Minutes: April 6, 2026

Time:  6:30 p.m.

Place: Remington Town Hall/13 E. South Railroad Street/Remington, Indiana 47977

Members Present 

Susan Flickner, President; Dana Pampel, Vice President; James Stewart, Alan Schambach; Dalton Justice

Others Present

Mark Jones, Dale Budde, Mike Martin, John Schuetzenhofer, Ross Baird, Joshua Longest, Donald Schuh, Tammy Culp, Jesse Conn, Rae Conn, Tyler Kesler, Maddie Spencer, Autumn Hibdon, Ethan Froehling, Miranda Hathaway, Rebecca Goddard, Jonathan Cripe, and Terri Budde.

Council President Flickner opened the April Council meeting with reciting the Pledge of Allegiance at 6:30 p.m.

Minutes of the March 2, 2026 Council Meeting and Executive Meeting reviewed. Council Member Schambach made a motion to approve the Council and Executive minutes of March 2, 2026. Vice President Pampel seconded the motion. Motion passed with 5 ayes and 0 nays.

CITIZEN COMMENTS 

• Tammy Culp presented information regarding Teen Mission Week in Jasper County.  Teens work throughout the community performing light/general labor tasks for homeowners at no cost to the homeowner. For 2026, Teen Mission week will be July 12 through July 18. Homeowners may obtain an application form at Remington Town Hall.

• Tammy Culp presented flyers and information regarding Jasper County 250. The United States will be celebrating the signing of the Declaration of Independence 250 years ago this July 4. There will be many activities and events held July 3 and 4, 2026 in Rensselaer, Indiana. Tammy requested ideas from Town of Remington as to how this community can be involved in that celebration.

DEPARTMENT REPORTS:

Utilities – Mark Jones reported:

• Donald Schuh has been training at the Wastewater Plant.

• Blowers at the Wastewater plant have been serviced.

• Drying beds were cleaned and sludge hauled.

• With the recent heavy rains, the Wastewater Plant had 7.5 million gallons of water move through it within the last 5 days.

Joshua Longest reported:

• There will be water tests being performed this spring.

• A fire hydrant that was damaged at Family Express at I65 will be replaced.

• Hydrants will be flushed during the month of April.

• Due to the fertilizer truck rollover last month, the Town must test Well #5 and the Water Plant for nitrates quarterly upon directive from IDEM.

Streets – Don Schuh reported:

• He’s been studying and passed his Wastewater Operator test.

Park – Dale Budde reported:

• The softball dugouts have been refinished.

• Gravel was hauled in and spread.

• The mowing season has started.

Police Department – John Schuetzenhofer reported:

• A detailed call report was presented to Council for the last month.  A copy of said report is on file in the Clerk-Treasurer’s Office. 

• The solar radar signs are in. We need to find a location and posts to mount the signs on.

• The Tahoe squad is in the shop being repaired.

• Presented information on the LEPC Table Top Training. This year it will be a simulated accident at Pilot at I-65. It will be held on April 30, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. and encouraged employees from the Town of Remington to participate in this training.

• President Flickner brought up security issues and late-night activity at the park and requested additional patrols in those areas. A discussion on cameras at the park was heard with no action being taken.

Fire Department – Mike Martin reported:

• Informed Council there were 9 fire runs for the month of March.

• Jasper County is conducting a county-wide fire study to evaluate the needs for the county.

• Fire Department physicals will be completed this week.

• There’s a door at the fire station with an automatic closure that needs looked at.  It’s shooting out oil.

• Informed Council when there are high winds, the smell inside the Fire Station is awful. He suggested a vent in the roof or something be looked at to fix or help with this situation.

• Requested painting on the east side window and the steel beams be done/redone.

• The fire station has gutter leaks above the entry doors.

• Fire Chief Martin informed Council there are currently 16 members, but not all are active.

TOWN MANAGER – Jonathan Cripe reported:

• The site prep at the street barn has started.  Hardebeck Excavating discussed the need to tie gutters into down spouts for the street barn. Presented an oral quote from Hardebeck Excavating to install 500 feet of 8” perforated tile at a cost of Five Thousand Five Hundred Ninety-three Dollars Seventy-five Cents ($5,593.75). No discussion heard. Council Member Justice moved to approve the quote to install 500 feet of 8” perforated tile at the street barn site at a cost of  Five Thousand Five Hundred Ninety-three Dollars Seventy-five Cents ($5,593.75). Vice President Pampel seconded the motion. Motion passed with 5 ayes and 0 nays.

• Presented an oral proposal to extend Eyedart’s contract for promotion of the park project through the end of 2026 at a cost of Six Thousand Two Hundred Dollars ($6,200.00). No discussion heard. Vice President Pampel moved to approve the extension of Eyedart’s contract for promotion of the park project through the end of 2026 at a cost of Six Thousand Two Hundred Dollars ($6,200.00). Council Member Schambach seconded the motion. Motion passed with 5 ayes and 0 nays.

• Requested permission to name Donald Schuh as the person in charge at the Wastewater plant. This process will take approximately thirty (30) days to be in full effect. No discussion heard. Council Member Stewart moved to approve Donald Schuh as the person in charge at the Wastewater plant. Council Member Schambach seconded the motion. Motion passed with 5 ayes and 0 nays.

