Unknown Speaker
Alright, it's asked the mayor on Wi Fi you welcome are fourth Wednesday of the month and we're with DAX Norton municipal consultant in Nashville. This is our seventh show with with DAX. We started this year we used to go to Kokomo. We thought we changed the show up a little bit and we've had a great response from our listeners are some wondering what happened to Kokomo But well, we'll go back. They're still there. But Thanks, Mr. Norton, for providing us more insight into Nashville.
Unknown Speaker
Yeah, pleasure. Who knew and be such a stranger?
Unknown Speaker
Yes. And it continues week by week. Let's go ahead and just get into updates with the pandemic. Just check today's Tuesday. We record this on Tuesday plays back on Wednesdays So, of course these numbers always changed 54 cases in Brown County one death 841 tested. If you look at the charts that the state provides, there is a spike from July 3 40 cases. 254 kind of reminiscent of the end of April, but I mean that's a trend in most places. We know the governor delayed that full reopening. What's Nashville doing right now.
Unknown Speaker
So people are shopping, people are visiting last week. Last Thursday, the council had a four hour nearly four hour meeting. And majority of that four hours was to discuss face coverings. There was a face covering ordinance back in June. It was kind of tabled or died. The council at that point back in June said let's let the business owners you know, say what they wanted to do if they wanted to post a sign. Let's have them post a sign and they can control the face covering destiny instead of a complete and comprehensive mandate from the town government that was revisited last Thursday. And what the council in much discussion on that I have to applaud them for listing both sides. They definitely got it from both sides. You know, the council is elected by the residents first so they know that they represent the residents and then they represent business owners does bring the revenue into the town and pay for services. I think they did a relatively good compromise. What that compromise was was basically support those business owners that have stated with signage that it is required to wear a mask for you to shop in their facilities, and then their businesses Council passed an ordinance it really doesn't have any enforcement in their ordinance. We basically said was there's already enforcement as somebody comes in refuses to wear a mask or refuses to leave. You know, you can call the police department for for criminal trespass but the council wanted to definitely back up with an ordinance. Those business owners That have basically stated, you, if you're not going to wear a mask, you can't shop. In our establishment. There's still some discussion going on about, you know, shouldn't there be a comprehensive face covering ordinance? How would that be enforced? Should it include people walking outside? I think they debated very well, last Thursday night. And like I said, they considered all sides. And then they passed what they pass. There's still some council members who'd like a little more comprehensive ordinance with a little with some strict enforcement, if you will. But this is this is the first actually the second try the first try since there's been a bit of a spike in cases. So it was it was a very drawn out discussion. And I think at the end of the day, they've done a good job of listening to both sides to create a policy that we will definitely be monitoring on On a daily basis.
Unknown Speaker
So just so I'm clear, and it may be that it cut out a little bit, is the the mask mandate for only businesses that want to have one or is it all businesses?
Unknown Speaker
No, and they did not approve a mandate for a comprehensive mandate if basically what they said in this ordinance is if a business has made an individual decision that you must wear a mat inside their shop, the town Council's backing them up with this ordinance. If there if there becomes an issue, the town council is recommending that law enforcement be called for criminal trespass issue because if somebody continues to stay in that shop, and not leave even even without a mask on me very similar to no shirt, no shoes, no service. Now Now we add no mask. If you don't leave, you can. It's criminal trespass at that point, so but They will be monitoring this. And they got a lot of feedback and it was very long meeting with passion on both sides and understanding of I think the council understands who they represent, and they understand that passion.
