Unknown Speaker
It's the fourth week of the month and August 2020. And we're with municipal consultant DAX Norton here on Wi Fi use ask the mayor, thank you so much for joining us on zoom again today.
Unknown Speaker
Yeah, we've made it to August. You believe it? I mean, Christmas isn't far away.
Unknown Speaker
It's not it's not
Unknown Speaker
want to think about what Christmas 2020 could bring us.
Unknown Speaker
I mean, would you have thought back when this we all started this in March and probably, yeah, because it was mid March. So I don't know if we met in person, end of March or if that was in April, that we would be where we are going into September.
Unknown Speaker
Can't believe we're still
Unknown Speaker
you know, shifting almost every day.
Unknown Speaker
How we do things to deal with the things that we're dealing with but you know, I've seen a lot of good leadership.
Unknown Speaker
Well, I think we're blessed with that.
Unknown Speaker
Especially in here in Nashville in Brown County. It's when you're expecting so many people from outside the outside world to enter your small close knit community where we take care of each other. I think we've done that. Well.
Unknown Speaker
Now you're off. You have an office in Indy, have you been working with Nashville officials from
Unknown Speaker
India? Are you going down? Or how's that working out?
Unknown Speaker
Yeah, I've been on site. I still got a last week. I was on site a couple couple days of the week. This week, I'll be on site a couple days a week. Now we're still conducting zoom all meetings in Nashville via zoom. I think that's the best, safest way to do it. It's been rather efficient way to do it. There is there are some growing pains with how to conduct you know, an easy meeting I guess if you want to call it on zoom, but I think that Jane gore president Jane Gore, the National Council, and others, other leadership in the county in Nashville have done a great job of, of, you know, adapting to holding their public meetings that way.
Unknown Speaker
Just looking at some of the numbers in Brown County, of course, these will change this is recorded day earlier before the errors but 83 positive cases two deaths, looking at some of the trends 4% positivity rate, the state's around 7%. And I think that's what when we talked about before looking at the trends, and it seems like Brown County kind of follows the rest of the state in terms of trends, is that what you're looking at?
Unknown Speaker
Yeah, it seems to be a little lower in positivity rate, which I think is a testament to people caring about You know, people in, you know, the close knit pneus, of Brown County in Nashville. And you know, we all look after each other. And for the most part, I think face coverings are worn, especially if you're, you know, if you're from the area from outside the area, you have that respect. So I think that yes, it looks like they it is following the trend, but seems to be a little less of an impact on national Brown County than it has been on some of the rest of the state.
Unknown Speaker
It seems like that big increase when we talked to a month ago came after the Fourth of July. And now we're seeing you know, of course, Nashville Brown County being a tourist site that people are shops are open, people are shopping, probably not what it would be normally but still they are but yet not really seeing that that big spike so Are you in some way? Or is the community feeling good about where they're at right now?
Unknown Speaker
I've heard mixed, you know, mixed reaction. Nobody wants any positive tests. I think some people probably thought that if it stayed closed, wouldn't continue to see some increases. Obviously, that's not realistic. We have to be open for business. That that's that's how we survive. So I think it's it's actually gone pretty well since the reopening in July and then obviously, council meetings held about face coverings and ordinances put in place and would we like to see more people that are consistently wearing face coverings? Yes, for the most part, people were very respectful. There haven't been any major incidents and the the rate has stayed relatively low. In comparison to the number of testing that's going up. So it seems to be the national Brown County is doing a pretty good job in the battle. Well, and
Unknown Speaker
something to talk about too, and I don't know how much of this, you're involved with, of course, because the schools are a separate issue, but the Brown County School is undertaking in person classes. And from what I've understood, you could maybe could speak more on this, but there are no outbreaks that we know of them. And I believe it's just a majority of students are going for in person classes. And some are virtual learning, and I assume a lot of that has to do with rural broadband is just not what it can be there. Right.
Unknown Speaker
I would Well, you know, I was just on a call this morning with the Indiana chamber economic development policy committee and very topic was brought up of rural broadband as effect on whether that'd be positive or negative on education, and probably you're probably correct It's better to be in person, just to have that camaraderie of your peers and because you may not be able to adequately learn due to a lack of broadband at home, especially in Brown County in Nashville just because of, you know, the terrain if anything, you know, getting that product to some of those, some of those homes is going to be very hard to do. So. I have not heard of any major issues with the school system. I know you talked about really good leadership and all the things they had to scramble to do to get the kids back into the classroom is incredibly good school system and they've done a good job of leading through this as well.
