WEBVTT 00:00:01.442 --> 00:00:06.866 - Call to order the Monday, August 24th, 2026 meeting of the Altsville Town Council. Chief, pledge, 00:00:06.866 --> 00:00:12.567 - or prayer, I'm sorry? I have to follow just one more time to come before you and thank you so much for 00:00:12.567 --> 00:00:18.157 - the many blessings you've bestowed on the families and individuals represented here. We thank you so 00:00:18.157 --> 00:00:23.747 - much for this little town we serve. We've had to give us the knowledge and the understanding to make 00:00:23.747 --> 00:00:28.894 - the decisions that are right for this town. In the name of Jesus, amen. Amen. Chief, pledge. 00:00:29.314 --> 00:00:39.884 - I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, 00:00:39.884 --> 00:00:49.855 - one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Whenever you're ready for roll 00:00:49.855 --> 00:00:58.430 - call. Here. Dan Swafford. William Ellis. Here. Trevor Sager. Here. Pam Samples. Here. 00:00:59.074 --> 00:01:06.322 - minutes from eight twenty four twenty twenty six council meeting. Move to approve the minutes from eight 00:01:06.322 --> 00:01:13.639 - twenty four twenty twenty six town council meeting. Second. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? 00:01:13.639 --> 00:01:20.059 - Any abstaining? Act to pay accounts payable vouchers and payable vouchers. So moved. Second. 00:01:20.059 --> 00:01:25.374 - Motion second. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstaining? 00:01:26.434 --> 00:01:32.870 - There are no resolutions this evening. There are two ordinances on first reading, the first of which 00:01:32.870 --> 00:01:39.624 - is ordinance 2026-14, to prohibit use of public records for commercial purposes. So the town is receiving 00:01:39.624 --> 00:01:46.442 - more and more requests for public records that appear to be requests for information so that the requester 00:01:46.442 --> 00:01:53.005 - can use it for commercial purposes. And there is a section under the access to public records statutes 00:01:53.005 --> 00:01:56.382 - which allows for a municipality to pass an ordinance 00:01:56.578 --> 00:02:04.521 - which prohibits the information being used for commercial purpose, and that is the purpose of this ordinance. 00:02:04.521 --> 00:02:11.813 - If the town council passes this ordinance, then any requester seeking information that appears to be 00:02:11.813 --> 00:02:19.178 - requested for use for commercial purpose will be required to sign a certification under the penalties 00:02:19.178 --> 00:02:26.110 - for perjury that they will not use it for commercial purpose. Okay. Just by way of explanation, 00:02:26.210 --> 00:02:32.393 - is incredibly burdensome for our staff because some of these record searches go on for years that they're 00:02:32.393 --> 00:02:38.227 - asking for data and they're asking for some very arcane data that is of course public record but on 00:02:38.227 --> 00:02:44.177 - the other hand we're not able to charge for the data that our staff is producing so that these people 00:02:44.177 --> 00:02:50.185 - can turn around and then make a profit off of it so that's what this ordinance is intended to prohibit 00:02:50.185 --> 00:02:54.910 - not to prohibit you from getting the data you need for your own purposes but for 00:02:55.042 --> 00:03:02.298 - someone turning it into a for-profit industry at our expense. Did I get that wrong, Darla? No, you got 00:03:02.298 --> 00:03:09.485 - it right. OK. And Darla, what is the penalty if they say it's not for commercial uses and they use it 00:03:09.485 --> 00:03:16.741 - as a perjury, or was there another? Well, you can certainly decline to provide them any records in the 00:03:16.741 --> 00:03:23.786 - future. If you could prove perjury in a court of law, that would be great. OK. Chances are it would 00:03:23.786 --> 00:03:24.702 - be more just 00:03:25.218 --> 00:03:31.371 - Realistically for time money and effort. Just say right you're done. All right, so that is available 00:03:31.371 --> 00:03:37.707 - on the website for public to look at and we encourage you to do so. The next ordinance