OurWeek
Marion city council, in their own words
in Grant County · Regular meeting · 2026-05-19 · full transcript
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Indexed at https://ourweek.in/grant-county/reports/marion-city-council-indexed

    0:01  there. Okay, we'll call this meeting to order.
    0:07  Tonight we have with us um Mr. Null Harden, the campus pastor for the River Church to do the prayer.
    0:21  Well, Father in heaven, we are grateful that we have the opportunity to gather together on behalf of the wonderful
    0:30  people of Marion. So tonight as we give of our time, I just want to express my
    0:37  gratitude for everyone in this room who works hard, who staying up late, who
    0:45  make difficult and challenging decisions, for the future hope, future and present hope for this community and
    0:52  the generations to come. And so tonight, I just invite your wisdom to be present
    1:00  with us. And Lord, for many of us, it's been a long day. And so, we just invite some extra strength here in the evening
    1:08  time. Would you supply us with some strength? Would you would you supply us with wisdom? Would you give us knowledge to make the difficult or challenging
    1:17  decisions that we need on behalf of these wonderful people that we serve?
    1:23  So, Father, would your presence be in this room? Lord, I pray even though there might be differences in opinions,
    1:30  but there be unity in heart. And so, I pray for that tonight. I pray there be peace in this room. Guide our decisions
    1:38  and be with every man and woman in this room. In Jesus name, I pray these things. Amen. Thank you.
    1:45  If you'd please face the flag for a pledge of allegiance.
    1:49  I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation
    1:59  under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
    2:12  If we could please do roll call.
    2:14  Kane here. Reyes.
    2:17  For ice here. Brunner.
    2:20  Klene here.
    2:21  Marshall here.
    2:22  Whitten here. Divine here. Calgill.
    2:29  Okay. Tonight we do not have any recognition or spotlight. So we'll move on to the consent agenda. Has anyone
    2:36  have any questions or comments on any of those items?
    2:45  Okay. I would take a motion.
    2:48  Madame President, I move that we pass the consent agenda. Second.
    2:54  Okay. Motion by Councilman Kaine and second by Councilman Klene. Roll call, please.
    3:01  Kain, I.
    3:03  Ford Eyes, I.
    3:04  Klene, yes.
    3:06  Marshall, I. Whitten. Yes. Divine. Yes.
    3:11  Okay. Um, any committee reports for tonight?
    3:19  Nope. Just me. Okay.
    3:22  Um the utility board met last week and gave updates on a couple different
    3:28  projects. Um the sewer connections for the um lime sledge is u completed.
    3:37  They are right now doing um soil testing for the um the cso project
    3:44  um that's on the site where the old Marian stove works was. So, they're doing the soil boring to make sure that
    3:50  it's okay to put the um the
    3:56  contained sewer um in that area. Um they paid the first and final bill to rain stewart excavating.
    4:06  Um they have had some customer requests that are being moved to the wastewater committee for review.
    4:14  They worked through a couple different uh sponsorship requests.
    4:20  Um they the board approved a couple of different moves. There's moving around a couple
    4:28  different positions um as they're having retirements. They're adjusting those
    4:34  positions. Um and then they've decided to be more to be more efficient. They're moving a couple and combining a couple
    4:42  positions in the admin area of admin staff and CSRs.
    4:48  Um they said that they're down to only 17
    4:56  illegal use of meters in April. So that's the new meters that they've got in place are really cutting down on illegal water usage.
    5:07  Um, I'm looking what else they've got going on. Um, the two retirements they have coming up
    5:14  in June is one of the solid waste supervisors and also the environmental coordinator. So, those positions have been opened up.
    5:23  They discussed the fact that both of the tanks that were just repainted last year, um, they were at the one-year
    5:30  inspection, they found some pitting and and rust marks. So, as part of the warranty, those are being reanded down and repainted to fix those areas.
    5:44  Um, they gave an update on the IURC rate case. That testimony has been completed.
    5:52  They're verifying all of that and getting ready to submit it. and that wastewater is doing some visits for the long-term control plan um with various
    6:00  other wastewater plants to see what they are doing so that they can kind of create some of the best of both worlds for that.
    6:08  Did you have anything to add on that Gary? I know you were there.
    6:12  Nope. Go ahead. And then border works met yesterday and they did five more swearins for the Marian Police Department. Tristan
    6:20  uh Johnson, Zachariah Pad, Carrie Frankie, Nathan Jacobs, and Damon Hasty.
    6:27  And then Carden associate was there and gave an update on the field scoping for or on the scoping project for the
    6:34  Ballard field project. Um they're in the process of finishing the second phase environmental study. Um they're looking
    6:41  at the grading plan and the final utility confirmations and then are working on the floodway impact. Um
    6:49  focusing primarily on the different soccer fields. Um they're also looking at um trying to tie the trail system
    6:57  around the park and clean it up and revitalize it and get it connected to some of the other trails that are downtown and possibly looking at going
    7:05  up to the new development up at the um the old Jones building. They've [clears throat] got a playground planned
    7:12  and they're looking at options about with streetscaping or some other things to keep Second Street while the park is
    7:19  in use um to slow it down so that that keeps everybody in the park system uh safe. And that was the end of the board of works meeting.
    7:29  Question. Um, when houses are on the list or commercial buildings to be torn down and usually they get a an order and
    7:39  it says 30 days, do you know what the backlog is? I had a constituent call and a building was supposed to be torn down
    7:48  next to their business um in 30 days and it's been six or seven weeks. Okay.
    7:55  And they were curious.
    7:57  I don't know. That would probably be once the order is done from the border works, it then goes back to the building department.
    8:08  Anything else?
    8:11  Okay, we'll move on to unfinished business then. Um, general ordinance 03-2026.