Unknown Speaker
Is the town getting a lot of calls from people about it? You did mention a little bit earlier about the mask mandate and and other type of social distancing. I know some other cities have hotline numbers for people to call is that an issue there with all the tourists
Unknown Speaker
seem to be there been a couple of complaints The town has received have now as a certain shop requiring their employees to wear them or, or helping to enforce the mandate. It had been it hasn't been. It's been very minimal. From what I've seen and what we've heard very minimal.
Unknown Speaker
Hmm. I saw an article in the Brown County democrat about how the Brown County Music Center is being used as a multi purpose center during the pandemic and I believe it's owned by the county so why not use it as what's meetings, they're having meetings there. And now the latest is a courtroom. Do you have any more info on that? I don't
Unknown Speaker
have a lot of info on it. But I what I've seen that happen not just there. It's like it's happened at old National Center in Indianapolis and some other music venues that have gone dark and it's a really creative way to use a venue that's not being used for its original purpose. I think they've even invited you know, the, if you want to rent it for certain events and occasions, I think that's from what I've heard or when I saw it's part of the process. So to kind of reinvent its use until it can be used for once built for, again, hopefully 2021.
Unknown Speaker
And I'm sure that's just part of what would have to be a larger piece of the puzzle and keeping a venue like that open with no, no revenue. Have you have they been in talks with the county and how they're keeping that keeping paying the mortgage per se?
Unknown Speaker
I am not real privy to that info. I think that all that's been worked out though. Financial institutions have been very understanding. The county has been very understanding with the partnership with the innkeepers tax and the way that the the mortgage is paid for the facility. Thank you. What you've seen is a whole group of people come together that are instrumental and keeping, you know, continuing to be successful, and having a good understanding and working out the financial aspects so that it'll it'll be a it's still going to continue to be a great asset and draw for the county in the town.
Unknown Speaker
Yeah, it's it's the getting by between now and then. And I'm sure a lot of local businesses are, are looking for the same. Do you have any other updates on foundation or grants or things that local businesses are now either applying or receiving?
Unknown Speaker
So there is a grant open through the county as to the Community Foundation. Their executive director Matthew Miller has done a great job of getting that info out to the businesses. I know she's been going through applications there. The town has applied for another round of funding through the Office of Community rules. fares, the other $250,000 may be coming to the county through the town and national government shortly. That would be a great program as well. And that threshold is once again grants up to $10,000. To the businesses. I think we hear from I think we hear about that, the 28th. So Friday, Friday, we'll know about that grant process and whether the town has received that and we can start that process as well. So up to up to half a million dollars from that, from that process, could be in the county and ready to be granted to some of our local businesses.
Unknown Speaker
I wanted to follow up just on a couple things here before we we go on some of the town county projects that are still in the works. I mean, it Yeah, we're in a pandemic, but you're still moving forward on on essential items such as the sewer master plan. We've talked about the last few shows. I know it's been a month though. There have been some meetings including some times Public comment, because my question would be how much of that are unfunded mandates? And we talked about this in Terre Haute and and Greencastle, I remember to have sewer and water plans and how much is expansion and how much is current upgrades?
Unknown Speaker
Yeah, so a good portion of it is his current rehabilitation process for the current system. One thing I think was probably maybe shocking the sound and not shocking to others, is that the collection system in Nashville is about is greater than 60 years old. And 60 years ago, the pipe product wasn't what the byproduct is now. So you know, replacing that product, fixing infiltration of rainwater into the sanitary sewer collection system is important doing some upgrades to the to the actual wastewater treatment plant site to keep Number one, any of those items out of salt Creek during like, say flooding issues, but to make the plant run much more efficiently and then also increased capacity by doing these things, there are a number of projects that are short term immediate need projects, are they all funded? They are not. You know, you have to get, you have to really look and see in that plan what's, what is the priority, and then go find the money either that through federal grants, state grants, federal loan programs, there are some good ones that don't have a major negative impact on the rates because the ratepayer doesn't want to have. You know, we don't want to get into the 70 8090 $100 a month rates because there are millions and millions of dollars actually there are 10s of millions of dollars worth of products or projects that can be done on the sanitary collection. The system in Nashville is very good plan. It does have some regional elements to it. You know, if the regional sewer district, there's a regional sewer district, we want to be cooperating with the regional sewer district help them as much as we possibly can. on projects, you know, the more sewer you get out into the county and you have growth possibilities and growth in assessed value is going to be very important for the next 2030 years for revenues to come in to be able to do provide services that the residents are going to expect. So it's very good plan and I think they're about seven $8 million of immediate kind of action item projects that can be done just to maintain the current and rehab rehab the current system, much less expansion projects. After you fix those things, and then the expansion projects can happen when you're talking 10 $20 million worth of potential So it's pretty done.
