The Clarksville Town Council held a regular meeting and subsequent work session on January 20, 2026. The meeting included public comments on pet store regulation, approval of several ordinances including a rezoning for an RV park expansion, and work session presentations on historic preservation, arts commission plans, and a tax abatement request for a speculative industrial building.
Yes, we're letting you good evening. Welcome to our January 20th, 2026 Clarksville Town Council meeting this evening. As we call to order, I would like to start with our Pledge of Allegiance. If you would please rise and join us. We will start out this evening. We have some public comments. I would just remind you that as you come to the microphone, just state your name, your address, and you'll have two minutes to share with the council. First up tonight we have Jen Bug, if you would come to the microphone. Thank you. Thank you and good evening. My name is Jen Bug. I live at 301 South Clark Boulevard, Clarksville, Indiana, 47129. Thank you for the opportunity to speak again before you. I want to talk about something that has come up in public conversations about pet stores and oversight. Who actually regulates pet stores in Indiana and what that regulation does and does not cover. As of the 1st of July of 2024, Indiana pet stores are required to register with the Indiana State Board of Animal Health. The board's role is primarily to verify required paperwork and to confirm that the sources of the dogs and puppies meet Indiana's minimal sourcing requirements. The Indiana State Board of Animal Health does not provide comprehensive oversight of animal welfare conditions inside pet stores. Issues related to sanitation, animal care, and in-store conditions are directed to local authorities, not the state. This distinction matters. Responsibility for clear, enforceable standards inside pet stores rest with us, with our local ordinances. Right now, our ordinance is so thin that if animal control shows up and see it sees a dog that is skin and bones with worms hanging out of its back side. There's literally nothing in our ordinance animal control can cite for. Thank you. Next I would call Ms. Jennifer Loxton. Hello. I'm Jennifer Logston. I live at 608 Millwood Place in Clarksville. Good evening. Two weeks ago, a member of the public provided the council with an overview of citizen reports related to Clarksville Peppigram. At that time, there were four reports. Since then, the number of submissions have grown to 14. Tonight I'm leaving behind a summary that reflects what citizens reported using standardized health and behavior indicators during their visits. It's not analysis or opinion. It documents what people directly observed. Across those 14 reports, residents repeatedly describe puppies with eye and nasal discharge, coughing and labored breathing, trembling or weakness, poor body condition, lethargy, and signs of dehydration. People reported strong fecal and ammonia odors upon entering the store. Many noted puppies not drinking from the water bottles. Others reported that veterinary records were not shown when requested. Because of these reports, we have spoken directly with two people who purchased puppies from the Clarksville location. Both purchasers gave permission for follow-up, including contact with animal control and review of independent veterinary records. In both cases, the puppies they purchased were diagnosed shortly after sale with parasites, including Giardia. That information has been shared directly with animal control. This isn't about accusations. It's about whether our ordinance gives animal control clear, enforceable tools to respond, not just to a single inspection, but to patterns that emerge when citizens report concerns and when health problems appear after the sale. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Next we have Brian Alford. Oh, yeah, sorry.