Unknown Speaker
Maybe you can explain a little bit more to the side of why not have a town wide mask ordinance, especially with people being drawn to it like what's a tourist town from all over and then leave lots of interaction. You know, I see that happening in Bloomington with Indiana University students. We'll be back in about a month and I think a lot of people in Bloomington are a little nervous about all these people coming back into town and so the Area Council the mayor is really trying to get ahead of that by issuing mandatory masks. What what's the downside of having mandatory masks
Unknown Speaker
you know, This, this council listened. There are multiple surveys the Chamber of Commerce in this condition Visitor's Bureau did a great job of surveying the shop owners. I think the council did a good job of seeking the opinion of residents. And at the end of the day, it was about 5050. As a matter of fact that the business surveys were more businesses did not want a comprehensive mandate than did want a comprehensive mandate. And so the council just kind of put all that together and compromised on this backing up the businesses that did want some kind of backup if they posted signage that you're supposed to have a mask on. If you come in our shop. There was a lot of debate about people wearing masks outside. You know how how do you enforce that is even enforceable from a public safety perspective is enforceable through the health department. And with the very limited resources that a place like the town of Nashville has, for Brown County, for that matter, it is a very difficult thing to enforce. So you have to hope that people voluntarily comply with the request. And you could have argued that you could have done a comprehensive and that the enforcement was just kind of a suggestion enforcement to hope that, you know, 90% of the people comply with it voluntarily and then you'll have to deal with 10%. But 10% can get to be a lot of people in Nashville during you know, peak times when people are there. Touring from other areas. What really came down to was, the public asked the council to do a better job of communicating to the outside world, I guess the internal world that we want you to mask up. So there will be some additional signage created. There will be some there's a good art In the town website is very good. You go to the COVID-19 page on international website, you'll see the first thing I think is the mascot Nashville sign. So we'll be some additional communication with the outside public will that cause people to comply whether they want to or not, we don't know. Who knows those people who just don't want to wear a mask, they're likely just not going to wear a mask is going to keep them out of town. Probably not probably still going to come. We'll keep some of them at town maybe. But Nashville, we know shops are open. They need support people to come shop, but they need people to do it responsibly is what we're saying. Please be a responsible. Understand that you're protecting your fellow man from yourself. It's a mask. It's just part of what we do now. Please come and enjoy your time in Nashville. Please come do what you would always have. Done when you visit such a unique place, but understand that it is unique, it's hard to socially distance. So if we could have volunteer compliance, that would be that would be great. And that's why the council in the direction they did for now it was very good. Like I said, they listened to their constituents, whether that be a resident or a business owner, this guy kind of listen to all sides. It was very interesting to me.
Unknown Speaker
Yeah, and I mean, it's obviously up for debate. My follow up question for the town council, maybe more than then you would be is that the best thing for the people? You know, more than it's 5050? What What did the people want? What's best for the people?
Unknown Speaker
Yeah, I was multiple times stated multiple times in that discussion. This is not a political item. This is a health item. I think that there are probably counselors. And I'll just say myself, who
Unknown Speaker
it's you know
Unknown Speaker
what When are we gonna have to revisit you know when are we going to have to revisit it if it continues to spike and do a Fisher's just did Fisher's just did a comprehensive Fisher's Indy now much bigger places right but probably not as unique as Nashville those you can spread out when you go visit a place like Carmel fishers you can spread out and nationally it's very intimate it's you know those shops are net right next to each other they're small to small area, it's hard to socially distance on any sidewalks or in any greenspace that's what that's what makes it unique. And so, is there a possibility against revisited? I think there is a possibility that it gets revisited if people just cannot seem to voluntarily comply with the request to please mask up if you come visit Nash please visit please visit but when you do, thank you for your thinking your fellow man and please matter Go.
Unknown Speaker
Just a quick question on hospitalizations. I know they're up everywhere. Is the medical protocol still the same in Nashville? There are any issue?
Unknown Speaker
No, I don't think anything has changed.
Unknown Speaker
Now there is a testing at the Music Center I believe, probably should know that oppression say I believe I do believe it's at the music center there is testing. It's a pretty rapid turnaround as well. So very good testing. In Brown County, I think they're urging people that, you know, if you feel you need to be tested, please go and do so tests seem to be lagging a little bit around counting from a percentage of population compared to the rest of the state. So, you know, to absolutely have be tested to know for sure. That way. We can also help contain it and do any contact tracing that needs to be done. But
Unknown Speaker
yeah, I did see that too. I was going to ask you about the testing at the Brown County Music Center and I believe you too that's that's just free and open to the public. Right?
Unknown Speaker
It is. Right.
Unknown Speaker
I was encouraged by the county commissioners. And it is yes, it's a very it's a good resource. So the county, county and county have done a great job. There's no doubt about it to this point. They've done a great job and are actually kind of leading in some, you know, in keeping the numbers down in the state, but it's a very stressful situation. Trying to pay attention to it daily to make sure that that continues to stay in place. Any
Unknown Speaker
update on businesses closing or a trend there? That's concerning with closing?
