OurWeek The Grant County Record in Grant County · Regular meeting · 2026-04-07 · full transcript https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH7QV7QVy1E Exported Fri, 14 Aug 2026 22:38:39 GMT Source: Transcript by wayin.ai from the council recording — not YouTube captions; speaker numbers are the tool's. 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 1:14 Speaker 1: You're fine. Take your time. Yes. We're going to call tonight's meeting to order. Uh we uh let's see here. We'll do uh the uh prayer is going to be uh Mr. Keenan Davis tonight, our COO. And then the pledge of allegiance will be by Councilman Jeffrey or Dr. Jeffrey Reyes. And then we'll go from there. So, please stand. 1:47 Speaker 2: Let every heart pray. Dear heavenly Father, it's always a privilege to be be to come before you um knowing that you um pay attention to all the prayers of your children. Lord, um I I pray that we never forget and never uh take for granted your presence. That every decision we make, that we include you in it. Let us never decide that we are able to distinguish what is good or bad. Well, God, according to your spirit, um you are always good and everything good and perfect comes from you. 2:20 Speaker 2: So, today we invite you in this place. We invite you in your presence here. Um help us to always make decisions, God, with uh the city um in consideration. Let us never have personal agenda, God, but let's do the greater good. Let us put all differences aside, God, and act as brothers and sisters, God, doing the good for the city. So, Lord, thank you, God, for your peace. Thank you for your love. Thank you, God, for protecting Grant County. Thank you for protecting the city. Thank you for the direction of prosperity that you allowed us to to travel. 2:52 Speaker 2: So, Lord, continue continue, God, to bless us as we give you all the the praise and the glory and the honor and recognition. In Jesus' name I pray. 3:10 Unknown: Amen. 3:20 Speaker 1: Roll call, please. 3:30 Unknown: Kane? Here. Reyes? 3:31 Speaker 3: Here. Fordyce? Here. Brenner? 3:34 Speaker 1: Here. Klein? 3:35 Unknown: Here. 3:36 Speaker 3: Marshall? Whitten? Divine? Here. 3:40 Unknown: Calgo? Here. 3:42 Speaker 1: Okay, next on the agenda is our recognition spotlight. And tonight we are going to recognize a very special woman. And anybody that's been around this town for any time at all knows Miss Ruth Ann Sumpter. Um Ruth Ann, do you want to come on up, darling? Well, okay. 4:13 Speaker 1: I appreciate it. Um I I had the pleasure of meeting Ruth Ann a number of years ago and uh when it's probably what, 11 or 12 years ago now, that when fire station number one got closed and we started on the journey of having to get it reopened because it was vitally important. Ruth Ann was on our original committee and was a a big part in helping us raise the money and getting it done. 4:44 Speaker 1: So, you ought to feel very proud to see it going up now, as well as I do. So. Um but I I can't even tell you guys how many boards, how many things that Ruth Ann has volunteered for and been a part of. And when when we talked about, in fact, Aisha and I talked about it and we talked about somebody that deserves the recognition. I truly can't think of anybody in in my opinion that deserves it more than Ruth Ann. She she doesn't do anything for Ann. She she doesn't do anything for recognition. 5:15 Speaker 1: She does it out of the kindness of her heart, and she loves this city. And she she really wants to do well for it. And um, I I just, man, I just can't say enough about you, darling. I I I very much appreciate you and um, it's it's truly, truly deserving of you tonight. And uh, is before we have Ruth Ann say, does anybody else have any comments? 5:44 Speaker 4: Yeah, I've worked with you. No, you're not. Believe, believe it or not, you know, hang on to something. I'm going to say something nice. Um, anyway, I've worked with uh Ruth Ann on boards and such and just thank you for giving a rip and not just talking a good game. You get involved. 6:09 Unknown: Thank you. 6:14 Speaker 1: Any other councilman? Okay, well, I'm going to make you say a few words. 6:23 Speaker 5: Well, seriously, when I was thinking about getting dressed today to come, I saw this in my closet and I thought, this is what I have to wear tonight because my heart is in Marion and Grant County. I love this place. I get frustrated with it, but I love it. And it's just been an honor to work with different people in in different situations and different celebrations. 7:00 Speaker 5: And I hope we have a big celebration for America 250 because it's important. And um, I hope someone's working on it already because I'm not doing it. This one. 7:17 Speaker 1: How many more do you serve on? 7:20 Speaker 5: Oh, well, and 7:21 Speaker 1: different things that you volunteer for. 7:23 Speaker 5: Well, when I came to Marion in 1961, first of all, I was raised in Peru. So, I'm from kindergarten through 12th grade, I was in Peru. And got out of school and got married and moved to Ohio for 2 years, had two babies, thought, this is enough of Ohio, and came back to Indiana. And um, came to Marion in 1961 with two little ones. 7:54 Speaker 5: And I immediately joined newcomers. But with those two little ones, I couldn't do much. But then I got into JC Wives, and not to brag too much, but the year I was president, we were the best in state. And then I got involved with Tri Kappa, and I love Tri Kappa because it's charity, service, and education. It's Indiana only. 8:26 Speaker 5: And three of the women back there who came to give me support tonight cuz I'm a nervous wreck. Um, I know from Tri Kappa, and I would encourage anybody, everybody, to get involved because you meet people from the neighborhood associations, from the library board. I just love it. Um, one of my all-time favorite things was when I was producer director of the Miss Marion pageant for the the radio station. 9:04 Speaker 5: Um, and the number scholarships that we gave to girls, and how many times I heard that they would not have gone to college, had it not been that little bit of scholarship money that was given to them. And that money came from the city of Marion and Grant County. Um, I don't know where I went from there, but I've I've just been involved with Rotary, and of course, now, you know, I'm very involved with DAR, which if you don't know, that's Daughters of the American Revolution. 9:43 Speaker 5: That's just become a passion of mine to support the veterans. I volunteer at the VA. Um, I love Marion. What I I that's what it boils down to. I love Marion and Grant County. 10:02 Speaker 1: I know you do. Um, we we started a new thing. So I'm going to give you the first one. In fact, we got we even got the frame for you for the first one. Not everybody will get the frame, but this is a certificate that showing that we proudly presented this to you tonight on behalf of the city and the city council. We're very proud of you on what you've done for the city of Marion. 10:27 Speaker 5: I'm an idea person. 10:28 Speaker 1: As you are. 10:29 Speaker 5: I gave him that. 10:29 Multiple Speakers: I gave him did. Yes, she did. 10:31 Speaker 1: That's why I thought it'd be fitting that you get the first one. So thank you. 10:35 Multiple Speakers: Welcome. 10:37 Unknown: Thank you. Thank you. 10:40 Speaker 1: Anything else you want to say? 10:44 Unknown: No. Nope. No. 10:45 Speaker 1: Thank you so much. 10:47 Unknown: Okay. 10:47 Speaker 5: Are we doing a picture? 10:49 Speaker 1: Uh, we can. Yes, ma'am. We sure can. 10:51 Multiple Speakers: Everybody, yep, yep. I want you. 10:54 Unknown: Okay. 10:55 Speaker 4: And after that, Ruth Ann, you have to sit down. 11:32 Speaker 1: Thank you, Ruth Ann. 12:18 Speaker 1: Um, okay, next is the consent agenda. Any questions on this? If not, I'll entertain a motion. 12:30 Speaker 6: Mr. President, I move that we pass the consent agenda in full. Second. 12:36 Speaker 1: We have a motion by Councilman Cain, a second by Councilman Klein. Roll call, please. 12:42 Unknown: Cain. I. 12:43 Speaker 3: Reyes. I. Fordyce. I. Brenner. 12:47 Unknown: I. 12:48 Speaker 3: Klein. 12:48 Unknown: Yes. 12:49 Speaker 3: Whitten. Yes. Divine. Yes. 12:52 Unknown: Cal Gill. I. 12:53 Speaker 1: Uh, I'll take committee reports at this time. Go ahead, Mr. Klein. 12:59 Speaker 4: Thank you. I hope I get this right since the president of the airport board is sitting back there. Um, the Board of Aviation Commissioners met April 2nd. The board approved the anticipated bid schedule for a partial parallel taxiway toward runway 33. Project's going to be advertised on May 4th and 11th. And the anticipated date for opening bids is June 3rd. And if all goes according to plan, the board will consider the bids on June 4th. 13:33 Speaker 4: The work on the jet A fuel system is a little bit ahead of schedule, but there are a couple of unanticipated issues. During the initial excavation, the sub-subcontractor hit ground water. And because it was about 16,000 gallons of ground water, because it was so close to the fuel farm, both the water and the soil had to be contained, tested, and disposed of properly. The test came back negative, but the water still has to be disposed of by a waste management company. 14:08 Speaker 4: Yes, they have to safely dispose of clean water. Um, anyway, the contractor also found a large amount of topsoil, about 3 to 5 feet, that's unsuitable for fill material under the new tanks. So the contractor had to bring in more than was originally anticipated. The airport engineers are working to see if the added cost can be split between the locally funded low-lead fuel system and the federally funded jet A project. 14:43 Speaker 4: This was all going on with the jet A project. Uh, the engineer also made some design changes that saves about $11,000. So the board gave conditional approval pending the FAA's okay. And board president told me tonight that seems like the FAA may be favorably inclined for that. So the chain, they voted to conditionally approve a change order for, uh, just under $9,500. 15:14 Speaker 4: And if the FAA doesn't agree, costs are going to have to be covered locally. And Indiana Wesleyan's Aviation Academy will have eight graduates in May and hopes to have at least 10 students in the fall, which brings me to the inaugural runway 5K coming up at 9:30 in the morning on April 18th. You can run, jog, or walk the or meander, uh, the runway at the airport. 15:44 Speaker 4: You don't have to have a plane. Uh, entry fee is $30 for adults 18 and up, $25 for kids 6 to 17, and kids under 5 are free. Uh, part of the deal, if you register in time, you get a t-shirt, finisher medal, and a voucher for a scoop of ice cream from the airport ice cream shop, Sky High Scoops. And all the proceeds benefit the, uh, Regional Career Center, the Aviation Academy, uh, providing students with opportunities to continue or begin their flight training. 16:20 Speaker 4: Thank you for your indulgence. 16:22 Speaker 1: Appreciate that. Anybody else have any committee reports? 16:28 Speaker 7: We had a meeting, uh, earlier this week of the, uh, Park and Recreation Board Committee. I'm going to let, um, Rose, uh, when she speaks, uh, tell you all the exciting things that are going on because, uh, believe it or not, even though it's still like seems like winter outside, uh, hopefully we're going to get some nice weather. So, we have a lot of things that are going on with the Park and Recreation, so I'll let her spend some time talking about that when she's up at the microphone. 17:00 Speaker 1: Thank you, Councilman Brewer. Councilwoman Divine? 17:07 Speaker 8: The Board of Works met yesterday, and um, the couple things they had on the agenda, they did um, introduce the new uh, building commissioner whose name is, I had it right there on the tip of my tongue. Um, Justin Dickerson, who's been appointed by the mayor. So, they introduced him and his first thing to do was to present an update on an unsafe structure at 3115 and 3117 South Washington. 17:42 Speaker 8: Um, this is a building that is next to the 31 Club. Um, the owner was there. Um, it's the old Marion Furniture Store, I believe. Um, and so, it's one that they've been working on since 2024. Um, they've had some meetings, they've had um, conversations back and forth between the building department and the owner. Um, they've asked for certain things to be met, and as of right before the meeting, those items had yet to be met. 18:15 Speaker 8: Um, they did go ahead and uphold the demolition order for the building A. I believe there's multiple parts there. Um, giving more time if they would want to bring it up to speed, the other buildings. But, there was some major structural issues that they noted about the roof and the walls and how they're affecting the buildings around them. 18:43 Unknown: So. 18:44 Speaker 8: That was pretty much the whole meeting. And then the um, Utility Board moved their meeting from last week to next week. 18:54 Unknown: So. 18:55 Speaker 1: Anybody else? Thank you all for your uh, committee reports. Uh, we'll go ahead and move on to unfinished business. Uh, additional appropriation 22026. 19:12 Speaker 3: An ordinance appropriating $240,000 from a motor equipment. Speaking police chief Dave Gilbert. 19:19 Speaker 1: Come on up to Ruthanne's favorite department, the fire department. Oh, oh, I think that's what she said, wasn't it? Go ahead, guys. 19:34 Speaker 9: Can you hear me now? 19:40 Unknown: Okay. 19:41 Speaker 9: Uh, we just want to thank you for going through and letting us speak the last time and we're here to answer any other questions that you have. Uh, we appreciate you passing on to the next reading. 19:53 Speaker 1: Any councilman or councilwoman have any comments or anything prior to open it up to public? Go ahead, Councilman Fordyce. 20:04 Speaker 10: Good evening, Mark. How are you doing? Doing good. And Chief Gilbert. Um, I just want to uh, know if you would just give us, not plus the vehicles, but if you just give us an update um, on the BearCat tactical vehicle also that's going to be purchased. We have purchased it and and when it we're expected to get that along with the rest of the the fleet. Yes, that's a great question. Thank you. 20:29 Speaker 9: Um, we are still in the process of that and we keep getting delayed because of the Department of Justice um has more pull than we do. So um, they have told us that we're looking at the third quarter of this year that we'll receive that vehicle. So it looks like November. Right around November. Um, I I usually drop an email to them once a month reminding them we're still here, we still need the product and uh, they've uh, they won't commit completely because that's how businesses are these days. 21:10 Speaker 9: But, um, we are in contact with them and 21:13 Speaker 10: looks like the third quarter. Thank you. I, I think that'll be great because I know we've been in a long process trying to get one of these vehicles for the police department. I