Brookville Town Council approves several motions
April 20, 2022 at 12:26 p.m.
Brookville Town Council carried a handful of motions at its April 5 meeting, led by Brooke Leffingwell in place of absent president Curtis Ward. Members Catherine Pelsor, Shirley Seufert and Chuck Campbell made up the rest of the quorum.
Brookville Police Patrolman Sam Williams has been promoted to the open sergeant position after a request by his chief, Terry Mitchum.
“He's been taking on a lot of sergeant duties already and has done a fantastic job,” said Mitchum.
The chief brought a couple other issues to light as well.
Patrolman Ryan Lackey will be assigned to fill the open secretary position temporarily as he is currently on a 30-day medical extension. The added benefit is Lackey being able to fulfill officer-involved clerical duties instead of pulling a patrolman from the street. His salary will remain the same and hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. After 30 days, the board will revisit whether to grant another extension.
Franklin County Sheriff Peter Cates has urged Mitchum to fix the communication link between the sheriff's department and BPD.
“We basically do not have a phone from dispatch to the police department,” the chief said. “Dispatch has to use a radio or another phone system (to call), putting a lot of stress on them.”
He asked the board to purchase the Ramsey phone system approved last summer and install it at the current station ahead of a transfer to the new station on East Seventh Street. Motion passed 4-0.
Allen Galloway of Triad Engineering (Indy/Fort Wayne) wanted to introduce his firm to the board. He has been in contact with town administrator Tim Ripperger for more than a year, keeping abreast of the potential annexation project north of town; he's also followed all public record information about the issue. He wished to solicit the board for any preliminary design or engineering work that may need done in the future.
Toward the end of the meeting, he was asked to return to the podium by Randy Powell, a resident in the proposed annexation zone.
“How do residents not know of this, but he does?” asked the resident. “I'd like him to explain himself.”
“There's information about the ongoing annexation that's been going on since 2015,” Galloway responded. “I just mentioned in general, if it does happen. I'm not arguing for or against it; I don't know what stage it's in or who's involved.”
Clerk-treasurer Gina Gillman said she'd been in touch with Sweetwater Music, Fort Wayne, about a possible update to the speaker system for board meetings. They will look at current equipment and advise what may work, though specifying no price.
Another discussion centered on security cameras for Brook Hill Golf Course, now a town property. Great Plains Communications' quotes included 10 cameras and installation; these record continuously so police could have the ability to backtrack footage. Monthly cost is $363.85, and installation would be 30 days from signing a contract.
Brookville Garden Club approached the board about incorporating educational signage near the club's designated garden area in the town park. Signs would be two-sided, aluminum, 16x16 and 24x24, paid for by the club and kept up year-round. The club is looking at Pristine Products, Liberty. Signage was approved.
The club has other ideas, including an autumn take-off of Harvest Nights at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. This could utilize the Peanuts characters that are part of the Winter Wonderland display, putting lighted pumpkins on the back side of Snoopy and friends for another drive-thru experience. Pumpkins could be gifted or purchased at a minimal wholesale price locally. The idea was approved.
The garden club also would like to start a summer reading program in conjunction with the library.
Town attorney Grant Reeves spoke briefly on the board's purchase policy. Due to a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant, the policy needed to reflect federal funding guidelines. Previously, anything above $500 had to be approved by the board but Gillman came up with the $3,000 figure after researching other towns. A stipulation was to first check with Gillman to make sure there's no utility/water/sewer emergency. The board increased the threshold.
Ripperger had done research into SCADA system quotes for the wastewater plant. Peerless Midwest, Mishawaka, had quoted $75,095 and Engineered Solutions Midwest, Zionsville, gave a figure of $67, 187.25. The latter was accepted. Ludwig Electric will need to do some work prior to installation.
Utility clerk Amy Hill's salary and hours were discussed. Gillman asked that her hourly rate be bumped from $15.71 to $17, and workweek extended from 32.5 to 40 hours as she assists at the town aquatic center. Requests were approved.
One motion did not pass. A sidewalk application for 552 East Sixth Street, with the town's portion being $586.25 for the sidewalk and $700 for the ADA rail, was left at a 3-0 vote after Pelsor abstained. The address is listed under Kaitlyn E. Pelsor.
Bridget Hayes asked a few questions of the board. She wanted to know whether a golf course manager had been hired; the answer was no. Brookville's special projects director Jessica Hansel, along with current employees, are managing in the interim. This will be addressed shortly when more golfers are expected.
Hayes also inquired about renovations to the future police station. Leffingwell said when the project starts, the board will provide updates; construction should be completed sometime this summer.
Other items:
Leffingwell spoke of the Blight Elimination Project on East Sixth. At the last Brookville Redevelopment Commission meeting, a bid was rejected.
St. Michael's Festival is June 18 with tents set up on the 14th. The street department requested road closures for the weekend – blocking off Third Street at Franklin Avenue and St. Michaels Boulevard heading down to First Street.
The Design a Mural contest is now complete. Winner was local artist Autumn Williams (Design 2). A Main Street building will soon be the beneficiary of her talent.
National Kids to Parks Day is May 21, an effort to have kids explore local, state or national parks and get families outdoors. A proclamation will be sought to declare the day locally.
Pelsor wanted permission to purchase additional lights for Winter Wonderland. Motion carried.
FC Humane Society chose Sept. 10 (Sept. 17 rain date) for its annual street collection.
