OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Clarksville Town Council Regular Meeting – April 7, 2026

Town Council & Commissions — Tuesday, April 7, 2026
BodyClarksville, Indiana
SessionTown Council & Commissions
DateTuesday, April 7, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:34:36

Transcript — Verbatim
0:09

Good evening.

0:09

I'd like to call our April 7th 2026.

0:15

Regular council meeting to order.

0:18

At this time, if you would stand and say our Pledge of Allegiance.

0:30

And to the Republic for which it stands.

0:33

One nation under God.

0:35

Invisible with liberty.

0:47

I believe we do have one appointment this evening to our insurance committee.

0:58

I believe that person is Diane Edelin, is going to be added to our insurance committee.

1:03

And I wouldn't, I think that is that a council or is that my appointment?

1:08

It's a council appointment, so I'd look uh, I guess for a motion.

1:12

I'll make the motion.

1:14

Okay, we have a motion.

1:16

Can I ask a question?

1:17

Uh Diane Edelin, is she I mean, what what's her background?

1:21

Is she in insurance?

1:22

I don't know anything about I've never even heard of her.

1:24

She's handled all of the insurance uh input and their committee things at the town of Clark at the Clarksville High School and Clarksville Community Schools.

1:35

I spoke with Tina Bennett, and Tina felt like she would be a very good addition with her background and what she had done for them over the last probably 15 or more years.

1:48

So after speaking with her, I felt good about that.

1:53

Okay, thank you very much.

1:54

Ms.

1:55

President, point of information if I may.

1:57

Would you spell that the name, please?

1:59

You got me.

2:01

Can I I can look on my phone?

2:03

How about that?

2:04

That's fine.

2:04

Just get it to me, sir.

2:05

Yep.

2:06

All right.

2:07

So I have a motion.

2:08

I need a second.

2:09

I'll second.

2:10

We got a second.

2:11

And all those in favor, raise your hand and say hi.

2:14

Aye.

2:15

Any opposed?

2:16

Thank you very much.

2:17

Public comments this uh evening.

2:20

I think we had the sheet.

2:22

I think I did see someone signed up.

2:33

Thank you very much.

2:37

And at this time, I think we have one speaker.

2:39

Uh Jen, if you wanted to come forward and address the council, please.

2:44

Good evening.

2:45

Good evening.

2:46

Jen Bug 301, South Clark Boulevard, Clarksville, Indiana.

2:51

I want to open by saying that, and this may come as a surprise, this is not about the pet store ordinance.

2:58

It is about animals, and it's something positive.

3:02

It's a simple citizen-led project that allows anyone who finds a lost pet to scan for a microchip immediately.

3:10

No waiting for the shelter to be open or no trying to find a vet.

3:14

Last May I installed a 24-7 public microchip scanning station in Old Clarksville.

3:21

People use it.

3:22

They use it a lot.

3:24

We've had lots of pets reunited with their owners, and we've also had people stop by just to check their own pets for a microchip and make sure the information is up to date.

3:37

In just the past month, three more stations have gone up.

3:41

One in Clarksville's Parkwood neighborhood, one in New Albany, and one in Jeffersonville, hosted by Rachel, who I thought might join me this evening near the ports of Indiana.

3:53

I am installing another one in downtown Jeffersonville this week.

3:57

This is a fully citizen-led effort, no formal organization, just neighbors solving a problem.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Water And Wastewater Management███████████████████████████████31%
Procedural██████████████14%
Personnel Matters██████████████14%
Economic Development██████████10%
Fiscal Sustainability███████7%
Budget Equity Analysis██████6%
Transportation Safety█████5%
Animal Welfare███3%
Waste Management██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Clarksville Town Council Regular Meeting – April 7, 2026

The Town Council met on April 7, 2026, for its regular meeting followed by a work session. The agenda included a public hearing, consent agenda, and multiple new business items covering tax abatements, interlocal agreements, easements, liquor licenses, and financial settlements. Key outcomes included the denial of a tax abatement for Classic Truss, approval of a recycling interlocal agreement, and after extended discussion, approval of a wastewater account settlement. The work session also featured a presentation on employee benefit renewals.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Jen Bug (301 South Clark Boulevard) spoke in support of a citizen-led microchip scanning station initiative for lost pets. She reported that a 24/7 station installed in Old Clarksville last May has been widely used, and three additional stations have recently been placed in Clarksville, New Albany, and Jeffersonville. She encouraged council members to host stations in their districts, describing the $75 cost and low maintenance. No opposition or other public comments were offered.

Public Hearing

  • Public Hearing on Classic Truss Economic Revitalization Area (ERA): The hearing was opened as required for the proposed ERA. No members of the public spoke in favor or opposition. The hearing was closed, and the item moved to a vote later in the meeting.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved as a block with the addition of executive session minutes from March 11, 2026 (previously missing from the agenda). The consent agenda included minutes from March 17, 2026, claims of the town, and acceptance of minutes from boards/commissions/committees.

