Pandora Village Council approves food-truck permit in split vote, OKs $160,642 water‑tower payment and brush‑pile agreement

The Pandora Village Council met April 22, 2025, at 7 p.m. at the Municipal Building and handled a series of routine and project-related actions, including approving a solicitor-drafted permit for food-truck vendors, authorizing an intergovernmental dumping agreement, and clearing two payments tied to the village’s water-tower replacement project.

Council approved the new food‑truck permit, which was prepared by Solicitor Scott Basinger and reflects prior council discussions and recommendations. The motion to approve the permit was made by Mr. Burkholder and seconded by Mr. Fricke. The vote was 3–2: Burkholder—Yea; Fricke—Yea; Braidic—Yea; Eisenbach—Nay; Gray—Nay. Council noted the permit will be posted on the village’s website.

Members authorized an agreement with the Village of Ottawa allowing only Pandora employees to use Ottawa’s municipal garage brush pile for yard and tree waste disposal. The annual fee for that service is $3,500 and will be re‑evaluated every two years. The motion to authorize Mayor Jeremy Liechty to execute the agreement was made by Mr. Burkholder, seconded by Mrs. Braidic, and passed unanimously.

On the water‑tower replacement project, Council approved payment of a Bockrath & Associates invoice for March 2025 in the amount of $957.50; the council approved paying that invoice from grant funds. Council also approved Contractor's Application for Payment No. 16 for $160,642.23. Both motions were moved by Mr. Gray and passed by unanimous vote.

The council also approved routine business: the April 8, 2025 meeting minutes and bills totaling $42,115.82 (non‑payroll $16,680.84; payroll $25,434.98). Those motions passed on unanimous votes.

During the administrator’s report, Village Administrator Rick Morrison said contractors Fremont Fence and The CourtSMITHS are preparing estimates to rehabilitate the village’s tennis courts; Ward Construction and Hohenbrink Excavating will also be consulted. Morrison reported that the large dirt pile in the Industrial Park—referred to in the meeting as “Mount Stanley”—has been pushed back and roughly graded; the village will solicit quotes for additional grading and seeding. He also said Hohenbrink Excavating provided an estimate of $50,000 to connect homes on the south side of Welty Street to a water line on the north side, and will provide a quote to replace a four‑inch water loop from N. High Street to Diller Street with a six‑inch line.

Chief Scott Stant reported he obtained two in‑car “tough book” computers for patrol vehicles from the Village of Ottawa for $50. Mayor Jeremy Liechty also reported that county mayors and commissioners met with Brian Hilvers, the county EMA director, about tornado and severe‑weather preparedness; that remark was informational and did not prompt further action.

With no further business, the council adjourned after a motion by Mr. Fricke, seconded by Mr. Gray.

Votes at a glance: - Approve April 8, 2025 minutes: Motion Mr. Gray; second Mr. Eisenbach; result: all yea; outcome: approved. - Approve bills and payroll ($42,115.82): Motion Mr. Burkholder; second Mr. Eisenbach; result: all yea; outcome: approved. - Approve food‑truck permit (solicitor-drafted): Motion Mr. Burkholder; second Mr. Fricke; result: Burkholder Yea; Fricke Yea; Braidic Yea; Eisenbach Nay; Gray Nay; outcome: approved. - Authorize brush‑pile dumping agreement with Village of Ottawa (annual fee $3,500): Motion Mr. Burkholder; second Mrs. Braidic; result: all yea; outcome: authorized; Mayor authorized to execute agreement. - Approve Bockrath & Associates invoice (March 2025) $957.50 (pay from grant funds): Motion Mr. Gray; second Mr. Eisenbach; result: all yea; outcome: approved. - Approve Contractor's Application for Payment No. 16 $160,642.23: Motion Mr. Gray; second Mr. Fricke; result: all yea; outcome: approved.

Who spoke (first reference with role): Mayor Jeremy Liechty; Mr. Burkholder (council member); Mr. Eisenbach (council member); Mr. Fricke (council member); Mrs. Braidic (council member); Mr. Gray (council member); Chief Scott Stant (police chief); Village Administrator Rick Morrison; Fiscal Officer Kimberly Reese; Solicitor Scott Basinger; Nancy Hovest (guest).

Clarifying details: annual brush‑pile fee $3,500 (re‑evaluation every two years); bills approved — non‑payroll $16,680.84 and payroll $25,434.98 (total $42,115.82); Bockrath invoice $957.50 (March 2025); Contractor Payment No. 16 = $160,642.23; Hohenbrink Excavating estimate received $50,000 for hooking south‑side Welty Street homes to north‑side water line; two ‘tough book’ computers purchased for $50 from Village of Ottawa.

Proper names (selected): Pandora (village); Pandora Village Council; Village of Ottawa; Bockrath & Associates; Hohenbrink Excavating; Fremont Fence; The CourtSMITHS; N. High Street; Diller Street; Welty Street; Brian Hilvers.

Next steps: follow up on tennis‑court bids and the Hohenbrink quote for Welty Street service connections; post the adopted food‑truck permit to the village website; execute the Ottawa brush‑pile agreement.