OurWeek The Grant County Record in Grant County · Regular meeting · 2025-08-19 · full transcript https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqaiwiArKZQ Exported Fri, 14 Aug 2026 22:38:23 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 0:34 Okay. Good evening. 0:38 This is the Marian Common Council meeting. Today's date is August 19th, 2025 at 7 p.m. in the Maran City Council chambers. Um, glad to see everyone here. 0:49 Thank you firefighters for coming and the the rest of you from the public. Uh always nice to see a good crowd in here. 0:55 Uh we're going to go and call this meeting to order and begin with prayer from Councilman Mike Klene. 1:03 We are go Yeah, go ahead. We are a community of a lot of people and a lot of faiths. So keeping that in mind, each 1:12 in your own way, silently with your own words, offer up your thoughts and prayers. 1:28 Thank you. 1:29 All right. And the pledge of allegiance led by Councilman Brian Calgo. 1:34 I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic 1:41 for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. 1:50 Thank you, Madame Deputy Clerk. Roll call. 1:56 Kain here. 1:57 Marshall here. Forice. 2:00 Brunner here. 2:01 Klene here. 2:02 Divine here. Whitten here, Calgill here, McKinley here. We're going to move in tonight's community spotlight. And tonight we are 2:11 spotlighting um two wonderful individuals that own Able Ambulance. It looks like maybe one's here. Dennis, 2:19 come on up. So, Dennis and Jill Houston um are the owners of Able Ambulance. Actually, you come all the way up here. 2:28 Yeah, I didn't tell you you come all the way up. 2:32 I did tell you you're going to come up to the front, but didn't go that far. 2:36 Um, yeah, thanks for coming, Dennis. 2:40 Appreciate you coming. And, uh, so, uh, Able Ambulance, if you're not aware, is located on State Road 18 as you're coming in the city from the east side. 2:52 And, uh, you know, Able Ambulance has grown tremendously. I've talked to Dennis and when they took over it was a 3:00 smaller operation and they've grown it tremendously and done a great job and invested in Marian, invested in our people. You know, I wrote on there the 3:08 that AEL ambulance uh has greatly impacted Marian Indiana by providing dependable emergency medical services, 3:16 quick response times and compassionate care. Their professionalism and dedication improve community safety, support local health care needs, and 3:24 bring peace of mind to residents during critical moments. So, if any of you have ever rode in an ambulance, you understand uh the importance of the care 3:32 you receive that ambulance and the how quickly you can get to uh the hospital or your uh healthcare provider. So, we 3:40 just thank Dennis and Jill Houston for investing in our community, wanting to grow the business. And Dennis, I just kind of want you to maybe share a few 3:48 words and uh maybe I'll ask you a couple questions. So, go ahead. You don't have to get too close. It'll pick you up. 3:55 Well, he told me to say a couple words, but he didn't say what about. 4:00 And my wife was all on board to come up here and talk and do this whole thing. 4:03 And then today, my daughter worked over a little bit and she had to go to a soccer game. So, here I am. Um, I I 4:11 worked for Mar City Police for 25 years and Abel was my side job. I worked on Fridays, driving trucks. Um, 4:21 I was with them probably 15, 16, 17 years somewhere in that area, driving trucks on Fridays. My wife worked for Heritage or did work for Heritage Point. 4:29 She retired after 35 years. Um, she did all their marketing, did all the um, uh, 4:36 admissions. Um, I don't know if you've ever been over or not, but they got the golf course of all those houses. She sold all the houses on there. Um, 4:45 but we've pretty much committed ourselves to Grant County working hard. 4:49 Um, building. Um, we kind of silently work down here. Um, I don't like to be in the spotlight. I don't like to, you 4:57 know, get into politics and all that kind of stuff. Um, as a police officer, I did my job and that was pretty much it. So, 5:05 uh, I talked to John Ers over periods of time to see if we could buy it from him, but didn't think I'd ever be able to do 5:13 it with police officer salary, but, uh, it worked out. We was blessed. Um, we started out with nine trucks