    8:19  Approving bond series A and B for Boot Street Project. Second reading and public hearing. An ordinance of the
    8:26  common council of the city of Marian Indiana authorizing the issuance of the city of Marian Indiana taxable economic
    8:33  development revenue bonds series 2026A Bootstreet project the issuance of the
    8:40  city of Marian Indiana taxable revenue bonds series 2026B boot street project
    8:48  and authorizing and approving other actions in respect there too. Speaking Dustin Meeks from Barnes and Thornberg.
    8:59  Good evening, Councelor Divine and members of the city council. Dustin Meeks from Barnes & Thornberg here on behalf of my colleague Chris Gryel. Um
    9:06  the [clears throat] ordinance before the council um this evening approves the issuance of two series of economic development revenue bonds um the
    9:14  proceeds of which will be provided to a developer for the construction of a um multi-use um development consisting of multif
    9:22  family housing uh retail and amenity space as well as parking in the downtown area of the city. Um, their first
    9:30  reading on on this ordinance was conducted at the council's last meeting and in between the meetings, the city's economic development commission uh
    9:37  reviewed the project and the bonds and unanimously approved of those. And so we're back here before the council for the approval of the ordinance. The two
    9:45  series of bonds consists of um a $3.5 million series A and a $4.6 million
    9:52  series B. Uh both of these are what we call developer purchased bonds. So what that means is that the developer um has
    9:59  brought in a third party purchaser uh Haggimman Capital who's going to acquire the bonds um and the developer is is
   10:07  ultimately financially backstoppping both series of bonds. So uh the proceeds of the bonds will be loaned to the developer subject to a loan agreement
   10:15  and the developer is also entering into what we call a a minimum taxpayer agreement. So the property will be subject to a tax lean in the amount of
   10:23  the principle and interest due on the bonds. Now that taxpayer payment uh under the minimum taxpayer agreement and
   10:30  their loan obligation under the loan agreement, both of which sort of double layers of they owe the money um in the event that there are not TIFF revenues.
   10:39  Those are offset by the TIFF revenues that are um tied to each of the series of bonds. And so that's why we have the two series of bonds. The 2025, I'm
   10:48  sorry, 2026A bonds are backed uh solely by TIFF revenues generated uh by the project itself. So there's an allocation
   10:56  area that embraces the Boot Street project location. Um, and when the project is completed, the the the tax increment generated from the project
   11:03  will pay those A bonds. And then the B bonds are backed by a collection of allocation areas uh in the downtown area
   11:11  of the city that we generally refer to as the consolidated area. Um, and the the purpose for which the city created the consolidated area over time was to
   11:19  have a revenue stream for the use of of uh redeveloping and revitalizing the downtown area. Um, so you have one
   11:27  series that's backed by the project itself and a second series that's backed by um excess available increment um from
   11:34  other areas of the downtown part of the city. and and both series of bonds are ultimately backstopped in the event that
   11:41  there wasn't tax increment from any of those allocation areas uh as to the A's or the B's by a commitment by the
   11:49  developer to to repay uh that debt to the purchaser Hegen Capital. Uh happy to answer any questions that that anyone
   11:56  has about the the terms of the bonds um or the project. So I also have Greg Balsano here from Baker Tilly who can assist if there's if there's math
   12:05  questions. Um, so notably not a math guy. Uh, [snorts] any comments or questions, council?
   12:19  Okay. Thank you.
   12:21  Um, we will move on to the public hearing portion. Um, any member of the public can come up and speak. You will
   12:28  be given three minutes. Um, and make sure you state your name and your address and whether you are ultimately for or against the ordinance, please.
   12:44  Hello. Push the button. There you go.
   12:47  Hello everybody. I'm Ryan Howell. My address is 2909 South Branson Street, Marian, Indiana.
   12:56  And uh I just like to say I'm I'm for the progress that this this project is trying to do, but I have some comments.
   13:09  I'm just curious um why why why does uh construction costs run into the millions millions and
   13:18  millions instead of the instead of thousands and thousands of dollars?
   13:25  Is there anything that we can do in Marian to are any state representatives listening tonight at on
   13:33  YouTube or maybe federal representatives? Is there anything we can do to bring down the cost of
   13:40  construction projects here in Indiana and here in Marian and everywhere else?
   13:47  It just seems like we need to make the industry more competitive and therefore bring cost down.
   13:57  Uh I just see all over all over uh the state and I've seen all over the country why you got projects that last forever
   14:06  and they cost millions and millions and millions of dollars when they don't really cost millions and millions and millions of dollars.
   14:13  And with that, I uh thank you for letting me speak tonight, and I yield back the floor.
   14:20  Thank you.
   14:31  Hi, my name is Bill Creech. I live at 1409 Ironwood. Got a little my throat today. Uh here in Marian. And I just had a quick question.
   14:42  [clears throat]
   14:43  with the with these bond developments.
   14:46  Is this a one-time ask or is this something that they you can come back to when the project's 50% complete and say
   14:55  we we had some problems with committed funds and now we need another another bonding
   15:03  aspect from the city. And then also, how much can the city actually bond out? Is there
   15:12  a credit limit to the amount that you can do? And where are we at as far as that amount?
   15:23  So, I I would just like to know, is this a one-time ask? And what is the where
   15:29  are we at in relationship to giving out all these bonds and is there still in
   15:37  open to be able to get other industries in or opportunities in
   15:46  uh because we didn't just close our way our way. So that's that's all I have.
   15:54  Okay. Thank you. Anyone else?
   16:04  Okay, seeing no one, I am going to close the public hearing.
   16:11  Council, any questions or further comments on this?
   16:15  Yeah, I do. Um why don't you let Baker Tilly um answer that question for Bill
   16:22  on the the bonding and the uh amount we have left on our total amount of bonds.
   16:37  Hello uh Greg Balsano Baker Tilly Municipal Adviserss. Um, as far as it in terms of the the request as far as if it
   16:46  additional bond could be asked for, I I'd defer to to Dustin and see, you know, as far as if that could happen down the road. Now, I'm sure anything is
   16:54  possible, but as far as, you know, what we know today, I think this is kind of the ask in terms of what the project um
   17:00  needs to to happen. As far as the bonding capacity of the city, there is a limit in the state of Indiana on what
   17:08  can be borrowed by an entity, a redevelopment district or a city. Um, and that m that formula is onethird of 2% so of the city's net assessed value.