Unknown Speaker
No, we haven't Are you mean permanently? Yeah, haven't haven't heard that at all. Another thing that was interesting was we thought there would be some utility pain. You know, utility payments can tell a lot. There's a lot Have businesses that have water, sewer or utility payments, and so that that hasn't really lagged too much either. So I think people are doing everything they possibly can do to just stay in business. There will be the grant program through the Community Foundation, I believe is either starting sooner is already started. So that'll be another help.
Unknown Speaker
I see the town is still working on master sewer plans. Now this was before the pandemic, looking at growth updates, and of course, there's mandates as well, where are you? Now with that? Are there critical areas that you're looking at?
Unknown Speaker
Well, the plant is first so known as the plant, the current size of the plant will be able to handle any kind of capacity issue due to growth. So that'll be first and then you look, you know, you have to look outward. For the money, that will be a public meeting, the council will probably at their next council meeting. have that on the agenda for the public to come in. There will be a presentation on the master plan, prior PowerPoint and the public can provide input. You're probably looking into September for final approval, maybe even October of that draft masterplan.
Unknown Speaker
we're about out of time, but I didn't I didn't want to ask if there were any other items that were in town council we're going to be looking at talking at at your next meeting.
Unknown Speaker
That's our master plan will be one of them. The creation of a utility service board will be another which I think is a great idea. That was started by a council member and that basically will be a group that will be a liaison between the public or the ratepayer and the council having to do with rates and operations. That'll be a topic of discussion. Also the new ADA compliance plan will be discussed taking it to the bicycle pedestrian safety board, having a pretty lengthy discussion about what needs to be done to update sidewalks for pedestrian use from an ADA perspective. And those will be the main items that will be discussed next day. And I wouldn't be surprised if we're not talking about pandemic related issues the next council meeting as well.
Unknown Speaker
All right, well, again, appreciate your time. Thanks for doing this and hope to see you again next month.
Unknown Speaker
Yeah, thank you. See you there.
Alright, it's asked the mayor on Wi Fi you welcome are fourth Wednesday of the month and we're with DAX Norton municipal consultant in Nashville. This is our seventh show with with DAX. We started this year we used to go to Kokomo. We thought we changed the show up a little bit and we've had a great response from our listeners are some wondering what happened to Kokomo But well, we'll go back. They're still there. But Thanks, Mr. Norton, for providing us more insight into Nashville.
Unknown Speaker
Yeah, pleasure. Who knew and be such a stranger?
Unknown Speaker
Yes. And it continues week by week. Let's go ahead and just get into updates with the pandemic. Just check today's Tuesday. We record this on Tuesday plays back on Wednesdays So, of course these numbers always changed 54 cases in Brown County one death 841 tested. If you look at the charts that the state provides, there is a spike from July 3 40 cases. 254 kind of reminiscent of the end of April, but I mean that's a trend in most places. We know the governor delayed that full reopening. What's Nashville doing right now.
Unknown Speaker
So people are shopping, people are visiting last week. Last Thursday, the council had a four hour nearly four hour meeting. And majority of that four hours was to discuss face coverings. There was a face covering ordinance back in June. It was kind of tabled or died. The council at that point back in June said let's let the business owners you know, say what they wanted to do if they wanted to post a sign. Let's have them post a sign and they can control the face covering destiny instead of a complete and comprehensive mandate from the town government that was revisited last Thursday. And what the council in much discussion on that I have to applaud them for listing both sides. They definitely got it from both sides. You know, the council is elected by the residents first so they know that they represent the residents and then they represent business owners does bring the revenue into the town and pay for services. I think they did a relatively good compromise. What that compromise was was basically support those business owners that have stated with signage that it is required to wear a mask for you to shop in their facilities, and then their businesses Council passed an ordinance it really doesn't have any enforcement in their ordinance. We basically said was there's already enforcement as somebody comes in refuses to wear a mask or refuses to leave. You know, you can call the police department for for criminal trespass but the council wanted to definitely back up with an ordinance. Those business owners That have basically stated, you, if you're not going to wear a mask, you can't shop. In our establishment. There's still some discussion going on about, you know, shouldn't there be a comprehensive face covering ordinance? How would that be enforced? Should it include people walking outside? I think they debated very well, last Thursday night. And like I said, they considered all sides. And then they passed what they pass. There's still some council members who'd like a little more comprehensive ordinance with a little with some strict enforcement, if you will. But this is this is the first actually the second try the first try since there's been a bit of a spike in cases. So it was it was a very drawn out discussion. And I think at the end of the day, they've done a good job of listening to both sides to create a policy that we will definitely be monitoring on On a daily basis.