and 11 employees. And Friday, I hired six more. 5:25 So, that puts us at 37 employees and 30 trucks. So, so we are growing 5:33 rapidly. Um, this year we've grown considerably. Uh, I think I've bought seven trucks this year so far. Um, we 5:41 travel wherever the, uh, the VA sends us. Um, we traveled Ann Arbor, Michigan, Cincinnati, Chicago, 5:49 um, and all about Indiana. We're in Mishawaka daily, so we put a lot of miles on our vehicles, so uh, we're 5:58 always looking for good help. Uh we are so blessed with the people we have working for us today that I keep the 6:04 drama out. They do their jobs and uh we give a good service. So well we really appreciate your 6:11 investment in Marion and this is just a true case of organic growth investing in our community providing good paying jobs 6:20 and uh we are just very very thankful for you to run such a great operation. 6:24 Uh there's always options for people to choose for ambulance care. Um, but the fact that you've grown so much just 6:32 shows that you're providing wonderful service and people want to continue to use you. And on top of that, you're you're really providing a great service 6:40 to our veterans and um can't thank you enough for that. I'm sure you said Michie VA center that you go there. 6:48 We go all over up south. Yeah. 6:51 Well, we just really appreciate your investment in Marian and and keeping it based here in Marian and we're always to with you. I know you're right there 6:59 where kind of there's a lot of talk of future growth and so hopefully you'll be able to grow with us down there. Um there's plenty of land down there. So 7:08 hopefully one day you'll you'll need to expand over or or something along that lines and then we can help you with that. So um any other council members want to share anything? 7:20 Perfect. Sounds good. Well, we appreciate you, Dennis. Thank you for coming. We're gonna get a photo real quick. 7:28 So, we're going to get a picture with the council. If you don't mind, come on up here. 8:04 Dennis, great job. Thank you so much for coming. 8:27 All right. And moving on to the city employee spotlight, the wonderful Lisa Edwards. 8:36 And just a short backstory on this one. 8:39 I'm getting echo here. Um probably I think the chief guard and I have been um 8:47 slowly twisting Lisa's arm to get her in here and you know just like Dennis said, you know, she's not somebody that really 8:55 wants the public spotlight and most people don't but uh I think it's welld deserved. So Lisa, where you at? I don't Come on up. She see she's already hiding in the audience. Come on up, Lisa. 9:09 All the way up. you've been in enough meetings, you know the drill. So, um, I'm just going to share a few words, but 9:18 then Chief Gar wants to share a few things as well. Um, and you know, of course, it's on the screen what I wrote, but I just want to say you've been with 9:25 the city for a long time, and it it's uh it's amazing how 9:33 you have just continued the glue of the fire department over different um mayors and different chiefs. And I'm sure the 9:43 chief is going to mention something or I will mention it about just how you're like the glue of that office. Um, you 9:51 know, I even wrote in here that uh that you're just you're part of that smooth operation. You do things that allow the 9:59 firefighters to focus on actually serving and protecting and and um the the the you deserve all the accolades. 10:07 All I ever hear is about how amazing Lisa is and the fire uh the the the fire department. So, I'm going to turn it over though to Chief Gar. I know he's got a few words to share. 10:19 Thank you. Um I know uh Lisa is dying to get away from there, so I'm going to try and make this as brief as possible. Um a 10:27 few weeks ago, I stood here before you all and gave accolades to the mayor and firefighters. uh welldeserved and they're a big part of what makes our 10:35 department thrive. But the old saying goes, behind every great man is a great woman. Well, behind these great firefighters is a great assistant. 10:45 Lisa often, as you referred to earlier, is affectionately called the glue of our Maran Fire Department. 10:51 Uh with one of the largest budgets within the city, her calculations are correct into the penny. 