We call to order this Monday, September 8th, 2025 meeting the Elstville Town Council. Marshal, the prayer.
Our Heavenly Father, we come before you this evening again. Thank you so much for this little town.
We thank you for the ability we have to serve it. We thank you for the ability we have to take care
of our people. We ask this name, Jesus' name, Amen. Amen. Chief. I pledge allegiance to the flag of
the United States of America.
to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all
When you're ready roll call here Here William Ellis Trevor Sager here Pam samples
is not here this evening. We're going to make a move here on the agenda so that we can get some people
back on the road and move to police department business.
for just a second if you don't mind. Each year, as you know, I take a, not a poll really, but a general
opinion of the police officer of the year. And this year we've come up with a gentleman that's been
with us for 12 years.
And I'm gonna let the officer that nominated him to read his recommendation. My staff is here, and when
I asked for a recommendation, all three of them gave the same name. Lieutenant Michael. It is with profound
pleasure that I present Officer John Newcomer as the Ellesville Police Department's 2025 Police Officer
of the Year.
He embodies all the qualities of a true public servant, as evident from his 12-year service to the town
of Ellitsville, as outlined below. Officer Newcomber began serving his community in January 2010 as
a reserve police officer, volunteering his time to fulfill the functions of a full-time police officer.
In 2022, at the young age of 53 years old, he fulfilled his lifelong dream of attending the Indiana
Law Enforcement Academy's Tier 1 Basic Course.
and becoming a full-time police officer with the Ellesville Police Department. Since that time, he has
excelled in all aspects of his career. During his tenure as a reserve police officer, Officer Newcomer
was responsible for overseeing the reserve police officer program. He is credited with developing much-needed
policies and procedures that, to this day, govern that program. He also obtained much-needed equipment
for the program, including enhanced body armor and even a brand new patrol vehicle. Officer Newcomer's
work ethic continued when he began
Became a full-time police officer. He has been our trap I'm sorry his top traffic enforcement performer
since 2022 stopping over 300 cars per year But his goal is not to write as many tickets as he possibly
can He simply wants to educate the public about traffic laws in hopes of improving the safety of our
roadways Additionally officer newcomer is one of two investigators and crime scene technicians for the
department He is responsible for undertaking major investigations and has security
secure the conviction of multiple offenders for felony crimes. Undoubtedly, the community is a safer
place because of his work in this area. In 2023, Officer Newcomer became the department's first qualified
law enforcement phlebotomist and the only active law enforcement phlebotomist in Monroe County at that
time. He worked to develop a detailed policy and procedure for this program that is now used as a model
by the state of Indiana when training new law enforcement phlebotomists.
In addition to being a police officer, Officer Newcomer is also a certified firefighter and emergency
medical technician. He has drawn upon those skills outside of law enforcement to bring innovative ideas
to the department that he has been responsible for incorporating into training and equipment purchases.
In a time when the traits of enthusiasm, professionalism, and dedication are so critically important
to law enforcement, it is an honor and privilege to have Officer Newcomer who exemplifies all of those
traits as a police officer at the Ellsville Police Department.
I'm proud to call him a colleague and, more importantly, a friend. John, we also have a plaque for you
as the Elstil Police Department Deputy Marshal John M. Newcomer.
Police Officer Year 2024, so order this day, 8th day of September 2025, but also Town Council President
Scott Oldham, Town Manager Michael Farmer, and Chief Jimmy Durnall. Congratulations. Thank you, sir.
Appreciate it. Thank you. It's yours. If I may add to this, Don, you've come a long way.
saved the life of a family member of mine. I don't know exactly when that was. Back in March. And if
it wasn't for John and his AED and his quad car, my cousin probably wouldn't be here today. So I thank
you, John.
Anything further right now, okay Absolutely Now we're gonna move back to our regular agenda. The first
item on the agenda this evening is a public hearing for the 2026 budget pre-adoption This is the hearing
for that Anything you want to say Okay, we've discussed this Over the last period of time we've had
a lot of comments about it and
And here we are giving the public the opportunity to speak to it if they wish first we're going to go
to council comments of any.
No, this is the pre the pre adoption for the budget hearing or the budget pre adoption hearing. I'm
sorry Just if you haven't just if you have any comments that you want to put forth for this
That will open up for public comment we have comments from the public on our proposed budget for 2026
Seeing no one rise in chambers no one online Will then continue with the meeting again. This is the
pre-adoption hearing So now we're going to move into our regular agenda for this evening The first is
action to approve of minutes for the August 25th 2025 meeting
Second all those in favor say aye aye Any opposed any abstaining? extra pay accounts payable vouchers
and payroll vouchers Motion second all those in favor say aye aye Anyone abstaining or anyone voting
no? We're now removed resolutions there are three this evening the first resolution is 26-2025 to declare
police department equipment as surplus and
Come back to that unless one of you knows what it is You know The packet right Looks like 15 taser x2
devices. Does that sound right? Yes along with batteries and cartridges for each device and Again,
I'm sorry. I haven't seen this. What are we playing dessert? How are we planning to surplus these out?