Unknown Speaker
It's pretty done. What's been the public comment like so far? Haven't had a lot.
Unknown Speaker
Um, I think we you know, I think we've had some comment from the you know, make sure that we're working with the regional partners and keep it as regional as possible. I think the town's always been an advocate of reaching out and from regional perspective and you know, using the town's assets to help the regional sewer district in the county and get people on on sewer systems you know, some people are always concerned that if you expand sewer in an area you may have to forcibly annex it's not a sift through. Others are concerned that Oh, no, there's a sewer there. I might have to hook on that might cost me a lot of money. But there are laws and in the end state that if you have a failing septic system and you're within a certain amount of yards from this from a sanitary sewer that yes, you You need to hook on but you know, there are ways to to assist the homeowner or the parcel owner with that. So we haven't had a lot of I think we've had a lot of great constructive feedback. And that's why the council didn't adopt it. I urge them this is not we're not in a hurry. Let's get as much public input as we possibly can before we finalize and adopters.
Unknown Speaker
Does this tie in at all to any of the my next subject TIF districts that the county or or town is looking at TIF districts collect property taxes and a district right and then uses those four improvements for that area? Are there any tie ins with
Unknown Speaker
that?
Unknown Speaker
Sure. I mean, TIF can and TIF often does fun water sewer projects in the in the tax increment finance in the DDA, the economic development area or the you know, or the TIF is collected, so, yes, the two should go hand in hand. The redevelopment commission I have Talk with their consultant Ed and we've had great talks together, they should be prepared to have their own Capital Improvement Plans inside that tax increment finance area, so that they would know how much increment they need and how much they can help support any new infrastructure including water sewer infrastructure, inside the TIF. So, the good news is that I think the current TIF is mainly served by the sanitary sewer system, it doesn't look like any expansions need to be done. But certainly if you build a new facility, say a new brewery and 75 new apartments which is planned, you know, in the TIF and the water, sewer infrastructure is 60 years old, you're probably going to have to expect the part of that projects to be a water sewer project as well. And TIF help support and fund that. But that's those are the things we need to talk about and and we are in planning for.
Unknown Speaker
So I guess we've had a blast. question would be what's next? And the timeline? And how can people chime in on this?
Unknown Speaker
The plan is, as on the master plans or master plans on the town's website, it's pretty easily accessible. We just urge people to, it's boring. But I click click the link, read it. You have any feedback at all? I don't think anybody leaves one way or the other. There's, you know, we want to make sure it's the best plan that's possibly out there for the benefit of the future of the community. So please give us as much feedback as possible on a sewer master plan.
Unknown Speaker
Sure, we're out of time, but I did want to ask if there is there anything else on the agenda that we should know about or people should know about or take a look at to?
Unknown Speaker
You know, I think coming up is comprehensive planning process for the town, talked to a couple council members, they think it should be a number one priority. Which then also includes, you know, transportation planning and also includes bicycle pedestrian master planning. So that will start to be discussed, I think pretty, pretty heavily in the next two, three months.
Unknown Speaker
Okay, we'll have to follow up on that in September. right around the corner,
Unknown Speaker
believe it.
Unknown Speaker
Fall season, another big
Unknown Speaker
event for Brown County, the biggest event
Unknown Speaker
on are coming up on the biggest event, so we'll have to plan accordingly.
Unknown Speaker
Yeah. All right. Thank you very much for your time. Appreciate it. For those listening and want to ask a question. You can email news at Indiana public media.org. Thank you. Thank you.
