OurWeek The Grant County Record in Grant County · Regular meeting · 2025-05-20 · full transcript https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OazaDhNksTE Exported Fri, 14 Aug 2026 22:38:46 GMT Source: YouTube automatic captions. Copied into the combined index from the marion-city-council-indexed report; same text, key prefixed by body. These transcripts are machine-generated. They garble proper nouns badly — company and personal names especially. Watch the recording before repeating any name, number, or quotation. The video is the record. ============================================================================== Indexed at https://ourweek.in/grant-county/reports/grant-county-record 0:49 We are a community of a lot of different people and a lot of different beliefs and faiths. 0:56 So let's have a moment of silence and each in your own way I pray to the triune God of the father, the son and 1:03 the holy spirit. Each in your own way offer your prayers and thoughts for our cities. the people in it. Uh maybe a particular mention for Debbie Goodman. 1:14 She's having some issues. Can't be with us with us tonight. Um but please offer those um offer those up in a moment of silence. Thank you. 1:32 Amen. And thank you. And the pledge will be by Andy Whitten. Please 2:00 Okay, madame clerk, roll call, please. Kain here. Marshall Fordise here. 2:10 Brunner Klene here. Divine Whitten here. Calgill here. McKinley. 2:21 Okay, we're going to start right off with community spotlight. Community spotlight tonight is Master 2:30 Gardeners. Master Gardeners, would you please come to the front all the way? 2:58 Stand all the way up here. Thank you ladies. Thank you for 3:06 being here. Master Gardeners. Master Gardeners is a volunteer organization of people passionate about gardening and 3:13 teaching others to garden. Master Gardeners volunteer their time by going to schools, giving classes, working 3:20 events like Earth Day and working in the gardens. Master Gardens also helps with community gardens throughout the city. 3:28 Master Gardeners have two gardens at Matter Park that they created and take care of. They have the demonstration 3:35 gardens at the old bear cage location at the children's gardens at the meadows in Matter Park. Matter master gardeners 3:44 take continuing education yearly from Purdue Extension offices. So far in 3:50 2025 across the state of Indiana, 1,828 master gardeners have volunteered 3:59 40, 2020 20 hours to help communities in their gardens and parks valued at 4:11 1,297,722 worth of labor. Helping others grow is their motto. 4:19 Tonight we have President Barbara Jones, co-president Penny Stewart, coordinator of the children's gardens, Yavon Riffle, 4:29 past secretary. Janette Sprat is the coordinator of the window seal program. Charlene Pal is treasure. Beth 4:38 Anne Guido, chairman of the committee and coordinator of the demonstration gardens in Matter Park. And if one of 4:46 you would like to say something to who this city, who's your spokesperson? 4:53 Go ahead. 4:55 I was just going to say you covered it all. I couldn't get over how thorough you were. Thank you very much. That was because I had somebody instruct me. 5:05 Well, she did good. 5:07 Thank you. Thank you. So before you leave, the council and the city would like to give you an 5:21 award and we'd like to have all the council people up here with you. Well, may I say something first? Sure. 5:28 Um, in addition to everything you said, they help at least one, probably all of them help out in community gardens that 5:38 we have around town. And uh, Beth Anne, you I have countless plants that owe 5:44 their lives to you. And I am grateful. I mean, you do they do stuff throughout 5:51 town, not just what uh, Councilman Ford Ice was talking about. So, thank you. 5:56 and my plants. Thank you. And the 1.2 million, is that what you said? Worth of labor. That is amazing. Wow. You guys want to come my house and do anything? 6:08 You feel free. All right. 6:50 I got one more. Marty, I guess I just want to say thank you ladies. They do so much at the gardens. 7:02 um and a lot of that stuff. Um I know they'll bring their own mulch and their own plants and and plant them and they 7:09 do a wonderful job. So, thank you very much. Sorry. Next, we have the city 7:18 employee spotlight which is Chris White, human resources. Is Chris here? Please come forward so I can embarrass you. No. 7:32 So Chris White will be celebrating her 25th anniversary with the city of 7:39 Marian. She was hired on November 13th, 2000. Over the years, she has worked in 7:45 various roles including administration positions in the legal department, IT department, the mayor's office. Her current position is human resources. 7:57 Chris is a very important part of the controllers's office team by helping out wherever and whenever called upon. 8:04 Outside her work with the city, Chris and her husband are co-owners of Sheiro Kai Martial Arts Dojo since 8:14 2019. It's on 3400 South Adams, which is a significant part of Chris's life to this day. Her and her husband are both 8:23 sensei and instructors in the dojo for youth classes and adult classes. Chris 8:30 and her husband have mastered the art of she kai and are both black belts. So don't make her mad to go into HR, please. That's why she's in HR. 8:42 The dojo has a five-star rating and is considered the best martial arts school in central Indiana. We would like to 8:51 thank Chris for her dedication and service to our city and community and give her a token of our appreciation. 8:59 Thank you, Chris. Would you like to say anything to everybody? No. No. 9:05 So, if the council would come up, we could get a picture. I I've been with city for 30 years. So, we've worked together for 25. Like you said, I'm telling you guys, she is so dedicated. 9:16 She works so hard. I adore her. She knows that. um and a lot of their students with their martial arts all these they go to all these competition 9:25 and they all medal these these guys are incredible. She um welld deserving tonight. Chris, I'm glad they did it for you. Darling, 9:34 if council could come up, take a picture. We'd like to present this. 9:57 Thanks, Chris. Here, Chris. 10:01 [Applause] 10:09 Thanks, Marty. Appreciate it very much. 10:21 Okay, next on the agenda is approval of minutes and consideration of 10:28 pre-approved claims and consideration of claims. Does anybody have any comments or questions or about the claims or the 10:36 agenda or anything? I would entertain a motion to pass. I'll move we pass the consent agenda. Second. I have a motion 10:45 by Councilman Klene, a second by Councilman Calgill. Madame Clerk, would you take the role? 10:52 I Yes. Yes. 11:01 I Okay, moving on to unfinished business. 11:07 Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Committee reports. Does anybody have any committee reports? 11:17 Done. Okay. 11:21 Hearing none, we'll move on to unfinished business. 11:30 Madame Clerk, General Ordinance 10, 2022, vacation of portion of public way, second reading and public hearing. An 11:39 ordinance vacating a portion of the alley in the 1700 block of West 6th Street. Vincent Msovvich petitions to vacate a portion of Geneva Avenue 11:48 alleyway in Marian, Indiana, citing various reasons. The petitioner Vincent Msovvich is the owner of property at 1718 West 6th Street, Marian, Indiana. 11:57 Mskovich is seeking to vacate alleyway adjacent to lots number 4 through 29 and lot number 34 in the Parkersburg 12:05 edition. Two property owners have not yet consented. The reason for the alley vacation is that the alleyway is unnecessary for access to adjacent land owners. Emergency vehicles or utilities. 12:17 The city will no longer maintain the area transferring maintenance responsibilities to the petitioner and the alleyway does not contribute to the neighborhood growth or public benefit. 12:26 Speaking attorney Joseph Certain. Mr. Certain. 12:37 Hit your hit your mic there, Joe, please. Yes, there. Okay, can you hear me now? Uh, I represent Mr. Mscovich who 12:47 owns all but four lots, pardon me, five lots in the uh area and that adjacent to 12:54 the alley, the platted alleyway. Platted alleyway basically runs through a forest. Uh it's unkempt uh unimproved in any way. Uh Mr. 13:07 Mscovich has uh a desire to have that vacated to allow him to develop those 13:15 areas that he owns, which are basically everything from lot 8 and lot 29 uh all the way to Geneva Avenue. 13:26 Uh there's uh really no reason to have this alleyway 13:32 uh dedicated has not been improved and it goes no place because it's not improved. Uh even if it did, it would go 13:40 only from Pennsylvania Avenue to Park Avenue. Um so we would ask that the 13:48 council pass uh vacation of the alley uh on second reading. 13:54 Okay. Thank you. Do I have any council members like to comment on the vacating of the alley? 14:05 Council, I guess I spoke I I'll I'll speak. I I visited the location and I I'm torn 14:14 uh whether to pass or deny this. Um and I'm I'm still struggling with that decision actually. I I know we can take 14:23 this to third reading and uh before we open this up to the public, 14:30 I would I would strongly recommend at this point in time that we take this to third 14:36 reading. Okay. Thank you, Councilman Kane. Anybody else have anything from the 14:43 council? Okay. Seeing not, this is a second reading public hearing. I'm going to open it up to the public for any 14:51 objections or agreements with the vacating. I'd like for you to state your name, your address, and keep your 14:59 comments to three minutes and keep it relative to the vacating of the alley. 