Council approves new inspector and IT specialist, vacates alley; rezoning item tabled

The Terre Haute City Council on Thursday, March 6, 2025, approved a series of staffing and administrative items, vacated a small platted alley near 2309 North 30th Street and tabled a rezoning request to its April 10 meeting.

The council approved appropriation number 22025 to create a new construction inspector position with a salary up to $43,000 and associated payroll costs, funding the position from the engineering nonreverting fund rather than the general fund. City Engineer Marcus said the role will provide “construction observation of all the construction jobs” and “is in charge of making sure everything’s built right, making sure our money is spent wisely.” The council voted to take action and then approve the appropriation; the motion to take action was moved by Councilman Azar and seconded by Councilwoman Loudermilk, and the subsequent motion to approve was moved by Councilman Azar and seconded by Councilwoman Loudermilk.

Council members also approved Special Ordinance 3/2025 to vacate a north–south portion and an east–west portion of public alleys west and north of 2309 North 30th Street. Richard Shagley, representing petitioner Southern Homes LLC, told the council the abutting property owners had been contacted and would receive half the vacated alley adjoining their parcels. The motion to take action on the ordinance was moved by Councilwoman Hinton and seconded by Councilman DeBaun; the council then approved the ordinance.

Special Ordinance 05/2025, a rezoning request affecting properties listed at 50502 and 504 Barton, was tabled to the council’s April 10 meeting after a motion by Councilman Azar and a second by Councilman Chalos. Area Planning had previously tabled the item to an April meeting.

The council approved Special Ordinance 07/2025 to add an IT automation specialist position intended to support wastewater plant operations and to shift some staffing levels (including a transfer related to right-of-way and construction inspection positions). City officials said hiring the specialist would reduce reliance on an outside vendor for PLC (programmable logic controller) and related automation work and could produce annual savings; the city described the expected savings as approximately $300,000 per year. The motion to take action and the motion to approve were brought by council members Dinkel and Dingle (and seconded as recorded).

The council also approved Resolution 8/2025 authorizing the filing of applications with the Federal Transit Administration to support Terre Haute Transit operations and preventative maintenance. The transit official said the grant application will follow established FTA operating and maintenance grant categories.

Votes at a glance - Appropriation 22025 (create construction inspector position): Moved by Councilman Azar; seconded by Councilwoman Loudermilk. Outcome: Approved. - Special Ordinance 3/2025 (vacate portions of alleys west/north of 2309 N. 30th St.): Moved by Councilwoman Hinton; seconded by Councilman DeBaun. Outcome: Approved. - Special Ordinance 05/2025 (rezoning at 50502 and 504 Barton): Motion to table moved by Councilman Azar; seconded by Councilman Chalos. Outcome: Tabled to April 10, 2025. - Special Ordinance 07/2025 (add IT automation specialist; staffing transfers): Motion to take action moved by Councilman Dinkel; approval moved by Councilman Dingle. Outcome: Approved. - Resolution 8/2025 (file FTA grant applications for Terre Haute Transit): Moved by Councilman Chalos; seconded by Councilman DeBaun. Outcome: Approved.

Council members and staff framed the measures as operational and administrative steps intended to support construction oversight, plant operations and transit funding rather than new general-fund hires. The council did not provide a roll-call tally in the public record for these votes; action was recorded by voice vote with members saying “aye.”