It's the fourth week of the month and August 2020. And we're with municipal consultant DAX Norton here on Wi Fi use ask the mayor, thank you so much for joining us on zoom again today.
Unknown Speaker
Yeah, we've made it to August. You believe it? I mean, Christmas isn't far away.
Unknown Speaker
It's not it's not
Unknown Speaker
want to think about what Christmas 2020 could bring us.
Unknown Speaker
I mean, would you have thought back when this we all started this in March and probably, yeah, because it was mid March. So I don't know if we met in person, end of March or if that was in April, that we would be where we are going into September.
Unknown Speaker
Can't believe we're still
Unknown Speaker
you know, shifting almost every day.
Unknown Speaker
How we do things to deal with the things that we're dealing with but you know, I've seen a lot of good leadership.
Unknown Speaker
Well, I think we're blessed with that.
Unknown Speaker
Especially in here in Nashville in Brown County. It's when you're expecting so many people from outside the outside world to enter your small close knit community where we take care of each other. I think we've done that. Well.
Unknown Speaker
Now you're off. You have an office in Indy, have you been working with Nashville officials from
Unknown Speaker
India? Are you going down? Or how's that working out?
Unknown Speaker
Yeah, I've been on site. I still got a last week. I was on site a couple couple days of the week. This week, I'll be on site a couple days a week. Now we're still conducting zoom all meetings in Nashville via zoom. I think that's the best, safest way to do it. It's been rather efficient way to do it. There is there are some growing pains with how to conduct you know, an easy meeting I guess if you want to call it on zoom, but I think that Jane gore president Jane Gore, the National Council, and others, other leadership in the county in Nashville have done a great job of, of, you know, adapting to holding their public meetings that way.
Unknown Speaker
Just looking at some of the numbers in Brown County, of course, these will change this is recorded day earlier before the errors but 83 positive cases two deaths, looking at some of the trends 4% positivity rate, the state's around 7%. And I think that's what when we talked about before looking at the trends, and it seems like Brown County kind of follows the rest of the state in terms of trends, is that what you're looking at?
Unknown Speaker
Yeah, it seems to be a little lower in positivity rate, which I think is a testament to people caring about You know, people in, you know, the close knit pneus, of Brown County in Nashville. And you know, we all look after each other. And for the most part, I think face coverings are worn, especially if you're, you know, if you're from the area from outside the area, you have that respect. So I think that yes, it looks like they it is following the trend, but seems to be a little less of an impact on national Brown County than it has been on some of the rest of the state.
Unknown Speaker
It seems like that big increase when we talked to a month ago came after the Fourth of July. And now we're seeing you know, of course, Nashville Brown County being a tourist site that people are shops are open, people are shopping, probably not what it would be normally but still they are but yet not really seeing that that big spike so Are you in some way? Or is the community feeling good about where they're at right now?
Unknown Speaker
I've heard mixed, you know, mixed reaction. Nobody wants any positive tests. I think some people probably thought that if it stayed closed, wouldn't continue to see some increases. Obviously, that's not realistic. We have to be open for business. That that's that's how we survive. So I think it's it's actually gone pretty well since the reopening in July and then obviously, council meetings held about face coverings and ordinances put in place and would we like to see more people that are consistently wearing face coverings? Yes, for the most part, people were very respectful. There haven't been any major incidents and the the rate has stayed relatively low. In comparison to the number of testing that's going up. So it seems to be the national Brown County is doing a pretty good job in the battle. Well, and
Unknown Speaker
something to talk about too, and I don't know how much of this, you're involved with, of course, because the schools are a separate issue, but the Brown County School is undertaking in person classes. And from what I've understood, you could maybe could speak more on this, but there are no outbreaks that we know of them. And I believe it's just a majority of students are going for in person classes. And some are virtual learning, and I assume a lot of that has to do with rural broadband is just not what it can be there. Right.
Unknown Speaker
I would Well, you know, I was just on a call this morning with the Indiana chamber economic development policy committee and very topic was brought up of rural broadband as effect on whether that'd be positive or negative on education, and probably you're probably correct It's better to be in person, just to have that camaraderie of your peers and because you may not be able to adequately learn due to a lack of broadband at home, especially in Brown County in Nashville just because of, you know, the terrain if anything, you know, getting that product to some of those, some of those homes is going to be very hard to do. So. I have not heard of any major issues with the school system. I know you talked about really good leadership and all the things they had to scramble to do to get the kids back into the classroom is incredibly good school system and they've done a good job of leading through this as well.