15:05 Do I have anybody? 15:20 This is Mr. Lloyd Brown. He lives at 1710 West 6th Street. 15:26 Turn it on. He had can cancer surgery. 15:30 So, I'm helping him talk. So, because a lot of things he can't say, he can't understand you. Okay. We object to the alleyway being vacated because Mr. 15:39 Mscovich has um brought property, brought trash from his uh business and thrown it all over back there on Mr. 15:48 Brown's property, all over the back lots back there. He was cited by the city for an abundance of trash. He's really out 15:56 of life for dumping and yeah, he's dumping and and digging. He's bulldozers out there between midnight and 3:00 a.m. 16:04 digging holes and putting them under the ground. They also uses a racetrack with go-karts at all hours of the day and 16:11 night. Um they also have um come in 16:18 uh what word don't want to use? They were fined for having illegal structures built on the city alleyway that they did 16:27 not take care of and were not ever punished for. And we object of all these things. 16:42 and comp. 16:44 [Music] 16:58 We sent pictures through the clerk's office and you guys probably got all those pictures. We got all Yes. Thank 17:06 you. Okay. that we object strongly to it being vacated because it's just going to give him more access to put more trash 17:14 and put bring more stuff back there. And Mr. Brown, we believe caught his cancer from all the toxic chemicals and waste and all that that he had back there. 17:25 Okay. Thank you very much. I appreciate your time. Thank you. And you speaking. You're welcome. 17:33 Do I have anybody else from the public that would like to speak for or against the vacating of this alley? 17:48 I did not mean to take additional time and delay here, but I just want to point out that the objections that are made 17:57 here are with respect to uh allegations with respect to Mr. 18:03 Muskovich and his use of the areas adjacent to the property uh of this 18:10 alleyway. uh has nothing whatsoever to do with whether the alleyway is properly 18:18 dedicated. Uh those activities that are being complained about are activities that are occurring now with the alleyway 18:26 existing. Vacation alleyway uh would have nothing to do whatsoever. If Mr. 18:32 Mscovich is violating the city ordinance, then there are remedies for that. Thank you. Okay. Thank you very much. 18:41 There anybody else from the public for in response to his comments. Um, Mr. 18:55 Brown owns four lots right there on the back of that alleyway and he has had trash and debris and all that kind of stuff thrown on all his property, too. 19:04 So, I just want to come up and comment to his uh response. Okay. Thank you very much. I appreciate it. 19:16 Okay. If there's nobody else, I would entertain a motion from the council. 19:23 Mr. Chairman, I move that we pass general ordinance number 10, 2025 to a third reading. Second. 19:33 I have a motion by Councilman Kaine and I have a second by Councilman Klene. 19:41 Madame Clerk, would you please take role? Kain I. Ford. I. Klein, yes. Whitten. 19:50 Yes. Calgill. 19:57 I motion passes. Thank you. 20:06 Madame clerk, new business. 20:09 General Ordinance 11, 2022, adding a grant administrator for transportation. 20:14 First hearing, an ordinance fixing the maximum salary of appointed officers and employees in the annual payment of flex 20:21 $250 to non-contractual full-time employees of the city of Marian, Indiana for the year of 2025. The city of Marian 20:29 Department of Transportation's goal is to hire someone for this position to be trained by Chuck Martindale for a few months before retirement. This position is very important to acquire. 20:38 Transportation runs on 85% grants. Speaking Jeff Edwards or Chuck Martale. 20:47 Good evening. Good evening. I think she said it all right there. She did pretty good, right? Yeah. You shouldn't have to say anything, should you? Well, I don't 20:55 want to mess it up. You know, we're trying to create a position to take uh I hate to say it, you know, to take 21:03 Chuck's job. I don't never thought I'd be up here saying that, but uh he's been here 45 years. So, this 21:11 position uh definitely needs six months training. Uh since 2010, we've been 21:19 running free bus rides. So uh 85% grants. So we you know that this is very 21:26 important to get this uh covered. So if you have any questions we have the esteemed Chuck Martinddale here too if you want to speak with him. 21:35 My only question it's a statement. Chuck doesn't 50 sound better than 45 for retiring? Just five more years. Look at 21:43 him. He's like no I like you Brian. you but you know this is very 21:50 important uh position and it needs six months of training. 