   17:19  So that is the bonding capacity when you're talking local income tax or property tax related funds. Um, when you're talking tiff funds, which which
   17:28  is what we are speaking about here today, that is a revenue stream. And so what I mean by that is there's not a limit outside of what is your revenue
   17:36  limit in terms of what you feel you have the capacity to borrow and still have enough revenues remaining to do your annual ongoing types of projects. So,
   17:45  um, just for some perspective with this this project here, even in kind of one of the the worst case scenarios in terms
   17:52  of the highest bonding amounts, um, in what we've run the the consolidated tiff where, you know, majority of the tiff lies and where a lot of the bonds are
   18:01  being paid from with all of the bonds that have been approved up to this date in terms of what has been issued, I should say, what's outstanding, the debt
   18:09  outstanding, plus the obligation from from this bond issue, again, and it's kind of closer to its highest amount,
   18:17  you would still have anywhere from two to to $3 million or so out uh of revenue remaining after your debt payments. Um
   18:26  so again, that's before any future bonds would be issued. So that's that's about coverage of 160%. Meaning you have
   18:33  revenues of 1.6 times your debt, if that makes sense. Meaning that you have that much left over to do your ongoing
   18:40  projects and needs. So there is still room to do further projects if so chosen to, but that's something we constantly
   18:47  monitor um with you guys in the council and the commission to make sure that there's a comfortability of what could be remaining after these debt
   18:54  obligations are due. So yeah. Yeah, absolutely. And that's just the consolidated tiff.
   19:01  You're not even talking about all the other tiff districts that may still have revenue available for bonding.
   19:07  Correct. Yep. That is that is the consolidated tiff. So that that represents all of those components into it. Yep.
   19:15  Other questions, comments. Okay. Thank you.
   19:24  Thank you. Okay. I would take a motion.
   19:34  I would make a motion to suspend the rules on general ordinance number 3, 2026.
   19:44  Okay. I have a motion to suspend the rules by Councilman Kaine and a second by Councilman Klene. Roll call, please.
   19:51  Kane, I.
   19:53  For eyes, I.
   19:54  Klene, yes.
   19:56  Marshall, I. Whitten. Yes. Divine. Yes.
   20:01  I would make a motion to pass general ordinance number 3, 2026.
   20:10  Second.
   20:12  Okay. Motion by Councilman Kaine and second by Councilman Marshall. Roll call, please.
   20:19  Kane, I. Ford eyes. I.
   20:22  Klein, yes.
   20:24  Marshall, I. Whitten. Yes. Divine. Yes.
   20:29  Say that's passed. We'll move on to the next order of business. Additional appropriation 07-2026.
   20:39  Appropriation for opioid settlement unrestricted. Second reading of public hearing. An additional appropriation
   20:46  appropriating $30,000 for opioid settlement unrestricted. Speaking Dr. Jada Montero.
   20:55  Good evening.
   20:57  Um yes. So we are here for a second reading. Um this appropriation is for
   21:04  the renewal of my contract as o settlement um coordinator for the city.
   21:10  Um I recapped a little bit of progress of work that we did I've done over the last year including completing the community needs assessment um writing
   21:19  two state grants and we also just finished um a round of RF. So, there will be grants that will be awarded to
   21:27  local organizations that applied and it was a pretty rigorous process. Um, but we we did have some awards that will be coming to you within the next six weeks.
   21:36  So, um yeah, questions, any questions, comments, council?
   21:47  Okay, we will move to public hearing then. Thank you.
   21:52  Again, same thing. You're welcome to come up and speak. State your name and where you reside and you will get three minutes.
   22:09  I don't see any movements. So going once, twice. Okay, we will close that public hearing then.
   22:18  Any additional comments or questions? Nope. If not, I will take a motion.
   22:27  Madame Vice President, I move that we suspend the rules on additional appropriation number 7, 2026.
   22:37  Second.
   22:42  Okay. I have a motion from Councilman Kaine and a second from Councilman Ford to suspend the rules. Roll call, please.
   22:50  Kain I Fordise I Klene yes Marshall I Whitten yes Divine
   22:57  yes Madame Vice President I move that we pass additional appropriation number 7
   23:05  2026 second okay motion by Councilman Kaine second by Councilman Klene roll call please if
   23:14  no other comments Kane I for Klein, yes.
   23:20  Marshall, I Whitten, yes.
   23:23  Divine, yes. So, that has passed.
   23:27  Uh, final piece of unfinished business is additional appropriation 08-2026.
   23:35  Appropriation for opioid settlement restricted, second reading and public hearing. an additional appropriation
   23:43  appropriating $120,000 for opioid settlement restricted. Speaking Dr. Jada Montero.
   23:51  Hi. Um so this uh appropriation is asked for a match fund um a match to a grant that was is being funded by the state.
   24:00  So the department of mental health and addictions. It will allow us to implement some evidence-based prevention programming in our school system for
   24:08  grades 5 through 12. Um, it is also going to allow us to host some family workshops over the next two years.
   24:19  Any questions or comments?
   24:27  Okay, seeing none, we will go ahead and open the public hearing.
   24:42  Okay, seeing no one approach, we'll go ahead and close that public hearing.
   24:48  And any additional comments or questions from the council.
   24:55  Okay, seeing none, I will take a motion.
   24:59  Madame Vice President, I move that we suspend the rules on additional appropriation number 8, 2026.
   25:09  Second.
   25:10  Okay. Motion by Councilman Kane, second by Councilman Whitten. Roll call, please.
   25:16  Kane, I.
   25:17  For eyes, I.
   25:19  Klein, yes.
   25:21  Marshall, I. Whitten. Yes. Divine. Yes.
