WEBVTT 00:00:03.714 --> 00:00:09.432 - We're going to call to order this evening's meeting of the Ellensville Town Council. Sorry, I started 00:00:09.432 --> 00:00:15.261 - that before you were ready. All right, we'll begin with the prayer. Chief. Our Heavenly Father, we come 00:00:15.261 --> 00:00:20.979 - before you this evening. Again, we thank you so much for the many blessings you've bestowed. We thank 00:00:20.979 --> 00:00:26.752 - you for the meeting we just had. We just pray for the guidance you would give us to this consolidation 00:00:26.752 --> 00:00:32.414 - and reorganization that we have. Be with us tonight as they make the decisions that affect the town. 00:00:32.546 --> 00:00:41.408 - Again, we thank you so much for the pleasure to be here. We ask you to say in Jesus' name, amen. Amen. 00:00:41.408 --> 00:00:50.443 - I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, 00:00:50.443 --> 00:00:59.047 - one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay, whenever you're ready to 00:00:59.047 --> 00:01:01.886 - roll, roll call. Pamela Samples. 00:01:03.010 --> 00:01:11.269 - William Ellis. Here. Scott Oldham. Here. Dan Swafford. Here. Trevor Sager. Action to pay accounts, payable 00:01:11.269 --> 00:01:19.220 - vouchers, and payroll. So moved. Second. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstaining? 00:01:19.220 --> 00:01:27.094 - Action to approve minutes for the December 8th, 2025 meeting. So moved. Second. Motion to second. All 00:01:27.094 --> 00:01:31.262 - those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? Any abstaining? 00:01:32.226 --> 00:01:40.505 - Two resolutions this evening. The first is resolution 44-2025, transfer for fire from volunteer fireman 00:01:40.505 --> 00:01:48.465 - insurance to gas and oil. This was a standard request from the fire department. The amount that was 00:01:48.465 --> 00:01:56.425 - remaining in the volunteer fireman insurance was for $1,098.30 to be transferred into their gas and 00:01:56.425 --> 00:02:01.918 - oil line. Questions from council? Routine movement of money, we see. 00:02:03.234 --> 00:02:11.288 - Actions from Council. I'll make a motion to approve resolution 44-2025, transfer for fire for volunteer 00:02:11.288 --> 00:02:18.490 - firemen insurance to gas and oil. Second. Motion second, roll call please. Pam Samples? Yes. 00:02:18.490 --> 00:02:26.312 - William Ellis? Yes. Scott Oldham? Yes. Dan Swaffer? Yes. Motion passes. Another routine housekeeping 00:02:26.312 --> 00:02:30.494 - measure is resolution 45-2025, encumbrances for 2025. 00:02:30.786 --> 00:02:39.069 - Yes, so these are from all the different departments to encumber money. They came with an invoice and 00:02:39.069 --> 00:02:47.352 - a quote to use 2025 monies to be paid at the beginning of 2026. Okay, questions from council. More of 00:02:47.352 --> 00:02:55.798 - a comment or actually a request for you. Towards the end of the year, is there any way, maybe the first 00:02:55.798 --> 00:03:00.670 - meeting or the second meeting, you can let us know how much 00:03:00.802 --> 00:03:07.381 - money was turned back in on each account? Yes, I was gonna ask if that was the council's pleasure for 00:03:07.381 --> 00:03:13.831 - me to do a financial report. Ideally, if we could push it until the first meeting in February would 00:03:13.831 --> 00:03:20.345 - be the best. That's fine. Just to get all the encumbrances tied up and at the end of the year stuff. 00:03:20.345 --> 00:03:25.118 - That's fine for me. Okay, any further questions? Any actions for council? 00:03:27.522 --> 00:03:34.700 - I move we approve resolution 40-2025 in cumbersome for 2025. Second. Motion second, roll call please. 00:03:34.700 --> 00:03:41.737 - Pam Samples? Yes. William Ellis? Yes. Scott Oldham? Yes. Dan Swaffer? Yes. Motion passes. There are 00:03:41.737 --> 00:03:48.915 - no ordinances on first reading, no ordinances on second reading, there is no hold business. Under new 00:03:48.915 --> 00:03:52.926 - business this evening is approval of 2026 meeting dates. 00:03:54.434 --> 00:04:00.731 - So if the council will remember at the last meeting, I asked if there was any changes that needed to 00:04:00.731 --> 00:04:07.215 - be done for the town council meeting dates, and with none, then all of the other boards submitted their 00:04:07.215 --> 00:04:13.574 - annual meetings. On the first page of that, you'll see the public notices. Any changes are because of 00:04:13.574 --> 00:04:19.809 - holidays that may fall on those days, and there's a list of those. This will go on the website, and 00:04:19.809 --> 00:04:23.550 - it'll also be posted outside. Okay, again, pretty standard. 00:04:26.530 --> 00:04:33.989 - questions from council. Just a notification for the public. This does not include the reorganization 00:04:33.989 --> 00:04:41.447 - committee because that's not part of the town's committees, correct? Correct. Make sure that's okay. 00:04:41.447 --> 00:04:48.906 - So if people see that and say, that's not on there. Well, when we just decided tonight, but okay. Is 00:04:48.906 --> 00:04:54.814 - there a motion from council to accept these dates as so moved to accept second. 00:04:55.362 --> 00:05:02.127 - second roll call please. Pam Samples? Yes. William Ellis? Yes. Scott Oldham? Yes. Dan Swafford? Yes. 00:05:02.127 --> 00:05:08.825 - Motion passes. Next is the memorandum of understanding between Richland Township Town of Ellisville 00:05:08.825 --> 00:05:15.590 - Rogers Group for a new fire station. I believe this was discussed before the Town Council later this 00:05:15.590 --> 00:05:21.886 - summer or earlier this fall. You will recall that the Richland Township Trustee is willing to 00:05:21.986 --> 00:05:28.963 - finance a new fire department for the town of Ellitsville to replace the Curry Pike building. And the 00:05:28.963 --> 00:05:36.144 - proposed spot for the new fire station is a four acre parcel at the corner of West Vernal Pike and North 00:05:36.144 --> 00:05:43.395 - Heart Straight Road, which is owned by North American Minerals. They subleased to Rogers Group and Rogers 00:05:43.395 --> 00:05:48.798 - Group and North American Minerals are willing to sublease to Richland Township 00:05:48.962 --> 00:05:56.030 - for the purpose of building the fire station. So the last time this came before the council, I think 00:05:56.030 --> 00:06:03.028 - the issue was what happens if the legislature does away with townships? And so I had inserted a new 00:06:03.028 --> 00:06:10.096 - section eight, which states that the landowner and the township agreed that the township shall enter 00:06:10.096 --> 00:06:16.254 - into a sublease agreement with the town for the land located at North Hart Street Road. 00:06:16.386 --> 00:06:22.945 - for the project on the same terms and conditions as the sub lease agreement. And so upon further 00:06:22.945 --> 00:06:29.978 - consideration, further discussion with the township trustees attorney, he is concerned that if the bond 00:06:29.978 --> 00:06:36.741 - company sees that in there that they will not approve the bond, that they'll have some concern with 00:06:36.741 --> 00:06:40.798 - that. And I'm not sure that you can do an agreement whereby 00:06:41.090 --> 00:06:47.929 - Rogers subleases to both the town and the township because then that means the town is on the hook so 00:06:47.929 --> 00:06:54.635 - to speak for the debt and it also affects the town's borrowing limits and their constitutional debt 00:06:54.635 --> 00:07:01.407 - limit. So I suggest this is a memorandum of understanding. It's an agreement to agree. We can hammer 00:07:01.407 --> 00:07:07.710 - out the details later. My suggestion to the council is to take out the section I put back in. 00:07:07.842 --> 00:07:14.470 - or put in, take that out, pass it as amended because as soon as it's passed and approved by the Township 00:07:14.470 --> 00:07:21.035 - Board, Mr. Cook will go ahead and start conferring with bond counsel. So he's been conferring with bond 00:07:21.035 --> 00:07:27.790 - counsel, a gentleman by the name of Dennis Otten, who's at Barnes and Thornburg, I believe, and so they've 00:07:27.790 --> 00:07:33.534 - already had some discussions about what the Township can do. So as soon as this is passed, 00:07:34.370 --> 00:07:43.259 - the discussions will be more in depth and detailed about what can be done financially in terms of building 00:07:43.259 --> 00:07:51.650 - the new building, so. Questions from Council? So you're saying that if something would happen to the 00:07:51.650 --> 00:07:59.957 - township or whatever happens that Ellensville would still be on the, say, on the hook for this town 00:07:59.957 --> 00:08:02.782 - or this money or the land, sorry? 00:08:02.914 --> 00:08:09.726 - No, the concern, I think, at the previous town council meetings when this was discussed was 00:08:09.726 --> 00:08:17.352 - if the legislature does away with township governments, the town may lose the building. And so the way 00:08:17.352 --> 00:08:25.053 - this works, as I understand it, is if township governments are done away with and the county takes over 00:08:25.053 --> 00:08:31.198 - fire protection, all the assets are going to be moved anyway, if that makes sense. 00:08:32.738 --> 00:08:39.947 - So it's going to depend, obviously, on the debt, right? I mean, I'm not clear on that. So we're not 00:08:39.947 --> 00:08:47.228 - incurring any debt. You're not incurring the debt. It's just the township that's incurring the debt. 00:08:47.228 --> 00:08:54.869 - It will depend on what that, if it's passed, and I have been told that, well, never mind. It would depend 00:08:54.869 --> 00:09:02.078 - on what the legislation looked like, I guess, what the terms of that legislation are, if it passes. 