know in my first term, we tried to get one for the police department. We successfully got it on this second term and long awaited it for sure for the police officers and, uh, the other people in the community for that. It's going to help save a lot of lives, police officers' lives, victims' lives, and I'm just anxiously awaiting that. 21:43 Speaker 10: And then on the second note, I don't know if anybody has done the tour of the Marion Police Department on the new locker rooms and bathrooms facilities, but they're phenomenal. Plus, they're meeting in their central office to meet with the officers before the shifts. The shift meeting offices and stuff. They're just fantastic. They did a great job. They look fantastic. I'm sure it brings the morale up for the officers, the female and the male officers. The locker rooms, they're just awesome. 22:14 Speaker 10: And then I also want to recognize, uh, Rick Frasier with Dynamite Building on the shooting range. Uh, the renovations that he came in and did on his own time. And if you haven't taken a tour, it's just phenomenal what they've done for the police officers down there for their locker rooms and the shooting range. It's, it's really. Rick deserves a great amount of credit on the work that he did with that. He came in and completely painted it and redid the floors and stuff like that. 22:45 Speaker 10: And I just really appreciate it. If you haven't seen it, you need to see it. Thank you. 22:52 Speaker 4: I got a comment and a question. The comment is, I agree about the new facilities. Got a tour a week or so ago, and it's really great. You deserve it. Should have happened a while back, probably. My question is, going back to the Bearcat and the delays, is that running up your costs at all, or the costs are static? 23:11 Speaker 9: No, the cost is locked in. 23:13 Speaker 4: It's just red tape. 23:14 Speaker 9: Yeah, they what started was this is a facility that only builds those types of vehicles. They had like a two-car garage or two-car building. They built two at a time. Well, the demands got higher, so they switched to a five-stall, which delayed them a little bit. Then obviously all the things going on in the country, the DOJ outweighs everybody, so that's what's caused the last delay. 23:41 Speaker 4: All right, thank you. 23:43 Speaker 9: But the cost is the cost is locked in on the contract, yes. 23:47 Speaker 1: I agree. I, I Dave Slusher took me back here a couple weeks ago and man, that locker room, that's a world of difference and it was saying long overdue is not even giving it justice. It's public safety. A lot of times with this, they're the last ones. We know how that works, but I'm so glad you guys got all that redone and well deserved of that. 24:10 Speaker 11: I just, we Dave Slusher deserves a lot of credit. Yes. He's done a wonderful job with this whole place. The decor of those locker rooms in our entire building was 1979 when this place was constructed. Yep. And I have the prior and the mayor deserves a lot of credit because without his approval, we did none of that. And you too, of course. But Dave Slusher is the guy. Mark's pretty handy. He could have done the same thing, but that's not his job. I did, I'd have turned it upside down and screwed it up, but Dave Slusher's been lead on that, and we're the beneficiaries, so we appreciate that. 24:44 Multiple Speakers: Yes. Yeah, I agree. 24:46 Speaker 1: Okay, if you want to sit down for a second, Chief, and I'll open it up to the public. If anybody would like to speak on this appropriation 2226, either in favor of or against. You all, when you come up to the mic, state your name, address, and you'll have three minutes to address, and you'll have 3 minutes to talk. Okay. Don't see anybody coming up. All right, I'm going to go ahead and close the public hearing of this. 25:20 Speaker 1: If there's no more discussion with this, then I'll entertain a motion. Mr. President, I 25:27 Speaker 6: move that we suspend the rules on additional appropriation number 2, 2026. 25:35 Unknown: Second. 25:36 Speaker 1: Okay. I have a uh a motion by Councilman Cain, a second by Councilwoman Divine. Roll call, please, on suspending the rules. 25:47 Unknown: Cain. 25:48 Speaker 3: Aye. Reyes. Aye. Fordyce. 25:52 Unknown: Aye. 25:52 Speaker 1: Brunner. Aye. 25:53 Speaker 3: Klein. 25:54 Unknown: Yes. Whitten. Yes. 25:55 Speaker 3: Divine. Yes. Caligiuri. 25:58 Speaker 1: Aye. I'll now take a motion to pass this ordinance. 26:02 Speaker 6: Mr. President, I move that we pass additional appropriation number 2, 2026. Second. 26:09 Speaker 1: Okay, we have a motion by Councilman Cain, second by Councilman Whitten. Roll call, please. 26:16 Unknown: Cain. 26:17 Speaker 3: Aye. Reyes. Aye. Fordyce. Aye. Brunner. Aye. Klein. Yes. Whitten. Yes. Divine. Yes. Caligiuri. 26:26 Speaker 1: Aye. Okay, we'll move on to additional appropriation number 3, 2026. 26:35 Speaker 3: An ordinance appropriating $240,000 for equipment. Speaking Police Chief David Gilbert. 