21:55 Any other council people have any questions for Jeff? Just just a comment. 21:59 I can't even I can't even imagine the savings that Mr. Montdale and 22:06 and your department has brought to the city taxpayers. uh with without that I dare say we would 22:15 have minimum service at at best in the city of Mary and so uh wow I applaud you 22:24 Mr. Montdale. Yeah, Chuck. Chuck is millions. I I can't put a number on it. 22:28 I can just say millions. 22:32 So, since I've been here eight years, he's he's uh awful tough shoes to fill. 22:38 Yeah. It's hard for me to be up here talking about that right now, but it needs to be done because he told me he's 22:47 returned. So, are there any other questions or comments from the council? Okay. If not, I would seek a motion. Mr. 22:57 Chairman, I move that we pass general ordinance number 11, 20125 to a second 23:03 reading and public hearing. Second. I have a motion from Councilman Kaine, a second by Councilman Calgill. Madame 23:12 Clerk, would you please call Kane? Idise. 23:18 Hi. Klene, yes. Whitten. Yes. Calgill. Hi. 23:28 pass. Thank you very much. 23:44 Okay, Madame Clerk. Moving on. 23:48 Resolution 72025, a request to approve the resolution for the Jones Heritage allocation area. A resolution of the 23:55 common council of the city of Marian, Indiana, approving certain matters in connection with the Maran Consolidated Economic Development Area, Jones 24:03 Heritage Allocation Area. The city of Marian Redevelopment Commission previously adopted and amended resolutions establishing and expanding 24:11 an economic development area known as the Marian Consolidated Economic Development Area. designating certain portions of the area as allocation areas 24:20 for purposes of section 39 of the act and approving an economic development plan for the area. In in anticipation of 24:27 the redevelopment of the Jones Middle School building on September 20th, 2024, the Maran Redevelopment Commission approved and adopted its resolution 24:35 further amending the declaratory resolution by adopting a supplement to the plan for the area. On October 1st, 2024, the Maran Plan Commission approved 24:44 and adopted a resolution approving the resolution and plan supplement and determining that the resolution and plan supplement conform to the plan of 24:51 development for the city of Marian, Indiana. Speaking, Chris Gryel, Barnes and Thornberg. 24:58 Thank you, uh, Vice President Ford, members of the council. Uh, for the record, Chris Gryel, Barnes & Thornberg, Council for the City of Marian Redevelopment Commission. Happy to be 25:07 before you here tonight. Um, tonight is really just a procedural step in approving an allocation area. Um, we are 25:15 the redevelopment commission and um, concert with the administration, excuse me, is considering a a project to 25:22 redevelop Jones Middle School. As part of that project, uh, a tiff consideration is being pledged uh to a 25:30 project agreement that'll be before this commission uh, more than likely next month. In order to do that, we need to 25:37 amend the allocation area to create the what we're calling the Jones allocation area. It's a sightsp specific tiff that 25:44 we would create for the project. Um, as was mentioned in the executive summary, the redevelopment commission um approved 25:52 the creation of this in a declaratory resolution. The plan commission also approved it. So now it's here before you tonight. After your consideration, it'll 26:00 go back to the redevelopment commission for a public hearing on a confirmatory resolution where the redevelopment commission will simultaneously approve 26:08 the project uh if and when that time comes. So, with that, I'm happy to answer any questions that you may have. 26:15 Thank you, Chris. Do we have any questions from the council for Chris or Baker Tilly? Baker Tilly's here also on 26:23 that. Yes, absolutely. Greg Balsano from Baker Tilly is here as well. 26:30 Any questions for I see no questions. 26:33 You ready for a motion? I'm ready for a motion. Uh I would like to make a motion that we pass resolution 72025 in its entirety. Second. 26:46 I have a motion from Councilman Calgill, a second from Councilman Kaine. Could I have a roll call, please? Madam clerk. 26:54 Kain. I. For ice. I Klein, yes. Whitten. 