on first reading 00:03:37.707 --> 00:03:43.860 - this evening's ordinance 2026-15 adding a new section of the Eltsville town code allowing the use of 00:03:43.860 --> 00:03:48.734 - utility task vehicles on roads located within the corporate limits of the town. 00:03:49.698 --> 00:03:58.398 - So two town meetings ago, the town council asked me to put together proposed utility task vehicle ordinance, 00:03:58.398 --> 00:04:06.459 - and this is the result. This would allow you TVs to be used on all the town roads, except of course, 00:04:06.459 --> 00:04:14.520 - State Road 46. It requires them to be registered. They are not to be operated on town streets a half 00:04:14.520 --> 00:04:18.750 - hour after sunset or before sunrise unless they have 00:04:19.010 --> 00:04:26.448 - headlights, operating lights, limits the occupants to the number of people who are supposed to be occupying 00:04:26.448 --> 00:04:33.749 - it as per the manufacturer's specifications. Only 16 years, persons 16 years of age and older and holding 00:04:33.749 --> 00:04:40.912 - a valid driver's license may operate them. Operators have to have financial responsibility, comply with 00:04:40.912 --> 00:04:48.350 - all traffic laws, and a UTV by definition does not include ATVs, three-wheelers, four-wheelers, golf carts, 00:04:48.834 --> 00:04:56.685 - Things of that nature. And there is a penalty. First offense is $25, second offense is $50, third offense 00:04:56.685 --> 00:05:04.388 - and each offense thereafter is $100. Questions from council or comments? And how does this compare with 00:05:04.388 --> 00:05:12.240 - the county one? It is similar. I did look at the county's ordinance. I looked at Brown County's ordinance 00:05:12.240 --> 00:05:17.054 - and I looked at some other ordinances that were passed by towns. 00:05:17.858 --> 00:05:24.434 - that were directed to UTVs only and did not allow golf carts and ATVs and things of that nature. But 00:05:24.434 --> 00:05:31.141 - it is very similar to the counties, not exactly the same as. And Scott, since Scott and Trevor, you're 00:05:31.141 --> 00:05:37.912 - very familiar with this. Since Ellsville, sometimes we have other jurisdictions here. Is this different 00:05:37.912 --> 00:05:44.554 - enough that they can't address it or? They cannot address a town ordinance. So it's simply our police 00:05:44.554 --> 00:05:47.614 - department here would be able to address this. 00:05:48.162 --> 00:05:54.239 - anything else would default to state law. Do you want to talk more about that? No. Police Department 00:05:54.239 --> 00:06:00.316 - happy with how it's written? Yes. Okay. Anything further? Again, this is on the website. I encourage 00:06:00.316 --> 00:06:06.394 - you all to take a look at it, and if you have comments at our next regularly scheduled meeting, this 00:06:06.394 --> 00:06:12.651 - will come back for approval. There are no ordinances on second reading. There is no old business. Under 00:06:12.651 --> 00:06:16.382 - new business tonight is a Police Department personnel update. 00:06:17.058 --> 00:06:24.425 - and then I believe they're gonna have a conditional offer. Thank you, Mr. President, and Jimmy, your 00:06:24.425 --> 00:06:32.084 - chief of police. First of all, I wanna thank my crew being here tonight. Thank you guys for coming over, 00:06:32.084 --> 00:06:40.035 - I appreciate it. We wanted to let you know that we have a opening through the resignation at the department, 00:06:40.035 --> 00:06:47.038 - and we're really ready to offer an officer, a conditional officer of, I'm sorry, of employment. 00:06:47.362 --> 00:06:55.365 - So that'll be done either later this week or first of September. And also under police department personnel 00:06:55.365 --> 00:07:03.071 - update, I want to notify you that George will stand up. Yeah, I get that every day. Deputy Chief George 00:07:03.071 --> 00:07:10.555 - Robinson and I will be leaving at the end of January in 2027. So we want to make sure you were clear 00:07:10.555 --> 00:07:15.742 - on that. We've got about four and a half, five months for transition. 