10:57 Um, it's comforting knowing that all the eyes are dotted and all the tees are crossed. And although she works hard to keep our administrative efforts strong 11:05 and organized, she's much more than that. She helps keeps our keep the atmosphere at headquarters lightigh-hearted, she's kind spirited and lends an ear to personal matters. 11:16 And when when needed, she gives me a little gentle nudge, sometimes not so gentle. 11:22 It makes my job easier knowing that my administrative needs will be handled quickly and efficiently. Historically, it was a twoperson position, but Lisa 11:31 handles it the task beautifully. Even if the occasional mistake happens, Lisa is much hard on herself than we ever could be. 11:40 Lisa never wants a spotlight or any special recognition. She'd rather just do her job to the best of her ability and go home. So Lisa, before you go home 11:49 tonight, just know we're blessed to have you. We appreciate you and we thank you. 12:01 Can't leave yet. Yeah. 12:14 So do you like to share any words? Goodness. 12:17 First, I'd just like to thank God for this opportunity. You know, this is an amazing job and without him, I definitely would not be able to do it. 12:26 Chief Gar and Deputy Chief Overmmy, they make this such an easy task. We have so much fun in the office. And then I think 12:35 we have the biggest department out of the city. I have 59 guys and then there's me. So, they all depend on me. 12:42 And so, if I mess up, they let me know. 12:45 And if they mess up, of course, I let them know. So, but I just want to thank the mayor and the council, you know, for 12:52 doing this recognition. This is not something that I take lightly. You know, a lot of times, like chief said, we're behind the scenes and people don't know 13:01 what we do. So, for you guys to acknowledge the administrative assistants and human resources and all 13:08 those different departments, we appreciate that. So, thanks again. 13:12 Well, it's our pleasure. You can't leave yet. It's our pleasure. Um, and it's it's just welld deserved. And I want to 13:20 open up. Any other council members want to share anything? 13:23 Yeah, I do. Um, I'm telling you, as a firefighter myself, I know what Lisa does. Lisa's outstanding. I don't know 13:33 of any of the guys that don't just think the world of you and and they absolutely should. I've seen people in your position come and go, and I'm telling 13:41 you, you're one of the smoothest operators I've seen in that position. 13:45 And it it's not easy putting up with 59 of these knuckleheads. I know, but you do a fantastic job. You truly do. 13:53 I appreciate that, too. Yes, they do. Absolutely. 13:57 All right. Any other council members? If not, we're going to get our photo. Does that sound right? 14:02 I forgot. Last but not least, I thank my husband because he's Oh, there you go. Absolutely. Yes. 14:09 Behind every great woman is a good man, too. Yes. Right. 15:13 Well, and I just want to thank all the firefighters for coming tonight. I know, you know, you could be doing other things, either being off of work or at 15:20 the station, but um just the fact that you have all these firefighters here tonight just shows a testament to how much they really appreciate you, Lisa. 15:27 So, thank you uh firefighters from coming tonight and we really appreciate all your service as well. Okay, so we're going to move on. Yeah, let's give uh 15:35 all the firefighters a round of applause. 15:38 [Applause] 15:41 Okay, we're going to move on to the consent agenda for the approval of minutes regular meeting a consideration of pre-approved claims and consideration of claims. 15:52 Uh I did want to add one second here. 16:13 Okay. So before we get into the consideration of claims, one of the claims that was included 16:21 uh was for the appropriation the council passed last meeting for the estates of serenity 16:30 and uh I have spoke with gentleman from state board of accounts just make sure we're crossing the tees and dotting our eyes on everything and 16:38 everything is fine. Um but he just recommended just for audit purposes um to have like an interlocal agreement 16:46 signed to attach with that claim. So if it were to get audited by the state board of accounts then they have this 16:54 right there with it. Um and basically it's it kind of spells out what we've talked about what was on the um 17:02 uh additional appropriation. So this is just the terms of that