Unknown Speaker
So just so I'm clear, and it may be that it cut out a little bit, is the the mask mandate for only businesses that want to have one or is it all businesses?
Unknown Speaker
No, and they did not approve a mandate for a comprehensive mandate if basically what they said in this ordinance is if a business has made an individual decision that you must wear a mat inside their shop, the town Council's backing them up with this ordinance. If there if there becomes an issue, the town council is recommending that law enforcement be called for criminal trespass issue because if somebody continues to stay in that shop, and not leave even even without a mask on me very similar to no shirt, no shoes, no service. Now Now we add no mask. If you don't leave, you can. It's criminal trespass at that point, so but They will be monitoring this. And they got a lot of feedback and it was very long meeting with passion on both sides and understanding of I think the council understands who they represent, and they understand that passion.
Unknown Speaker
Maybe you can explain a little bit more to the side of why not have a town wide mask ordinance, especially with people being drawn to it like what's a tourist town from all over and then leave lots of interaction. You know, I see that happening in Bloomington with Indiana University students. We'll be back in about a month and I think a lot of people in Bloomington are a little nervous about all these people coming back into town and so the Area Council the mayor is really trying to get ahead of that by issuing mandatory masks. What what's the downside of having mandatory masks
Unknown Speaker
you know, This, this council listened. There are multiple surveys the Chamber of Commerce in this condition Visitor's Bureau did a great job of surveying the shop owners. I think the council did a good job of seeking the opinion of residents. And at the end of the day, it was about 5050. As a matter of fact that the business surveys were more businesses did not want a comprehensive mandate than did want a comprehensive mandate. And so the council just kind of put all that together and compromised on this backing up the businesses that did want some kind of backup if they posted signage that you're supposed to have a mask on. If you come in our shop. There was a lot of debate about people wearing masks outside. You know how how do you enforce that is even enforceable from a public safety perspective is enforceable through the health department. And with the very limited resources that a place like the town of Nashville has, for Brown County, for that matter, it is a very difficult thing to enforce. So you have to hope that people voluntarily comply with the request. And you could have argued that you could have done a comprehensive and that the enforcement was just kind of a suggestion enforcement to hope that, you know, 90% of the people comply with it voluntarily and then you'll have to deal with 10%. But 10% can get to be a lot of people in Nashville during you know, peak times when people are there. Touring from other areas. What really came down to was, the public asked the council to do a better job of communicating to the outside world, I guess the internal world that we want you to mask up. So there will be some additional signage created. There will be some there's a good art In the town website is very good. You go to the COVID-19 page on international website, you'll see the first thing I think is the mascot Nashville sign. So we'll be some additional communication with the outside public will that cause people to comply whether they want to or not, we don't know. Who knows those people who just don't want to wear a mask, they're likely just not going to wear a mask is going to keep them out of town. Probably not probably still going to come. We'll keep some of them at town maybe. But Nashville, we know shops are open. They need support people to come shop, but they need people to do it responsibly is what we're saying. Please be a responsible. Understand that you're protecting your fellow man from yourself. It's a mask. It's just part of what we do now. Please come and enjoy your time in Nashville. Please come do what you would always have. Done when you visit such a unique place, but understand that it is unique, it's hard to socially distance. So if we could have volunteer compliance, that would be that would be great. And that's why the council in the direction they did for now it was very good. Like I said, they listened to their constituents, whether that be a resident or a business owner, this guy kind of listen to all sides. It was very interesting to me.
Unknown Speaker
Yeah, and I mean, it's obviously up for debate. My follow up question for the town council, maybe more than then you would be is that the best thing for the people? You know, more than it's 5050? What What did the people want? What's best for the people?
