Clarksville Town Council Regular Meeting and Work Session - September 2, 2025
Clarksville Town Council Regular Meeting and Work Session - September 2, 2025
The Clarksville Town Council held its regular meeting on September 2, 2025, followed by a work session on stormwater/wastewater rates. Key actions included appointing a new fire merit board member, approving a police union contract, supporting a parks department grant application, and discussing future utility rate increases.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes from the previous regular meeting, claims (current and pre-written), and minutes from various boards and commissions were approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public signed up to speak.
Discussion Items
- Appointment to Fire Merit Board: Councilwoman Karen Henderson nominated Lester Allen to fill a vacancy on the Fire Merit Board, noting his continued attendance at meetings and knowledge of ongoing matters. The nomination was seconded and passed unanimously. The appointment runs through the remainder of Missy Rasenfuse's term.
- Conflict of Interest Statement: Councilwoman Henderson filed a conflict of interest statement regarding the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) union contract, as her husband is a retired police officer whose pension is affected. The statement was accepted unanimously.
- FOP Union Contract Term Sheet (2025–2027): The council considered a term sheet covering contract changes through 2027. Councilwoman Boiner spoke in favor, acknowledging the need for potential budget cuts due to the contract's financial impact. The motion passed 6-1, with one abstention (likely Henderson due to her conflict).
- Resolution 2025 R20 – Gateway Park Artificial Turf Project: The council voted unanimously to approve a resolution requesting $250,000 from the Clark Floyd County Convention and Tourism Bureau for artificial turf at Challenger Field, baseball fields, and softball fields. Total project cost is $1.4 million; $960,000 has been secured through sponsorships and donations, leaving the town's share at $190,000 if the grant is successful. The resolution pledges the town's bonding authority, with bonds repayable through hotel motel tax.
- Council Comments: Clerk-Treasurer Stone Cipher encouraged the council to work on the general fund budget to accommodate the union contract and potential impacts from Senate Bill 1. Councilwoman Schiller congratulated the police department and Clarksville High School on their homecoming win. Councilwoman Boiner requested that information about SB1's impact be included in the town magazine to encourage residents to contact state representatives. Councilman Stotz and others thanked the FOP for their cooperation.
- Work Session on Stormwater/Wastewater Rates: Staff presented three rate increase options to fund $20 million in capital improvement projects: (1) level debt service over three years, (2) wrapped debt service over four years, and (3) wrapped debt service with a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) over four years. Option 3 includes a maximum PILOT charge that would transfer approximately $700,000 in year one to the general fund, increasing to $1.3 million by year four. Council discussion centered on the need to balance revenue generation with taxpayer impact and the uncertainties of Senate Bill 1. Council members expressed a preference for Option 3 with flexibility to adjust percentages annually, with several favoring a higher initial rate that can later be reduced if necessary. No formal vote was taken; staff was directed to prepare detailed action items for the next meeting and to gather comparative rate and PILOT data from neighboring communities.
Key Outcomes
- Lester Allen was unanimously appointed to the Fire Merit Board.
- The FOP union contract term sheet was approved 6-1, with one abstention.
- Resolution 2025 R20 was unanimously approved, supporting the parks department's grant application for artificial turf at Gateway Park.
- Council directed staff to advance Option 3 (wrapped debt service with PILOT) for stormwater/wastewater rate increases, with the ability to adjust annual percentages, and to provide comparative data from other towns.
Meeting Transcript
It's a violation. Somebody stopped somewhere. Where does it stop? Charles ordinance. It's not a good idea. They can assign a change to say pressure somebody. That's Charles. Change the ordinance. We can't do anything to someone. Well, all I can do is tell them this one. I do have one. I can't remember some changes to it. I have a whole bunch of years. Yeah. We get a bunch of time. On behalf of the town council, welcome everyone to the September 2nd regular meeting. If you would please uh stand and join us in saying the Pledge of Allegiance. One nation under liberty and justice for all. Since the last time the council met, uh there was a resignation on the fire merit board, which the timing is unfortunate since we're in the midst of trying to hire several replacement firefighters, and I believe councilwoman Henderson has a recommendation that she would like to make to the council this evening to to fill that vacancy. Yes, uh Lester Allen is interested in this position. I think he would serve very well. Um he still continues to go to the meeting, even though he's not on that board as of 2025. So he knows everything that's going on. I think he could contribute to the hiring process, and I think he'd be a good addition to that board. Is that a formal nomination on the floor? Yes, nominate. Is there a second? That nomination. Okay, a second from Councilman McEwen. All those in favor, please raise your right hand and say aye. Aye. Aye. And that passes unanimously, and that will be through the end of Missy Rasenfuse's. Thank you. Uh we didn't have anyone who signed up to make public comment this evening, so we'll move on to our consent agenda and items this evening are minutes from the last regular meeting of the town council. Claims both current and pre-written, and also the acceptance of minutes and placement on file of various boards and commissions that are appointed by the town council. Make a motion. Motion from Councilman Stotz. Second. And the second from Councilwoman Henderson. Again, all those in favor, raise your right hand and say aye. Aye. That motion carries unanimously. And we will move on to new business. First item up this evening is an acceptance of a conflict of interest statement. Excuse me, per Indiana Code. Um of towns and and communities must file a uh conflict of public interest statement. If there is going to be something on an agenda in the coming year for which they may have uh some type of a conflict, we generally do these at the beginning of the year. We also do them sometimes in the middle of the year when a conflict is identified. Tonight, a conflict of interest statement has been filed by councilperson Karen Henderson.
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