26:44 Speaker 1: This I know, but I didn't know if you wanted to say anything or. No, okay, that's fine. You don't have to. I mean, the same thing. Yeah, it is. Yeah. I didn't know if you wanted to say anything or not. I wanted to give you the opportunity. 26:57 Unknown: Nope. Okay. 26:59 Speaker 1: Um, any comments? 27:01 Unknown: Yes, sir. 27:02 Speaker 10: I just, I just like to clarify one comment that, uh, you know, four of these are coming out of the general fund. The other four are coming out of the opioid money, which is set aside for law enforcement. So, um, they're they're using that opioid money that we were, uh, uh, granted through the federal government, and the state disperses it to us to fight for the opioid addiction in our community. So, that's well-used money. And and I appreciate, uh, um, Mrs. Montero for her for allowing, um, the police department to get part of this money for police vehicles, and it saves a lot of taxpayers' money. 27:40 Unknown: Thank you. 27:42 Speaker 1: Okay, I'm going to go ahead and open it up to, uh, the public. If anybody again wants to speak on or against this appropriation, state your name, address, and you'll have 3 minutes. Okay, I don't see anybody coming up. I'll go ahead and close the public hearing on that, and I will entertain a motion. 28:05 Speaker 6: Mr. President, I move that we suspend the rules on additional appropriation number three, 2026. 28:15 Unknown: Second. 28:16 Speaker 1: Have a motion to suspend the rules by Councilman Cain, second by Councilman Brenner. Roll call, please. 28:23 Unknown: Cain. Aye. Reyes. 28:24 Speaker 3: Aye. Fordyce. Aye. Brenner. Aye. 28:27 Unknown: Klein. Yes. Whitten. Yes. 28:30 Speaker 3: Divine. Yes. Caligiuri. 28:32 Unknown: Aye. 28:32 Speaker 1: I'll now entertain a motion to pass appropriation 28:37 Speaker 6: 3, 2026. Mr. President, I move that we pass additional appropriation number three, 2026. 28:46 Unknown: Second. 28:49 Speaker 1: I have a motion by Councilman Cain and a second by Was it you, Andy? Oh, okay. Um, and a second by Councilman, uh, Klein. Roll call, please. I didn't hear which one it was. 29:06 Speaker 3: hear which one it was. Cain. Reyes. Fordice. 29:10 Speaker 1: Bernard. Klein. 29:12 Speaker 3: Yes. 29:12 Unknown: Whitten. Yes. 29:13 Speaker 3: Divine. Yes. Calgill. Yes. Congratulations, gentlemen. 29:18 Speaker 1: Well deserved. 29:20 Unknown: Thank you. 29:21 Speaker 9: Thank you very much, all. 29:22 Multiple Speakers: Thank you, guys. 29:24 Speaker 1: Okay, we'll go on to the next item. Additional appropriation number four, 2026. 29:34 Speaker 3: An additional appropriation appropriating $85,148 for maintenance at Friendship Quarter. Speaking, Rose Cadena, Director of Parks and Recreation. 29:46 Speaker 1: Welcome, Rose. Hello. 29:50 Speaker 12: Thanks, Jim, for throwing me under the bus. I'm not prepared here. Do you have the agenda on you? I don't remember every item that was on there. It was a long one. All right, I can speak upon this first, or we can do this. 30:17 Unknown: Okay. 30:20 Speaker 12: Um so, um once again, um this money is to um fill in two areas with um PIP surfacing, which is port-in-place surfacing. Um since the park was built in 2010, ADA requirements have changed and um we are no longer ADA compliant with our playground that we um say is handicap accessible. So, it's not ADA compliant and this money is what it is going to take to get it back to being ADA compliant. 30:59 Speaker 1: So, is there any questions or comments from the council? If not, all right. This second reading public hearing, Rose. So if you want to give me a chance, I'll let the public speak on or against the appropriation for 2026 on making Friends Park ADA compliant. You'll have 3 minutes. State your name and address. See nobody coming up, so I'll go ahead and close that part of the public hearing on that and I will entertain a motion. 31:39 Speaker 6: Can I say one thing before we entertain that motion, Mr. President? This is This is a well-used park in this community, Friendship Corner. Um Wow, when you go down there, we have and I have taken our grandkids down there. Parents take their kids down there. It's a well-used park um and well-attended. And so, this is money well spent to continue being ADA compliant and so, this is This is again, this is money well spent. 32:14 Speaker 6: So, I am for this, certainly. 32:24 Speaker 13: I want to second what Mr. Cain said here. You know, I've worked with Rose on several several requests and and things for parks. This This particular area is highly trafficked, highly utilized, especially by our underserved community. And like Mr. Cain said, this money is is well used for this area, especially with what could happen if this doesn't get filled. 32:58 Unknown: 100% 33:02 Speaker 1: agree. Anybody else? If not, I'll entertain a motion. 33:09 Speaker 6: Mr. President, I move that we suspend the rules on additional appropriation number four, 2026. Second. 33:19 Speaker 1: Okay, we have a motion by Councilman Cain to suspend the rules and a second by Councilman Brenner. Roll call, please. 