Huntingburg council discusses hoarding ordinance, more at first meeting of 2025

City Council Elects Pro Tem, Honors Long-Time Employee, and Approves Utility Loan, Mentors for Youth Month proclaimed, ALASI presents community impact report

Huntingburg–The Huntingburg City Council convened for its first meeting of the year, addressing a range of municipal matters and recognizing community contributions.

First off, council member Tim Wehr was re-elected as president pro tem for another term. The vote was unanimous among the five council members present. Wehr serves as council at-large and that elected position has historically been selected for the pro tem to serve in the mayor’s absence at council meetings.

Mayor Neal Elkins presented a 25-year service pin to Clerk-Treasurer Tom Dipple, acknowledging his long-standing commitment to the city.

“Tom’s been a huge asset to the city. We’re lucky to have him,” Elkins said.

The mayor also proclaimed January as Mentors for Youth Month in Huntingburg. The executive director of Mentors for Youth, Erin Kidwell accepted the proclamation and highlighted upcoming events.

“We’re using this Mentors for Youth Month to raise some awareness about the program. We’re trying to engage 15 new supporters,” Kidwell said. “Whether that’s they want to mentor, they want to join the board or the committees, and they want to just help out at outings. There’s a place for everyone in our organization.”

If you are interested in helping mentor youth in our community, please contact them at https://www.mentors4youth.com/.

She mentioned the upcoming “Spreading Hoptimism” fundraiser at Yard Goat, where $1 from every pint sold will benefit the organization.

Then, Rosina Sandoval, newly appointed executive director of ALASI (Asociación Latinoamericana del Sur de Indiana), presented a report on the organization’s impact since opening its resource center over a year ago.

“We have completed over 500 appointments and had over 1,000 walk-ins,” Sandoval said. She noted that ALASI assists with employment, immigration, education, medical and housing issues for the immigrant community.

Sandoval thanked the city for its partnership in providing space for ALASI’s operations. Mayor Elkins praised ALASI as a “great regional asset” recognized across Indiana.

The council approved two annual contracts. The first, with Patoka Township Trustee, provides $26,000 for fire protection services. The second, with Patoka Township, contributes $12,000 to the park board budget for recreational services.

Both ordinances were introduced, rules suspended, and adopted in the same meeting.

The council also addressed a potential cash flow issue for the gas utility. They approved an ordinance allowing the electric cash reserve fund to loan up to $1 million to the gas utility over a five-year period at 1% interest.

Clerk-Treasurer Dippel explained, “We are coming into our heating season and the cash balance of the gas utility may not be enough to temporarily purchase gas that we need in our colder months.”

The loan will help manage the timing difference between gas purchases and revenue collection from customers, which can be up to six weeks. Dippel noted they won’t use the money unless needed to cover the gap between purchases and payments.

The ordinance allows the line of credit to be available over the next five years rather than the council having to address it on an annual basis.

During public comment, Janet Schnell inquired about the city’s proposed hoarding ordinance. City Attorney Phil Schneider said the draft is still being considered.

The council suggested introducing it at the next meeting for public review before potential adoption in February or March.

“I think we should let it out there and let the citizens have it for two weeks to up to a month even before we come back, bring it to the meeting for a final adoption,” Councilman Jeff Bounds said.

City Attorney Phil Schneider also discussed updating the city’s property maintenance ordinance. If they do so, the hoarding ordinance could be wrapped up in it rather than as a standalone ordinance. He added that they could be merged later if the council wanted to proceed with the hoarding ordinance.

The council agreed to review the draft and discuss it further at the next meeting on January 28.

Schnell asked if the city could add a clause allowing them to clean up the property if it is in violation and the owner refuses to take action to remedy the situation. The ordinance caps the fines at $7,000, and Schnell wondered if the action could be taken if the fine was not enough incentive for the property owner to take action.

Schneider noted the city could be challenged for violating an individual’s Constitutional rights. “We can’t go in and destroy people’s property to take property without just compensation,” he said. “That’s unconstitutional to do that.”

He explained that once the $7,000 cap is reached and no action is taken, he prefers to turn it over to the courts for injunctive relief. Then, they will mandate the property owner abate the issue or start fining them.

The meeting concluded with an announcement of an upcoming Board of Finance meeting to be held during the next council meeting on January 28, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall.