OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Clarksville Town Council and Redevelopment Commission Meeting - December 2, 2025

Town Council & Commissions — Tuesday, December 2, 2025
BodyClarksville, Indiana
SessionTown Council & Commissions
DateTuesday, December 2, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 49:42

Transcript — Verbatim
0:38

The time is 546, and we'll call to order the special meeting this evening of the uh Clarksville Town Council.

0:46

Uh the date is December the second, 2025.

0:51

All right.

0:51

Same date, same time, and I'll call uh the uh redevelopment commission to order as well.

0:59

And so we have first up sorry, thank you.

1:04

Um our only order of business uh at this point is the approval of the settlement agreement with Carmen Industries.

1:17

Town staff have been working to resolve litigation issues with Carmen Industries over the acquisition of right-of-way and the reconstruction of Riverside Drive.

1:26

Representatives of Carmen and town have reached terms contained in the term sheet for settlement, which would allow for the eminent domain case brought by the town to be dismissed and the balance of the Carmen property within Clarksville to be transferred to the town.

1:41

The approval of the term sheet for settlement will be the basis for the agreed order of findings, which will be signed by both parties and presented to the court for review and approval.

1:52

If approved by the court, the settlement will be entered and the case will be dismissed.

1:57

The recommended action for the town council and the redevelopment commission is to approve the term sheet for settlement with Carmen Industries LLC.

2:09

I'd like to make a motion.

2:11

That's on behalf of the council.

2:14

Your motion is on behalf of the council, correct?

2:18

Yes.

2:21

Yes.

2:21

Okay.

2:22

Okay, so there's a motion on the floor from Councilman Stotts on behalf of the town council.

2:27

Is there a second?

2:28

Second.

2:29

A second from Councilwoman Henderson.

2:32

All those in favor, please raise your right hand and say aye.

2:35

Aye.

2:36

Aye.

2:36

That motion passes unanimously on behalf of the town council.

2:40

Is there a motion for the resolution from the commission?

2:44

I'll make the motion.

2:45

Motion by Ms.

2:46

Flo.

2:47

Second.

2:47

Second by Mr.

2:48

St uh Mr.

2:49

O'Kewan.

2:50

All in favor?

2:52

Aye.

2:52

Aye.

2:53

Aye.

2:53

Okay.

2:54

Motion passes unanimously from the commission.

2:58

And that's the only order of business for this uh special joint session.

3:02

And um the time is 5 49.

3:04

So uh make a motion to uh go ahead and conclude the town council.

3:09

Second it.

3:14

Do you want to ready?

3:15

Yeah, call to conclude the commission as well.

3:18

There we go.

3:18

That's perfect.

3:19

Thank you.

3:20

So our meeting is officially adjourned.

3:21

Thank you.

3:22

Thank you.

3:27

The general budget value is I don't mean specific individual bond logic.

3:31

I'll actually send you a copy of the second.

3:37

The time is six o'clock.

3:38

We'll call to order the regularly scheduled meeting of the Clarksville Town Council.

3:42

The date is December the second.

3:44

If everyone would please stand and join us in singing or singing.

3:49

The Pledge of Allegiance.

4:11

This evening there is one appointment to be made to the Historic Preservation Commission.

4:16

There's currently um two vacancies.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning Variance█████████████████████████████████████████████51%
Water And Wastewater Management███████8%
Personnel Matters██████7%
Parks and Recreation██████7%
Procedural████5%
Public Safety████5%
Fiscal Sustainability████5%
Pending Litigation████4%
Historic Preservation███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Clarksville Town Council and Redevelopment Commission Meeting - December 2, 2025

The Clarksville Town Council convened in a special joint session with the Redevelopment Commission at 5:46 PM and then held its regular meeting at 6:00 PM on December 2, 2025. Actions included approval of a settlement agreement with Carmen Industries, a new police contract, salary ordinances, and a work session on parking regulations for RVs and trailers. Public comments addressed the fire department's Christmas parade and national security concerns.

Special Joint Session – Redevelopment Commission & Town Council

  • Approved the term sheet for settlement with Carmen Industries LLC, resolving litigation over right-of-way acquisition for Riverside Drive. The settlement allows the town to dismiss the eminent domain case and transfer remaining Carmen property to the town. Motion passed unanimously in both the council and the commission.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Laura Williamson (Clarksville Fire Department Union 2594) requested a donation from the town for the third annual Christmas parade with Santa, in partnership with PetSmart Charities. The union donated $300 to PetSmart Charities and asked the council for additional support. (No specific action taken.)
  • James R. McClure Jr. (resident, 1006 Hazelwood Court) expressed condolences for two West Virginia guardsmen injured in a DC incident, called for stronger national defense, and urged unity.

Consent Calendar / Approvals

  • Minutes and claims: Approved with a reduction of $1.05 in wastewater claims, total $174,613.35. Motion passed unanimously.

Discussion and Approval Items (New Business)

  1. Police Contract (FOP) 2025-2027: Approved new labor contract with the Fraternal Order of Police covering 2025–2027, including salary, longevity, rank differential, and military leave changes. Councilwoman Schiller noted the challenge of funding due to SB1 (state bill) and thanked officers for patience. Motion passed 5-0, with Councilwoman Henderson abstaining (spouse is retired officer).
  2. Ordinance 2025-S10: Amending police salaries for FY2025 to align with new contract. Approved unanimously on first and second readings.
  3. Ordinance 2025-S11: Setting FY2026 salaries for elected officials (council and clerk-treasurer) at same levels as FY2025. Approved unanimously.
  4. Ordinance 2025-S12: Setting FY2026 salaries for appointed boards and commissions at $100 per meeting attended (amended to reflect commissioners' reports). Approved unanimously.
  5. Addendum No. 2 to MOU with River Heritage Conservancy: Established guidelines for Origin Park use, focusing on community resources and environmental sustainability. Approved unanimously.
  6. Consultant Services Agreement with Heritage Engineering: For design of force main diversion, pump station 32 renovation, and access roads, not to exceed $128,500 from wastewater/stormwater funds. Approved unanimously.

Clerk-Treasurer Remarks

  • Clerk-Treasurer Stone Cypher congratulated parties on the police contract but highlighted financial challenges: SB1 would cut police budget 22% over 36 months, while the contract increases it 20% (net 40% gap). Estimated net increase of $1.9 million over 36 months. Urged contacting state legislators to amend SB1 and warned of need for budget reductions or new local taxes to avoid deficit.

Council Comments

  • Council members thanked fire and police departments, noted the Christmas tree lighting at Water Tower Square, and praised public works for street cleaning.

Work Session – Parking Regulations for RVs, Trailers, and Vehicles

  • Town planning director Neil Turpin presented proposed changes to zoning and general ordinances regarding parking of RVs, trailers, boats, and other vehicles.
    • Definition updates: Combined RV definitions, added trailer definition.
    • Zoning changes: Prohibited parking of trailers in front/side yards unless on a legal driveway; limited RV storage to one per property, not in front yard; allowed RV parking for loading/unloading only in driveway (not on grass). A 48-hour loading provision was discussed but may be adjusted.
    • General ordinance changes: Clarified that front yard driveway parking is allowed (previously technically prohibited); added restrictions on street parking for RVs, trailers, boats, and non-personal vehicles (e.g., work trucks) – but enforcement and definitions (e.g., "light truck") need refinement. Council requested a report on existing RV violations and further tweaks.
    • Staff will revise based on feedback and bring back to council; zoning changes will also go to plan commission.

Upcoming

  • The council will hold an executive session following the work session.

Key Outcomes

  • Settlement with Carmen Industries approved (unanimous).
  • FOP police contract approved (5-0-1 abstention).
  • All salary ordinances and MOU addendum approved.
  • Heritage Engineering contract approved.
  • RV/trailer ordinance changes to be revised and re-presented.

Meeting Transcript

The time is 546, and we'll call to order the special meeting this evening of the uh Clarksville Town Council. Uh the date is December the second, 2025. All right. Same date, same time, and I'll call uh the uh redevelopment commission to order as well. And so we have first up sorry, thank you. Um our only order of business uh at this point is the approval of the settlement agreement with Carmen Industries. Town staff have been working to resolve litigation issues with Carmen Industries over the acquisition of right-of-way and the reconstruction of Riverside Drive. Representatives of Carmen and town have reached terms contained in the term sheet for settlement, which would allow for the eminent domain case brought by the town to be dismissed and the balance of the Carmen property within Clarksville to be transferred to the town. The approval of the term sheet for settlement will be the basis for the agreed order of findings, which will be signed by both parties and presented to the court for review and approval. If approved by the court, the settlement will be entered and the case will be dismissed. The recommended action for the town council and the redevelopment commission is to approve the term sheet for settlement with Carmen Industries LLC. I'd like to make a motion. That's on behalf of the council. Your motion is on behalf of the council, correct? Yes. Yes. Okay. Okay, so there's a motion on the floor from Councilman Stotts on behalf of the town council. Is there a second? Second. A second from Councilwoman Henderson. All those in favor, please raise your right hand and say aye. Aye. Aye. That motion passes unanimously on behalf of the town council. Is there a motion for the resolution from the commission? I'll make the motion. Motion by Ms. Flo. Second. Second by Mr. St uh Mr. O'Kewan. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Aye. Okay. Motion passes unanimously from the commission. And that's the only order of business for this uh special joint session. And um the time is 5 49. So uh make a motion to uh go ahead and conclude the town council. Second it. Do you want to ready? Yeah, call to conclude the commission as well. There we go. That's perfect. Thank you. So our meeting is officially adjourned. Thank you.

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