basically the uh center township trustes office can only 17:10 use these funds for the cemetery. Um and if it is not used then it should be 17:18 returned to the city of Marian. So um it's more of a just kind of a checking a box with the state board of accounts and it's already been signed. It didn't need 17:26 it doesn't need a motion or any approval. I just wanted all the council members to have a copy of that. Um, and that's kind of all the state of board of accounts asked us to do since it is a 17:36 transfer of money between governmental units like this. So, with that being said, I'll entertain any other questions. If not, I would entertain a motion. 17:45 May I ask just a question? Just a question. 17:48 Where's this fi? I mean, is this incorporated into the claims? I'm just curious, not arguing. Where's where's it filed? Where's Good question. So, the original copy is 17:56 filed in the clerk's office. Um but the another copy is with the controllers's office and they will attach that to the 18:04 claim for like permanent record um in the event for an audit. But the original the clerk's office is holding on to and 18:12 the the administration also has a copy as well. So yeah, no problem. Any other questions? 18:20 If not, I'd entertain a motion. 18:21 Mr. President like to make a motion that we pass the consent or consent agenda in its entirety. Second. 18:29 Motion by Councilman Calgill. I heard a second by Councilman Brunner. Any other discussion? 18:37 Madame Deputy Clerk, roll call. Kain. I. Marshall. I. Brunner. I. Klene. Yes. Divine. 18:45 Yes. Whitten. Yes. Calgill. I. McKinley. Yes. Moving on to committee reports. 18:54 Have any committee reports? 18:56 Councilman Calggo, we had a uh traffic commission meeting 19:02 today. Um and we had a couple things on the agenda. We originally was talking um somebody brought that it was a two-way 19:10 stop at uh Kerry and 31st, but they felt it needed a four-way stop because people 19:17 have been um running the stop signs and so is what we do on the traffic commission and something like that. Stop 19:24 signs aren't designed to slow traffic down. They're designed to stop at certain intersections um just for 19:31 safety. But in this um pos this What am I talking about here? The uh 19:39 anyway the corner there. Um we had a number of accidents and two or three of them are with bodily injury. So it's 19:46 been a bad situation. So we voted to go ahead and make that a four-way stop. So if you guys are out by Carrie and 31st, 19:54 you'll see that it very soon is going to be a four-way stop. And then we had um another gentleman that brought to us at 20:01 10th and D. Same situation. Um he has his business on one corner, he lives on another corner. So out of the four 20:09 corners, he owns two of them. Um there's been a number of accidents there and some of them have been so people going 20:16 so fast that it's ejected to people out of the cars. So we have the police are going to pull up there if they have a number of accidents with bodily injury 20:25 there will probably pass out as well. So that was the two things that we talked about today. Thank you so much, Councilman Calgill. 20:33 Any other committee reports? Councilwoman Divine. 20:40 So, the um I'm getting to all my notes here. The Marian Utility Service Board met last 20:47 week before um the same night as our first uh budget meeting. Was that last week or the week before? Um and they 20:55 actually had a very short meeting. Uh they appointed a new vice chair. um to take the place of um the member that was 21:04 changed out. Um they talked about updates on projects. All the projects are moving. They're starting to reach 21:12 the end of all the projects they have open and that was pretty much all they were talking about. So, it was a very short and sweet meeting on that one. Um 21:21 and then the border works met Monday. Um their meeting was also short. Uh they 21:27 approved the sale of a property at 3715 South Boots to the um adjoining property 21:35 owner um which I think the city has done quite a bit where they if the neighboring property owner is interested to purchase an empty lot that the city 21:43 owns. Um the street department had their surplus vehicle sale bid um approved for 21:50 uh Shrouds. They purchased all the surplus vehicles out at the street department. And I think the total