Jeff Batchelor

The meeting commenced with the Pledge of Allegiance. A key procedural action involved approving an agenda alteration to move item eight to the top due to a petitioner's medical issue. The board approved the minutes from the December 9, 2025 regular meeting and the December 18, 2025 special meeting. The primary discussion focused on variance petition 26-03 concerning a property at 1797 West 300 North, which requested permission for a 12-foot tall privacy fence on the side and rear yards, and an 8-foot tall fence on the front yard, exceeding standard height limits. After deliberation regarding safety concerns (preventing children from accessing a pool/pond) and aesthetic compatibility with surrounding R1B zoning, the board ultimately reached a consensus to approve a modified request: an 8-foot tall fence extending to the front of the house, transitioning to a 6-foot section, and concluding with the permitted 4.5-foot fence at the street frontage. Subsequently, the board began discussions on Item number five regarding the proposal to operate and maintain a 175-foot telecommunications facility.

The meeting included the holding of the annual corporation meeting, during which the minutes from the January 15, 2025 meeting were approved. Committee assignments were confirmed to remain the same, and officers for the upcoming year were re-elected. Discussions covered the approval of the claims docket, which included a business grant for signage, and review of financial statements. New business focused on selecting a new organizational logo, with a preference leaning toward Concept Two, incorporating elements from Concept One, and finalizing arrangements via email vote. Updates were provided on the digitization of files, including coordination with a vendor for scanning and destruction/return of documents, timed to coincide with the acquisition of a new computer. Progress on the waiver of compliance was noted, pending final processing by the auditor's office, although the fee had already been paid. Furthermore, an update was given regarding reviewing quotes for the money market account to maximize returns, and an approval was granted to budget up to $1,000 for the implementation of QuickBooks Online. The acquisition of a new computer and the possibility of securing free Microsoft Office 365 licenses for the nonprofit were also mentioned.

The meeting included the recognition of successful Leaport bowling teams, with the boys team achieving conference championship, winning the Holiday Classic, sectional title, and qualifying for the state finals. Several police department personnel received awards, including Officer Ryan Dwiki, Specialist Cer, and Detective Dylan Barton, all receiving Captain's Awards for outstanding performance, dedication, and willingness to take on extra responsibilities like SWAT team duties or FTO roles. Dalton Fluhoff was recognized with a Captain's Award and the Officer of the Year award. Officer Brandon Pitman received a Life-Saving Award for physically intervening to save a juvenile attempting suicide by jumping from a bridge onto railroad tracks. The council also acknowledged the appointment of Daniel Streer to the ATC board and discussed the importance of regulating bar licenses to maintain law and order. A proclamation was read recognizing American Heart Month, highlighting the critical role of immediate CPR in cardiac arrest survival.

The Plan Commission meeting included housekeeping items, such as the approval of the October 14th meeting minutes, and the Pledge of Allegiance. A significant portion of the discussion focused on Zone Map Change Number 25-03 to rezone land from R1B to R1D single-family residential district, petitioned by LAR I Hope I'm Pronouncing That Right Homes of Indiana LLC. Presentations emphasized the desperate need for growth in Leaport, referencing housing studies indicating a need for 3,000 to 4,000 new housing units, and noting that the proposed development aligns with recommendations to reduce inflated lot sizes. The discussion also addressed the recent closure of the Brier Leaf Golf Course, clarifying that the developer (LAR) was not responsible for the closure. Legal counsel provided detailed documentation confirming all statutory notification requirements were met for property owners. The importance of growth for the local school corporation, which has seen declining enrollment, was also highlighted.

The meeting began with the introduction of Aaron Oni, the new liaison from the Leaport Community School Corporation. Key discussions centered on two major initiatives. First, approval was sought to solicit bids for the Boyd Boulevard project, pending EDA approval, along with an associated construction inspection contract not to exceed $200,000 with Lock Mueller. Second, significant time was dedicated to the Pinfusion project on the old Dietrich steel property, requiring actions to obtain a comfort letter from the bank and Brownfields. This involved requesting authorization for two expenditures: up to $10,000 for additional soil borings and up to $10,000 to hire Ice Miller to review and coordinate the submission of testing results to Brownfields, ensuring compliance with residential reporting standards.