Discussion Items

  • Appointment to Insurance Committee: Diane Edelin was appointed to the Insurance Committee by motion and unanimous vote, after brief discussion of her background with Clarksville Community Schools.
  • Resolution 2026-R-05 – Classic Truss ERA and SB-1 Abatement: Councilman Ramsey expressed opposition, noting the company’s estimated $45 million annual revenue and the poor condition of Blackiston Mill Road due to heavy truck traffic. He moved to disapprove the resolution. The motion to not move forward (i.e., to deny the ERA creation) passed with one opposed vote, effectively killing the tax abatement.
  • Resolution 2026-R-06 – Interlocal Agreement for Recycling Services: Approved 6–1–1 (one abstention from the council president due to his role on the Clark County Recycling District Board, one vote against). The agreement continues curbside recycling in Clarksville and other Clark County communities at $34 per year per improved residential address, collected via property taxes. No rate increase was noted.
  • Resolution 2026-R-07 – Surplus Property: Unanimously approved, authorizing disposal of surplus town assets per state code.
  • Contract Extension for Landscaping Services (Raymond’s Lawn Care): Approved 6–1 (one abstention). The two-year extension continues mowing and maintenance of medians and town campus without cost increase.
  • Liquor License for River Heritage Conservancy (Vista): Approved 7–0, after review and recommendation from the Redevelopment Commission. The three-way license is for the Origin Park Riverfront Development District.
  • Acquisition of Easement from G&G Properties: Approved unanimously for sanitary sewer work near I-65 and I-265, at a negotiated cost of $60,000 for 0.93 acres temporary and 2.73 acres permanent easements.
  • Grant of Easement to Indiana American Water: Approved unanimously for a water transmission line along Blackiston Mill Road, continuing a multi-phase project.
  • Contract for Legal Services – Chris Sturgeon: Approved unanimously at $175 per hour for 2026, the same rate as 2025.
  • Grant of Easement to LG&E and Acceptance of Real Estate: Approved 7–0. The easement expands from 100 to 175 feet; LG&E transfers four parcels to the town in exchange.
  • Wastewater Account Settlement with JK Clarksville LLC (Radisson Hotel): The item was originally tabled after council members expressed concern about lack of prior notification and incomplete information. During the subsequent work session, the council heard detailed testimony from the hotel’s attorney (John Kraft) and maintenance manager (Tom Brown), who explained that a past verbal agreement for meter credits had lapsed. After discussion, the council voted to suspend the rules and approved the settlement 5–2. The settlement credits the hotel $191,854.25 for water not entering the sewer system, offsets the current balance and a recent bill, and leaves a net payment of $6,253.25 to the town.
  • Stormwater Payment Deferral Agreement: Approved 7–0 for Clarksville Plaza rehabilitation. Deferred fees will be repaid over 12 months starting January 2027 or upon new tenancy.
  • Award of Bid – 2026-2 Community Crossings Paving Program: Approved 7–0, awarding the contract to Libs Paving at not to exceed $1,856,933. The program will mill and repave streets including Blackiston Mill Road and Parkwood neighborhood, funded by a state grant ($900,522) and a 100% local match.

Key Outcomes

  • Denied: Resolution 2026-R-05 (Classic Truss ERA/abatement) – motion to disapprove passed with one opposed vote.
  • Approved: All other new business items, with the wastewater settlement approved 5–2 after being tabled and reconsidered in the work session.
  • Vote Tallies (where recorded):
    • Recycling interlocal: 6 yes, 1 no, 1 abstention
    • Landscape extension: 6 yes, 1 abstention
    • Liquor license: 7–0
    • Easements and legal contract: unanimous or 7–0
    • Wastewater settlement: 5–2 after suspension of rules
    • Stormwater deferral: 7–0
    • Paving contract: 7–0
  • Next Steps: The employee benefits renewal (medical, dental, vision, life/disability) was presented in the work session; the insurance committee recommends staying with existing carriers. Formal action will be taken at the April 21, 2026 meeting. The clerk-treasurer will present a budget work session and return on investment report on April 21. The council will consider amending the ordinance to potentially allow ducks (currently only chickens) in a future work session.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. I'd like to call our April 7th 2026. Regular council meeting to order. At this time, if you would stand and say our Pledge of Allegiance. And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God. Invisible with liberty. I believe we do have one appointment this evening to our insurance committee. I believe that person is Diane Edelin, is going to be added to our insurance committee. And I wouldn't, I think that is that a council or is that my appointment? It's a council appointment, so I'd look uh, I guess for a motion. I'll make the motion. Okay, we have a motion. Can I ask a question? Uh Diane Edelin, is she I mean, what what's her background? Is she in insurance? I don't know anything about I've never even heard of her. She's handled all of the insurance uh input and their committee things at the town of Clark at the Clarksville High School and Clarksville Community Schools. I spoke with Tina Bennett, and Tina felt like she would be a very good addition with her background and what she had done for them over the last probably 15 or more years. So after speaking with her, I felt good about that. Okay, thank you very much. Ms. President, point of information if I may. Would you spell that the name, please? You got me. Can I I can look on my phone? How about that? That's fine. Just get it to me, sir. Yep. All right. So I have a motion. I need a second. I'll second. We got a second. And all those in favor, raise your hand and say hi. Aye. Any opposed? Thank you very much. Public comments this uh evening. I think we had the sheet. I think I did see someone signed up. Thank you very much. And at this time, I think we have one speaker. Uh Jen, if you wanted to come forward and address the council, please. Good evening. Good evening. Jen Bug 301, South Clark Boulevard, Clarksville, Indiana. I want to open by saying that, and this may come as a surprise, this is not about the pet store ordinance. It is about animals, and it's something positive.

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