is just over 14,000. And they said they'd 21:58 have them out within about a 10day time frame so that um the street department can work on getting their salt barn up 22:05 um in time for all the the new um materials coming in for the winter. And then um the police department brought 22:13 their vehicle purchases to the board for approval. Um those have finally come in uh for the ones through the capital 22:21 improvement plan. Um so they got that final approval. so they could submit those for payment. Um, and I believe it 22:28 was five or six new ones and then they were trading in an old uh one of the old 22:34 vans new it was newer but older um for a pickup truck instead because they converted a transportation vehicle um 22:44 into kind of their mobile um I want to say lab but I don't know that that's right. Um, so they didn't need 22:52 the other minivan control center could be. They didn't need the van. So they're changing that out for a a pickup truck that's better for for other tasks within the department. 23:02 And that was it for that meeting. 23:07 All right. Any other count committee reports? 23:12 Okay. Without any more committee reports, we'll go into unfinished business beginning with additional appropriation 12-2025. Additional 23:20 appropriation for controllers's office second reading and public hearing. 23:25 An appropriation requesting $144,555 for the controllers's office. I am pleased to announce that the 23:32 controllers's office will be transitioning to a new cloud-based online software provided by our current vendor. We anticipate that this upgrade will significantly improve our 23:41 efficiency, accuracy, and overall management capabilities. Speaking a representative from Boyce Cloud and City Controller Dana G. 23:50 Good evening and welcome. 23:51 Good evening. And Parker could not be here. He got delayed a little bit. So, I'll be speaking. We spoke about two uh two weeks ago. Does anyone have any questions? 24:05 Any other council members? 24:10 Okay. Um, we will go ahead and uh, if you want to have a seat, uh, we will open it up for the public hearing. If you'd like to speak on this, make your way to the microphone at this time. 24:25 All right, I'm not seeing anyone move towards the microphone. Last chance. 24:32 All right, we'll close the public hearing. 24:36 And any other council members with any more questions for controller G or the mayor? 24:44 If not, I'd entertain a motion. 24:47 Mr. President, like to make a motion that we suspend the rules on additional appropriation 12 2022. Second. 24:55 Motion to suspend the rules by Councilman Calgill, a second by Councilman, who said it over there? Uh, Councilman 25:03 Kaine. Any further discussion on suspending the rules? Madame Deputy Clerk, roll call. 25:12 Kain, I. 25:13 Marshall, I. 25:14 Runner, I. 25:16 Klene, yes. Divine. Yes. Whitten. Yes. Calgill. I. Mckenley. 25:21 Yes. Rules have been suspended. I'd entertain another motion. 25:24 Mr. President, like to now make a motion that we pass additional appropriation 1225. Second. 25:31 Second. Uh, a motion by Councilman Calgill to pass additional appropriation 12-2025. I heard a second by Councilman Kaine. Any other discussion? 25:42 Madame Deputy Clerk, roll call. 25:44 Kain, I. 25:46 Marshall, I. 25:47 Runner, I. 25:48 Klene, yes. Divine. Yes. Whitten. Yes. Calgill. I. McKinley. 25:54 Yes. Additional appropriation 12-2025 has passed. 26:00 And moving on to additional appropriation 13-2025, additional appropriation for parks and recreation. Second reading and public hearing. 26:10 An appropriation requesting $78,61346 for parks and recreation. The city of Marian's goal is to improve access to 26:19 the waterway. It will allow the public access to the W's edge, making this reasonable modification in building this railing will accommodate the citizens of 26:27 Marian. Speaking Randy Hyatt. Welcome, Randy. Are you okay? 26:32 Chair's not We just want to make sure we're not going to have a workers's comp claim already. You're have to replace that chair. Yeah. 26:40 Go ahead. Do you have anything you want to share? 26:42 I don't need to add anything from what we talked about last time. It's a safety issue the way it sits now. So, we either move forward with it or we figure out a way to block it off. 26:52 Quick question. I can't remember if we asked it last meeting, but if this gets approved, how soon can it be completed? Do you have timeline? 