   25:26  Madame Vice President, I move that we pass additional appropriation number 8 2026. Second.
   25:34  Okay. I have a motion by Councilman Kane. Second by Councilman Klene. Roll call, please.
   25:42  Kane, I.
   25:43  For eyes, I.
   25:45  Klein, yes.
   25:46  Marshall, I. Whitten. Yes. Divine. Yes. So that shows passed. Thank you.
   25:55  Move on to new business. Um, additional appropriation 09-2026.
   26:02  First reading and additional appropriation appropriating $150,000
   26:09  for opioid settlement unrestricted speaking city administration.
   26:17  Madame President, uh, members of the council, I want to thank you for the time you're taking to consider what I think will probably be some some of the
   26:24  most meaningful and uh, consequential legislation you may be a part of during your career. U, which is to address um,
   26:34  the mental health and well-being of your public safety professionals. Uh on behalf of the mayor, I we've we've
   26:41  talked about this for months. Um even years uh probably um to me in 40
   26:49  years. I' I've been before this council many many times for things uh substantial and maybe some not so much.
   26:56  This is substantial. Um uh we I think I can speak for our officers when I tell you we we don't ask anyone
   27:05  to cross us the river, but there are times that we see some things that are pretty
   27:10  challenging. Um, I I will testify uh that uh the idea of mental health. I'm
   27:19  I'm grateful that in the last few years it's become something that's been more uh common and more accepted uh even in our circles. Uh I I don't want to tell
   27:28  war stories about 40 years ago, but I can tell you that when I by comparison when I came on, there was a a fine officer who worked and uh being a
   27:37  rookie, you don't ask too many questions, but I noticed that he was called by a nickname that was really mean and unfortunate. His nickname was
   27:44  psycho, but never to his face. And finally, I had the courage to ask a veteran one time, why is he why is he
   27:51  called that? And uh the answer was that he went to speak to a mental health professional.
   27:59  That was why. And then fast forward to today. um or even during that time I'll go back uh I came on the police
   28:07  department with a young man named Brian Dennis who uh I went to the academy with and came on together and uh
   28:16  a few years later he took his own life and uh I talked to him a week before he did it he'd moved on to another
   28:24  department and uh we had planned to have lunch and talk about something that was going on in our lives and a week later
   28:31  he was that by his own hand. Uh, and I never knew.
   28:36  And, uh, if you visit the police department, I know some of you have, if you go back and look in our squad room, our training room, we have a gallery
   28:44  there of officers who passed uh, not necessarily in line of duty, but while they were active officers. And one of those photos you'll see there is a man
   28:52  named Jerry Herring who uh, also took his own life while he was an active Marian police officer several years many years ago. So, so the idea of mental
   29:01  wellness is not uh a myth. It's not not real. And uh the
   29:11  the policemen I've had the privilege to work with and lead are are tough men and women. Uh they don't ask for a lot of help. And we're actually kind of
   29:19  discouraged in this macho business from doing that. I I can tell you which is a shame. But, uh, with the help of some people who've kind of taken the stigma away from that to one degree or another.
   29:29  Um, and then in conversations with the mayor, I've got Deputy Chief Mark Stephanotus here and Tim Harris, who I think most of you know is a longstanding
   29:38  member of our community, uh, who I I hope they'll speak, maybe Dr. Montero as well. U,
   29:47  we we came to this to this meeting to where we are in this moment in time. Uh Mark Stephanotus is my deputy chief.
   29:55  He's here with his wife. If you didn't know, his son is on the police department. And Mark and I have been on a com a combined total of 70 years on
   30:03  the police department. And in those 70 years, we've been blessed that in many times that we might have had to use
   30:11  deadly force, we've just somehow found a way that it wasn't uh the only thing we could do. Even
   30:19  though there were many times, and I know I can speak for Mark, I've lost track of the times that I could have used deadly force and been justified and righteous
   30:27  in doing it, but I just was able to find another way. And I'm glad for that. I don't want to hurt anyone. And I know I speak for Mark in saying that as well.
   30:36  But Mark's young son is a [snorts] to me, he's still a rookie. I've watched him grow up as from a baby.
   30:43  And uh it wasn't uh a couple of years he was on the police department, he was forced to take another human being's life in defense of his own um that
   30:53  quickly. And uh I think Mark, I'll let I'll leave that at that. Let Mark uh speak to that. I hope you'll give him the time to come up and testify.
   31:02  Um and Tim as well. But but long story short, we've come across what we hope is the beginning of a solution for our
   31:10  public safety fire as well. Um the mayor um I'll try to shorten this up. The
   31:18  mayor we Mark and I were on the same journey unknowingly even though we work in the same suite. Uh he was pursuing uh how how do I help my son?
   31:31  And uh I was I was discussing with Tim Harris uh the idea
   31:37  of how how can we do better? And at some point in time we intersected. We Mark and I realized we were talking about the same thing even with some of the same
   31:46  people and [snorts] then we uh had a meeting with the mayor and the mayor long story short was very supportive. Um
   31:54  but he's he's a man who doesn't uh leap before he looks either. He I think he
   32:03  knew that police and fire were pretty uh I used the word macho a little bit ago, but we're pretty resistant to acknowledging weakness or what we we
   32:10  think may be weakness. So, what he asked us to do is I'm not going to waste the council's time, my words, not his, but I think I'm going to cover it pretty
   32:19  clearly. I'm not going to waste the council's time asking for funding for this initiative if you you at the police department and
   32:26  the fire department it's if it's not in demand, if it's not something that they want to do or feel that that it's needed. Uh so we heard that and we took
   32:36  an opportunity during what we call our midwinter training, which is uh training in in the in the middle of winter where every policeman comes in for a week's
   32:44  worth of training over a five-week period. And uh what we built in purposely a component of that training, pretty significant component of that
   32:52  training that dealt with deescalation and use of force and not using force when we can help it, but also mental health issues. Uh Tim came uh one of his
   33:01  partners in this initiative that he'll he may speak to uh came and testified with our officers and talked to them about uh the seriousness of mental uh
   33:09  health and wellness and uh actually brought police officers from another agency who are already doing what we're talking about doing here, which is to to
   33:17  supply an opportunity for police officers and firefighters to talk to someone when they need to. Uh, and these were crusty,
   33:25  old, grizzled veteran police officers that to look at them and hear them talk about anything else, you think they'd be
   33:32  the last people on this planet to say, "My marriage was in the toilet. My wife
   33:39  left me. I was thinking about harming myself." Um, the things I've seen,
   33:46  I didn't know they were impacting me until they were. And these were tough men and and women in some cases. And uh
   33:54  uh and it's being done in their departments and they testified to me um very openly that without this
   34:02  programming, without this opportunity, they they they they would have lost a marriage, they would have lost their children and maybe even lost their
   34:10  lives. And so and and and take my word for it. After 40 years, those kinds of statements from police officers mouths are pretty rare.
