Council Meeting - February 17, 2026

Attendance and Call to Order

Regular meeting, Tuesday, February 17, 2026, 7:00 p.m.

Present at the meeting were Tammy Wilhoit, Chris Kuhn, Bill Roberts, Spencer Gilland, Rachel Runge, Bill Gabbard, Kerry McConnell, Matt Wirth, and Alex Wilhelm.

Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll Call: Holley Rose and Lynn Fledderman were not present.

Approval of Minutes

Motion to waive the reading and adopt the pre-read minutes. Bill 1st, Chris 2nd. 2 ayes.

Public Hearing: Comprehensive Plan

The public hearing was opened for Osgood's Comprehensive Plan. Kerry McConnell with SIRPC was present and stated that on or about March 1, 2026, the Town of Osgood intends to apply to the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs for a grant from the State Community Development Block Grant Planning Program. This program is funded by Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended. These funds are to be used for a community development planning project that will include the following activities: completion of a Comprehensive Plan. The total amount of CDBG funds to be requested will not exceed $50,000. The amount of CDBG funds proposed to be used for activities that will benefit low-to-moderate-income persons is approximately $26,800. The Applicant also proposes to spend an estimated $7,000 of the total project costs in non-CDBG funds on the project. These non-CDBG funds will be derived from the following sources: Town of Osgood General Fund.

Kerry asked if anyone had questions or comments. Award announcement will be in April and application is due March 1st.

Motion to approve Resolution 2026-6: Authorizing Application Submission and Local Match Commitment for the CDBG Comprehensive Planning Application to the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs and Addressing Related Matters. Bill 1st, Chris 2nd. 2 ayes.

Public Hearing: Water Ordinances, Second Readings

Ordinance 2026-1, Second Reading

Open the public hearing for the presentation of Ordinance 2026-1 for the second reading. An Ordinance of the Town of Osgood authorizing the issuance of waterworks revenue bonds for the purpose of providing funds to pay the cost of certain additions, extensions and improvements to the municipal waterworks of said Town, providing for the safeguarding of the interests of the owners of said bonds, other matters connected therewith, including the issuance of notes in anticipation of bonds, and repealing ordinances inconsistent herewith.

Bill Gabbard with Baker Tilly gave a copy of the latest water rate study. What has been updated has been the final project cost. Lead Service Line Replacement Project came in at about $1,950,000, which would be entirely funded through grant funding through SRF. The Water Treatment Plant Project is almost $3.6 million with $2.1 million being grant funding through SRF. The remainder being funded with a 20 year loan. Overall these 2 projects will be funded with 74% grants. The rate increase would be a 22.4% increase divided over a 3 year phase:

• Upon adopting this ordinance, a 7% increase.
• January 1st, 2027, another 7% increase.
• January 1st, 2028, a 6.9% increase.

This will allow the Town to keep up with inflation for operation and maintenance expenses to pay about $92,000 annual debt service on the bonds that will be necessary to fund the Water Treatment Plant Project. Once rates are fully implemented, we will have about $108,000 to pay for replacements and improvements on an annual basis. Bill Gabbard asked if anyone had questions. No one from the public had questions.

Motion to approve the 2nd reading and final adoption of Ordinance 2026-1. Bill 1st, Chris 2nd. 2 ayes.

Ordinance 2026-2, Second Reading

Presenting Ordinance 2026-2 for the second reading. An Ordinance establishing rates and charges for potable water service rendered by the Osgood, Indiana Water Utility.

Motion to approve the 2nd reading and final adoption of Ordinance 2026-2. Bill 1st, Chris 2nd. 2 ayes.

Closed hearing.

Bond Documents for Signature

All of the following documents need to be signed:

• Taxable Waterworks Revenue Bonds of 2026, Series A, and Series B Index of Transcript
• General Certificate
• Certificate of Town Attorney
• Signature and No Litigation Certificate
• Certificate of Delivery and Partial Payment
• Incumbency Certificate
• Agreement for Services of Registrar and Paying Agent and the Trust of the Sinking Fund and Construction Fund
• Schedule of Fees for Corporate Trust Services
• Disclosure and Authorization for Investment
• Waterworks Revenue Bond of 2026
• Waterworks Bond Anticipation Note of 2026, Series B
• Waterworks Bond Anticipation Note of 2026, Series A
• Affidavit of Mailing of Notice of Public Hearing on Water Rates and Charges
• Financial Assistance Agreement from the SRF (signature page)

Discussed with legal counsel that these would be signed at the end of the meeting.

Commonwealth Engineers Project Update Memo

2025 CCMG Project

Due to the weather, no additional construction has taken place since our last report. Upon suitable conditions, the contractor will finish paving and complete other remaining work.

Motion to approve Commonwealth's claim of $4,245.15 for Construction Engineering. Bill 1st, Chris 2nd. 2 ayes.

2026 CCMG Project

As previously noted, Osgood was not awarded funding for the 2026 CCMG program. However, Commonwealth completed final design and reviewed plans with the Town, in anticipation of future funds. Recently, CEI has been made aware of another potential funding source through Indiana SB 179. This bill, if passed, will provide an additional $75 million in funding to agencies that did not receive 2026 CCMG funding.

Motion to approve Commonwealth's claim of $37,260 for Final Design. Bill 1st, Chris 2nd. 2 ayes.

Wastewater Utility Preliminary Engineering Report and Asset Management Plan

Wastewater PER and AMP continue to be assembled to meet March 31st deadline.

Commonwealth has set up a site visit with HP Thompson to discuss equipment alternatives on February 20th.

A site visit will be performed this month to collect information for the AMP.

Matt Wirth stated that we would need to hold a public hearing prior to April 1st, but doesn't know if it would be ready in time for our March 17th meeting. If not, we may need to hold a special meeting.

Water Improvements and Lead Service Line Projects

Bids were received for both upcoming water projects on February 5th, 2026.

Commonwealth recommends Mike Holman Excavating, Inc. (low bidder on both projects) be tentatively awarded both contracts. Please see attached recommendation letter from Commonwealth for further discussion.

Internal service line inspections will continue as they are scheduled throughout February. These inspections are conducted by Commonwealth Engineers with a representative from the water utility. Eligible homeowners must sign a right-of-entry form for replacement to proceed within the project. We will reach out to the Town to discuss remaining properties whom have not signed a right-of-entry form.

A second round of letters were sent to homeowners with known galvanized material service lines or unknown service line materials on February 6th, 2026. (54 total sent letters)

Construction is anticipated to begin in May of 2026.

Rachel Runge stated that for the Water Improvements Project they are recommending the base bid plus mandatory alternate adds. The LSLR Project is the base bid plus mandatory alternate 1. She stated there is less galvanized lines than what was expected. So far there has been no galvanized material on the Town's side, which is good.

Spencer Gilland said if the customer wants to do it they need to do it now as a part of this project because the funds will be going away.

EPA says that all lead service lines have to be replaced in 10 years and it doesn't say who is responsible for paying for it.

Motion was made to accept the engineers tentative award the contracts to Mike Holman Excavating, Inc. for both LSLR and Water Plant Improvements Project contingent to legal review and securing funding. Bill 1st, Chris 2nd. 2 ayes.