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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Clarksville Town Council Regular Meeting and Work Session - March 18, 2025

Town Council & Commissions — Tuesday, March 18, 2025

BodyClarksville, Indiana

SessionTown Council & Commissions

DateTuesday, March 18, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 56:08

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:03

I would like to call to order the March 18th regular meeting of the Clarksville Town Council and welcome to each of you who are here with us and also joining us virtually online.

0:13

Councilman Stotz, if you would introduce tonight's invocation.

0:16

Tonight we have with us uh Mr.

0:18

Joseph Spurgeon.

0:19

He is uh uh member or he lives here in Clarksville, but he actually is a pastor over at the Sovereign No, I'm sorry, the Presbyterian Church located in Jeffersonville.

0:31

Is that right?

0:32

Sorry.

0:33

Sorry, Ms.

0:33

Burgeon.

0:34

I thought I had it right now.

0:35

Didn't have my notes up quick enough.

0:37

Sorry about that.

0:38

No problem.

0:39

Yes, my name is uh Joseph Spurgeon.

0:42

I'm the pastor of Sovereign King Church.

0:44

It's at 332 East Chestnut in Jeffersonville, but I live here in Clarksville.

0:49

And so it's a pleasure to be invited by Mr.

0:52

Stodge.

0:52

I do need to ask this so how many children do you have?

0:54

Because you have to have at least seven to be able to do what you're doing.

0:57

I have eight, so we are good.

0:59

I got one more to spare.

1:00

That amazed me.

1:03

So thank you for uh letting me come and uh pray for you this evening.

1:07

And I invite you, you're welcome to join us on a Sunday morning at uh 10 30 down in Jeffersonville if you don't have a good church.

1:14

So let's pray.

1:19

Heavenly Father, I thank you that you are kind and you are good, that you allow the sunshine to shine on us, the rain to fall on us.

1:29

You take care of us.

1:30

You provide all that we have, and all that we have is yours.

1:35

I pray, Lord, that you would bless the time this evening as these council members convene and conduct their their business, Lord, as they work hard to care for the bodies, the liberties, the freedoms, the lives of the citizens of Clarksville.

2:02

Pray you give them your holy wisdom, knowing that they don't only answer to their fellow citizens, but they answer to you who establishes all authority.

2:13

Pray, Lord, that you would give us eyes to know that we are sinners who need your grace and then faith to believe in what Jesus Christ has done for us.

2:23

And Lord, may you be honored by what's done here.

2:26

May the people be blessed, and we pray this in the name of Jesus Christ.

2:30

Amen.

2:32

Thank you.

2:32

Thank you.

2:43

One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

2:53

We have joining us this evening Ashley Braswell and Kathy Meelan to uh help us celebrate and also recognize a National Safe Place Week.

3:03

Um so we're gonna begin with um a proclamation on behalf of the town council.

3:09

Whereas the youth of Clarksville, Indiana will determine the future strength of our country and be the bearers of our democracy.

3:16

Youth need a safe haven from various negative influences such as child abuse, substance abuse, depression, and crime, and youth need readily available resources to assist them when faced with circumstances that compromise their safety.

3:32

The Safe Place program is committed to protecting the youth of Clark County by offering short-term housing at neighborhood locations where trained volunteers are available to counsel and advise you, young people seeking assistance and guidance.

3:46

Designated locations where youth can get information and immediate help.

3:50

Safe Place is found at businesses such as restaurants, convenience stores, movie theaters, and community buildings such as fire stations, libraries, and public transportation vehicles.

4:02

The success of Safe Place is based on public-private collaborations between businesses, school systems, fire departments, law enforcement, and a network of volunteers.

4:13

Clarksville needs increased numbers of community volunteers serving as mentors and positive influences on young people.

4:20

More than 1,700 communities in 39 states administer the Safe Place program at more than 20,000 locations.

4:28

More than 40500, excuse me, 45,500 youth have been placed at a safe place location or receive counseling by phone as a result of safe place information received at school.

4:44

Since the program's inception in 1983, more than 15 million youth have been educated through National Safe Place Network's safe place outreach efforts, familiarizing them with the safe place sign and providing them with information about how to seek help in order to stay safe.

5:01

Increased awareness will encourage more communities to establish safe place locations where youth can readily access the help that they need.