I don't know without Darla being here that we actually have to declare them surplus. So you're saying.
Interagency transfer. Right. I'm pretty sure we do. I don't think so. You're not putting them out to
public. You're putting, you're giving them to another police agency. But it's leaving our taxing
jurisdiction. So, sir. If I may, the fire department's done this.
Loaning equipment if you will Equipment that we're no longer needing to a department that may need it
We've just written a simple mo you that they can use the equipment They maintain it so on so forth whenever
they're done with it. They turn it back over to the town This is a little more complicated because of
what they're doing So Marshall just to be sure we're donating tasers to IU and
Here's the problem by a by federal all those are firearms. So we have to do a transfer to them We can't
just surplus them and then here you go so we're gonna have to do some ATF paperwork on it and I don't
even know that we need to surplus it because we're Interagency transferring it. So why don't we wait
on this until Darla gets back? We'll do that kind of guide that process and you guys can be in Contact
with ATF before we transfer things with that
So for tonight, I have a motion to table for this. Yep. I'll make a motion to table resolution 26-2025
to declare police department equipment as surplus. Second. Motion to second. Yes. Yes. Yes.
William Ellis. Yes. Motion tabled. Next resolution is 27-2025, approving borrowing to finance department,
fire department roof.
We did get with People State Bank, and they drew up the paperwork. We're doing a three-year note. I
do not have any intentions of it lasting that long. So basically, we just need approval to go forward
with this. It's what we discussed in the last meeting. The first payment.
is going to be due in December of twenty twenty six and that amount will be twenty one thousand five
hundred seventy seven dollars and forty eight cents. The payments will continue that way for three years
so the first payment will be due until December of twenty six. Questions from council. Is there a motion
from council concerning this. I move approval of resolution twenty seven dash twenty twenty five
Approving borrowing to finance fire department rule second Take it willing And can I make an amendment
to this? Sorry guys that I can have permission to sign this should it be necessary for the council?
Because we haven't done that yet Yeah, I'm fine with that so as amended yes as amended As amended with
a second whenever you're ready
And just so I'm clear on the amending to have the town council president signed the loan documents,
correct? Okay. Scott Oldham. Yes. Dan Swaffer. Yes. Trevor Sager. Yes. William Ellis. Yes. Motion passes.
The next resolution is 28-2025, approving certifications for the town.
Okay Is there a motion on the town manager's request I Move we table resolution 28-20 25 Proving
certification for the town second motion second when you're ready, please Scott Oldham. Yes, Dan Swaffer.
Yes, Trevor Sager. Yes, William Ellis Yes motions table
There are no ordinances on first reading. There are no ordinances on second reading. There is no old
business. Under new business this evening, we had the award for the police officer of the year. That's
already finished. Now we're to new gates for wastewater treatment plant. I tried to receive three quotes.
That can only be two quotes. These are going to be electronic gates. As you know, once we came up here,
eventually we're going to be out of the old blue building.
This is the first step to move the safety haulers dumping station down to the wastewater plant. And
once we get the gates in, we'll then build the dumping stations. This will be paid for out of the equipment
replacement fund for the wastewater treatment plant. Sunset Fence had a bid of $24,000, I think, in
an average of $34.96.
Just so you know, the sunset fence is the same company that put our gates up up here. As I know, we're
pretty happy with what they've done. Obviously, there's a big difference in price, so I think it's pretty
easy to say that I'd like to use sunset fence. And as I understand, we didn't have a responsive third
bitter, correct? We did not.
Any questions? Questions from Council? Motions from Council. I make a motion to approve the purchase
of the new gates for the wastewater treatment plant with Sunset Fence. Is that correct? Yes. Second.
Motion second when you're ready. May I say the amount of the estimated total for the record? I have
it in front of me.
It's for Sunset Hill Fence Company estimated total twelve thousand two hundred sixty three dollars and
forty eight cents If you look there's two there's an outer fence and an inner fence that we're putting
on there So the total one was twelve thousand two sixty three forty eight and the other one was twelve
thousand five seventy one for a total of twenty four thousand eight thirty four Thank you
And this is why I prefer it for the record. So I make sure I get everything correct. I appreciate that.
So we have a motion and a second, correct? Scott Oldham? Yes. Dan Swafford? Yes. Trevor Sager? Yes.