Unknown Speaker
Is the town getting a lot of calls from people about it? You did mention a little bit earlier about the mask mandate and and other type of social distancing. I know some other cities have hotline numbers for people to call is that an issue there with all the tourists
Unknown Speaker
seem to be there been a couple of complaints The town has received have now as a certain shop requiring their employees to wear them or, or helping to enforce the mandate. It had been it hasn't been. It's been very minimal. From what I've seen and what we've heard very minimal.
Unknown Speaker
Hmm. I saw an article in the Brown County democrat about how the Brown County Music Center is being used as a multi purpose center during the pandemic and I believe it's owned by the county so why not use it as what's meetings, they're having meetings there. And now the latest is a courtroom. Do you have any more info on that? I don't
Unknown Speaker
have a lot of info on it. But I what I've seen that happen not just there. It's like it's happened at old National Center in Indianapolis and some other music venues that have gone dark and it's a really creative way to use a venue that's not being used for its original purpose. I think they've even invited you know, the, if you want to rent it for certain events and occasions, I think that's from what I've heard or when I saw it's part of the process. So to kind of reinvent its use until it can be used for once built for, again, hopefully 2021.
Unknown Speaker
And I'm sure that's just part of what would have to be a larger piece of the puzzle and keeping a venue like that open with no, no revenue. Have you have they been in talks with the county and how they're keeping that keeping paying the mortgage per se?
Unknown Speaker
I am not real privy to that info. I think that all that's been worked out though. Financial institutions have been very understanding. The county has been very understanding with the partnership with the innkeepers tax and the way that the the mortgage is paid for the facility. Thank you. What you've seen is a whole group of people come together that are instrumental and keeping, you know, continuing to be successful, and having a good understanding and working out the financial aspects so that it'll it'll be a it's still going to continue to be a great asset and draw for the county in the town.
Unknown Speaker
Yeah, it's it's the getting by between now and then. And I'm sure a lot of local businesses are, are looking for the same. Do you have any other updates on foundation or grants or things that local businesses are now either applying or receiving?
Unknown Speaker
So there is a grant open through the county as to the Community Foundation. Their executive director Matthew Miller has done a great job of getting that info out to the businesses. I know she's been going through applications there. The town has applied for another round of funding through the Office of Community rules. fares, the other $250,000 may be coming to the county through the town and national government shortly. That would be a great program as well. And that threshold is once again grants up to $10,000. To the businesses. I think we hear from I think we hear about that, the 28th. So Friday, Friday, we'll know about that grant process and whether the town has received that and we can start that process as well. So up to up to half a million dollars from that, from that process, could be in the county and ready to be granted to some of our local businesses.
Unknown Speaker
I wanted to follow up just on a couple things here before we we go on some of the town county projects that are still in the works. I mean, it Yeah, we're in a pandemic, but you're still moving forward on on essential items such as the sewer master plan. We've talked about the last few shows. I know it's been a month though. There have been some meetings including some times Public comment, because my question would be how much of that are unfunded mandates? And we talked about this in Terre Haute and and Greencastle, I remember to have sewer and water plans and how much is expansion and how much is current upgrades?
Unknown Speaker
Yeah, so a good portion of it is his current rehabilitation process for the current system. One thing I think was probably maybe shocking the sound and not shocking to others, is that the collection system in Nashville is about is greater than 60 years old. And 60 years ago, the pipe product wasn't what the byproduct is now. So you know, replacing that product, fixing infiltration of rainwater into the sanitary sewer collection system is important doing some upgrades to the to the actual wastewater treatment plant site to keep Number one, any of those items out of salt Creek during like, say flooding issues, but to make the plant run much more efficiently and then also increased capacity by doing these things, there are a number of projects that are short term immediate need projects, are they all funded? They are not. You know, you have to get, you have to really look and see in that plan what's, what is the priority, and then go find the money either that through federal grants, state grants, federal loan programs, there are some good ones that don't have a major negative impact on the rates because the ratepayer doesn't want to have. You know, we don't want to get into the 70 8090 $100 a month rates because there are millions and millions of dollars actually there are 10s of millions of dollars worth of products or projects that can be done on the sanitary collection. The system in Nashville is very good plan. It does have some regional elements to it. You know, if the regional sewer district, there's a regional sewer district, we want to be cooperating with the regional sewer district help them as much as we possibly can. on projects, you know, the more sewer you get out into the county and you have growth possibilities and growth in assessed value is going to be very important for the next 2030 years for revenues to come in to be able to do provide services that the residents are going to expect. So it's very good plan and I think they're about seven $8 million of immediate kind of action item projects that can be done just to maintain the current and rehab rehab the current system, much less expansion projects. After you fix those things, and then the expansion projects can happen when you're talking 10 $20 million worth of potential So it's pretty done.