   34:19  Um but it was very uh meaningful to me. It was very truthful, very sincere and uh very open.
   34:27  Um and even a point of time I think I started telling these people at this lunchon I attended uh I'm sold
   34:35  it with us. It's not that I don't believe it's it's a function of money.
   34:42  And so I I took that uh that experience back to the mayor and and and and here we are. and the mayor being the wise person that he is said, "Hey, let's
   34:51  let's let's take a look at it. Let's see what we can do to put you guys in a better position uh when you serve us." And uh so here we are. So I talked about
   34:59  a function of money and uh that's that's your Bailey Wick and uh with the mayor's support, we're here to to talk about it,
   35:07  the funding source. Dr. Montero is an expert on that. Uh uh but also Tim Harris is here. if you would uh oblige a
   35:15  few more minutes and then Deputy Chief Mark Stephanotus is here as well and he's prepared to speak as well. So with that said, I will yield. I appreciate your time. You've been very generous. Uh
   35:24  I support this and I hope you will as well. So thank you. Thank you.
   35:31  I'm just going to speak to some of the um kind of technicalities of it. I I think um Chief Gilbert did a beautiful
   35:39  job um just explaining the need um and and why this request is being made. So I won't add to any of that. Um in in
   35:47  conversation um with the mayor, I think the init immediately um the mayor was like, "Yeah, we need to do this." Um and
   35:55  I think initially his idea was to just make a request from the general fund. Um
   36:01  and I um explained um to him that in this type of funding is covered um in
   36:10  exhibit E under first responders um it's a provision for wellness and support services for first responders
   36:18  um and others that have secondary trauma associated with doing the work that they do every day. So this is an eligible expense um for the opioid settlement
   36:27  fund. um how we would like um in conversation with the mayor how we would like to proceed and what we've already
   36:34  done. You may have seen a press release come out for a request for proposals. Um it is for this um this fund right for
   36:42  this initiative. It's called the public safety mental health initiative. Um understanding that the police department has identified um a provider that they
   36:51  would like to be awarded this fund. The requests for proposals just allows us transparency with the community. Um, it
   36:58  also allows us to clarify the scope of the services provided. Um, as well as mitigate any risk for the city. Um, and
   37:05  what that may look like. It's not always that a municipality is paying for mental health services. And what does that look like liability-wise for a municipality
   37:14  when that happens? Um, so that proposal is out there. It'll be open for another month. And if we were to get any other
   37:22  interest outside of what um Mr. Harris can provide, we are meeting on Thursday
   37:28  to talk about it. Um those proposals I would read through, send them to the mayor and Chief Gilbert so they would have. So um just so you all know that is
   37:37  the structure by which um we're just making sure the community is aware um of why we are asking for this large amount um and how it will be spent.
   37:53  Thank you. Hello. Uh, I hope you guys got my email.
   38:01  I sent an email to try to make it so I wouldn't have such a long presentation for you. So, if you haven't had a chance to read that email, I'd ask you to look
   38:09  at that. Um, like the chief said, this is just something that we think is important at this time. Um, we went in there with the and I told the guys when
   38:18  we went in there to talk to them that I wasn't going to send them or try to get them to do something that I wouldn't do myself. So, uh, I've been doing the some
   38:26  of the training with Tim Harris and his crew and, uh, it's been wonderful. Um, I think it's what we need. And I think if
   38:34  you could look at the guys back here, uh they're we got a lot of lot of young young officers and uh we have to look
   38:42  for their their future and make sure that they're mentally right because I think everybody's goal here is to retire but then go on and live a regular life.
   38:53  So, uh the stuff that we saw, uh yeah, it was, hey, get up, rub some dirt on it. I I tell sometimes I died once and
   39:02  my dad told me get up and get back in the game. So, uh but at the same time, we just looking at that long-term effect
   39:10  and and uh we'd ask that you look seriously at this and and find a way to fund this and uh hopefully this is something that goes on for a long time,
   39:18  long after, uh I'm gone, uh the chief's gone, and uh we make sure that we take care of our public servants. So, uh I I
   39:27  know it's not the public thing, but I could answer any questions. Um I've been doing the brain training for uh what
   39:34  about five or six sessions and uh also seeing the frontline counseling in Noblesville. And uh my son's doing it,
   39:42  my wife's doing it, too. So, I'd ask you to do that. So, uh I can't talk about my
   39:49  son because I'll lose it. But, uh just thank you for your consideration. Thank you.
   40:04  Well, thank you for the opportunity, madam vice president and members of the council. Um, I'm Tim Harris and along
   40:11  with Dr. Chad Lighty and Dr. Stu Kelly, we own a clinic here, a neuro feedback clinic here in Marion called Peak Brain
   40:18  Centers. Uh we began in um June of 2020 which was a brilliant time to start a new business right at the start of co um
   40:28  I I won't get technical unless you want me to get technical but I'll real quickly we work u with the electrical
   40:36  system of the brain um I'm here um because we're already doing what is
   40:43  being proposed here in Hamilton County with um the city of Noblesville police department with Helmet County Sheriff's
   40:51  Department uh jailers uh with a few officers in Carmel, both police and fire and one in uh from Avon
   40:59  um Indiana. We also work with police department in Leaport, Indiana. Um we help people with anything brain related,
   41:06  but our niche has become emotional trauma and PTSD.