00:07:16.130 --> 00:07:21.820 - I think President Oldham has a plan to do that tonight. But again, I just want to thank my officers 00:07:21.820 --> 00:07:27.566 - for coming overnight. It really means a lot to me. Thank you. Well, first off, let's start us with a 00:07:27.566 --> 00:07:33.255 - thank you to both you and Deputy Chief Robinson for absolutely making sure the state on track for a 00:07:33.255 --> 00:07:39.457 - long time. And you've really been able to do some wonderful things with the department. We deeply appreciate 00:07:39.457 --> 00:07:44.350 - it. And I'm sure they have a whole lot more nice things to say later in the year, but 00:07:44.514 --> 00:07:50.163 - For now, just suffice to say thank you both. It's really been a pleasure. In the back of my head, even 00:07:50.163 --> 00:07:55.701 - back when I was trooper in Connorsville District, I always thought, I saw Don Kooster driving around 00:07:55.701 --> 00:08:01.186 - here. I know I'd like to be him. I want to be him. But he ended up in Chief of Police over here. So 00:08:01.186 --> 00:08:06.834 - it worked out wonderful for me. Thank you so much. Thanks, Jimmy. Congratulations. Thank you. You want 00:08:06.834 --> 00:08:12.702 - to give us the name that you want us to approve the conditional offer of employment to? Gabby Meacham. OK. 00:08:13.602 --> 00:08:23.389 - So the chief is asking that we provide a conditional offer of employment suitable or such the point 00:08:23.389 --> 00:08:33.177 - that she passes all applicable requirements. And I would move such. Motion a second whenever you're 00:08:33.177 --> 00:08:38.462 - ready. Yes. Yes. Trevor Sager. Yes. Pam samples. Yes. 00:08:42.690 --> 00:08:49.009 - Motion passes. Sorry. Thank you. With that said, again, with many thanks to both Jimmy and George, I 00:08:49.009 --> 00:08:55.453 - would like to present to council tonight, Officer Shannon Bunger, and I would recommend to the council 00:08:55.453 --> 00:09:01.709 - that he be Jimmy's successor, and that so we can begin a orderly transition, we would name him as a 00:09:01.709 --> 00:09:08.341 - second deputy chief this evening to allow for transition to begin and to take place over the next several 00:09:08.341 --> 00:09:10.718 - months, because both Jimmy and George 00:09:10.946 --> 00:09:17.709 - quite a few days they're gonna take off and we do not want to go into the first of the year with Jimmy 00:09:17.709 --> 00:09:24.472 - being very close and George being very close to that retirement date. So to allow for Shannon to first 00:09:24.472 --> 00:09:31.498 - assume the position of Deputy Chief, I would move that we promote Shannon Munger to Deputy Chief effective 00:09:31.498 --> 00:09:38.392 - immediately. I'll second. Motion to second, please. Scott Ullman? Yes. William Ellis? Yes. Trevor Sager? 00:09:38.392 --> 00:09:39.902 - Yes. Pam Samples? Yes. 00:09:40.642 --> 00:09:49.620 - Motion carries. So congratulations to you, Shannon. Do you want to say anything? That was also a not 00:09:49.620 --> 00:09:58.597 - really face. Get used to it. Yeah. Well, I want to thank Chief General for coming over here a couple 00:09:58.597 --> 00:10:05.086 - of years ago and good work for this great police department, great town. 00:10:05.794 --> 00:10:12.005 - He made the comment about being a trooper in Connorsville back in the day, and when we first met, I 00:10:12.005 --> 00:10:18.278 - told him where I was from, and he said, well, that's where I got my start. And his training officer, 00:10:18.278 --> 00:10:24.675 - his daughter is my best friend. So small world, here we are. Fast forward, I won't say how many years, 00:10:24.675 --> 00:10:31.259 - Chief, but a long time. And then thank George for all of his help at IU, and thank the council for having 00:10:31.259 --> 00:10:35.358 - a faith in me and believe in me, and I look forward to get going. 