5:10

Now, therefore, it be it resolved that I, Ryan Ramsey, Council President of the Town of Clarksville, along with my fellow council members, do hereby recognize the week of March 16th through March 22nd, 2025 as National Safe Place Week, and call upon the residents of Clarksville and interested groups to promote awareness of and volunteer involvement in the Safe Place program.

5:33

And so I would like to invite uh the council to join me and um invite forward Ashley and Kathy, and we'll do a picture.

5:58

I'll be standing as far back as I can.

6:38

All right, we're going to move on to this evening's consent agenda and items contained are minutes from the last regular meetings of the council, claims both current and pre-written.

6:48

The acceptance amendments and placement on file of various boards and commissions that are appointed by the town council, and then we also have some conflict of interest in interest statements from uh various employees that uh work for the town and may also provide services for the town.

7:06

Would point out that there was uh one conflict of interest uh statement added today that you all should have received by email that is for Sherry Lockard.

7:14

Uh her husband owns a body shop and may from time to time do business for the town.

7:21

I make the motion.

7:22

I second it.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Water And Wastewater Management██████████████████████████████████34%

Procedural███████████████████19%

Economic Development███████████████15%

Mental Health Awareness█████████9%

Arts And Culture██████6%

Youth Programs█████5%

Technology and Innovation████4%

Fiscal Sustainability███3%

Engineering And Infrastructure███3%

Summary of Proceedings

Clarksville Town Council Regular Meeting and Work Session - March 18, 2025

The Clarksville Town Council held its regular meeting on the evening of March 18, 2025, followed by a work session. The council heard a proclamation, approved routine consent items and several contracts, debated a police civilian employee ordinance, and received presentations on the Baya youth program, tourism funding, and wastewater/stormwater projects.

Consent Calendar

The council unanimously approved the consent agenda, including minutes from prior meetings, current and pre-written claims, placement of board and commission appointments, and conflict-of-interest statements. A statement for Sherry Lockard was added by email; her husband owns a body shop that may do business with the town.

Proclamation

The council recognized March 16-22, 2025, as National Safe Place Week. Ashley Braswell and Kathy Meelan attended. The proclamation noted Safe Place operates at more than 20,000 locations in over 1,700 communities across 39 states; more than 45,500 youth have been placed or counseled, and more than 15 million youth have been educated since the program began in 1983. Councilman McEwen praised the program and its founder, Larry Woldridge.

New Business and Discussion Items

Tree clearing and gravity sewer line at Pump Stations 24 and 32: Staff explained that trees must be cut by March 31 to comply with Indiana bat habitat rules. The low quote was from Dan Christiani Excavating for $122,505; after removing two areas for a future phase, the revised quote was $97,729. The agreement had already been signed and a notice to proceed issued because of the deadline; the council unanimously ratified the action.
Historic prison bars sculpture: The council unanimously approved a contract not to exceed $40,000 with 900 North Studios of Indianapolis for design, fabrication, and installation of a sculpture along Main Street, funded from EDIT funds. Councilwoman Voiner asked that the colored elements not all be blue and that signage explain the piece; the Arts Commission plans to number 300 balls representing people buried in unmarked graves at the site.
Ordinance 2025 G11: The council unanimously approved, on first and second readings, an ordinance declaring dormant grant accounts and transferring remaining balances so the accounts can be closed.
Ordinance 2025 S04: This ordinance would reduce part-time parks officers from five to three, add one full-time parks officer, and eliminate two unfilled civilian safety division positions. Council members asked whether filled jobs were being cut and were told the positions were unfilled. The final vote was 4 in favor, 2 against, and 1 abstention, and the council stated the second reading would need to return at the next meeting for clarification.

Council Comments and Updates

Ken Conklin, former communications director, reported that the town website is being moved to a larger host because it was not built to handle livestreaming and increased content. He said residents may see intermittent outages while the migration is completed; Manager Bailey approved additional funding for bandwidth and conversion work.
Councilwoman Voiner expressed sympathy for residents who suffered hail damage over the weekend, noting insurance companies reported hundreds of calls.