   41:11  Um, we kind of got on the map, if you will, um, when we helped a a teenage girl who was blind because of emotional
   41:20  trauma and what the trauma did to her brain. We helped her get her eyesight back. Um, and that's when people started to, I guess, hear a little about us. Um,
   41:29  a an initiative, a pilot program was started in, um, Hamilton County um, with another very good neuro feedback
   41:37  company. Um the pilot went pretty well um through a series of things that happened which I won't go into. Um that
   41:45  was not going to continue and so they asked us um if we would get involved and candidly I said no initially because it was Noblesville and somebody else had
   41:54  done done the pilot but ultimately I agreed. Um we did another pilot there and um the success of what we're doing collectively with well let me back up.
   42:04  We work with a social work practice there who frontline counseling that the chief mentioned. Um they've been um
   42:12  their practice has been almost solely with first responders for more than 20 years. Um they really helped to change
   42:20  the culture that the chief was talking about in Hamilton County so that it's okay for these folks to say they need help. Um and what we have found is what
   42:30  we do with our technology. It's noninvasive, non-med um but it's incredibly advanced technology. What we
   42:38  do along with what the therapists provide speeds up the healing process.
   42:43  Um many times, not always, but many times, um the officers are able to continue to work during the time because
   42:51  I can tell you with first responders, it's not a question of if they will experience trauma and have PTSD. It's
   42:59  it's just a matter of when. Um, we all probably have experienced some trauma.
   43:04  They see it all the time. And so, our clients come to us that, the first responders especially, come to us for a
   43:11  variety of reasons. Either they can't sleep at night without self-medicating in some way that's not usually healthy.
   43:18  Um, they end up in the ER thinking they're having panic attacks and it turns out, I'm sorry, thinking they're having a heart attack and it turns out
   43:25  to be a panic attack. Um, or they're they're losing their family, etc. And I don't say that to be um overly dramatic.
   43:32  It's reality. Um and so we've been ecstatic, my staff and I. Um this has
   43:40  really become a mission for us. It is a business. It's a for-profit business, but it has really become um a mission for us and it's going so well in
   43:48  Hamilton County again that we had to um open an office down there as well. So, I would love to be able to do this in my
   43:56  hometown taking care of of people that I know and have cared about for a long time. So, I'd be happy to answer any questions.
   44:04  Um, and I can tell you anything you want about what neuro feedback is, but I just don't want to take your time if if you don't want that, but I'd be happy to answer questions.
   44:14  Any questions or comments? What is it? How does it work? Thank you, Councilman.
   44:21  So um again we work with the um electrical system of the brain. Um let me give you the twominut as opposed to the hourong. Um the brain's an
   44:30  electrical organ. When it functions it produces electrical charges. We know those electrical charges as brain waves. That's what they are. Real electricity.
   44:38  Those brain waves travel to the scalp via towers of cells in the brain. And we um can find out what's happening with
   44:46  that um electrical system of the brain by doing a special kind of EEG. We collect um raw brain wave data in a
   44:54  little different format than is done in a hospital but same concept. Um we collect that data um upload it um to a site password protected etc.
   45:04  um it goes through some algorithms that I can't begin to understand but that gives us a 200page report that tells us what happens or what's happening with um
   45:12  with that brain and the electrical system of the brain. Um the basic concept not concept the basic fact is
   45:19  because different parts of the brain control different parts of the body and different functions of the body the brain has to work together all day has
   45:27  to communicate with itself all day. That works great if that electrical system is in balance. If it's not, then we have symptoms and the symptoms are based on
   45:35  that part of the brain that's out of balance. Um, we work with we contract with a neuroscientist [snorts] in Germany who is one of the top five to
   45:44  10 people in our industry worldwide. She works with us on every single client, every EEG that we do, tells us which FDA
   45:52  approved protocols to use. And then what we do is train the brain to get itself back in balance. So what happens
   46:00  specifically with trauma and PTSD is the parts of the brain under here, the amygdala and the insula that control
   46:07  emotional regulation, when there's trauma, the brain suppresses those, shuts them down to protect us. So that
   46:16  um well, it just does that. That's fine in the short term. It's very bad in the long term because the trauma is still there in our subconscious mind. It
   46:24  affects us either emotionally or physically. um it does affect us. I can guarantee you that. Um and so what we do
   46:32  is we help to get the brain back in balance again non-invasively and without meds. Nothing wrong with meds at all. Um
   46:41  it's just not what we do. Um but we do that to get that part of the brain back in balance so that it will work and so
   46:48  that um people can begin to feel recognize what they feel because a lot of times with trauma um people are just
   46:55  completely numb emotionally. They're so suppressed they feel nothing. We have officers that have told us literally and they're serious about this. They've not
   47:03  felt anything in 20 years and they they don't want to retire and still be in that situation. So when we do that uh
   47:12  with our trauma clients, we require that they have a therapist that they work with, a therapist that's trauma certified, um and um frontline counseling that we work with down there.
   47:23  Um we work with them simply because they have all this years of culturally competent therapists working with first
   47:32  responders. It's nothing against any other therapist. They're all wonderful.
   47:36  And um and if a if um an officer has their own therapist, they they can continue obviously with their therapist.
   47:42  Um so um in a nutshell um that's what it is. I could tell you lots more. I can
   47:49  again answer anything you wanted to, but that's a that's a real quick explanation of incredibly advanced technology.
   47:59  Thank you. Any other questions?
