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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFebruary 2, 2026 Council Minutes COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA February 2, 2026 Regular Meeting Minutes The Common Council of the City of Jeffersonville, Indiana met for the Regular Meeting on February 2, 2026. Council President Reed along with City Clerk Gill called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. The meeting was open to the public in person as well as live streamed via the City Website using Zoom. INVOCATION: Led by Brian Walters PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: ROLL CALL: The roll call was conducted by City Clerk Lisa Gill and present in Council Chambers were Councilperson Semones Councilperson Anderson, Council President Reed , Councilperson Webb, Councilperson Hawkins, Councilperson Snelling, Councilperson Stoner. Council Vice President Burns attended the meeting via Zoom, and Councilperson White was absent. Let the record reflect that 8 Council Members were present in Council Chambers, and 1 absent. Daniel Walters, Council Youth Advisor was present for the proceedings. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Councilperson Semones made a motion to approve the Minutes for Regular Proceedings on 1/20/2026, seconded by Councilperson Snelling; City Clerk Lisa Gill conducted a roll call vote: • Council Vice President Burns—Yes • Councilperson Semones—Yes • Councilperson Anderson—Yes • Council President Reed—Yes • Councilperson Webb—Yes • Councilperson Hawkins—Yes • Councilperson Snelling—Yes • Councilperson Stoner—Yes Motion passed, 8-0. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Councilperson Stoner made a motion to approve the Agenda, seconded by Council Vice President Burns; City Clerk Lisa Gill conducted a roll call vote: • Council Vice President Burns—Yes • Councilperson Semones—Yes • Councilperson Anderson—Yes • Council President Reed—Yes • Councilperson Webb—Yes • Councilperson Hawkins—Yes • Councilperson Snelling—Yes • Councilperson Stoner—Yes Motion passed, 8-0. CLAIMS TO APPROVE: Civil City$ 2,047,690.19 Councilperson Snelling made a motion to approve the Civil City Claims, seconded by Councilperson Anderson; City Clerk Lisa Gill conducted a roll call vote: • Council Vice President Burns—Yes • Councilperson Semones—Yes • Councilperson Anderson—Yes • Council President Reed—Yes • Councilperson Webb—Yes • Councilperson Hawkins—Yes • Councilperson Snelling—Yes • Councilperson Stoner—Abstain Motion passed, 7-0-1. Parks$ 41,869.19 Councilperson Semones made a motion to approve the Parks Claims, seconded by Councilperson Snelling; City Clerk Lisa Gill conducted a roll call vote: • Council Vice President Burns—Yes • Councilperson Semones—Yes • Councilperson Anderson—Yes • Council President Reed—Yes • Councilperson Webb—Yes • Councilperson Hawkins—Yes • Councilperson Snelling—Yes • Councilperson Stoner—Yes Motion passed, 8-0. REPORT OF THE CLERK: Reminded everyone that the next City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 17th, due to the observance of President's Day on the preceding Monday. REPORT OF THE YOUTH ADVISOR: Youth Advisor Daniel Walters thanked the council members for their assistance with the youth development course he had been working on. He noted that the course has been a personal vision of his since being appointed to the position and expressed appreciation for everyone's support including CASI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 1. Amber Powell - Request for Funding for Programming Support for The Depot Council President Reed introduced the next agenda item and welcomed Amber Powell to the podium, informing her that a few council members still had questions. Councilperson Snelling: "Did you get on the agenda for redevelopment?" Ms. Powell: "I requested to be on the agenda and then last week, the day of the meeting, I received an email saying that I was not on the agenda." I Councilperson Snelling: "Did they give you a reason why?" Ms. Powell: "No." Councilperson Stoner: "I'll just say I'm frustrated by that and I'll just be honest. Redevelopment funded a lot of these parks and funded a lot of these facilities and then operationally there's nothing. I'm very happy that UEZ gave $25,000, and we're looking at $25,000 tonight, so I'll be in support of it. I'm not blaming anyone, but I'm frustrated with that." Councilperson Semones: "Same." There were no further questions or comments from the council. Councilperson Semones made a motion to approve $25,000 out of the Cumulative Capital Fund, seconded by Councilperson Stoner; City Clerk Lisa Gill conducted a roll call vote: • Council Vice President Burns—Yes • Councilperson Semones—Yes • Councilperson Anderson—Yes • Council President Reed—Yes • Councilperson Webb—Yes • Councilperson Hawkins—Yes • Councilperson Snelling—Yes • Councilperson Stoner—Yes Motion passed, 8-0. 2. Heather Metcalf 2026-OR-3 (PUBLIC Hearing)Ordinance of Additional Appropriation There were no comments or questions from the council. President Reed opened the public hearing at 6:07 PM, for anyone who wanted to speak for or against 2026-OR-3. No one stepped forward to speak, President Reed then closed the public hearing at 6:08 PM. Councilperson Stoner made a motion to approve Ordinance 2026-OR-3 on the 3`d and final, seconded by Council Vice President Burns; City Clerk Lisa Gill conducted a roll call vote: • Council Vice President Burns—Yes • Councilperson Semones—Yes • Councilperson Anderson—Yes • Council President Reed—Yes • Councilperson Webb—Yes • Councilperson Hawkins—Yes • Councilperson Snelling—Yes • Councilperson Stoner—Yes Motion passed, 8-0. 