Clarksville Town Council Organizational Meeting and Regular Session – January 7, 2025
Clarksville Town Council Organizational and Regular Meeting – January 7, 2025
The Clarksville Town Council held its annual organizational meeting on January 7, 2025, to elect officers and appoint members to numerous boards and commissions. The regular session followed, addressing several ordinances, resolutions, and public hearings. Key items included an annexation for Origin Park, creation of pollinator gardens, establishment of a three-way stop, purchase of police vehicles, surplus property declarations, temporary loans, budget transfers, and renewal of the town attorney's contract. The meeting concluded with a work session featuring presentations from Clark County CARES and Jeffersonville Animal Control regarding the interlocal agreement for animal shelter services.
Organizational Actions
- Election of Town President: Brian Ramsey was nominated and elected (6 ayes, 1 abstention) to serve as town president for 2025.
- Election of Vice President: Bob McEwen was elected unanimously as vice president.
- Election of Secretary: Karen Henderson was elected (6 ayes, 1 abstention) as council secretary.
- Appointments to Boards and Commissions: Numerous appointments were made for the Plan Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, Building Commission, Redevelopment Commission, Redevelopment Authority, Parks and Recreation Board, Historic Preservation Commission, Insurance Review Committee, River Hills Economic Development Council, Ohio River Greenway Commission, ADA Compliance and Grievance Committee, Clark County Solid Waste Board, and 911 Emergency Service Board. Appointments to the police and fire merit boards were postponed to January 21, 2025, pending clarification from the state and legal counsel.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of minutes from previous regular meetings, claims (current and pre-written), and acceptance of minutes from various boards and commissions were approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were made during the public hearing on the petition to vacate an easement at 1607 Green Tree Boulevard. The hearing was closed with no speakers for or against.
Discussion Items
- Ordinance 2025 G01 – Annexation for Origin Park: Five properties (1029 and 1301 McCullough Pike, and 1004, 1022, and 1026 Highway 62 West) were annexed into the town as part of the Origin Park development. The properties will be zoned West Riverfront District (WRD) in Council District 1. A public hearing on December 17, 2024, had no speakers. The ordinance passed unanimously on first and second readings.
- Ordinance 2025 G02 – Pollinator Gardens: This ordinance repeals and replaces existing vegetation ordinances to allow pollinator gardens as a landscaping option, with guidelines developed in consultation with Bear Grass Thunder. It aims to support native plants, improve biodiversity, stormwater retention, and public health. The vote was 5 in favor, 2 against (Councilmen McEwen and Munich voting no), requiring a second reading at the next meeting.
- Ordinance 2025 G03 – Vacating Easement at Huffman Honda: This ordinance vacates a 12-foot drainage and public utility easement on Lot 1 of Green Tree Park for planned construction at Huffman Honda. After a public hearing with no speakers, the ordinance passed unanimously on first and second readings.
- Ordinance 2025 ST01 – Three-Way Stop at Main Street and Riverside Drive: The redevelopment area improvements necessitate a three-way stop for safety. The ordinance passed unanimously on both readings. Town Manager Beatty noted enforcement will occur 30 days after advertisement, likely after the intersection fully opens.
- Purchase of Four Police Vehicles: Two quotes were received; Bachman Commercial provided the best price at $211,466 for four vehicles, reduced to $192,466 after trading in four surplus vehicles valued at $19,000. The purchase will be funded from the police drug fund. Councilwoman Schiller inquired about the fund's allowable uses and the disposition of trade-in proceeds. The motion carried unanimously.
- Resolution 2025 R01 – Surplus Property: Declared the four trade-in police vehicles as surplus, authorizing disposal per state code. Approved unanimously.
- Resolution 2025 R02 – Disposal of Property at 1904 Tennyson Drive: The property, acquired in 2023 via code enforcement after a collapsed home, will be donated to the Salvation Army for construction of a single-family residence. Approved unanimously.
- Resolution 2025 R03 – Temporary Loans: Loans from the rainy day fund to the vehicle maintenance repair fund ($23,000) and parks and recreation fund ($200,000), and from the wastewater operating fund to the wastewater capital fund ($14,238), were authorized to cover cash flow deficits from 2024. The parks loan had already been repaid. Approved unanimously.
- Ordinance 2024 BUD 05 – Year-End Budget Transfers: Ratified 23 transfers totaling $2.2 million across 10 funds, made by the clerk-treasurer and town manager to ensure positive year-end balances. Councilwoman Schiller questioned the high number of transfers; staff explained it was fewer than a prior year ($3.5 million) and covered unforeseen emergency purchases. Approved unanimously.
- Contract for Legal Services: Renewed the contract for Chris Sturgeon as town council attorney at $175 per hour for 2025, same as 2024. The contract covers general government and redevelopment but not bond issuance fees. Approved unanimously.
Clerk-Treasurer's Report
Clerk Treasurer A.D. Stonecypher reported that property tax draws received in December were more than 20% lower than the summer draws, typical due to lump-sum payments in May. He advised the council to monitor state legislation on road funding, property tax reform, and local income tax options, which could affect town finances.
Department Head Reports
- Fire Chief reported 2,400 runs in 2024, a slight increase from 2023, averaging 6–7 runs per day. He thanked the fire crews for their performance.
- Public Works/Town Manager commended department heads for preparing roads ahead of the winter storm, noting the snow-first/ice-second pattern allowed for better clearing. Primary snow routes are plowed first, then secondary, then neighborhoods. Police and fire assisted with stranded motorists.
Council Comments
Council members Schiller, Voiner, Stotts, Henderson, Munich, and McEwen expressed gratitude to public works, police, fire, and all department heads for their storm response and wished everyone a happy new year.
Work Session (Following Regular Meeting)
- Clark County CARES Presentation: Bill Stuckey presented on the organization’s mission to reduce overdose deaths and stigma through education, drug facts week, and support. The 10th annual Drug Facts Week was scheduled for January 2025, including a state of the county address, law and order night, job fair, speaker, lip sync battle, family fun day, and memorial. They requested $5,000 in funding from Clarksville, continuing past support. Councilmembers shared personal experiences with addiction and expressed appreciation.
- Jeffersonville Animal Control Interlocal Agreement: Christy Ashcraft, shelter director, answered questions about the proposed agreement. Councilwoman Henderson raised concerns about incomplete financial data, large salary increases, lack of grant applications, and the shelter’s reliance on donations. Other council members echoed concerns about transparency and the need for the shelter to pursue grants actively. The agreement will be revisited after more information is provided.
Key Outcomes
- Elected officers: Brian Ramsey (president), Bob McEwen (vice president), Karen Henderson (secretary) for 2025.
- Approved appointments to multiple boards and commissions (details in organizational section).
- Annexation ordinance (2025 G01) passed on first and second readings unanimously, adding five properties for Origin Park.
- Pollinator garden ordinance (2025 G02) passed on first reading (5-2) and will return for second reading.
- Easement vacation (2025 G03) passed on first and second readings unanimously.
- Three-way stop ordinance (2025 ST01) passed on first and second readings unanimously; enforcement begins 30 days after advertisement.
- Authorized purchase of four police vehicles from Bachman Commercial for $192,466, funded from drug fund.
- Declared surplus four trade-in police vehicles and the property at 1904 Tennyson Drive, the latter donated to Salvation Army.
- Approved temporary loans and ratifications of budget transfers for fiscal year 2024.
- Renewed legal services contract with Chris Sturgeon at $175/hour for 2025.
- Postponed appointments to police and fire merit boards to January 21, 2025.
- Work session discussions on Clark County CARES funding request and animal shelter interlocal agreement will continue; no formal votes taken.
Meeting Transcript
Call to order, call to order. January 7th, public council meeting. Honorable council, commissioners, public servants, fellow taxpayers, residents, journalists, guests. Welcome to the 2025 organizational proceedings of the Clarksville Town Council. My name is A. D. Stonecypher, Clerk Treasurer. As the executive officer over the town's finances, records, and compliance, I am called upon the Indiana Code to act as presiding chairman over the town council until it elects one of its own as chair and president for the calendar year. At this time, according to precedent and tradition, I'll call for a prayerful invocation. If I may, Chief Skeg, would you mind uh leading us as such? Thank you, sir. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for allowing us to have this time to meet as a community in light of the uh storms that we've uh been through. Thank you for allowing the emergency workers and uh the the public workers to clear our streets and make sure we stay safe and have power and and everything we need to exist. Um I ask that you watch over these uh council persons tonight as they make decisions for the best of our community. Um also let's not forget the uh the last year that we've been through where you kept us safe. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. Thank you, Chief. And now if you would rise those that willing and able to uh for the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. One nomination Liberty and Justice for all. As town clerk, I hereby confirm uh the town council is in quorum. I now turn to the business of appointing the town president for county year 2025. Since Clarksville's founding by General George Rogers Clark and its incorporation for the Treaty of Paris, all the way back in 1783. Many individuals have served as town president. The office is a ministry not to be taken lightly. President controls council's agenda, makes critical appointments to boards and commissions, and approves interagency agreements for the receiving of grant funding. President serves as head of town to point a way forward and is such models, expectations, and etiquette that can trickle down to residents and town employees alike. Honors of the office come with a burden of unwritten responsibilities, and any nominee should expect many hours between the meetings through one-on-one discussions, research, and meditation upon options. Office of town council president takes effect tonight and runs through the calendar year. With these matters in mind, it is now my privilege and duty to call upon the council to now nominate one of its members for town president. I'd like to nominate Brian Ramsey. Second that. Very good. Record show. Ms. Henderson has nominated Mr. Ramsey with a second. For Mr. Stotz, Mr. Ramsey is in the room. He is present. Do you accept the nomination? And do you wish to vote upon your own nomination? Okay. So an abstention upon yourself? Okay. All right. With that, I will do a roll call for the uh remaining council members. Uh Mr.
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