Carmel council honors original 1976 members, approves fee updates and property vacations
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Summary
At its Jan. 5 meeting, the Carmel Common Council recognized the city’s 50th anniversary, unanimously adopted a sweeping update to UDO filing and inspection fees, and approved ordinances vacating a public way at 310 2nd Street NE and a 10-foot easement at 7510 Oswego Road.
The Carmel Common Council honored the original members of the city’s first common council from 1976 and approved a package of administrative and property measures at its Jan. 5 meeting.
Mayor Finkham and council members introduced a resolution recognizing the city’s transition from town to city after a November 1974 referendum. The council read the resolution into the record and later voted to approve it. The resolution specifically names the original council members, including David Coutts, Dr. Walter Dean, Minnie Doane, Jim Gerritsen, Stan Mecham, Jane Ryman and Fred Swift.
Mike Hollebaugh, director of the Department of Community Services, summarized a comprehensive update to the Unified Development Ordinance fee section, saying the fee ordinance modernizes application, review and inspection fees and adds roughly 35 services. Hollebaugh said the fee schedule had last been updated in 2003. “It really is a modernization,” Hollebaugh said.
Councilor motioned to adopt the UDO fee update; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously.
The council also acted on two property-vacation matters that had public hearings earlier in the meeting. Petitioners asked to vacate a short public way near 310 2nd Street NE so a double lot replatting could proceed; engineering staff reviewed drainage and utilities and recommended moving forward. After a motion to suspend the rules and enter action the council approved the ordinance vacating the public way the same night.
Separately, the council considered vacating a 10-foot easement at 7510 Oswego Road. Engineering staff explained the easement was discovered after an earlier vacation; city legal said procedures will be updated so engineering and DOCS reviews are coordinated before future approvals. The council moved to waive rules and advance the ordinance.
On routine business, the council approved the consent agenda (minutes and claims). The consent vote covered payroll of $4,333,310.30; general claims of $788,983.31; purchase card charges of $27,586.14; retirement payments of $127,147.10; and wire transfers of $44,643,136.44.
The meeting closed with announcements about anniversary events and invitations for attendees to take photos with honored guests.
The council scheduled remaining land-use items and committee follow-ups for upcoming meetings; several ordinances remain in committee or are scheduled for further review.