   48:02  Um, I'm curious. Can you speak to some success stories and how um how long a
   48:09  period of time um someone would have to be going through this treatment? Um and how do you measure that type of thing?
   48:17  Yeah, that's a great that's a great question. So, um, every brain's different and so it can be
   48:24  a different amount of time, but but the the standard approach we use and what I proposed to the mayor and what we
   48:32  proposed to to most for PTSD is um a package with it would be four of
   48:39  the EEGs that are spread out over time to see how the brain changes over time and then 40 um brain training sessions.
   48:46  Ideal plan for that is two times a week, not two days in a row. Um, so whatever 40 divided by so that's 20 weeks of
   48:54  time. Um, sometimes that's enough, sometimes it's not enough and then we go a little longer. Um, I I can, in fact,
   49:02  there was an officer that was going to be here tonight and he texted me late this afternoon with a car problem. But we've got lots of officers that can come and tell you their stories, but I'm
   49:10  happy to tell you stories. Um we we are probably every Wednesday and Friday right now in um Noblesville I think
   49:20  we're treating 27 officers same ones those two days we've um we have finished
   49:28  I would guess we've been doing this two years down there and we've probably finished with 15 to 20 um and those are
   49:36  those are officers that are back to good um the we can tell how the brain is responding. Every single session that we
   49:44  do, we show them on reports how how their brain's doing. Um, and if it's not responding, we don't blow smoke. We tell
   49:52  them it's not responding. If it's not, then we work with our neuroscientist and we adjust the protocols that we do. Um,
   50:00  we um, uh, I just lost what I was going to say.
   50:05  Sorry. Um anyway, and so we when we know we're getting close to done
   50:13  is when symptoms go away. And so it's not that they will never feel anxiety or some of those things again because we can't control the triggers that come.
   50:23  What we can do is get the brain back in balance so that it can handle it. So what happens is there's a there's a moment when the triggers come that when
   50:32  the brain's in balance person can figuratively step back for a second and say okay I know that's anxiety or I know that's fear or I know that's whatever
   50:40  and they can then employ tools that the therapists have given them to control that so it doesn't take on a life of its
   50:47  own. The problem is and until the brain's back in balance, and this is not the only thing that fixes things, but um
   50:56  and when the brain's out of balance and suppressed, then they don't have that little moment. And so, one of the first things we'll hear from our clients is
   51:04  all of a sudden they can feel and they can recognize what those feelings are and they can see it coming and then they can can do some things to control it. Um
   51:14  yeah, we we have a whole host of oh, success stories. We have um oh gosh um one the the one that started the whole
   51:22  thing was a um fireman medic um from Caramel um who the therapist literally thought
   51:31  he was going to die. His trauma was so bad that he was having heart and blood pressure issues. And that's why I agreed to do it because I'd been saying no
   51:39  because I thought somebody else should do it um down there, the ones that did the pilot. But um when she said he was gonna die, obviously I couldn't stand
   51:48  that. Um and we got him back to good um and we see him every now and then. Um he
   51:56  gets very emotional when he sees us. He He was in fact I was walking outside the Noblesville office. One day he was driving back in his truck with his
   52:04  little granddaughter. He pulled over crying and said, "Tim, I was just happening to think when I saw you, if it
   52:10  wasn't for you guys, I wouldn't have this time with my granddaughter." Now I'll get emotional. Sorry. Um, but it's a lot of it's a lot of stuff like that.
   52:21  And I'm telling you, um, these guys and gals, they don't talk a lot about what they go through and what their families
   52:29  go through, but it is real. And I'm I love the fact that you guys are considering this. Let me just say this one last thing real quick. Um to to
   52:38  point toward the success, we presented um the neuroscientist, myself and and the therapists from Noblesville. We we
   52:46  were asked to present at the international chiefs of police conference in Boston two years ago about what we're doing. Um that's a huge
   52:53  conference. There's like 17,000 officers from all over the world. Now, we just did a workshop. We weren't there weren't 17,000. But what we found while we were
   53:01  there is what we're doing collectively is just not being done. There are other things, good things being done, but what we're doing collectively is just not
   53:09  being done. And so, um, one of our goals is to help change that culture within the first responder community. So, it's
   53:17  okay, right, to ask for help. Um, but that points to the success we've had.
   53:26  Other questions, comments?
   53:33  I guess the only other question that we haven't really discussed is uh what's our investment per uh officer and I guess if you could point to the uh
   53:41  historical what happened in in uh Hamilton County as an example, you had so you had 20 go through what what did
   53:50  you spend per Yeah, yeah, I can tell you. So, the the the package that we've that that I told you, the numbers that I told you of of
   53:59  EEGs and sessions, um we charge $3,750 for that. That's a pretty dramatic
   54:06  reduction from our um normal pricing. Um but that's what we charge. Um some that take um
   54:15  for many that's enough. And um and we our goal is to get people where they don't need us anymore as soon as
   54:21  possible. Some have very complex um PTSD and it and it takes longer. Um historically, I can tell you with our
   54:29  company, my partners will hate that I say this, but um we're going to work with them until they're done. Now, what's happened both separately from the
   54:38  Hamilton County Sheriff's Department and the City of Noblesville Police, they both came to me separately, the people that coordinate this and said, "Tim, um,
   54:47  we're paying attention and you're providing way more sessions than we've paid you for." And they literally asked
   54:55  me to charge them for more. And so I did. And so what we do is um we do an
   55:02  additional um EEG and 10 more sessions for $1,000. That's what we do. Um but um
   55:10  but yeah, that's how it works. Now, that's my those are my those are Peak Brain Centers fees. That's what they pay
   55:17  us. Um and I gave the mayor and I don't have it with me, but I gave the mayor the hourly charges for frontline counseling. I don't remember. I I don't
   55:26  remember what those are because they're a separate company. Um but the mayor's got that. Um and I and can share it with you. I can share it with you because I
   55:34  just don't have it here. Um yeah, thank you.
   55:43  Thanks.
   55:46  I'll uh close by I think it was Magnum PI the original I know what you're thinking. Um
   55:55  I've known Tim a long time and when he first started talking about to me about this new venture that he was involved in I I was polite and I nodded but I I I wasn't a believer.
   56:06  Uh but but I've become one. Uh and uh that's another that's one confession.
   56:12  The other confession is that uh uh Mark Stephanotis is one of the most courageous policeman I've ever been around in my entire career. And uh when
   56:20  we thought uh when the mayor issued the the challenge that we see if the guys really mean it, it crossed my
   56:28  mind that I needed to find the uh the officer I thought at first blush would be the most reluctant to do it.
   56:38  You know, Macho been on a long time. Ah, and it was Mark. And I uh he's he's a
   56:45  believer and he's gone through this and his his original concern wasn't for himself. It was for his own son. And so
   56:53  uh the skepticism I had it and I've been convinced uh these officers that Tim has talked about. Uh I I won't want to
   57:01  rehash it necessarily, but I want you to hear me say that I went down for a lunchon. Uh and it was literally
   57:09  wall-to-wall policemen shouldertosh shoulder uh saying, "Excuse me, to move and take a couple of steps." And every one of those officers there who who've
   57:18  been doing this uh were telling just powerful stories. And uh again, they were they were veteran policemen just
   57:25  like me. uh they've been through a lot of things and they were they were very open and honest about what this had done. Again, I'll end with something I said before. Marriages have been saved.
   57:36  Relationships with children have been saved and grandchildren. And I'll be honest with you, I won't get too dramatic here, but lives have been saved. I really believe that. Um so, uh
   57:45  again, I'll end where I began. I appreciate your time. Uh, I know this is a this is not a normal thing that you
   57:52  consider, uh, but I think it'll help our officers in their own beings and I think it'll help them provide a better
   58:00  service. And I recall a call we went on pretty recently where um, I'll be honest with you, we didn't handle it very well.
   58:07  We we reacted emotionally. A group of officers fed off the uh, negative energy of a group they were dealing with. And
   58:15  uh, I saw we of course we have body cams now. So, I got a front row seat to see that. I was very disappointed, I'll be honest with you, with how we responded
   58:23  to it. And I I knew then that we had to do something different. I knew we had to we had to find a way
   58:30  to put our officers in a position where they can rise above difficult things and still maintain dignity and professionalism and all
   58:38  that. And this is part of that, too. And then to go home and be healthy. So, uh again, uh thank you for your time. I really mean it. I'll I'll end where I
   58:47  began. I I truly believe that this is one of the most consequential things that you will consider as a legacy.
   58:56  As Mark said very well, long after we're all gone, if we do this right, uh there will be people who will be hugging their
   59:03  grandkids who might not have if if we don't consider this. So, I appreciate it. Thank you very much. If
   59:11  there are no questions, I'm going to yield. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Any other questions?
   59:20  Um, I think I'll just say chief and everyone who shared, I appreciate that.
   59:25  Um, me personally, I also am a law enforcement family. Um, I have two family members that are law enforcement
   59:32  and one of which who is actually going back to school to do just this. Um, and it believes strongly that this needs to
   59:40  be done and normalized so that the officers and public safety people can
   59:46  can heal and work through that PTSD and still be able to be emotionally
   59:53  available and and and be there for their families and enjoy their life. Um, as much as we love you guys as law enforcement, we do want you to retire
 1:00:02  and to have a life afterwards. Um, and this is, I think, a huge step towards that. And so I'm very happy to hear that
 1:00:09  this is something that's coming forward and from what I remember reading um something that I believe a lot of the
 1:00:16  officers said they would actually take advantage of. Um so I'm very pleased to hear that as well.
 1:00:23  With that said, any other comments or concerns? Okay. Be happy to take a motion.
 1:00:32  Madame Vice President, I would be honored to move this additional appropriation number 920
 1:00:41  26 forward to a second reading in public hearing. Second.
 1:00:46  Okay, we have a motion from Councilman Kaine and a second from I heard a voice over there. Councilman Klein. Roll call, please.
 1:00:57  Kane, I. Ford. I.
 1:00:59  Klein, yes. Marshall I Whitten. Yes. Divine.
 1:01:04  Yes. So we will move that on to next meeting for second reading and public hearing. Thank you. Thank you.
 1:01:12  Okay. That's all that's on the agenda.
 1:01:14  Any announcements for the good of the order.
 1:01:17  It's not an announce Well, I'd like to announce gratitude. W 2's cleanup was Saturday. Saturday was something of a
 1:01:24  sloppy day. The crews were out and they were busting their butts. And thank you city for that.
 1:01:33  I have I have a quick announcement. Um on behalf of my sister, you you may have heard that um Samuel Plato has made the
 1:01:42  news recently. U courtesy my sister invested quite a bit of time uh getting him entered into the Alabama Men's Hall
 1:01:50  of Fame. So he will be inducted there in September. But she sent this to me this evening and says that she received
 1:01:58  confirmation today from a congressional record that a congressional record statement from the state of Maryland is being developed in honor of Samuel as
 1:02:06  well because he did some significant construction there. One project in particular was $26 million in today's
 1:02:13  money. And um so that and a couple other things are coming. uh uh the state
 1:02:21  general assembly here in Indiana is going to recognize him in 2027. So, just wanted to get that in there. Um shout out for my sister because she's done
 1:02:29  that all on her own time and effort just as a because she wants to see history set right. So, that's all.
 1:02:37  Great. Thank you. Any other announcements?
 1:02:40  Okay. If not, I will take a motion to adjurnn. I so move. Second.
 1:02:47  Okay. Motion from Councilman Kaine, second from Councilman Fordise. Roll call, please.
 1:02:52  Kane, I.
 1:02:53  Ford, I.
 1:02:54  Klein, yes.
 1:02:56  Marshall, I.
 1:02:57  Wen, yes. Divine. Yes. We are adjourned. Thank you.