00:09:02.658 --> 00:09:09.798 - Okay. So when are we, when is this plan on being built or trying to start or start date for it? Probably 00:09:09.798 --> 00:09:16.666 - the day after we okay it. Because that's to go to their board. Again, remember, in the long run, and 00:09:16.666 --> 00:09:23.466 - this sounds negative, and I don't mean it to be that way, we're not on the hook for this money, the 00:09:23.466 --> 00:09:30.878 - township is. So if the township were to cease to exist, then the county would be responsible for it, not us. 00:09:31.298 --> 00:09:37.574 - This bill never comes back to us. Again, my personal feeling, my personal hope is that consolidation 00:09:37.574 --> 00:09:44.098 - takes care of all this. Because this one didn't lie within the borders of the newly created Elwoodsville 00:09:44.098 --> 00:09:50.374 - or whatever it's called. And if it doesn't, we're still not on any money as the town. And we'll have 00:09:50.374 --> 00:09:56.712 - to fight that fight if and when we get to that point. So the only lost, not really a lost, because it 00:09:56.712 --> 00:09:59.198 - would be any money that we get from the 00:09:59.362 --> 00:10:08.139 - the Curry Pike Station. Correct. Yeah. Okay. Um, with the aggressive move by the commissioners to decide 00:10:08.139 --> 00:10:16.582 - to start making a public notice, assuming that Ellisville and Richland are going to be into the fire 00:10:16.582 --> 00:10:24.941 - district or of some sort, would that have any effect on this as written or would we have to go back 00:10:24.941 --> 00:10:27.198 - and protect our interests? 00:10:27.554 --> 00:10:37.325 - I don't think it's going to have any effect on this document as it's written. Okay. Further questions? 00:10:37.325 --> 00:10:47.190 - Any questions or comments from the public? No one rises in chambers, we're online. Back to the council, 00:10:47.190 --> 00:10:51.838 - is there a motion? I'll make a motion to approve 00:10:52.322 --> 00:10:58.928 - Memorandum of understanding between Richland Township and town of Ellisville and the Rogers group for 00:10:58.928 --> 00:11:05.729 - new fire station striking out section eight correct. Yes correct. So amending it by striking out section 00:11:05.729 --> 00:11:12.205 - eight. So motion second when you're ready. Pam samples. Yes. William Ellis. Yes. Scott Oldham. Yes. 00:11:12.205 --> 00:11:18.812 - Dan Swafford. Yes. Motion passes. Moving out of privilege of the floor anyone having business for the 00:11:18.812 --> 00:11:21.726 - council that has not been part of our normal 00:11:21.954 --> 00:11:32.139 - daily agenda. Seeing no one coming forward, we now move to supervisor comments beginning with the town 00:11:32.139 --> 00:11:42.423 - manager. Streets? Council comments? Just like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, enjoy 00:11:42.423 --> 00:11:48.158 - the family and your friends, and we'll see you next year. 00:11:49.474 --> 00:11:57.241 - We do this one more time for the years over. I tried. Actually, no. No, we don't. I didn't think we 00:11:57.241 --> 00:12:05.396 - did. You weren't paying attention anyway, so it doesn't matter. Yeah, I'm sitting there trying to figure 00:12:05.396 --> 00:12:13.318 - out. Well, I know everybody wants to get home with their families, but I've got to bring this up. For 00:12:13.318 --> 00:12:19.454 - the public and everybody, the Monroe County Commissioners posted a notice that 00:12:20.290 --> 00:12:26.195 - their intentions are to expand the fire territory or fire district. And in that notice, it mentioned 00:12:26.195 --> 00:12:32.276 - Richland Township and the town of Ellisville and discussions of the town of Ellisville and the Richland 00:12:32.276 --> 00:12:38.239 - Township forming their own fire district, I guess with their approval. I want to make it clear, those 00:12:38.239 --> 00:12:44.203 - discussions, us forming our own fire district, none of us on the council have ever had discussions of 00:12:44.203 --> 00:12:46.366 - that. There is no intention of that. 00:12:46.530 --> 00:12:53.137 - And I think it's very irresponsible for the commissioners to give us a three-day notice that they were 00:12:53.137 --> 00:12:59.616 - even going to discuss this over the weekend and say, oh, by the way, there's no other way to say it. 00:12:59.616 --> 00:13:06.415 - This is trying to be a hostile takeover of what we're doing and to put a roadblock in for reorganization. 