Unknown Speaker
It's pretty done. What's been the public comment like so far? Haven't had a lot.
Unknown Speaker
Um, I think we you know, I think we've had some comment from the you know, make sure that we're working with the regional partners and keep it as regional as possible. I think the town's always been an advocate of reaching out and from regional perspective and you know, using the town's assets to help the regional sewer district in the county and get people on on sewer systems you know, some people are always concerned that if you expand sewer in an area you may have to forcibly annex it's not a sift through. Others are concerned that Oh, no, there's a sewer there. I might have to hook on that might cost me a lot of money. But there are laws and in the end state that if you have a failing septic system and you're within a certain amount of yards from this from a sanitary sewer that yes, you You need to hook on but you know, there are ways to to assist the homeowner or the parcel owner with that. So we haven't had a lot of I think we've had a lot of great constructive feedback. And that's why the council didn't adopt it. I urge them this is not we're not in a hurry. Let's get as much public input as we possibly can before we finalize and adopters.
Unknown Speaker
Does this tie in at all to any of the my next subject TIF districts that the county or or town is looking at TIF districts collect property taxes and a district right and then uses those four improvements for that area? Are there any tie ins with
Unknown Speaker
that?
Unknown Speaker
Sure. I mean, TIF can and TIF often does fun water sewer projects in the in the tax increment finance in the DDA, the economic development area or the you know, or the TIF is collected, so, yes, the two should go hand in hand. The redevelopment commission I have Talk with their consultant Ed and we've had great talks together, they should be prepared to have their own Capital Improvement Plans inside that tax increment finance area, so that they would know how much increment they need and how much they can help support any new infrastructure including water sewer infrastructure, inside the TIF. So, the good news is that I think the current TIF is mainly served by the sanitary sewer system, it doesn't look like any expansions need to be done. But certainly if you build a new facility, say a new brewery and 75 new apartments which is planned, you know, in the TIF and the water, sewer infrastructure is 60 years old, you're probably going to have to expect the part of that projects to be a water sewer project as well. And TIF help support and fund that. But that's those are the things we need to talk about and and we are in planning for.
Unknown Speaker
So I guess we've had a blast. question would be what's next? And the timeline? And how can people chime in on this?
Unknown Speaker
The plan is, as on the master plans or master plans on the town's website, it's pretty easily accessible. We just urge people to, it's boring. But I click click the link, read it. You have any feedback at all? I don't think anybody leaves one way or the other. There's, you know, we want to make sure it's the best plan that's possibly out there for the benefit of the future of the community. So please give us as much feedback as possible on a sewer master plan.
Unknown Speaker
Sure, we're out of time, but I did want to ask if there is there anything else on the agenda that we should know about or people should know about or take a look at to?
Unknown Speaker
You know, I think coming up is comprehensive planning process for the town, talked to a couple council members, they think it should be a number one priority. Which then also includes, you know, transportation planning and also includes bicycle pedestrian master planning. So that will start to be discussed, I think pretty, pretty heavily in the next two, three months.
Unknown Speaker
Okay, we'll have to follow up on that in September. right around the corner,
Unknown Speaker
believe it.
Unknown Speaker
Fall season, another big
Unknown Speaker
event for Brown County, the biggest event
Unknown Speaker
on are coming up on the biggest event, so we'll have to plan accordingly.
Unknown Speaker
Yeah. All right. Thank you very much for your time. Appreciate it. For those listening and want to ask a question. You can email news at Indiana public media.org. Thank you. Thank you.
