
MOTION: E. Mast made a motion to approve the Sewer bill adjustment for Eash Sales as presented by the Clerk-Treasurer bringing their total bill due to $160.55. J.M. Wilcher seconded the motion. Motion carried.
FINANCIAL REPORT: R. Downey reported that the Town had received a Thank You note from the Eldon Hostetler family and referred Council Members to their paperwork for the Notice to Taxpayers of Proposed Additional Appropriations and reminded Council Member that the Public Hearing would be at the March 10th Council Meeting. In your paperwork you will also find information regarding the IACT Town Roundtables that will be held in April the closes one to us will take place in Middlebury on April 11th if anyone is interested in attending please let me know and I will send in a group registration. R. Downey reported that the 2015 Annual Report had been submitted via Gateway on Tuesday and the Cash & Investment Statement has been published in the LaGrange News and Standard. We will have a Public Hearing on March 24th for the Shipshewana RV Service Center Tax Abatement request. Discussion followed. R. Downey requested a motion to approve the Claims Register and Adjustment Journals.
MOTION: E. Mast made a motion to approve the Claims Register and Adjustment Journals as submitted. J.M. Wilcher seconded the motion. Motion carried.
C.A. Lazzaro asked if there was any further business to come before the Council.
County Council Member, G. Bachman reported that the CR 200 project has been bid, the project came in around two million, and they should be moving utility poles early this spring. The body camera issue has been taken care of and I believe each Town should receive some infraction deferral money this year. Discussion followed.
TOWN MANAGER REPORT: M. Sutter reported that he is continuing to work with INDOT on the sign project to encourage tourist to use alternate routes to reach the Flea Market and I will work with Bob Shanahan for the County roads. G. Bachman recommended that M. Sutter also work with Randy at the County Highway Department. Discussion followed.
There being no further business to come before the Council C.A. Lazzaro asked for a motion to adjourn.
MOTION: J.M. Wilcher made a motion to adjourn. L. Bontrager seconded the motion. Motion carried.
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- Arlene Lazzaro, Council Vice-President Lynn M. Bontrager, Council Member
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Elmer J. Mast, Council Member J. Mike Wilcher, Council Member
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Ruth Ann Downey, Clerk-Treasurer