Town of Huntertown - Meeting Minutes

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Meeting of the Town Council
of Huntertown, Indiana
August 21, 2017 6:00 p.m.
Huntertown Town Hall

A meeting of the Huntertown Town Council was held on Monday, August 21, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. In attendance were Council President Mike Aker and council members Patricia Freck, Gary Grant, Brandon Seifert and Mike Stamets. Also present were: Clerk-Treasurer Ryan Schwab; Utility Foreman Gabe Brindle; and town engineer Derek Frederickson of Engineering Resources Inc. Also in attendance were eleven (11) guests and one (1) reporter. Absent was Huntertown Resource Officer Brandon Reichert, Superintendent of Utilities Don Papai and town attorney Dave Hawk of Hawk Hayne Kammeyer & Smith.

Mike Aker called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.

COUNCIL ACTIONS

Gary Grant made a motion to approve the minutes from the August 7, 2017 meeting. Patricia Freck seconded. Motion passed, 5-0.

Gary Grant made a motion to approve the general claims dated August 21, 2017. Mike Stamets seconded. Motion passed, 5-0.

Patricia Freck made a motion to introduce Huntertown Ordinance 17-003, an ordinance prohibiting harboring small farm animals within the Town of Huntertown, Indiana. Gary Grant seconded. Motion passed, 5-0.

Mike Stamets made a motion to consider Huntertown Ordinance 17-003, an ordinance prohibiting harboring small farm animals within the Town of Huntertown, Indiana. Brandon Seifert seconded. Motion passed, 5-0.

Gary Grant made a motion to adopt Huntertown Ordinance 17-003, an ordinance prohibiting harboring small farm animals within the Town of Huntertown, Indiana. Mike Stamets seconded. Motion passed, 5-0.

Patricia Freck made a motion to introduce Huntertown Ordinance 17-004, an ordinance to amend Huntertown Ordinance 16-006 providing for the payment of salaries of elected officials and other employees of the town of Huntertown for the fiscal year 2017 (Salary ordinance). Mike Stamets seconded. After discussion, the motion was tabled.

NEW BUSINESS

Joe Deprisco, acting president of the Lima Industrial Park Association, addressed the council about issues facing the association, including street lighting, street paving and mowing within the complex. Deprisco said the town was supposed to take over maintenance of the street lights per an agreement; however he had no documentation to back his statement. Council asked Deprisco to provide that documentation while saying the town does not pay for lighting in any other similar areas in town. Patricia Freck said that the town has a pavement management plan and would look into adding those streets to the plan. After discussion, no action was taken.

Patricia Freck made a motion to introduce Huntertown Ordinance 17-003, an ordinance prohibiting harboring small farm animals within the Town of Huntertown, Indiana. Gary Grant seconded. Mike Stamets opened discussion asking what would happen to existing homeowners with animals if the ordinance was passed. Patricia Freck said that she talked with town attorney Dave Hawk and he said that the town cannot enforce the ordinance on existing homeowners without a complaint. If a complaint is issued, then the homeowner can apply for a variance with the Allen County Department of Planning Services. Debi Welch and Ed Mitchell, residents at 15029 Hedgebrook Drive, addressed the council about their home, which Welch said included multiple roosters and geese. Welch said they received a letter from the Allen County Department of Planning Services, but were unaware of a complaint from any of their neighbors. Council advised that since a complaint was filed and the Allen County Department of Planning services issued them a letter, they should address issues to them and apply for a variance. Larry Newton, a resident at 1410 Rabbit Run, said that his neighbor at 1404 Rabbit Run used poles and chicken wire to make an addition to her coup, which isn't reducing the smell and makes the sight more of an eye sore. After no further discussion, the motion passed, 5-0. Consideration and approval of the ordinance followed as noted in the above "Council Action" section.

