Clarksville Town Council Regular Meeting – February 4, 2025
Clarksville Town Council Regular Meeting – February 4, 2025
The Clarksville Town Council held its regular meeting on February 4, 2025. The meeting opened with a moment of silence for fireman Michael Mallory, who passed away over the weekend, followed by an invocation from Brother Russ Livers of the First Southern Baptist Church. The council approved three appointments to the Arts Commission, recognized several police officers and a peer support program leader, heard public comment regarding a sign violation, held a public hearing without speakers, unanimously passed multiple resolutions and ordinances, and received financial reports. A work session afterward discussed security measures including vehicle barriers and a mobile camera system.
Consent Calendar
- Approved minutes from previous regular meetings, claims (current and pre-written), and acceptance of minutes and placement on file of various boards and commissions appointed by the town council. Motion by Councilwoman Henderson, second by Councilman McEwen. Passed unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Claire Pate (310 East Montgomery Avenue) spoke about her neighbor, Clarksville Little Theater, citing violations of sign regulations since 2022. She detailed instances of lights left on all night, excessive brightness, and the sign being within 95 feet of her home, contravening the 100-foot R district prohibition. She stated there were 25 violations in 2023, 34 in 2024, and additional violations in January 2025. No other public comments were made.
Discussion Items
- Appointments to the Arts Commission: Council President appointed Tammy Hayden (local business owner of Thrive Florist) to fill a vacancy, recommended by Arts Commission Chair Corey Hain. Motion by Councilwoman Henderson, second by Councilman Stotz. Unanimous. Council President also appointed Kayla Taggenhorst (from parks department) and himself to fill the other two vacancies.
- Recognitions: Chief Walls recognized Joni Martin (Personal Counseling Service) for developing the peer support program, Reserve Officer of the Year Nathaniel Wheeler, Detective of the Year Jeff Kennedy, and Officer of the Year Brittany Rover. The Firefighter of the Year will be recognized at the February 18 meeting.
- Public Hearing – Annexation of 1319 & 1407 Emory Crossing Road and 1017 & 1019 McCullough Pike for River Heritage Conservancy: No one spoke in favor or opposition; hearing closed.
- Resolution 2025 R05 – Supporting Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Program: Pledges town support for zero traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2050. Motion by Councilwoman Henderson, second by Councilwoman Boiner. Unanimous.
- Resolution 2025 R06 – Accepting Real Property on Eastern Boulevard: Accepts two surplus properties from the State of Indiana. Motion by Councilman Voiner, second by Councilman Stotz. Unanimous.
- Resolution 2025 R07 – Accepting Real Property along Blackiston Mill Road: Accepts 17 of 19 properties for bridge replacement; remaining two going through eminent domain. Motion by Councilman Stotz, second by Councilwoman Henderson. Unanimous.
- Resolution 2025 R08 – Limiting Citizen Membership on Town Boards: Limits service to no more than two boards per citizen. Motion by Councilwoman Voiner, second by Councilman Stotz. Unanimous.
- Ordinance 2025 G05 – Annexing 1206 Emory Crossing Road and 1023 McCullough Pike (River Heritage Conservancy): First and second readings passed unanimously. Zoned West Riverfront District, Council District 1.
- Ordinance 2025 G06 – Establishing Merit Commission for Fire Territory: Replaces part of Board of Police and Fire Commissioners. First and second readings passed unanimously. Appointments to be made February 18.
- Ordinance 2025 G07 – Establishing Merit Commission for Police Department: Similar to fire commission. First and second readings passed unanimously.
- Ordinance 2025 G08 – Repealing Ordinance 2021 G03 (Board of Police and Fire Commissioners): Effective January 1, 2025, per state law. First and second readings passed unanimously.
- Clerk-Treasurer Report: Recognized three deputy clerks for 15 hours of unpaid overtime on back pay. Reported that the town earned $1,233,828 in accrued interest on short-term investments in 2024, exceeding the $1 million goal. Reminded elected officials to submit conflict of interest forms.
- Council Comments: Councilmembers expressed condolences to the Mallory family and congratulations to award recipients.
- Work Session – Security Measures for Events: Chief Walls presented on deployable event security measures. Discussed heavy steel barriers (700 lbs each, approx. $8,000 per unit, 50 units needed total $250,000–$300,000) that can stop a semi truck up to 50 mph. Proposed three phases: Phase 1 ($60,000) for small events, Phase 2 for concerts, Phase 3 for large events. Rental option for Thunder over Louisville ($12,000 for one day). Also proposed a mobile camera system with 16 cameras at $38,000, to be funded from narcotics funds. Discussion on funding sources (split between CCD, EDIT, LIT funds) and potential financing. No formal vote taken.
Key Outcomes
- Unanimously approved all consent agenda items, resolutions (R05, R06, R07, R08), and ordinances (G05, G06, G07, G08) on two readings each.
- No formal decision on the police department's security barrier and camera proposals; council directed town manager, clerk-treasurer, and police chief to explore funding options and report back.
- Firefighter of the Year recognition postponed to February 18 meeting.
- Pollinator gardens discussion postponed to February 18 due to absence of attorney Chris Sturgeon.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. We'd like to call to order the February 4th regular meeting of the Clarksville Town Council. We'd like to begin this evening. Um, as I'm sure everyone is aware, um, over the weekend, our first responder community uh suffered um an unimaginable uh loss. And um just a reminder for all of us that we're not promised tomorrow. And um, sometimes um things happen in life that there simply are no words. So we'd just like to invite everyone uh as we open up this meeting to please join us in a moment of silence for fireman Michael Mallory. May he rest in peace. Councilman Stotz, if you would introduce tonight's invocation. Yes, tonight we have Brother uh Russ Livers here with us. Um he's with the first Southern Baptist Church over on Zane Clarksville. All right. Before I uh lead us in prayer, if you don't mind, I'd like to just share a word of encouragement uh from the scriptures uh from the book of James. Um I thought this might be appropriate. I don't know about you, but I'm always needing wisdom. Seems like far more than I have. And we have some encouragement, so I I find myself asking for it a lot. And uh James says uh if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God that gives to all men liberally and upbraids not, and it shall be given him. Let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that waverth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed, for let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. If any of you la lack wisdom, he says, uh let him ask of God that gives to all men liberally and does not upbraid. That's an encouraging word about God. It goes on later on and talks about how that the kind of wisdom he's talking about is a wisdom for living our lives in a way that is pleasing to God, comes out of a good conversation, uh, good conduct, meekness, avoids, it is void of bitterness and envy and strife, and um comes from comes from God and brings peace and mercy and good fruits. That's the kind of wisdom that we need. And uh we're we're promised that God is the giver of it, and he gives it to those who ask. And uh so may I uh lead us together as we we pray about that and other things tonight. Father, we come to you tonight in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you for every blessing that you give and every favor that you show us. We thank you tonight, Lord, for these uh uh men and women who are gathered in this room to uh conduct the business of our town and pray that you we do pray for wisdom. We need it. I need it in my life, and I'm sure every one of us does. We're often faced with things that uh uh we need wisdom beyond ourselves for, and you've graciously and generously promised to give us that wisdom here in your word. And so we pray that for these who make decisions tonight and and discuss uh issues and concerns for all of us. I pray that they would be guided uh by your wisdom and by your grace, and out of a consideration for one another and for the best uh decisions for the people of our town and for your honor and for your glory. And of course, uh tonight uh Father, we do want to lift up uh the Mallory family. We ask you, Lord, to bring comfort to their hearts. Uh we're uh grateful for his service to our community in many ways and his presence here. And uh it's unthinkable that uh something like this would have happened. And so, in the midst of it all, the tragedy of it, we we we thank you for your grace and comfort, and we pray, Lord, that you would bring comfort and strength and encouragement uh to the hearts of all those uh who knew him, both here in this room and in his family and other people, the friends and loved ones in his life. Uh, walk with them and encourage and bless them during this difficult time, we pray. And again, Father, we pray for your help and blessing on this meeting tonight, and we pray it in the name of Jesus. Amen. One nation under God, individual with liberty and justice for all. We have three appointments to make this evening to the arts commission. Um there is a uh vacancy uh that carried over from last year, and uh a recommendation was made by uh the current chair of the arts commission, Corey Hain. He recommended uh a local business owner of Thrive Florist. Her name is Tammy Hayden, so I would uh like to offer up a motion to appoint her to fill that vacancy. I'll make the motion, seconded. We have a motion from Councilwoman Henderson and a second from Councilman Stotz.
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