Poseyville council honors regional champions, adopts TRECs for violations and approves equipment, utility and banking changes

The Poseyville Town Council on Aug. 13 adopted two ceremonial resolutions recognizing North Posey High School’s softball and baseball teams for Regional Championships and then moved through routine and operational business, approving a set of equipment purchases, utility-system contracts and a change in banking services.

Council President Justin Rutledge opened the meeting at 5:30 p.m. and led the council in reading Resolutions 2024-08-13-01 and 2024-08-13-02 honoring the teams; both measures passed on unanimous roll-call votes by Rutledge, Council Member Michael Baehl and Council Member Randall Rankin.

Why it matters: The meeting combined community recognition with a series of administrative decisions that affect town operations and finances, including a change in how code violations will be tracked and billed and a move to a new primary bank that officials said will reduce monthly fees.

The council approved routine financial items — the claims docket, payroll allowance docket and June and July bank reconciliations — after each had been circulated to members in advance. Clerk-Treasurer Jodie Rankin led finance items and recorded roll-call votes for each approval.

In public comment, Heather Morlan and Linda Reising asked the council to pursue an income (LMI) study through E-Rep so the Carnegie Library could serve as the beneficiary of a capital project to create an Education Center and adjacent parking. The council agreed to proceed under beneficiary parameters; no formal action was required.

A separate public comment involved a resident, Shawn French, who disputed an unexpectedly high June utility bill and said he did not have a leak. President Rutledge said the utility office had identified a possible leak and that the council instructed staff to pro-rate the bill; the utility adjusted more than 14,000 gallons off Mr. French’s bill, and the adjusted amount is now due.

Code enforcement and violations tracking: Utility Clerk Billye Robling told the council that the town’s weed-control and garbage/trash ordinances contain inconsistencies and recommended clearer procedures. The council instructed Clerk-Treasurer Jodie Rankin to prepare ordinance edits for legal review and advised Marshal Carter to begin personal service for violation notices to reduce delivery delays and improve tracking.

The council also voted to begin using the TRECs violations system, paid through the town’s existing Trust Indiana relationship. The system will allow fines to be charged to individuals rather than properties, which council members said will help with rental-property enforcement.

Equipment and utility work: The council approved purchase and mounting of a trailer for a flashing speed sign using remaining Community Foundation Police Grant 2022 funds and local income tax (LIT) funds for any balance, capping the project at $1,500. The measure passed on a unanimous roll call.

On water-system upgrades, the council selected paint color 57GR Aluminum and the Viking I logo for the new water tower and approved a $6,538.20 quote from Living Waters Company for a flow-paced chlorination system and an estimated under-$2,000 electrical contract from Altek; both will be paid from the Water Utility Fund.

Jeremy Farrar presented three quotes to relocate a generator from the water filtration plant to the Stewartsville lift station. The council authorized Mounts Electric and Hoehn Concrete to perform the relocation work.

The council approved a State Revolving Fund payment request from Midwestern Engineers, Inc. for $10,631.00.

Community events and facilities: The council approved a request from Kiwanis — represented by Ryan Oeth — to operate a beer garden at the 2024 Autumnfest. Council members also discussed asking non-profits that use the Community Center without rental fees to make voluntary donations toward upkeep; staff were asked to draft a letter to current non-profit users for future consideration.

Procurement and maintenance: A hydrostatic maintenance-test proposal from Koorsen was tabled while Clerk-Treasurer Jodie Rankin seeks an additional quote. Concrete bids for projects at the Poseyville Volunteer Fire Department and the Poseyville Community Center were announced, with a vendor preview set for Aug. 26 and a bid deadline of Sept. 10.

Banking and finance policy: After reviewing a banking comparison and consulting the State Board of Accounts, the council voted to move the town’s banking business to First Bank at a time determined by office staff, citing fee savings and a higher interest offering compared with the town’s current bank. Rank-and-file documentation from the Indiana Finance Authority was also relayed: according to the IFA communication shared by Clerk-Treasurer Rankin, program documents no longer require physically separate bank accounts for borrowers when appropriate accounting controls are in place; the council agreed to allow staff time to research implications for the town before executing any account changes.

Personnel and administration: The council approved an employee prescription-premium reimbursement and voted to set aside $8,789.91 of remaining ARPA funds to cover future audit expenses, with any unused remainder to be applied to additional meters. The council also approved paying $30 for a notary bond for Clerk-Treasurer Jodie Rankin; Utility Clerk Billye Robling’s notary bond was reported as effective through Sept. 2030.

What’s next: The council set its next meeting for Sept. 10, 2024, with a Budget Public Hearing scheduled for Oct. 8 and budget adoption planned for Oct. 22. The meeting adjourned at 7:57 p.m.

Votes at a glance: Resolutions 2024-08-13-01 (softball) and 2024-08-13-02 (baseball) — adopted (Rutledge, Baehl, Rankin: yes); Approval of July 9 minutes — adopted (Rutledge, Baehl, Rankin: yes); Claims docket, payroll docket, bank reconciliations — adopted; Adopt TRECs system — adopted; Trailer and mounting (not to exceed $1,500) — adopted; Living Waters and Altek chlorination work — adopted; Generator relocation to Mounts Electric and Hoehn Concrete — adopted; SRF payment to Midwestern Engineers, Inc. for $10,631 — adopted; Koorsen hydrostatic test — tabled pending additional quote; Move town banking to First Bank — adopted; Notary bond $30 — adopted.