33:28 Unknown: Cain. I. 33:29 Speaker 3: Reyes. I. Fordyce. 33:32 Speaker 14: I. 33:33 Speaker 3: Brenner. 33:34 Unknown: I. 33:35 Speaker 3: Klein. Yes. Whitten. 33:38 Unknown: Yes. Devine. Yes. Kelgil. I. 33:42 Speaker 6: Mr. President, I move that we pass additional appropriation number four, 2026. Second. 33:57 Speaker 1: Uh, thank you. We have a motion by Councilman Cain and a second by Councilman Reyes. Roll call, please. 34:08 Unknown: Cain. I. Reyes. 34:10 Speaker 3: I. Fordyce. I. Brenner. 34:13 Unknown: I. 34:13 Speaker 3: Klein. 34:14 Unknown: Yes. 34:15 Speaker 3: Whitten. Yes. Devine. 34:17 Unknown: Yes. Kelgil. I. 34:19 Speaker 6: Mr. President, I will mention this that this was posted uh from the parks department from the city, uh, that which states the weather conditions have caused a one-week delay in the Friendship Corner resurfacing at Matter Park. The rescheduled work, originally scheduled for April 6th, will begin on Monday, April the 13th and should be completed by Monday, April the 27th, 2026, weather permitting. 34:48 Speaker 1: Thank you, Councilman King. Rose, did you want to give any updates on anything else in the parks or anything, or I can give a quick update? 34:59 Speaker 7: Rose, what's, can you give us the latest update on the dog park? What's, what's the latest on that? 35:07 Speaker 12: Sure, we're about 85% complete. Um, we have to be 95% complete before we can request our last funds from the federal grant. Um, and then, um, once it is completed, we don't plan to open it right away. We plan on waiting till later this summer so that the grass can establish before we start allowing people on it. 35:28 Unknown: Thank you. Mhm. 35:31 Speaker 12: I'm just a short rundown of what Jim kind of wanted me to talk about, um, that happened at the park board meeting. Um, of course, we gave the dog park update, same one I just gave you. Um, Bucks Complex, um, Jeffrey and I, last minute, more last minute him than me. Um, I came across, or it fell in my lap actually, to apply for a, um, a grant, um, that, uh, the Indiana Office of Energy Development has. 36:02 Speaker 12: It's called the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant. Um, it's, um, will help, um, replace the lights that are out there at Bucks Complex that used, or Complex that used to be the softball diamond lights. Um, convert those to LED, um, to help save money. Um, there are eight poles out there. There are 35 light fixtures. Um, it's a huge expense. We haven't been turning them on because we hadn't had a softball program, but now that we have the tennis courts back there and the basketball courts, not only so they can be utilized after dark, but before for safety also. 36:44 Speaker 12: We really need to do something with those lights. So, that project and grant that we applied for is for approximately $114,000. And we're hoping that it covers the entire cost. Am I correct? 37:03 Speaker 13: That is correct. And I do want to mention, you know, these lights at Bucks Complex. We did do a or Rose had a study prepared, an energy savings study prepared. And what that showed is that with the replacement of these lights to LED, we'll save about 34% the energy. Will be reduced by 30% coming off of those lights themselves. The burn hour reduction percentage will be almost 6%. And then the annual energy savings is over $5,000 on those lights specifically. 37:39 Speaker 13: So, that's a big savings for them. You know, but then it also talks about, you know, how many how that impacts the environment in regards to, you know, how many seedlings are benefited from that, how many acres, how many less gallons of gas to repair it based on our repair schedules that we've done up to this point, how much CO2, N2O, and CH4 will be reduced once this happens. So, it was a comprehensive study that they did and just made a lot of sense for what we're trying to do. 38:08 Speaker 12: It would also save my budget some money. We'd already looked at um putting the 15 bulbs in that we already have at the parks department, but for someone to come out and actually go up there and install those lights, if they're not working, figure out why they're not working, or repair them, was going to be about $40,000. Um, so, hopefully with this grant, um, they don't specifically ask for my any matching funds, but if we were to have to come up with some matching funds, 38:41 Speaker 12: I was already going to spend between 30 and 40 thousand dollars to, um, get those up and running. So, 38:50 Speaker 1: um, Yeah, I remember I played out there, played softball years ago, almost nightly, and they had them big bulbs you had to turn on, it took them a while to get lit up, and so, I'd imagine that is a heck of a cost savings. 39:02 Unknown: Yeah. 39:03 Speaker 12: Um, besides that grant, um, we're moving forward on with the food truck park and the skate park. We're still in designed, um, stages. Um, we've finally kind of set the budget, um, even though, um, we do have a park bond on each one. That's going to help cover, um, so, we are moving forward with concepts and design and things like that. So, um, those are going to come, um, very soon. Um, Earth Day, April 22nd, Matter Park, 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. 39:35 Speaker 12: Um, we partner with Marion Utilities and GM. Um, GM gives away free trees, Marion Utilities has all kinds of, um, things to do with Earth that they, um, provide out there, classes, um, they usually have live birds, all kinds of things. Um, so, come join us at Earth Day. Um, and then, Ruth Ann mentioned July 3rd, 250-year celebration of our freedom. Um, and so, uh, the mayor has tasked us with bringing back cruising in the park. 40:06 Speaker 12: Um, we were going to house that in October, um, but he had the bright idea on one of his many sleepless nights, um, to bring it July 3rd. So, um, even though it's right around the corner, we are running with it. We're pre-prepared already, but that will be a car show from 11:00 to 3:00 and then all the other festivities will go on from 5:00 to 11:00. It's going to be the largest fireworks show we've had yet and of course the Parks Department always strives to have bigger and better events, so we will not disappoint. 40:40 Speaker 12: And that's all I have. 40:42 Speaker 1: You never do. You do a great job, Rose. 40:45 Multiple Speakers: Thank you for all you do. 40:46 Speaker 1: Thank you. Thank you, Rose. Okay, we'll move on to new business. Additional appropriation 5 20 26. 40:58 Speaker 3: An additional appropriation appropriating $75,848.65 to Marion Aviation. Speaking, a representative from the Board of Aviation. 41:11 Speaker 1: And correct me if I'm wrong on this. This money we actually okayed this money last year, but it wasn't used last year and it wasn't for replacing the tanks, and it wasn't encumbered. So, we're just really appropriating the money that we already did last year. 41:31 Speaker 15: Yes, that is correct. Yeah. We were planning on using that additional appropriation last year first, then we were advised by the controller's office that we needed to use the $400,000 of ARPA funds appropriated in 2024 first. And the result was that we used only $77,299.21 of last year's additional appropriation. And due to my own misunderstanding, we failed to have that encumbered. 42:04 Speaker 15: So, therefore, we are requesting $75,848.65 to ensure that we don't run short. 42:13 Speaker 1: Are there any questions from anybody? 42:18 Speaker 13: Mike, is this what you were talking about earlier in regards to like helping fund the tank and things? Like, what, what's, is this something different? Like, and what was, why didn't they finish it last year? Just for my understanding. 42:31 Speaker 4: Correct me. Yeah. Or you explain. 42:33 Speaker 15: You answer the question. Yeah. The, the prop, the uh, uh, project was designed last year, and we bid, uh, and received only one bid on that project. But because of the lateness in the year that things got done, the weather, uh, they didn't want to undertake that during the fall of last year and not be able to finish. Uh, so, therefore, they got started about two weeks ago and, uh, moving along fairly well and expect to be done within the next few weeks. 43:09 Unknown: So. 43:09 Speaker 1: And the project, Dr. Hayes, was replacing their old, uh, jet fuel. 43:14 Speaker 15: Yeah. Well, both, both 100 low lead avgas and the, uh, uh, Jet A fuel tanks are now 39 years old. So. 43:24 Speaker 13: That's great. And then the, you said two weeks. Is that anticipated, what 43:30 Multiple Speakers: the completion time? 43:31 Speaker 15: I'd say it's two to three weeks. I, I don't have the timeline, the construction line, but, uh, actually, I would say it'll probably be a little bit longer than that, cuz I, they don't expect, they needed, they've got the, uh, pads poured for these tanks will set on. These will be above ground. Now, those are poured now. They were poured about a week ago, and they needed three weeks of cure time on those before they set those in place. So. 43:54 Speaker 13: It's great. I think it's, this is a great project for the city and, and what we're working towards. 44:03 Speaker 1: Any, any comments? If not, I will entertain a motion. 44:10 Speaker 4: I'll move we pass resolution 3. No, no. Additional appropriation 5 2026 to second reading and public hearing. Second. 44:22 Speaker 1: Okay, we have a motion by Councilman Klein, a second by Councilman Cain, uh, for additional appropriation 5 2026. Roll call, please. 44:31 Unknown: Cain. 44:32 Speaker 3: Aye. Reyes. Aye. Fordyce. Aye. Runner. Aye. Klein. 44:37 Unknown: Yes. Whitton. 44:38 Speaker 3: Yes. Devine. Yes. Cagle. 44:41 Unknown: Aye. 44:41 Speaker 15: Thank you, sir. Thank you very much. 44:44 Speaker 10: Appreciate it. 44:45 Unknown: Thank you so much. 44:47 Speaker 1: And the last thing on the agenda today is resolution 3 2026. 