February 25, 2025 Meeting Minutes

SOUTH WHITLEY TOWN COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

TOWN HALL BOARD ROOM

118 E FRONT ST

SOUTH WHITLEY, IN  46787

FEBRUARY 25, 2025

6:30 PM

CALL TO ORDER: Meeting was called to order by Council President Brock Waterson. Members present were as follows: Council President Brock Waterson, Vice President Trey Weber, Councilman Randy Cokl, Town Attorney Greg Hockemeyer, and Clerk-Treasurer Alyssa Knepple. Utility Supervisor Kent Slater and Town Marshal Mikel Vandevender were not in attendance. 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

ADJUSTMENTS

NONE

NEW BUSINESS

NONE

OLD BUSINESS

104 S STATE STREET: Councilman Weber said the appraisals came in from Metz and Denney, LLC, with an amount of $30,000. and Dawson Appraisals, with an amount of $30,000 to $36,000. Councilman Cokl made a motion to allow the Town to offer $30,000 for the 104 S State Street property to Lynn and Renee Duggins. Councilman Weber seconded. Motion passed with a vote of 3-0. Mr. Hockemeyer stated he would get to work on the purchase agreement.

COUNCILMAN TOPICS

206 & 208 PROPERTY: When the Town entered the contract with Mr. McCarty, they also approved to help with the demolition of the back part of the building. Councilman Waterson said he spoke with Tim Moyer Excavating and Mr. Moyer quoted Brock at $6,000 for the demolition. Councilman Cokl made a motion to accept the demolition quote of $6,000 from Tim Moyer Excavating. Councilman Weber seconded. Motion passed with a vote of 3-0. 

STATE STREET PROPERTY: The empty property across the river from the Town Park still needs to have debris and stumps removed, along with continued clean up. Councilman Waterson spoke with Matt Long, who did the clean up before, and Tim Moyer about getting the property finished and debris removed. Matt Long would charge $2,000 for continued clean up and Tim Moyer said he would charge $2,000 to remove the existing debris piles. Councilman Cokl made a motion to accept paying Matt Long $2,000 for continued clean-up and $2,000 to Tim Moyer for removing the debris. Councilman Weber seconded. Motion passed with a vote of 3-0. 

PUBLIC INPUT

KAREN JORDAN: Mrs. Jordan stated that she knows a place where the town can purchase old bridges. This would help with the cost of constructing our own to attach the town park to the property on the other side of the river. The council said they are looking into some different options, but right now they are waiting on approval from the DNR. Jane Cripe, 304 N Calhoun, has a severely damaged yard because of the semi-trucks coming from Artistic Designs and don’t make the corner turn, which then makes them turn into and damage Mrs. Cripe’s yard. This has happened a few times already, once damaging the entire curb. Mrs. Jordan also wanted to know what the town had planned for the old flower shop, 104 S State Street. The Council stated they want to fix up the property and allow a small business to purchase it. 

STEVE SUBKOWSKI: Mr. Subkowski lives at 205 S East Street and before construction he used a stone driveway to park his work truck. After the construction was completed, API put in grass and a small tree lawn in place of the parking space. Mr. Subkowski is getting complaints from neighbors about the mud his work truck is getting on the new road. He is wondering if he can get the stone parking spot back and have API put the stone down when they come do the final walk-through. The council said they will put it on the list of residents who have issues with the finalization of the project. 

AMANDA WOOD: Ms. Wood lives above the old laundry mat and has been having serious issues with her apartment and her landlord is no longer taking her calls about the issues. She has gone to the county building department, health department, and called the state fire marshal because there are currently no fire escapes or additional exits for her to find safety in case of a fire. The police sergeant was in attendance, and he gave her the number for the Indiana Housing Authority. They should be able to provide her with recommendations and contacts to get the help she needs with her landlord not helping her or creating a safe, healthy place to live. 

DEPARTMENT HEADS:

PARK BOARD UPDATE: The Library Board stated that their bylaws state that a library board member had to be appointed to represent the library district. The Library Board appointed Kris Shoemaker as the representative. The park board is now full, and the first meeting is March 10th at 6:30 pm in the east room of Town Hall. 

WASTE WATER/UTILITIES SUPERVISOR – KENT SLATER: not present

TOWN MARSHAL – MIKEL VANDEVENDER: not present

TOWN ATTORNEY – GREGG HOCKEMEYER: Mr. Hockemeyer will get started on the purchase agreement for the 104 S State Street property.

CLERK-TREASURER – ALYSSA KNEPPLE: Mrs. Knepple will coordinate with IMPA and the council to get the half-time report meeting scheduled.

APPROVALS:

APPROVAL FOR FEBRUARY 11TH REGULAR MEETING MINUTES: Councilman Cokl made a motion to accept the February 11, 2025, regular meeting minutes. Councilman Weber seconded. Motion passed with a vote of 3-0.

APPROVALS FOR JANUARY 2025 BANK RECONCILIATION: Councilman Cokl made a motion to accept the January 2025 bank reconciliations. Councilman Weber seconded. Motion passed with a vote of 3-0.

APPROVAL FOR FEBRUARY 25TH, 2025 APV’s TOTALING $ 348,367.09: Councilman Cokl made a motion to accept the February 25, 2025, APV’s totaling $ 348,367.09. Councilman Weber seconded. Motion passed with a vote of 3-0.

APPROVAL FOR PAYROLL WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 17TH, 2025, TOTALING $ 14,912.58: Councilman Cokl made a motion to accept payroll for the week ending February 17, 2025, totaling $ 14,912.58. Councilman Weber seconded. Motion passed with a vote of 3-0.

APPROVAL FOR PAYROLL WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 24TH, 2025, TOTALING $ 11,963.59: Councilman Cokl made a motion to accept payroll for the week ending February 24, 2025, totaling $ 11,963.59. Councilman Weber seconded. Motion passed with a vote of 3-0.

ADJOURN at: Meeting was adjourned at 7:14 pm by Council President Brock Waterson. 

APPROVALS:

ATTEST: