MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL
BRAZIL, INDIANA
FOR FEBRUARY 19, 2020
A meeting of the Common Council was held on February 19, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Brazil City Hall. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Brian Wyndham.
ROLL CALL: Steve Bell, Karen Boes, Brad Deal ~ arrived late, Shane Litz, Angela Modesitt, and Mayor Brian Wyndham.
The Pledge to the American Flag was led by Mayor Brian Wyndham.
OTHERS PRESENT: City Attorney Traci Orman, Clerk Treasurer Karen McQueen, Brazil Times Editor Frank Phillips, Robin Crocker, Ryan Brown, Zach Mormans, Clint McQueen, and Brad Emmert.
PRAYER was said by Steve Bell.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Shane Litz made a motion to approve the April 24, 2019 and January 8, 2020 minutes seconded by Angie Modesitt. The motion passed 4-0. Brad Deal was not present yet.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS:
- Police Chief Clint McQueen explained to council that the Brazil City Police department is looking into applying for a federal grant that would help fund up to 2 more police officers for the department. The federal grant will award up to 75% of the monies requested with a 25% city match. Chief McQueen is working with Kristy Jerrell to pursue this grant and will keep the council informed.
OLD BUSINESS:
- Safe Haven Baby Boxes: Moved to the March 2020 meeting
- Façade Grant: This grant has been through the bidding process 3 times with all estimates returning way over budget for the project. Even though no funds have been received from OCRA the City needs to vote to de-obligate the funds in order to begin the process with OCRA. Brad Deal made a motion to approve the de-obligation of funds back to the business owners, seconded by Karen Boes. The motion passed 5-0. The funds that the property owners have deposited with the City for local match will be returned to them.
- Appointments to the BZA and the Plan Commission: Planning and Zoning Administrator Janet McClellan made the following recommendations for the council appointments for these boards:
- BZA – Troy Hicks
- Plan Commission – Mayor Brian Wyndham, Greg Sanders and Karen Boes.
Brad Deal made a motion to appoint Troy Hicks to the BZA and Mayor Brian Wyndham, Greg Sanders and Karen Boes to the Plan Commission, seconded by Angie Modesitt. The motion passed 5-0.
- Parking on Depot Street, east side @ US40 N to Church Street: Council discussed this and decided to have City Attorney Traci Orman create an Ordinance for no parking on the west side of Depot St. beginning at Church St. and proceeding south the southernmost part of the Post Office back Entrance. Ordinance will be presented at the next council meeting in March 2020.
NEW BUSINESS:
- Tax Abatements (Real and Personal): Attorney Orman presented the requested abatements and advised the council of the proposed projects. Brad Emmert was present and gave some background to the project and answered questions.
- Resolution 2-2020 Real Property Tax Abatement was reviewed by council. Shane Litz made a motion to approve Resolution 2-2020 for 10 years, seconded by Steve Bell. The motion passed 5-0.
- Resolution 3-2020 Personal Tax Abatement was reviewed by council. Shane Litz made a motion to approve Resolution 3-2020 for 5 years, seconded by Steve Bell. The motion passed 5-0.
- Ordinance 1-2020 amending Ordinance 17-2019: The 2020 salary ordinance for city employees and appointees was missing the line which stated the beginning salary for hourly employees. This ordinance corrects said error. Steve Bell made a motion to suspend the rules and pass Ordinance 1-2020 on the first reading, seconded by Angie Modesitt. The motion passed 5-0. Steve Bell then made a motion to approve Ordinance 1-2020, seconded by Angie Modesitt. The motion passed 5-0.
- Resolution 4-2020 amending Resolution 11-2016 Travel Policy: This Resolution adds in a provision in the City’s existing travel policy regarding air travel. Shane Litz made a motion to approve Resolution 4-2020, seconded by Brad Deal. The motion passed 5-0.
- Resolution 5-2020 Interest in Purchasing Real Property: This Resolution is the first step in declaring the City’s interest in a piece of property which might potentially be purchased by the City for a future site of a City Garage. There have been no negotiations yet and this is a preliminary step in the event the property becomes available. Brad Deal made a motion to approve Resolution 5-2020, seconded by Karen Boes. The motion passed 5-0.
- Fire Contract 2021 – 2023: Fire Union President Ryan Brown and Firefighter Zach Mormons were in attendance to present the council with the proposed renewal for the contract between the firefighters union and the City. The current contract expires at the end of 2020 and the new contract will run from 2021-2023. The proposed contract is basically a renewal of the existing contract as the firefighters did not request any substantive changes, they merely updated dates and current salaries. Shane Litz made a motion to accept the contract as presented, seconded by Steve Bell. The motion passed 5-0. The contract will now go to the Board of Public Works and Safety for its approval.
COUNCIL COMMENTS:
- Shane Litz: The Forest Park Golf Course wanted Shane to ask council if the city would be interested in helping the Golf Course purchase a new Truck from York Chevrolet. The Forest Park Golf Course had an anonymous donor, donate $10,000 towards the purchase of a $20,000 truck. Angie Modesitt suggested amending Resolution 6-2016 for 1 year, allowing the Forest Park Golf Course to pay back the City Rainy Day Fund only $10,000 for the 2020 year instead of $20,000. City Attorney Orman will prepare an amendment for review and action at the March meeting.
- Steve Bell: Aim is hosting a reginal roundtable event in Clay City in March 2020 and he would like to see all Council member, Clerk Treasurer and Mayor attend.
MAYOR COMMENTS: Mayor Brian Wyndham informed council that a proposal for rebuilding the City Website was presented to him. The cost would not exceed $5,000. He wanted to inform the council members that an additional appropriation may need to be done for this $5,000. All council members were in favor of this. The proposal will go to Board of Public Works and Safety for approval.
ADJOURNMENT: Brad Deal made a motion to adjourn meeting; seconded by Karen Boes. The motion passed 5-0. Meeting adjourned at 6:03 p.m.