Patricia Freck made a motion to introduce Huntertown Ordinance 17-004, an ordinance to amend Huntertown Ordinance 16-006 providing for the payment of salaries of elected officials and other employees of the town of Huntertown for the fiscal year 2017 (Salary ordinance). Mike Stamets seconded. Council President Mike Aker suggested tabling the vote until the September 5, 2017 meeting since the ordinance also requires an approved resolution from the Huntertown Utility Service Board, which will not meet until that date. Clerk-Treasurer Ryan Schwab told the council he needed an idea on the salary and which account(s) the salary would be paid from sometime before his budget workshop, which is scheduled for August 31, 2017. Patricia Freck asked Schwab about the amount of time the town would have to get final numbers on the salary and account(s). Schwab said he would find out and let the council know. Brandon Seifert asked about specific duties of a town manager and Gary Grant said the council would have lots of discussion about duties for the position in the future. After no further discussion, the motion was tabled.

OLD BUSINESS

Mike Aker reintroduced a topic on barking dogs. Aker allowed Kenneth Eubank, a resident at 15211 Water Oak Place, and Norman Cromwell, a resident at 15219 Water Oak Place, to address the council about their neighbor's barking dog. Eubank addressed the council on this same issue at its July 17, 2017 meeting and is still dealing with the issue. Eubank said that a previous ordinance should be taken back over by the town instead of the current policy adopted in Huntertown Ordinance 16-015, which aligned Huntertown's Code of Ordinances with Allen County and the City of Fort Wayne. Gary Grant said the best course of action was to contact Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control, as the town could not utilize the services of Animal Care & Control if it had its own ordinance. Gary Grant said he would talk to the Allen County Animal Care & Control on Tuesday, August 15 and advised the residents to contact Animal Care & Control themselves at 449-3000 with any complaints. Mike Aker added that Huntertown Resource Officer Brandon Reichert has been made aware of the situation, the town has already sent a letter to the homeowner and that the homeowner's association has also been made aware of the situation. After no further discussion, no action was taken.

COUNCIL REPORTS

NONE

REPORTS

Huntertown Resource Officer Brandon Reichert was absent.

Clerk-treasurer Ryan Schwab had no report.

Utility Foreman Gabe Brindle, filling in for Superintendent of Utilities Don Papai had the following report:
* He reminded residents about the ongoing construction in Huntertown and to drive safely when workers are present.
* He noted that the finish coat for the Gump Road construction project is scheduled for the first week of October and that substantial completion for the project would be sometime in the middle of October. Mike Stamets asked about the impact that the increased elevation of the road would have on local businesses in the area. Brindle said that while there is a significant elevation difference, the contractor assures the town it should not damage any vehicles.

Derek Frederickson of Engineering Resources Inc. reported that another meeting is on the books to discuss the job description for a town manager and he welcomed any council input on the topic.

Dave Hawk of Hawk Haynie Kammeyer & Smith was absent

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Debi Welch, a resident at 15029 Hedgebrook Drive, asked if the town had an ordinance bon fires within the town limits. Mike Aker provided her with the information she sought and noted that a complaint will shut down a bon fire but that the local fire departments aren't looking for them.
Welch also asked about continued firework displays in area neighborhoods. Gary Grant told her to contact the Sheriff's Department if she hears fireworks in the future.

Cindy Bailey, a resident at 2608 Hunter Road, addressed the council about high grass in a common area on the back side of the Towne Square subdivision near Hunter Road. Utility Foreman Gabe Brindle said the developer has turned things over to the homeowner's association, making it their responsibility. Brandon Seifert said he would contact the association to address the matter.

Mike Aker reminded residents that because of the Labor Day Holiday on Monday September 4, the next meeting of the Huntertown Town Council will be on Tuesday, September 5.

Gary Grant made a motion to adjourn. Brandon Seifert seconded. Motion passed with a voice vote and the meeting adjourned at 7:22 p.m.

The next meeting of the Huntertown Town Council is Tuesday, September 5, 2017 at 6 p.m.