The Loogootee City Council met on Monday, April 14, 2025, for a combined City Council and City Board of Works meeting at the Loogootee Municipal Building.
City Clerk-Treasurer Brandon Carrico, Mark McAtee, Attorney Steven Teverbaugh, and Dana Strange attended the Board of Works meeting. Mayor Brian Ader was initially absent but joined the meeting later that day.
Following the Board of Works meeting, attendees included Mayor Brian Ader, Mike Engleman, Carroll Rayhill, Mark McAtee, Jeremy Holland, Attorney Steven Teverbaugh, and Dave Smith.
The Board first approved new personnel recommendations discussed during the March 10 meeting. These included new positions in the police and utility departments and retaining Mitch Harder, Casey Taylor, and Jameson Wagner for new full-time and part-time job agreements within their respective city organizations. The Board of Works conducted interviews the previous week, and the recommendations were presented and accepted with a motion during this meeting.
Reflecting on the last meeting in February, the discussions at this meeting were extensive and smooth, covering various issues. One major topic was a stormwater proposal titled the “Behind the Wire” Project, which involves replacing a 12-inch storm sewer before pouring new concrete. The total cost for this project is estimated at $60,550, with $16,200 allocated explicitly for the storm sewer replacement. A board member noted, “They have replaced about 40 feet of that… 40 to 50 feet of that already where they poured our concrete drive.”
A member raised a concern about the project’s success, suggesting that without funding to hire an electrician, critical issues may go unnoticed, to which someone jokingly responded, “If you catch something before its failure.”
Another member highlighted the benefits of a baseline system, stating, “You can always add to the system… We don’t necessarily design anything that can’t be scaled. We can throttle back a little on the initial install, see the benefits, and then add to it later if we want. Low station monitoring can also be integrated in later phases, which may be helpful.”
The conversation shifted toward the frequency of visits and the importance of having real-time data broadcast back to the plant to assist operators effectively. The council agreed to proceed with the project if the nonprofit agreed to the terms.
The total estimated cost of the broader project is $298,000, with additional design costs to be finalized soon. The board also discussed a wastewater treatment plant proposal to assess the current situation and identify the next best steps.
This proposal includes a design package with specifications and drawings for competitive bidding to centralize plant process information. It aims to give operators a clear overview of the plant’s processes while keeping them alerted to failures in real time.
Additionally, the council approved a PILOT agreement for Oak Street Village, a $14 million affordable housing project that the city initially developed in 2024 and revisited this February.
The project, which includes adding 50 units of affordable housing and a 4,500-square-foot daycare facility, was the subject of extensive discussion during the meeting. The PILOT payments are set at $5,000 annually for 15 years.
The board approved the ordinance after a motion and a second, with the city executive authorized to finalize the execution of the pilot agreement. The project is expected to break ground in July, with financing secured and site work progressing well.
They also discussed a comprehensive economic development plan with a budget of $12,000 and safeguards for city expenses. Joe White, the program director, stated, “We’re proposing 50 units of affordable workforce housing for the citizens of Loogootee. We’ve discussed our policies and plans to ensure this project is excellent.” He added, “As part of this project, we are also proposing community amenities like a park, playground, pavilion, and pickleball courts to enhance the quality of life for the residents of Loogootee.”
The plan emphasized the importance of community engagement and collaboration with residents, property owners, business owners, nonprofits, and elected officials. The council discussed the necessity of updating the comprehensive plan and highlighted the need for safeguards in the contract to ensure the plan’s success.
The proposal was accepted after a motion was made and seconded, and the safeguards will be included in the contract. Additionally, payment applications for various projects were approved, and updates on essential business projects were provided.
Another topic discussed during the meeting was funding the new pavilion and infrastructure projects. These pay applications were presented and approved after further discussion.
The council also talked about the installation of digital speed limit signs. They noted the need for speed limit signs on Park Street and other areas and plan to address these issues. Furthermore, the council reviewed the weight limit on Country Court Road and considered the traffic diversion back to the original Country Court Road.
Before the meeting adjourned, the council emphasized the importance of completing the pavilion project by June 1 and mentioned that another meeting would be scheduled soon.
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