Council approves annexation, personnel moves and routine payments

The Middlebury Town Council on Jan. 19 adopted a package of routine motions that included annexation steps for MSSE phase 2, approval of personnel actions, and several payments and travel authorizations.

Council moved to adopt Resolution 2026-01, which staff described as the fiscal plan and policy for annexation of MSSE phase 2, representing the remaining real estate for the MSSE facility; staff said they did not anticipate increases to policing or other noncapital services. The council then adopted Ordinance 723 to add the property to the town limits; the ordinance will become effective after the remonstrance period and required state filings.

The council approved a severance and settlement agreement with Kathy Joe Shrock, effective upon approval. It adopted Ordinance 724A to set pay for the new public works hire, approving Jared Holmes at $25 per hour as a Labor 3 position.

Council approved the museum donation request and released $5,000 for the Middlebury Community Historical Museum; staff noted this was $1,000 more than the prior year and that the request would be charged to the donations/promotions line of the budget. The council also approved payment of JPR invoice 52441 for water system improvements (invoice amount shown in the transcript as “$9,87469” and recorded here as $9,874.69; see audit for the transcript-formatting issue) so the town can submit it to the Indiana Finance Authority for SRF fund release.

The council granted permission for public works staff to attend the Indianapolis truck show and authorized personnel to attend the Alliance of Indiana Rural Water conference (March 17–19) and the American Waterworks Association conference (March 23–27) for certification credits; training costs will be charged to water and sewer funds as noted.

Motions were made and seconded for each item and were approved by voice vote; the transcript records the ayes but does not provide a roll-call tally.