27:00 Within four weeks. They have to rip the old one out, get the new one built, and then install it. All right. 27:08 Any council members with questions before we go to public hearing? All right. 27:13 Is the safety issue the down by there or those chairs back there? Which one's the safe? Okay. 27:21 All right. If you want to have a seat for us. 27:24 Yep. Go ahead. Yeah. Just stay close. No obstacles in the way, please. Uh, we'll go ahead and open the public reading or 27:32 public hearing on this one. So, if you want to speak on it, make your way to the microphone. 27:42 Last chance. 27:45 I don't see anyone making their way to the microphone. So, we'll close the public hearing and open for any other discussion or questions from the council. 27:56 Okay. If not, then I'd entertain a motion. 28:01 Mr. President, I move that we suspend the rules on additional appropriation number 13, 2025. 28:09 Second. Second. 28:11 I have a motion to suspend the rules by Councilman Kaine. I'll do the second by Councilman Whitten. Um, any other discussion? 28:20 Madam Deputy Clerk, roll call. 28:22 Kane, I. 28:24 Marshall, I. Brunner. 28:25 Hi. Klene, yes. 28:27 Divine, yes. Whitten, yes. 28:29 Calgill, I. 28:30 McKinley, yes. Rules have been suspended. I'd entertain another motion. 28:34 Mr. President, I move that we pass additional appropriation number 13, 2025. Second. 28:42 I have a motion to pass additional appropriation 13-2025 by Councilman Kaine, a second by Councilman Whitten. 28:48 Any other discussion? Madame Deputy Clerk, roll call. Kane. Hi. 28:56 Marshall. Hi. Runner. Hi. Klene. Yes. Divine. Yes. Whitten. Yes. Calgill. Hi. Mckenley. 29:04 Yes. I just have one question for Councilman Marshall. When this is completed, are you going to do the true test on your rollerblades? 29:16 Yeah, I haven't rollerbladed in over a year because uh I was my enthusiasm of getting it paved. Um, I fell right at 29:24 the entrance of it. So, it's I kind of kind of That's why we need you to test this out and make sure it's gonna be all right. We'll see. We'll start I'll consider it. 29:32 But, yeah, we're just excited to have this back. 29:34 I've been skating at the Iowa Wild, so there's a little plug for them. 29:39 Well, I just want to thank Randy for putting all the work in and jumping through all the hoops. Um, this is a really important um, we'll say amenity to the city. So, thank you so much. 29:50 Thank you for the help with the the connection through DNR because we'd have probably still been waiting. 29:56 Yeah, no problem. Thank you so much. Thank you. Okay, that's it for unfinished business. 30:01 We have nothing under new business moving into announcements. Just getting the word out now. The Amplify Marian, the big music concert. It's October 18th 30:10 and 19th. I failed to put the 19th on there. Um, so if you're watching at home or you're hearing this, uh, get to the 30:19 download the my Marian app or go to the Marian Facebook or website and get more details and see who's going to be out there. It's going to be fantastic. It's 30:26 going to be at Modern Park. Um the other announcement too is that uh we do have just a reminder for the public we have 30:34 our next budget committee meeting this Thursday 6 pm here in the council chambers uh where where we will actually start reviewing things within the 30:44 budget. So any other council members with announcements? 30:50 Just want to say the football season's starting. So, uh, if you're Marin Giants fan, first home games this Friday 30:58 against Fort Wayne Southside and the Jim Brunner, the voice of the Giants will be on the radio and 56 years. 31:06 56 years. Yep. So, and the the voice of the PA voice makes this game even more fun. 31:14 I don't want people to know. They're probably annoyed with me speaking the game. So anyways, it's just excited exciting time to be in Marion and I just 31:22 apprec appreciate everyone. Uh if there's no other announcements, I would entertain a motion to adjurnn. I move that we adjourn. 31:31 A motion by Councilman Kaine to adjurnn. 31:33 A second by Councilman Klene. Any discussion? Madame Deputy Clerk, roll call. 31:38 Kane, I. 31:39 Marshall, I. Brunner. I. 31:41 Klene, yes. Divine. Yes. Whitten. Yes. Calgill. I. McKinley. 31:49 Yes. Meetings adjourned.