Unknown Speaker
Yeah, I was multiple times stated multiple times in that discussion. This is not a political item. This is a health item. I think that there are probably counselors. And I'll just say myself, who
Unknown Speaker
it's you know
Unknown Speaker
what When are we gonna have to revisit you know when are we going to have to revisit it if it continues to spike and do a Fisher's just did Fisher's just did a comprehensive Fisher's Indy now much bigger places right but probably not as unique as Nashville those you can spread out when you go visit a place like Carmel fishers you can spread out and nationally it's very intimate it's you know those shops are net right next to each other they're small to small area, it's hard to socially distance on any sidewalks or in any greenspace that's what that's what makes it unique. And so, is there a possibility against revisited? I think there is a possibility that it gets revisited if people just cannot seem to voluntarily comply with the request to please mask up if you come visit Nash please visit please visit but when you do, thank you for your thinking your fellow man and please matter Go.
Unknown Speaker
Just a quick question on hospitalizations. I know they're up everywhere. Is the medical protocol still the same in Nashville? There are any issue?
Unknown Speaker
No, I don't think anything has changed.
Unknown Speaker
Now there is a testing at the Music Center I believe, probably should know that oppression say I believe I do believe it's at the music center there is testing. It's a pretty rapid turnaround as well. So very good testing. In Brown County, I think they're urging people that, you know, if you feel you need to be tested, please go and do so tests seem to be lagging a little bit around counting from a percentage of population compared to the rest of the state. So, you know, to absolutely have be tested to know for sure. That way. We can also help contain it and do any contact tracing that needs to be done. But
Unknown Speaker
yeah, I did see that too. I was going to ask you about the testing at the Brown County Music Center and I believe you too that's that's just free and open to the public. Right?
Unknown Speaker
It is. Right.
Unknown Speaker
I was encouraged by the county commissioners. And it is yes, it's a very it's a good resource. So the county, county and county have done a great job. There's no doubt about it to this point. They've done a great job and are actually kind of leading in some, you know, in keeping the numbers down in the state, but it's a very stressful situation. Trying to pay attention to it daily to make sure that that continues to stay in place. Any
Unknown Speaker
update on businesses closing or a trend there? That's concerning with closing?
Unknown Speaker
No, we haven't Are you mean permanently? Yeah, haven't haven't heard that at all. Another thing that was interesting was we thought there would be some utility pain. You know, utility payments can tell a lot. There's a lot Have businesses that have water, sewer or utility payments, and so that that hasn't really lagged too much either. So I think people are doing everything they possibly can do to just stay in business. There will be the grant program through the Community Foundation, I believe is either starting sooner is already started. So that'll be another help.
Unknown Speaker
I see the town is still working on master sewer plans. Now this was before the pandemic, looking at growth updates, and of course, there's mandates as well, where are you? Now with that? Are there critical areas that you're looking at?
Unknown Speaker
Well, the plant is first so known as the plant, the current size of the plant will be able to handle any kind of capacity issue due to growth. So that'll be first and then you look, you know, you have to look outward. For the money, that will be a public meeting, the council will probably at their next council meeting. have that on the agenda for the public to come in. There will be a presentation on the master plan, prior PowerPoint and the public can provide input. You're probably looking into September for final approval, maybe even October of that draft masterplan.
Unknown Speaker
we're about out of time, but I didn't I didn't want to ask if there were any other items that were in town council we're going to be looking at talking at at your next meeting.
Unknown Speaker
That's our master plan will be one of them. The creation of a utility service board will be another which I think is a great idea. That was started by a council member and that basically will be a group that will be a liaison between the public or the ratepayer and the council having to do with rates and operations. That'll be a topic of discussion. Also the new ADA compliance plan will be discussed taking it to the bicycle pedestrian safety board, having a pretty lengthy discussion about what needs to be done to update sidewalks for pedestrian use from an ADA perspective. And those will be the main items that will be discussed next day. And I wouldn't be surprised if we're not talking about pandemic related issues the next council meeting as well.
Unknown Speaker
All right, well, again, appreciate your time. Thanks for doing this and hope to see you again next month.
Unknown Speaker
Yeah, thank you. See you there.
