Robert G Baker

The agenda includes the review of expense vouchers and requests for payment related to water tower improvements. New business items cover a presentation by the Elkhart County Convention and Visitors Bureau, an amendment to the salary ordinance, authorization to advertise for road improvement bids, and various equipment purchase requests for the Public Works and Water departments. The meeting also involves the ratification of a new hire for the Public Works department and the appointment of two members to the Sign Board.

The 2019-2030 Comprehensive Plan for the Town of Middlebury aims to cultivate a thriving and resilient community, rooted in tradition and an entrepreneurial spirit, and serving as a welcoming, family-oriented place with quality education, innovation, and community involvement. It outlines strategies across six core focus areas: Town Center, Land Use and Development, Transportation and Infrastructure, Parks, Trails, and Community Enhancements, Marketing and Communications, and Education. The plan is designed to guide future development and strategic investments to enhance Middlebury's quality of life and economic vitality.

The meeting addressed Old Business regarding a proposal from Heron Environmental for further environmental investigation at 109 Grand Street, which included installing soil borings and laboratory analysis for an amount of $11,000, plus an associated addendum concerning environmental standards. The Commission also discussed the status of a potential developer for this property. Under New Business, the Commission considered a proposal from Birch Frank and Associates LLC for the design and survey of a water main extension along County Road 20 to Jacob's buildings (90, 91, 92) to improve fire protection and system looping, with a design/survey cost of $17,950. Finally, the Commission reviewed an interlocal agreement with Elcart County and the Town of Mberry concerning the phased expansion and upgrade of the wastewater treatment plant, estimated to cost $22 to $23 million in total. The agreement involves funding commitments from Elcart County ($9 million for Phase 1) and a requested funding commitment of $3.75 million from the Mberry Redevelopment Commission for Phase 1, sourced from the Elroy TIF and Downtown TIFF, beginning in 2028.

The meeting included discussions and approvals related to operational items. The council approved the dispersement of expense vouchers and the update of standard specifications for ordinance 497B. Appointments were made to the Redevelopment Commission, including recommendations for Lance Hayrick and Mike Holloway, and confirmations for existing members Don Schuler, Jerry K, and John Mansfield. Discussions covered the reappointment of various service providers for 2026, including legal counsel (Yoda OMR and Buckingham LLC), financial services (Baker Tilly), depository services (First State Bank of Mberry), and legal notice (The Go News). The council also approved the dates for the 2026 spring cleanup event in May. A key topic was the proposal from Donna and Associates to update the water model, which is necessary to evaluate the removal of water tower number two and the feasibility of eliminating the upper pressure zone and a related booster pump.

The meeting commenced with the acknowledgment of a full house and the presence of a visitor, Alex Gorsuch, and a new member, Allison Miller Yawwok. A significant portion of the discussion involved Mr. Gorsuch's request to use Memorial Park or East Park for a 24-hour public reading of the entire New Testament by his youth group in May. The Board discussed the need for an exception to the park's standard closing time (sunset) and potential issues such as noise levels and liability, ultimately deciding to table the request until February to allow time for developing a formal application process, possibly modeled after the Boy Scout application. In the subsequent discussion, the Board reviewed the financial reports, specifically addressing a concern about residual designated funds for the now-defunct River Mill Trail event, and concluded with updates on internal projects. Staff reported on the completion of several construction projects, including a lean-to structure for plant shading and a cover over the shop door, and ongoing work on a covered bench. Staff also mentioned progress on updating the five-year master plan for the DNR.