Clarksville Town Council Meeting — November 2, 2026

The Clarksville Town Council held a work session and regular meeting on November 2, 2026. The work session focused on opioid settlement fund requests, including a $9,399.90 Fire Department request and a separate request from Catalyst Rescue that staff said could not be funded above the prior $35,000 commitment. The regular meeting included public testimony about enforcement of the town’s retail pet store ordinance, routine consent items, budget transfers, an eScribe live-streaming contract, sale of town property at 1420 Baxter Avenue, pay-scale and classification amendments, a police salary ordinance second reading, surplus police vehicle trade-ins, an easement vacation, and creation of a River Falls Mall non-reverting fund. The work session ended at 6:32 p.m.; the regular meeting followed and had been moved to November 2 for the election.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the consent agenda: minutes of the joint town council regular meeting, work session, and executive sessions; claims for current and pre-written wastewater/sewage, bonds, grants, and payroll; and acceptance of minutes for placement in the file. Motion by Mr. Stotts, second by Mr. Ramsey; unanimous voice vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Jennifer Blythe, 301 South Clark Boulevard, said it had been one year since she first raised concerns about retail pet stores. She thanked the council for passing an ordinance in July but expressed frustration with the lack of visible enforcement. She said there was documentation of multiple puppies diagnosed with parvo, Giardia, coccidia, and intestinal worms, and argued that Indiana law leaves animal care and sanitation to local government. She urged requiring the actual breeder—not just a broker—to be identified, said Puppy Gram’s Louisville operation used USDA breeder license numbers that USDA confirmed through a FOIA request never existed, and asked whether Clarksville could suspend the store’s license under Code §§ 91.025 and 91.026 until compliance.
• Jennifer Blaif, 608 Millwood Place, thanked the Street Department for Millwood and Parkwood road work. She said Puppy Gram was cited in August for three ordinance violations, including failure to meet veterinary exam requirements, but court hearings had been postponed and puppies remained at the store. She said Town Manager Adams confirmed Puppy Gram had received no exceptions and enforcement was ongoing, but declined to discuss inspections, additional citations, or compliance timelines because the August case was pending; she stressed that enforcement is also the town’s responsibility. She asked whether the store was receiving required in-person veterinary exams, whether it had come into compliance, how long violations could remain uncorrected while it operated, and whether new or continuing violations were being documented and cited. She also asked Mr. McEwen whether Green Tree Mall had required Puppy Gram to correct violations as a condition of continuing to operate, noting citations were issued nearly three months ago.
• A council member responded that the matter was before the courts and that the breeder-disclosure issue would be checked. Blythe added that New Albany and Jeffersonville ordinances require disclosure of both breeder and broker, that she had shared evidence with Attorney Sturgeon, that the breeder cards named Miles Handy and USDA confirmed he had never been issued a breeder’s license, and that referrals had been made to the Indiana Attorney General, Kentucky Attorney General, and IRS.