William Ellis? Yes. Motion passes. Final item under new business this evening is an MOU between the
Monroe County Prosecutor's Office and the town for the funding of the high tech crime unit through December of 2027.
With them through the end of 2027 Yes, so it's just there's no change everything stays the same questions
from council Actions from council Make a motion to approve the mo you between the Monroe County prosecutor
in town for funding of the high-tech crimes unit through December of 2027
Whenever you ready Scott Oldham. Yes, Dan Swafford. Yes, Trevor Sager. Yes, William Ellis Yes motion
passes Now we're down to privilege of the floor anyone having business for the council I Thought we're
gonna do the council comments. I'm sorry. We can do wherever I
Pros just learning having business for the council not part of our normal agenda this evening No one
online no one rising in chambers now the supervisor comments Yeah I'd like to ensure that everybody
knows that the fall festivals this weekend and everybody should attend if they want to have some fun.
It's a hometown event
We'll have John Newcomer and the police force make sure we're safe. And congratulations to John. The
fire department will be there to add to that safety net. DPWF put together everything that needs structurally
to be in place so we can have this event. And Jeff.
Everybody knows Jeff, my brother, him and his crew set up for the Crank, which is the big event for
all my grandkids, nieces and nephews, so we'll all be there. My daughter's gonna be in the tent this
year, the commercial tent, so it's a family affair. Pretty excited about, I'm pretty excited about the
Fall Festival because the kids won it, so thanks to Mark and all these volunteers, and everybody should come.
Thank you. Chief? Yes, we're ready to go. We're making sure we know that briefing's at 8 o'clock Saturday
morning. Don't be late. That's all I have. Thank you. OK. Yeah, the only thing I have to add to our
crew is the police department. They are part of our crew. Actually, we're part of their crew, I'd say.
And hope everybody counts. Thank you. Chief?
First Monday of the month We have a staff meeting at the fire station and the crews do watch the council
meetings and they wanted me to extend a Thank you to the council They watched the last meeting where
the conversation was going back and forth about the raises potential raises and wanting to make sure
that there was revenues that stay in the funds and
so that firefighters are not laid off, that we continue to keep going forward like we are, and they
wanted to make sure they tell you thank you for looking to the future, that they're good with you guys
hanging on to the possible raise that you were looking at so that we can keep working. That's probably
not said as well as the way they did it, but they wanted to make sure I said thank you to you guys.
We appreciate that.
I think all of us, I speak for all of us, wish it was easier and there was more. But protecting the
jobs comes first and then we'll go from there. You're helping with the insurance, so that's a big plus.
Thank you. Okay, now we're down to council comments. Okay, William, it's time for the declaration. Would
you like to proceed?
Yes, I will. The Town Development Administration recognizes the 40th anniversary of the Wilmington Economic
Development Corporation, or BGC as we call it. Or as the Wilmington Economic Development Corporation,
founded in 1985, has dedicated four decades of fostering job creation, wage growth, and community prosperity
across Monroe County, and where it has since 2020. Monroe County has seen commitments to more than $1
billion in capital investment,
jobs created through 11 BEDC support projects and commitments that represent not just statistics, but
higher wages for residents, new opportunities for local businesses, and a greater tax revenue to support
essential services. And whereas the town of Ellsville recognizes the BEDC's steadfast support in attracting
new projects and increasing capital expenditures for the community, playing a key role in giving these
successes, and whereas
through efforts ranging from scouting viable sites to structuring tax incentives that unlock infrastructure
improvements. The BEDC has delivered out-of-the-box solutions to advance complex projects that fit Ellisfield
and the broader Monroe County region. And whereas the BEDC continues its mission as an nonprofit corporation
dedicated to retention, development, and attraction of quality jobs in Monroe County with a focus on
advancing economic development strategy,
fostering entrepreneurial activity and supporting active business retention, expansion, and attraction
efforts. And now, they're declared that the town of Ellisville does hereby recognize and celebrate the
40th anniversary of the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation and expresses its appreciation
for the BDC's ongoing commitment to build a strong regional economy supporting Ellisville's growth and
creating opportunities for all residents of Lowell County.
adopted this week day as of January 2025. Thank you. Thank you, Wayne. I'd like to chime in about the
BEDC. It is called the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation, but I keep telling them the E stands
for Ellisville. So it's a Bloomington-Ellisville Development Corporation. They help Ellisville. We talk
with them weekly. They brought in, they helped to spring Keehee to town.
when there was a lot of negotiations and questions and answers back and forth. And so they helped land
Kihi in our town, which I think we're better for. And because we're such a small town and we have a
small budget, we can't afford an economic development person. They are that outsourced person for us,
and they have a staff of four.
I'd like to thank them and recognize their 40th anniversary. They're important. Any other council comments?
Seeing no further business, we're adjourned.