Work Session Presentations

Baya: Shalee Frederick, founder and executive director, and a Baya mother and board member asked the council to sponsor the May 15 annual gala, saying 100 percent of donations would go to programs because all gala expenses are already covered. They reported 983 youth participants overall, about 50 girls attending each Saturday at the Baya Center, programs in more than 50 schools, and a new women's program.
Southern Indiana Tourism: Jim Epperson, executive director, described the tourism capital development fund program. A $1 million funding round awarded four projects, including two in Clarksville: a Falls of the Ohio outdoor education pavilion and a permanent stage and facilities in the central green. Each project would receive $250,000 through a $500,000 town bond paid by innkeepers tax, with bond fees added. A pledge agreement is expected to be presented April 1.
Wastewater/stormwater projects: Staff reviewed the revised multi-year project list. Recent projects are mostly complete; Pump Station 10 at Lapping Park is about 75 percent complete; and the Pump Station 32-to-24 gravity sewer project will create capacity for future development, including the Platform Park site. Lower-priority rear-yard sewer and stormwater projects were deferred unless emergencies arise. The updated project list will be sent to Baker Tilly for a new rate and bond analysis.

Key Outcomes

Consent agenda approved unanimously.
Tree clearing agreement with Dan Christiani Excavating ratified unanimously.
900 North Studios sculpture contract approved unanimously.
Ordinance 2025 G11 approved unanimously on first and second readings.
Ordinance 2025 S04 was not finalized; the second reading is to return at the next meeting after a 4-2-1 vote.
The council then moved upstairs for an executive session on the LGE high-tension power line easement property item.

Meeting Transcript

I would like to call to order the March 18th regular meeting of the Clarksville Town Council and welcome to each of you who are here with us and also joining us virtually online. Councilman Stotz, if you would introduce tonight's invocation. Tonight we have with us uh Mr. Joseph Spurgeon. He is uh uh member or he lives here in Clarksville, but he actually is a pastor over at the Sovereign No, I'm sorry, the Presbyterian Church located in Jeffersonville. Is that right? Sorry. Sorry, Ms. Burgeon. I thought I had it right now. Didn't have my notes up quick enough. Sorry about that. No problem. Yes, my name is uh Joseph Spurgeon. I'm the pastor of Sovereign King Church. It's at 332 East Chestnut in Jeffersonville, but I live here in Clarksville. And so it's a pleasure to be invited by Mr. Stodge. I do need to ask this so how many children do you have? Because you have to have at least seven to be able to do what you're doing. I have eight, so we are good. I got one more to spare. That amazed me. So thank you for uh letting me come and uh pray for you this evening. And I invite you, you're welcome to join us on a Sunday morning at uh 10 30 down in Jeffersonville if you don't have a good church. So let's pray. Heavenly Father, I thank you that you are kind and you are good, that you allow the sunshine to shine on us, the rain to fall on us. You take care of us. You provide all that we have, and all that we have is yours. I pray, Lord, that you would bless the time this evening as these council members convene and conduct their their business, Lord, as they work hard to care for the bodies, the liberties, the freedoms, the lives of the citizens of Clarksville. Pray you give them your holy wisdom, knowing that they don't only answer to their fellow citizens, but they answer to you who establishes all authority. Pray, Lord, that you would give us eyes to know that we are sinners who need your grace and then faith to believe in what Jesus Christ has done for us. And Lord, may you be honored by what's done here. May the people be blessed, and we pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Thank you. Thank you. One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. We have joining us this evening Ashley Braswell and Kathy Meelan to uh help us celebrate and also recognize a National Safe Place Week. Um so we're gonna begin with um a proclamation on behalf of the town council. Whereas the youth of Clarksville, Indiana will determine the future strength of our country and be the bearers of our democracy. Youth need a safe haven from various negative influences such as child abuse, substance abuse, depression, and crime, and youth need readily available resources to assist them when faced with circumstances that compromise their safety. The Safe Place program is committed to protecting the youth of Clark County by offering short-term housing at neighborhood locations where trained volunteers are available to counsel and advise you, young people seeking assistance and guidance. Designated locations where youth can get information and immediate help. Safe Place is found at businesses such as restaurants, convenience stores, movie theaters, and community buildings such as fire stations, libraries, and public transportation vehicles. The success of Safe Place is based on public-private collaborations between businesses, school systems, fire departments, law enforcement, and a network of volunteers. Clarksville needs increased numbers of community volunteers serving as mentors and positive influences on young people. More than 1,700 communities in 39 states administer the Safe Place program at more than 20,000 locations. More than 40500, excuse me, 45,500 youth have been placed at a safe place location or receive counseling by phone as a result of safe place information received at school. Since the program's inception in 1983, more than 15 million youth have been educated through National Safe Place Network's safe place outreach efforts, familiarizing them with the safe place sign and providing them with information about how to seek help in order to stay safe.

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