00:10:35.906 --> 00:10:41.356 - I'm just excited, ready to go. Thank you. Thank you. And again, I do not think that we can do anything 00:10:41.356 --> 00:10:46.648 - other than make our intentions known that Deputy Chief Bunger would assume the role of the chief at 00:10:46.648 --> 00:10:51.992 - the first of the year because that will be under a new council at that point. But that is definitely 00:10:51.992 --> 00:10:57.548 - this council's intention that he succeed Chief Durnall into becoming chief of police. So with that said, 00:10:57.548 --> 00:11:03.422 - we've got a privilege of the floor and we're having the business of the council not part of our normal agenda. 00:11:06.018 --> 00:11:12.955 - Seeing no one in chambers and no one online, we'll now move to supervisor comments. Begin with the town 00:11:12.955 --> 00:11:19.758 - manager. Sure, let's talk about budget dates in October, leading all the way up to Halloween. I think 00:11:19.758 --> 00:11:26.562 - the budget kind of dovetails right into Halloween. So let's start with the dates. I've emailed all of 00:11:26.562 --> 00:11:33.298 - you and I've asked you that we have special meetings on October 5th and 19th for the budget. It'd be 00:11:33.298 --> 00:11:35.166 - a first reading on the 5th. 00:11:35.330 --> 00:11:44.623 - and then hearing and approval on the 19th, and it'd be at 6.30 at the town hall, and that will be the 00:11:44.623 --> 00:11:54.099 - only item on the agenda. So I'm hoping you'll reply to me so I quit being nervous about it. If anything 00:11:54.099 --> 00:12:04.030 - goes wrong on the 5th or the 19th, we have 10 days, which allows us to sneak in one more day, but if we miss 00:12:04.322 --> 00:12:10.991 - The 19th for some reason, if there's some reason we don't have the meeting, then we'll have to have 00:12:10.991 --> 00:12:18.060 - the meeting on Friday, October the 30th or October 31st, which would be perfect for. Just for the record, 00:12:18.060 --> 00:12:24.795 - are we gonna do both of those, the 5th and 19th at 6.30? Yes. Okay. So let me know, because I've got 00:12:24.795 --> 00:12:31.397 - a scorecard going, so please reply to me. Well, I'll let you know now, I'm good for both of those. 00:12:31.397 --> 00:12:33.598 - I am too. You're both good? Yep. 00:12:33.730 --> 00:12:42.342 - And, okay. Okay, and then the only other thing I have tonight is that Fall Festival's coming up and 00:12:42.342 --> 00:12:51.040 - I just remind everybody to be prepared for what the Fall Festival brings to town. And I'd appreciate 00:12:51.040 --> 00:12:59.738 - it if they mow the yard, pull their weeds, and make this place look as good as we can, because we're 00:12:59.738 --> 00:13:01.374 - gonna have guests. 00:13:01.762 --> 00:13:10.514 - So I'm looking forward to Fall Fest. So dad said pick up. That's all I got. Anything from you? Just 00:13:10.514 --> 00:13:19.354 - a little further update with with Officer Bunger coming in as deputy chief that leaves an opening at 00:13:19.354 --> 00:13:28.456 - the junior high and Sam Miller, who was an SRO, raise your hand Sam, who's SRO certified will be moving 00:13:28.456 --> 00:13:30.206 - into that position. 00:13:30.434 --> 00:13:41.315 - And then with a new offer that we just made, it'll put us at nine people on the street. So we're in 00:13:41.315 --> 00:13:51.761 - pretty good shape, or for now anyway. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Nothing? Planning? All right, 00:13:51.761 --> 00:14:00.030 - thank you. Now move to council comments. I just want to thank Chief Durnall 00:14:00.770 --> 00:14:09.343 - George, I mean, you guys have steadied the ship very well. And Shannon, you got some big shoes to fill. 00:14:09.343 --> 00:14:17.833 - I don't know what your shoe size is. I don't need to get that personal with you, but I just think that 00:14:17.833 --> 00:14:26.241 - it's amazing that we've had the privilege to have these two gentlemen steer law enforcement with this 00:14:26.241 --> 00:14:29.950 - town. Well said. Yeah, absolutely well said. 00:14:31.202 --> 00:14:38.379 - Anything else? Nothing? So no further business, we're adjourned. Okay, we're not. I am glad our paths 00:14:38.379 --> 00:14:45.415 - crossed because you boys have been more like family to me. All right, thank you, I appreciate that. 00:14:45.415 --> 00:14:51.326 - You've been a good friend, been a good supporter. Okay. All right, we're adjourned.