Discussion Items

• Work session — Opioid settlement fund: Staff reported a current balance of $71,500 in the fund, with $35,000 to $50,000 per year committed to Catalyst Rescue; only $35,000 was given last year, and $5,319.66 in revenue had been added this year. Staff said it could not commit above the prior $35,000 and suggested adding the request to the next meeting agenda for further discussion. Council also discussed whether other entities, including veterans’ groups, might use the funds. The work session also briefly discussed another funding request, with a council member saying they wanted audit clarification and answers before giving more funds this year; staff offered follow-up.
• Work session — Fire Department opioid request: Clarksville Fire Department requested $9,399.90 from the unrestricted opioid settlement fund #2256: $4,399.90 for emergency medical equipment including naloxone/Narcan, bag-valve masks, IO access supplies, resuscitation equipment, gloves, and patient-care supplies, plus $5,000 for continuing EMS education. The training would cover all 45 department personnel with five six-hour sessions by shift, providing 18 hours per person toward the 40 hours required every other year for certification. The chief said naloxone has about a two-year shelf life and some plastics up to four years, and that overdose call volume varies from several weeks with none to three or four per week, with peaks of three or four per day. He planned to raise reimbursement and product-replacement issues with Heartland at an operations board meeting the next day. Council members voiced support, calling the Fire Department the front line of defense; no formal vote was taken in the work session.
• 2026 BUD-06 transfer ordinance: Staff explained the ordinance moves appropriations between line items within the same fund or department to eliminate negative balances before the state’s December 31 deadline; it is not a request for new funds. The largest transfer noted was more than $40,000 between line items. Approved.
• eScribe contract: Staff recommended a 26-month agreement beginning November 2026 and ending December 31, 2028, for live streaming. The contract total was $41,279, including $2,848 for November–December 2026, $17,881 for 2027, and $20,550 for 2028. Implementation fees were waived; the 2029 renewal was capped at $21,577.50, a maximum 5% increase, with the town responsible for the final $7,428. Approved.
• Sale of 1420 Baxter Avenue: An RFP issued October 6, 2026, with an October 23 deadline resulted in American Mobile Glass being the highest-scored respondent with a complete proposal and $440,000 purchase price. Staff recommended approval. A council member asked about a $437,500 figure in the packet; staff clarified the $440,000 proposal price versus the RFP minimum reference. Approved.
• Pay scale amendment: The council approved amendments to the pay scale and classification for the animal control officer and public works laborers with CDLs. Staff said the changes do not alter pay but establish the framework for the previously approved CDL pay increase effective December 7, 2026, and a new CDL classification. The new level-three animal control officer classification includes advanced training, investigation, documentation, case-building, and EBI duties for severely injured animals. Staff reported 12 such cases this year, seven of which died in transit, and cited liability and risk in transporting injured animals.
• Police salary ordinance: The council conducted and approved a second reading of the police salary ordinance.
• Surplus property and police vehicles: The council approved surplus designation and trade-in of four Durangos, with council discussion referencing a $5,000 trade-in value, to allow the police department to proceed with the previously approved purchase of two Tahoes and remove the vehicles from the books and insurance.
• Easement vacation: Commercial Logistics Corporation, which owns all lots contiguous to the easement, petitioned to vacate an easement recorded November 13, 2018. Staff recommended approval. Approved.
• River Falls Mall non-reverting fund: Ordinance 2026 G17 establishes a non-reverting fund for revenues and expenses tied to common-area maintenance agreements and the Bass Pro Shops lease, separating them from TIF and other town funds. Staff said rental payments were not behind; funds now come directly to the town after ending the prior mall management agreement. Approved.
• Housing hearing: Staff announced that HB 1001 requires a municipal housing hearing by year-end; Clarksville scheduled a special-called Plan Commission meeting for Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. in council chambers, followed by the regular Plan Commission meeting.
• Reports and comments: A department/office report noted efforts to maximize interest and dividends on short-term savings, identified the fire territory as a major concern, and mentioned ongoing records requests. Council members thanked police, fire, public works, and animal control; mentioned Halloween presence, a suspected arson in a Deer Run park, new road work, and encouraged civic participation.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda approved unanimously.
• 2026 BUD-06 transfer ordinance approved.
• eScribe 26-month live-streaming contract approved.
• Sale of 1420 Baxter Avenue to American Mobile Glass for $440,000 approved.
• Pay scale and classification amendment approved, including the new level-three animal control officer and CDL framework.
• Police salary ordinance second reading approved.
• Surplus property and trade-in of four Durangos approved.
• Easement vacation for Commercial Logistics Corporation approved.
• Ordinance 2026 G17 creating the River Falls Mall non-reverting fund approved.
• The Fire Department’s $9,399.90 opioid-fund request was discussed with support but not voted on; staff suggested it be placed on the next meeting agenda. Catalyst Rescue funding above $35,000 was not committed; further discussion was expected.
• Public calls for stronger enforcement and breeder disclosure regarding Puppy Gram were referred to ongoing court and enforcement processes and follow-up.