Kyle Shires and Alex Tebbe were approved for separate building permits.
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Brookville Town Council carried a handful of motions at its April 5 meeting, led by Brooke Leffingwell in place of absent president Curtis Ward. Members Catherine Pelsor, Shirley Seufert and Chuck Campbell made up the rest of the quorum.
Brookville Police Patrolman Sam Williams has been promoted to the open sergeant position after a request by his chief, Terry Mitchum.
“He's been taking on a lot of sergeant duties already and has done a fantastic job,” said Mitchum.
The chief brought a couple other issues to light as well.
Patrolman Ryan Lackey will be assigned to fill the open secretary position temporarily as he is currently on a 30-day medical extension. The added benefit is Lackey being able to fulfill officer-involved clerical duties instead of pulling a patrolman from the street. His salary will remain the same and hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. After 30 days, the board will revisit whether to grant another extension.
Franklin County Sheriff Peter Cates has urged Mitchum to fix the communication link between the sheriff's department and BPD.
“We basically do not have a phone from dispatch to the police department,” the chief said. “Dispatch has to use a radio or another phone system (to call), putting a lot of stress on them.”
He asked the board to purchase the Ramsey phone system approved last summer and install it at the current station ahead of a transfer to the new station on East Seventh Street. Motion passed 4-0.
Allen Galloway of Triad Engineering (Indy/Fort Wayne) wanted to introduce his firm to the board. He has been in contact with town administrator Tim Ripperger for more than a year, keeping abreast of the potential annexation project north of town; he's also followed all public record information about the issue. He wished to solicit the board for any preliminary design or engineering work that may need done in the future.
Toward the end of the meeting, he was asked to return to the podium by Randy Powell, a resident in the proposed annexation zone.
“How do residents not know of this, but he does?” asked the resident. “I'd like him to explain himself.”
“There's information about the ongoing annexation that's been going on since 2015,” Galloway responded. “I just mentioned in general, if it does happen. I'm not arguing for or against it; I don't know what stage it's in or who's involved.”
Clerk-treasurer Gina Gillman said she'd been in touch with Sweetwater Music, Fort Wayne, about a possible update to the speaker system for board meetings. They will look at current equipment and advise what may work, though specifying no price.
Another discussion centered on security cameras for Brook Hill Golf Course, now a town property. Great Plains Communications' quotes included 10 cameras and installation; these record continuously so police could have the ability to backtrack footage. Monthly cost is $363.85, and installation would be 30 days from signing a contract.
Brookville Garden Club approached the board about incorporating educational signage near the club's designated garden area in the town park. Signs would be two-sided, aluminum, 16x16 and 24x24, paid for by the club and kept up year-round. The club is looking at Pristine Products, Liberty. Signage was approved.
The club has other ideas, including an autumn take-off of Harvest Nights at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. This could utilize the Peanuts characters that are part of the Winter Wonderland display, putting lighted pumpkins on the back side of Snoopy and friends for another drive-thru experience. Pumpkins could be gifted or purchased at a minimal wholesale price locally. The idea was approved.
The garden club also would like to start a summer reading program in conjunction with the library.
Town attorney Grant Reeves spoke briefly on the board's purchase policy. Due to a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant, the policy needed to reflect federal funding guidelines. Previously, anything above $500 had to be approved by the board but Gillman came up with the $3,000 figure after researching other towns. A stipulation was to first check with Gillman to make sure there's no utility/water/sewer emergency. The board increased the threshold.
Ripperger had done research into SCADA system quotes for the wastewater plant. Peerless Midwest, Mishawaka, had quoted $75,095 and Engineered Solutions Midwest, Zionsville, gave a figure of $67, 187.25. The latter was accepted. Ludwig Electric will need to do some work prior to installation.
Utility clerk Amy Hill's salary and hours were discussed. Gillman asked that her hourly rate be bumped from $15.71 to $17, and workweek extended from 32.5 to 40 hours as she assists at the town aquatic center. Requests were approved.
One motion did not pass. A sidewalk application for 552 East Sixth Street, with the town's portion being $586.25 for the sidewalk and $700 for the ADA rail, was left at a 3-0 vote after Pelsor abstained. The address is listed under Kaitlyn E. Pelsor.
Bridget Hayes asked a few questions of the board. She wanted to know whether a golf course manager had been hired; the answer was no. Brookville's special projects director Jessica Hansel, along with current employees, are managing in the interim. This will be addressed shortly when more golfers are expected.
Hayes also inquired about renovations to the future police station. Leffingwell said when the project starts, the board will provide updates; construction should be completed sometime this summer.
Other items:
Leffingwell spoke of the Blight Elimination Project on East Sixth. At the last Brookville Redevelopment Commission meeting, a bid was rejected.
St. Michael's Festival is June 18 with tents set up on the 14th. The street department requested road closures for the weekend – blocking off Third Street at Franklin Avenue and St. Michaels Boulevard heading down to First Street.
The Design a Mural contest is now complete. Winner was local artist Autumn Williams (Design 2). A Main Street building will soon be the beneficiary of her talent.
National Kids to Parks Day is May 21, an effort to have kids explore local, state or national parks and get families outdoors. A proclamation will be sought to declare the day locally.
Pelsor wanted permission to purchase additional lights for Winter Wonderland. Motion carried.
FC Humane Society chose Sept. 10 (Sept. 17 rain date) for its annual street collection.
Kyle Shires and Alex Tebbe were approved for separate building permits.