44:55 Speaker 3: A resolution approving a formal written commitment and use agreement by and between the city of Marion, Grant County, Indiana, and Town Square Development LLC. Speaking, Mayor Ronald Morrell Jr. Or Keenan Davis. 45:10 Speaker 2: Welcome, Keenan. Yeah, I got a tan, too. You see that? Yes, my name is Keenan Davis and I am the COO of the city, speaking on behalf of Mayor Ronald Morrell. And, um, I am, uh, it's a pleasure for me to speak on this because, um, I am, I am highly in favor of it because it brings, uh, another cultural and dining experience that I've been looking forward to for a long time since I've been here. 45:40 Speaker 2: Um, the city of Marion is proposing that we grant, um, Town Square Development LLC, um, a, uh, riverfront district permit to do renovations on a building on the west side of the square. Um, these renovations are going to include a rooftop 360 named, uh, rooftop terrace and then a basement speakeasy called the Boiler Room. So, in this, these initiatives aim to revitalize the riverfront by fostering economic growth, increasing tourism, and enhancing community engagement. 46:14 Speaker 2: So, the resolution aligns with the, the mayor's overall vision to revamp the riverfront. And this is creating jobs. It's going to bring a unique experience, as I said before, in dining and culture in our, our downtown area. And we're going to have this is just to be an aspect of the overall vision that he's doing. He's bringing several things that will be added to this to build a unique experience in our downtown area, which we're trying to bring back from the'60s and'70s. 46:46 Speaker 2: So, we are, I'm just asking for a permit to be given to them to allow them to continue to do their renovations. And this will, like I said, promote local business growth, improving overall quality of life for residents here in Marion, Indiana. 47:01 Unknown: Thank you. 47:03 Speaker 1: Yeah, I, this is great. I, you know what, we've talked about trying to revitalize downtown for years and years and man, the last two and a half years, it's where it's getting done finally. And, and I'm excited like you, Keenan. I, I'm looking forward to a lot of these and having a rooftop restaurant like that that's going to be pretty cool. So, any questions, comments, anything from any of the council? 47:30 Speaker 16: I do have a quick question if you don't mind. Um, is Town Square Development like a locally owned and operated LLC or do you know? 47:42 Speaker 2: Um, I believe a part of them are locally locally, uh, yeah, they're local but, um, I don't believe that they're they're not local here. 47:52 Unknown: Yeah. 47:55 Speaker 2: Is that Christian? Christian, would you, I don't know. 48:07 Unknown: Yeah. 48:15 Speaker 1: And you're talking and then we also do have members up in the Florida but Thank you. Okay, yeah. Uh, for people in the audience, I don't know if you heard that or not. 48:49 Speaker 1: Um, he said that you're, correct me if I'm wrong, you're based out of Florida, but they have people that live in here in Marion out towards the Indiana Wesleyan area in that area. Is that correct? 49:02 Unknown: Yes, sir. So, the the business is registered in Indiana. Uh, but my mother is is a family-owned business. So, my mother lives in Utah, my father lives in Utah, and then I live in in Florida with my wife and my other uh brothers and sisters also live in Indiana and Utah as well. 49:18 Speaker 1: Okay. So, it's a family-owned business. Businesses uh registered here in Indiana, but the family between mom and dad and some of the siblings is between Utah and Florida. Yes, sir. And Indiana. 49:33 Unknown: Yeah, okay. 49:35 Speaker 1: Anybody else? If not, I will entertain a motion. Mr. President, I 49:43 Speaker 6: move that we pass resolution number three 2026. 49:52 Speaker 1: I have a motion. Do I have a second? Yes, you do. Okay, I have a motion by Councilman Cain and a second by Councilman Klein. Roll call, please. 50:03 Unknown: Cain. I. 50:04 Speaker 3: Reyes. I. Fordyce. 50:07 Speaker 14: I. 50:07 Speaker 3: Runner. 50:08 Unknown: I. Klein. 50:09 Speaker 3: Yes. Whitten. Yes. 50:12 Unknown: Devine. Yes. Caligiuri. I. 50:16 Speaker 1: Okay, does anybody have any announcements tonight? Thank you, sir. Appreciate it. It passed. And I'll talk to you later. Okay. Anyway, uh Okay, thanks. All right. No, that's fine. 50:33 Unknown: That's fine. 50:36 Speaker 1: No? Okay, I'll take a motion to adjourn. 50:39 Speaker 4: Well, if anybody wants any breaking news, there's a two-week ceasefire with Iran, so no bombing tonight. Okay. According to the Wall Street Journal. 50:54 Speaker 1: I'll still take a motion to adjourn. 50:58 Speaker 6: Mr. President, I'll move that we adjourn. 51:00 Speaker 1: Second. Okay. Okay, we have a motion to adjourn by Councilman Cain and a second by Councilman Klein. 51:07 Unknown: Cain. I. Reyes. I. 51:09 Speaker 3: Fordyce. I. Runner. I. 51:13 Multiple Speakers: Klein. 51:14 Speaker 3: Yes. Whitten. Yes. Devine. Yes. 51:18 Unknown: Caligiuri. I. 51:20 Speaker 1: Council Council meeting's adjourned.