• Requested permission to hire David Pluimer as the summer mowing employee.  Council approved the hire of David Pluimer for summer mowing.

• The computer at the Wastewater plant was struck by lightening and ruined. We’ve purchased a laptop, which will use Wi-Fi, which will hopefully reduce storm damage incidents.

• Our meter reader is obsolete and we’re not able to use it with a recent software upgrade. The Town has purchased a tablet that the water operator will use to read meters.

• Recently purchased a piece of equipment that will make mapping our roads, water and sewer lines much easier. The equipment will need to be set up and the employees will attend training.

• He attended the AIM Roundtable in Schererville, Indiana last week.

• He will be attending the IMMA Conference and Flood Plain meeting next month.

• He will be attending a meeting of the Jasper County Housing Committee Thursday.

TOWN ATTORNEY – Rebecca Goddard reported:

• She is working with BS & A on the software agreement approved by Council last month. She has provided an addendum and both sides are working on changes.

• Presented Ordinance 2026-04-06-001, An Ordinance Replacing Ordinance 100785-2 and Creating a Police Reserve Department and Making Certain Provisions Concerning Same. No discussion heard. Council Member Stewart moved to approve Ordinance 2026-04-06-001, An Ordinance Replacing Ordinance 100785-2 and Creating a Police Reserve Department and Making Certain Provisions Concerning Same. Council Member Schambach seconded the motion. Motion passed with 5 ayes and 0 nays.

• Presented a waiver and Release Regarding Routine Physical Examinations regarding the Police Department. No discussion  heard. Council Member Stewart moved to approve the Waiver and Release Regarding Routine Physical Examinations for the Police Department. Council Member Justice seconded the motion.  Motion passed with 5 ayes and 0 nays. Clerk-Treasurer Budde informed Council she will obtain signatures on the waivers or schedule physical appointments for the police department within the next week for 2026. Thereafter the waiver will be distributed in January of each year.

NEW BUSINESS

• Clerk-Treasurer Budde informed Council the fitness memberships will renew in July of this year and asked for direction. Council agreed Council Member Schambach would provide information regarding the fitness program where he works. This item was tabled to the May Council meeting.

• Town Manager Cripe requested Jesse Conn be approved as the Utility Laborer employee. Discussion heard. Council Member Justice moved to approve the hiring of Jesse Conn as the Utility Laborer effective immediately. Council Member Stewart seconded the motion. Motion passed with 5 ayes and 0 nays.

• Town Manager Cripe informed Council that Donald Schuh passed his Wastewater Operator Examination making him dual-certified in water and wastewater, and requested a One Thousand Dollar ($1,000.00) bonus for Donald Schuh. Council Member Schambach moved to approve a One Thousand Dollar ($1,000.00) certification bonus for Donald Schuh for passing his wastewater operator examination. Vice President Pampel seconded the motion. Motion passed with 5 ayes and 0 nays. Clerk-Treasurer Budde informed all present that the bonus would be paid on the next payroll, April 16, 2026.

• Town Manager Cripe informed Council that the Town was awarded a Community Crossing Grant for paving. Bids were opened and the lowest and best bid was from Town & Country in the amount of Two Hundred Eighty-seven Thousand Four Hundred Sixty-eight Dollars ($287,468.00).  ice President Pampel moved to approve the paving bid from Town & Country in the amount of Two Hundred Eighty-seven Thousand Four Hundred Sixty-eight Dollars ($287,468.00). Council Member Justice seconded the motion. Motion passed with 5 ayes and 0 nays.

• Discussion heard regarding the Town Manager’s Employment Agreement.  An Executive Meeting was set for April 20, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. at Remington Town Hall  to further discuss the agreement.

OLD BUSINESS 

• Clerk-Treasurer Budde presented an Amendment to Salary Ordinance 2025-12-15-005 that entails creating a Wastewater Technician position, current employee will be Donald Schuh, who will be paid $22.50 per hour; reduced the Utility Laborer hourly pay to $20.00 per hour, current employee will be Jesse Conn; increased the summer mowing position to $15.00 per hour; and modified the position of Assistant Utility Technician to “Water Technician”, current employee Joshua Longest.  No discussion heard.  Council Member Justice moved to approve Amendment to Salary Ordinance 2025-12-15-005 as delineated. Council Member Schambach seconded the motion. Motion passed with 5 ayes and 0 nays.

CLERK-TREASURER - Terri Budde reported:

• The March 2026 Hours Detail Report was presented to Council. Council Member Justice moved to approve the March Hours Detail Report. Vice President Pampel seconded the motion. Motion passed with 5 ayes and 0 nays.

• The March 2026 Combined Appropriation/Revenue Detail History by Fund was presented to Council. Vice President Pampel moved to approve the March Combined Appropriation/Revenue Detail History by Fund. Council Member Schambach seconded the motion. Motion passed with 5 ayes and 0 nays.

• Council Member Stewart moved to approve the claims presented for April. Vice President Pampel seconded the motion. Motion passed with 5 ayes and 0 nays. 

ADDITIONAL BUSINESS:

Mark Jones inquired if the Fire Department must complete annual physicals.  No decision made.

Meeting adjourned at 7:22 p.m.