26:59 Yes. Calgill. I Thank you very much, Chris. You're up next, buddy. Thank you. 27:09 Resolution 8, 2022, a a request to approve the resolution for the downtown fire station. A resolution of the common 27:17 council of the city of Marian, Indiana, approving certain matters in connection with an amendment to the declaratory resolution for the Maran Consolidated 27:24 Economic Development Area and the economic development area for said area downtown fire station. The city of Marian redevelopment commission 27:33 previously adopted and amended resolutions establishing and expanding an economic development area known as the Maran Consolidated Economic 27:40 Development Area designing certain or designating certain portions of the area as allocation areas for purposes of 27:47 section 39 of the act and approving an economic development area for the area in anticipation of the redevelopment of 27:55 the downtown fire station on January 10th, 2025. The Mar and Redevelopment Commission approved and adopted its resolution, further amending the 28:03 declaratory resolution by adopting a supplement to the plan for the area. On January 28th, 2025, the Marian Plan 28:11 Commission approved and adopted a resolution approving the resolution and the plan supplement and deter and determining that the resolution and the 28:18 plan supplement conform to the plan of the development for the city of Marian. 28:22 Speaking Chris Gryel, Barnes and Thornberg. Thank you again, Vice President Ford, members of the council. 28:28 For the record, Chris Chrysler, Barnes & Thornberg, Council for the Redevelopment Commission, uh happy to be before you. 28:33 Uh similar to the the last uh agenda item, uh this agenda item is for the potential redevelopment and hopeful 28:41 redevelopment of the downtown fire station, which uh we plan to be before you next month uh with final 28:49 consideration of the project. As part of the redevelopment plans, uh we are pledging and considering a pledge of 28:56 tiff uh to support the bonds for the project. And so just like we did with the Jones allocation area, we've made an 29:03 amendment to the allocation area supporting the fire station uh necessary to take those final steps if and when it 29:11 goes through the process. Similar to the Jones allocation area, the redevelopment commission approved its declaratory resolution. The plan commission's 29:19 approved the plan as well. So now it's here before you tonight and then after tonight it'll go before the redevelopment commission for a public 29:26 hearing in their final consideration of the project when that time comes. So with that I'm happy to answer any questions that you may 29:33 have. Thank you Chris. Do uh does the council any of the council people have any questions for 29:39 Chris or Baker Tilly on this on the fire station? See seeing none I am ready for 29:48 a motion. Yes. Uh, Mr. Vice President, I would happily make a motion that we pass resolution 82025 in its entirety. 29:59 Second. Okay. I have a motion by Councilman Calgill, a second by Councilman Kaine. Madame Clerk, would you please call roll? 30:08 Kaine. I. Forice. I. Klene. Yes. Whitten. Yes. Calgill. Hi. Thank you for your time this morning. 30:16 Thank you, Chris. I appreciate it. Thank you very much. 30:20 appreciate it very much. Okay, our next item, um I'd like to have the superintendent of the street department 30:28 go ahead and come up on this next uh additional appropriation because um we have through discussions and with the 30:37 superintendent of the uh citywide maintenance and speaking with the administration, we're going to table 30:44 this for right now. It's on the railing down along the walkway on the river. And 30:51 Ry's came into some other information that he needs to dissolve before he moves forward with this project with the 30:59 uh specifically DNR. He wants to make sure that we do this correctly. That railing's been a problem ever since 31:06 we've put it in with it when it floods and the trees. So, Mr. Vice President, yes. Can we step back from that a second and and can I make a comment on that? 31:17 Sure. I'd like to see this stay on track and can't we continue and move this on to second reading and in the meantime 31:26 collect all that data before second reading and then if we don't have all the data that we need to move forward 31:35 with that then we can hold it up on second reading. That way it keeps it on track. The people that are most affected on that are people with disabilities 31:43 that can't use that walkway and maneuver down through there. So, uh because my understanding is that it's closed right 31:52 now. Yes, sir. So, if we can keep it on track, we're going to save at least two or three weeks in this project. And I 32:01 ee no reason, me personally, I see no reason to table it. and we can keep moving forward with the project and collect 32:10 data in the meantime. Thank you for your time. Sure. 32:15 um sir to address that and answer that. We can't move forward with that because of the way it was proposed 32:24 without any approvals through the DNR and the way that it is 32:30 wordied on the way that the railing is for ADA with a disabilities American Disabilities Act. It's it's not worded 32:38 correctly. So, we're going to table it for tonight because of that and reattach some different wording and 32:46 and possibly some different estimates on it for the way that we've got to go forward with it. 32:53 I just man, I hate to see that too just for the fact everybody it's summer's here, everybody's using it. I see this first I've heard of this. I didn't know 33:00 that there was even an issue, you know, so to speak. 33:05 We can't deflect anything that comes down that waterway back into the water. That's the issue. 33:14 Correct. And and like I've explained to the mayor and I've spoken to Councilman Ford, it's not the railing that's the issue. It's how it's mounted to the 33:23 concrete. It can't withstand that force. So if we try to deflect it, we get in trouble. 33:32 It has to be able to have its natural correct. 33:39 So that is the purpose for us and um Randy has asked for that express time to make sure he gets the correct approvals. 33:49 So Randy, you're comfortable with tableabling? I to be honest with you, I'm I'm comfortable with either one. I just want to get more information. I 33:58 have a thought of moving it on but with all deliberate speed and 34:04 knowing that we can always strip out language and numbers and amend. 34:12 Yeah, that's kind of the way I feel too. 34:13 I I agree with Councilman Klein and M Councilman Kane. I hate to just delay this. If we I mean, I understand what you're saying. If we need more data or 34:22 or whatever the issue is, but if we can resolve that by the time we get to the second reading, then 34:30 we didn't lose time for people using that compared to putting it back two or three weeks at a minimum. Correct. And it is currently blocked off. What What's 34:38 the overunder on getting that done within the next two weeks? Oh, I I could have it done by then of that information and all the 34:47 red tape, correct? And everything. If that's the case, I strongly urge we pass it then. I've reached out to DNR already. I have a meeting with them as 34:55 soon as they schedule it because, you know, it's on their time to figure out what legally we're allowed to do like I've spoken to Mr. Fordise about because 35:03 I don't want to build it and then have to tear it back down. 35:07 I agree. I don't I mean, this isn't a But you'll know by the second reading whether we can go forward or not at that point. As soon as soon as I gather that 35:14 information, I will forward it to all of you. Okay? And if we don't have that done by what would be the second reading, we could table it then. 35:26 I don't have a problem with that. I don't have a problem with that at all. So, would you we would just have to we would just have to 35:36 uh amend it when it comes back. Yeah. So would you accept a motion to pass this to second reading and public hearing? I 35:44 would ask for a motion to pass. So move. 35:49 Okay. I have a motion by Councilman Klene, a second by Councilman Kaine. Madame Clerk, roll call, please. 35:59 Kain, I. Forice, I. Klein, yes. Whitten. Yes. Calgill. I. 36:06 Thanks, Randy. We'll just have to uh rewrite that. and uh amend that when you bring it back to us. So hopefully we can have it in two weeks. Thank you, Randy. 36:16 I agree. I agree with uh everybody that if we can if we can get that those approvals, that's if we can move forward then and do that correct. Yeah, sir. I appreciate it. Thank you, Randy. 36:28 So that pass on to second reading in public hearing. The only other thing that I have is Flash House opening May 36:36 24th. Get your bathing suits and bikinis ready, everybody, and get out there with your big umbrellas. And then we also 36:44 have, which this is a big event, and it brings literally brings millions of dollars into our community and our city 36:50 is the NIA track and field national championship May 21st through 23rd at Indiana Western University. It is just 36:59 going to be it's an awesome event. This is I believe the second year or third year that second year that they have uh 37:06 entertained that and um it is it is fantastic and huge. We have teams from 37:13 all over the nation that participate in this. So um if you get a chance go out 37:19 there and um other than that that's all we have and uh I would entertain a motion to adjourn. 37:28 Second. Sure. I have a motion to I have a motion to adjurnn by Councilman Calgill, a second by Councilman Kaine. 37:36 Madame Clerk Kain I. Forice I. Klene, yes. Whitten. 37:43 Yes. Calgill. Hi. 37:46 We're adjourned. Thank you everybody for coming. Master gardeners.