00:13:06.415 --> 00:13:13.022 - Well, guess what? It's not going to stop us. It's just going to make us double down because we are not 00:13:13.730 --> 00:13:19.302 - Ellitsville that can be kicked around anymore. You may be used to that, but it's not going to happen 00:13:19.302 --> 00:13:24.985 - anymore. And I am very tired of the county commissioners thinking they can just run roughshod over our 00:13:24.985 --> 00:13:30.778 - town. And Richland Township residents, I want you to listen carefully to what they want. They're telling 00:13:30.778 --> 00:13:36.460 - you right now that if this reorganization doesn't pass, they are going to, without a public vote, take 00:13:36.460 --> 00:13:37.950 - over your fire protection. 00:13:38.658 --> 00:13:43.721 - Compare that to what we're doing, having tons of meetings, almost an hour and a half meeting today, 00:13:43.721 --> 00:13:48.936 - getting public input and having it on the ballot passed by two councils. It's a tale of two cities and 00:13:48.936 --> 00:13:54.354 - Ellisville is the one actually looking out for your interest. I don't know what interest the commissioners 00:13:54.354 --> 00:13:59.923 - are looking out for, but it definitely is not Richland Township residents and it's definitely not Ellisville. 00:13:59.923 --> 00:14:03.518 - And I'm sorry I sound hot about that, but I think it needs to be said. 00:14:04.290 --> 00:14:10.069 - And I have to have to thank the County Council for actually stopping some of this overreach 00:14:10.069 --> 00:14:16.414 - by the commissioners, but they can only do so much. They have statutory duties and they have to stay 00:14:16.414 --> 00:14:22.758 - in their lane. But this is make no make no mistake. This is a shot across the bow scheduling meeting 00:14:22.758 --> 00:14:29.165 - for the same time as our realization meeting. Same date, same time. And I want everybody having Merry 00:14:29.165 --> 00:14:31.678 - Christmas, but I want them to know that 00:14:32.354 --> 00:14:39.633 - If you think any tax implications from reorganization is gonna be increased, wait till you get the bill 00:14:39.633 --> 00:14:46.772 - for a fire district. And you won't get any extra services. So anyway, that's my tirade. I'm sorry I'm 00:14:46.772 --> 00:14:53.911 - so hot on the collar. It's the most wonderful time of year, as somebody likes to say. But I just, and 00:14:53.911 --> 00:14:59.230 - I do wish everybody a Merry Christmas. Santa on Sale Street was phenomenal. 00:14:59.874 --> 00:15:05.280 - I want to thank everybody for that. My grandchildren loved it. Even the snow made it perfect because 00:15:05.280 --> 00:15:10.687 - it just started as Santa came in. But I mean, those are the things and the reason we want to do this 00:15:10.687 --> 00:15:16.039 - reorganization, because I want my grandchildren to be able to come back to Sale Street. I want them 00:15:16.039 --> 00:15:21.499 - to come back to Ellisville. I want them to live here and to work here. And I don't want somebody from 00:15:21.499 --> 00:15:27.012 - Monroe County that does not represent our interest. And none of those three members in that board live 00:15:27.012 --> 00:15:28.190 - in Richland Township. 00:15:29.250 --> 00:15:37.476 - yet they're telling you what's best. And this has gotta stop. That's my say. I don't know if anybody 00:15:37.476 --> 00:15:45.620 - else wants to chime in. I'll chime in just a little bit to wish the people of Meadblasting Township 00:15:45.620 --> 00:15:54.009 - the best. Because at this point in time they are, something's being served to them that they chose not 00:15:54.009 --> 00:15:58.814 - to vote for. And I've heard from, at this point, 10 to 15, 00:15:59.778 --> 00:16:06.504 - trying to figure out how they can annex themselves into Ellisville. Don't know that's possible, 00:16:06.504 --> 00:16:13.790 - but again, we're not gonna shut the door on anybody. It's just an unfortunate circumstance that they've 00:16:13.790 --> 00:16:21.426 - been kind of left out in the wind because somebody sees them potentially as the easiest target, particularly 00:16:21.426 --> 00:16:25.630 - after Ellisville extended what I think is a very good offer 00:16:26.434 --> 00:16:32.486 - to continue the same degree of fire protection that we have been giving them for years. The unfortunate 00:16:32.486 --> 00:16:38.481 - circumstances, it's just gonna be expensive for a lot of people who are struggling already. And I wish 00:16:38.481 --> 00:16:44.300 - them the best. And at least from this council person, I don't speak for the entire council. I would 00:16:44.300 --> 00:16:50.178 - be more than happy to consider anyone who wants to annex. If it's a voluntary annexation and you can 00:16:50.178 --> 00:16:55.998 - get there, my word to you is that we will absolutely consider it as fast as what we personally can. 00:16:57.922 --> 00:17:04.919 - It's just unfortunate that this is going on, and particularly at this time of year. Anyone else? Having 00:17:04.919 --> 00:17:08.350 - no further business, the council stands adjourned.