Thorntown council elects officers, appoints members and sets hearing on water fee hike

The Town of Thorntown Town Council on Jan. 13 elected Council member Dave Williams as council president, appointed Randy Bruder to fill a council seat and named Erick Smith to the Utility Service Board, approved several local projects and set a public hearing to consider raising the water capacity fee to $4,000.

Council President Sara Fairfield called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. at Thorntown Town Hall. Attendance was read by Clerk/Treasurer Koren Gray and included five council members, town staff, consultants and eight citizens.

The council elected Dave Williams as Council President for 2025 after a motion by Council member Shawn McClintock and a second from Sara Fairfield; the motion passed 4-0. The council also elected Bruce Burtner as vice president (motion by Sara Fairfield; second by Shawn McClintock; 4-0).

The council approved the appointment of Randy Bruder to the Thorntown Town Council; Clerk/Treasurer Koren Gray administered the Oath of Office. In a separate appointment, Max Allen recommended Erick Smith for the Utility Service Board; the council approved the appointment 5-0 and Gray administered the Oath of Office. Council members clarified USB term lengths to restore staggered terms: Pat McPeak will serve a three-year term, Erick Smith a two-year term and Max Allen begins a four-year term.

On routine business, the council approved the Dec. 16, 2024 meeting minutes and signed the APV register and payroll dockets. The council voted to continue paying the water share of employee health insurance from the sewer and electric funds to ease the water fund burden (motion by Dave Williams, second by Shawn McClintock; vote 5-0).

The Building Inspector, Ben Truitt, requested inspection-report software and an iPad for mobile use. The council authorized payment from the CCI Fund not to exceed $500 (motion by Sara Fairfield; second by Bruce Burtner; 5-0).

Under unfinished business the council accepted the alley repair project between Pizza King and the salon on State Road 47, approved the engineer’s finding that the work met specifications and authorized Council President Dave Williams to sign post-construction documents and allow payment to Newby Excavating (motions passed 5-0).

Dan Cutshaw of MS Consultants provided approximate cost information for potential water-plant updates and, together with Jarrod Hall of Krohn & Associates, recommended increasing the water capacity fee for new builds to $4,000 from the current $1,300. The council voted to pursue the change and scheduled a public hearing for Feb. 3; the Clerk/Treasurer will handle the required posting.

Park Board President Sarabi Wallace reported roughly 250 attendees at the recent Holiday on Main event, that the Angel Tree served 35 individuals in six families, and outlined the Park Board’s 2025 event schedule. The Park Board is seeking quotes for a possible restroom at Lions Park and the Thorntown Friends of the Parks Foundation is pursuing 501(c)(3) status under Lisa Vitameni’s oversight.

With no further business, Council President Williams moved to adjourn at 8:25 p.m.; the motion passed 5-0.

Votes at a glance: The meeting recorded multiple motions and unanimous or near-unanimous approvals: the election of officers (4-0), the appointment of Randy Bruder (4-0), the appointment of Erick Smith to the USB (5-0), continuation of water insurance payments from sewer/electric funds (5-0), approval of the alley repair and payment to Newby Excavating (5-0), CCI fund purchase authorization up to $500 (5-0), and a vote to move forward with increasing the water capacity fee and schedule a public hearing (vote recorded as passed; specific roll-call not recorded).