3. Heather Metcalf 2026-OR-4 Ordinance Transferring Certain Funds Within the Same Department There were no comments or questions from the council. Councilperson Anderson made a motion to approve Ordinance 2026-OR-4 on the 3rd and final, seconded by Councilperson Hawkins; ; City Clerk Lisa Gill conducted a roll call vote: • Council Vice President Burns—Yes • Councilperson Semones—Yes • Councilperson Anderson—Yes • Council President Reed—Yes • Councilperson Webb—Yes • Councilperson Hawkins—Yes • Councilperson Snelling—Yes • Councilperson Stoner—Yes Motion passed, 8-0. NEW BUSINESS: PUBLIC COMMENTS: Stacey Sanders; 3411 Stenger Lane: "I want to raise awareness about a problem in our city. From November 2024 through December 2024, I had to call animal control, the police, or 911 thirteen times regarding my neighbor's loose German Shepherds, which were going after my animals and running through the Meadows subdivisions. I have photos, videos, and cell phone records to support this. At the time, my neighbors had at least ten dogs. Animal control came out multiple times and advised that they had written a citation requiring them to follow the city ordinance of only having four dogs. On December 27, 2024, I called animal control and did not get an answer, so I called 911.The German Shepherds had our miniature horse and two goats pinned in a corner of the field. My daughter and I went after the dogs, who then turned as if they were going to come after us. We were able to successfully get them out of the pen and move our animals into the barn safely, prior to the arrival of police and animal control. Three dogs were surrendered that day to a protective dog academy. We believe the mother dog, one of the surrendered dogs, was responsible for the yard escapes, and that proved to be true. We did not have any further issues until December 2, 2025, when three German Shepherds got out.These dogs went after my $50,000 show horse, she fell and was cornered in her outdoor stall.Thankfully, my 71-year-old mother was home and was able to scare them away with a baseball bat and get all the animals into the barn. She then called me, I was in Charlestown while my daughter was at basketball practice. I called the police, and they sent animal control. I got my daughter from basketball practice and jetted home. My$50,000 horse was covered in mud but thankfully did not appear to have any injuries, although her fall could have easily been career- ending. Animal control arrived, and I showed them the horse and explained that the owners had not gotten rid of the dogs as they were instructed to do, but were inbreeding them in their backyard, and had even more dogs than before. Animal control went to the home, and animal control and the owners went to find the dogs, which had gone into the Meadows subdivisions again. In the early morning hours of December 3, 2025, tragedy struck our family. At 2:45 a.m., a neighbor in Meadow Springs called to say the dogs were attacking our miniature horse, Bree. We went running to the barn, my daughter was first in and screamed bloody murder Bree's name. Three of the dogs were basically on top of her, eating her alive. We chased them out, and I fired my gun at them multiple times outside the back door of the barn. The dogs had dug under our fence and then dug into Bree's stall, where she and the goats had 4 4 been locked for the night due to the escape earlier in the day. Bree had nickered at us when she heard we were there. I told my daughter to start boarding up their stall because the dogs were still circling the barn trying to get in. I called 911 and then the emergency vet.The police arrived and notified the neighbors, who said they did not know the dogs were out. They admitted that the dogs a few weeks prior had attacked and killed one of their own in their backyard. The dogs got in by the time animal control arrived. The emergency vet arrived shortly before 4:00 a.m. and said there was not much she could do for Bree, and suggested euthanasia. I asked if she could stabilize her until she could get to an equine hospital. She said she could run fluids and give her pain medication but didn't think she would make it. We didn't want Bree to suffer and made the devastating decision to put her down. I started trying to piece things together. I found where Bree had been attacked outside, there were blood spots in the snow where you could tell she was down, pieces of her tail, and chunks of her hair throughout the field, our goats were covered in blood. The stall doors for our other horses had muddy paw prints and claw marks all over them where you could tell they had tried to go after them. Neighbors provided ten-10 minute videos showing the dogs had been out going after our animals since at least 1:00 a.m. This has absolutely traumatized our family, our pets aren't just pets they are family to us. Bree belonged to my 15-year-old daughter, who has not been able to return to the barn since. I know when I close my eyes, all I see are these three dogs on top of sweet Bree, and I'm sure that's what my daughter sees as well. This makes me sick this happened to her and I'm so mad because my daughter is devastated, we all are. I'm mad because I feel this could and should have been prevented, animal control should have followed up and made sure the ordinance was enforced, and they did not. I am here tonight asking the council to help enforce the ordinances in the city so this does not happen again, because next time it could be my elderly mother or my child and I don't want that to be what it takes to enforce it." President Reed: "I am so, so sorry this happened to you. Pets are family and I can't imagine the pain that your family is going through. I know that we all take this very seriously, and you're not the first person who has said something about animal control. We don't have a person here tonight to speak from that department, but I know that I will be following up, and I'll let the rest of the council speak." Ms. Sanders: "Thank you." Councilperson Hawkins: "Well, I'll ask our lawyer.This seems like more of a matter of enforcement than needing something new that this body could do. It's a matter of what is currently in place, correct?" Council Attorney Larry Wilder: "You all can pass all the ordinances you want to pass and all the things you do. The executive who hires and directs the employees of the city and directs things in a different manner, then there's nothing you can do." Councilperson Hawkins asked Ms. Sanders if she could repeat her address. Councilperson Hawkins: "Well, of course, as a former horse owner and animal lover, I will be following up on this as well. I will tell you, like what I was asking our legal counsel, this body in and of itself can't really do anything other than yell at people. Oftentimes, though, I will say that's enough. When we then make a call, it is a little more responsive. So I will definitely be following up, and if you want to leave, I won't ask you for it in a public meeting, but your phone number—get with me when this is over and we'll make sure to touch base again because the story you've told is horrible and we shouldn't be standing for that. So give me your number before I you leave and I'll tell you the results of what I follow up on. I'm sure other people around this table will be making the same phone call, so whoever you want to share it with, please do." Councilperson Anderson: "I also would like to get your phone number, and do we know what happened with the three German Shepherds?" Ms. Sanders: "Well, since then they removed all but four of the dogs. My daughter will not go to the barn, she is scared that they are going to get back out. She is scared that the owners are going to do something to us because of what is happening." Councilperson Hawkins: "I know where you are and the Meadows kind of backs up to your area. Do the owners live in the Meadows?" Ms. Sanders: "No, we are on a dead end." Councilperson Stoner: ""Ms. Sanders, thank you for being here today. Is this your family back there?" Ms. Sanders: "Yes, both my mother and another neighbor." Councilperson Stoner: "Thank you for being here and supporting her. It is hard what you are going through. I have a couple of questions. You mentioned you called JPD, was JPD very responsive with you?" Ms. Sanders: "Absolutely,they were fantastic." Councilperson Stoner: "Great, and you said that there's an ordinance that limits the number of dogs and you feel like that wasn't followed?" Ms. Sanders: "Correct." Councilperson Stoner: "You feel like you followed up with them and you asked them to come check on it again?" Ms. Sanders: "I feel like animal control should have followed up in December of 2024 when we were having so many problems then.To make sure that the owners followed through with the ordinance and got down to at least four dogs. When the attack happened, they had at minimum 12 German Shepherds." Councilperson Stoner: "When you communicated with animal control, did you always communicate with a Jeffersonville animal control officer, or was it a contracted person?" Ms. Sanders: "The contractor came out twice that I can think of." Councilperson Stoner: "Because I believe we contract some of animal control services." Ms. Sanders: "He's the one who came out the night of the attack when they killed her." 4 Councilperson Snelling: "Do you have that person's name?" Ms. Sanders: "William Draper Jr." Councilperson Stoner: "Were you able to get any sort of information from them since then about records or the call or anything like that?" Ms. Sanders: "I have the report from the night of the attack. However, from December 2024 I have only been produced one report. Like I said, I called a minimum of 13 times and I have my phone records to prove it, even though they have one report that they were there.They don't have a report from the day that the dogs were removed or anything in December of 2024." Councilperson Stoner: "So I appreciate Mr. Hawkins' comments, and I honestly echo them. It is so frustrating to be the legislative body, to pass an ordinance, and for it not to be followed. I am extremely frustrated that it was a miniature horse this time. But with that proximity to the Meadows, what happens if it's a child? What happens if it's a senior citizen? What is it going to take to enforce the ordinances that are on the books, to enforce the law the city council passes? I'm sorry that you've had to go through this, and to your daughter as well. I'm sorry that she's been traumatized by this situation." Ms. Sanders: "Thank you." President Reed: "Thank you for your time, and please stay after to follow up." COMMITTEE REPORTS/COMMENTS: None ATTORNEY COMMENTS: Larry Wilder— No Comment Les Merkley— Not Present DEPARTMENT HEADS: None COUNCIL COMMENTS: • Councilperson White—Absent • Council Vice President Burns— No comment • Councilperson Semones—No comment • Councilperson Anderson—No Comment • Council President Reed—"Well, I do have an invitation to the AIM Legislative Dinner on February 18th. It is free for any of our council members who want to attend to go up and advocate for financial changes with SB1 and other matters with our elected officials in Indianapolis. If you'd like information, registration is due in two days. Feel free to register if you can attend, and the information is right here. Bethel A.M.E. Church reached out to invite us to their 14th annual chili cook-off, happening February 28th from 4 to 6:30. I have all of that information here, including any donations you may want to provide." • Councilperson Webb— No comment • Councilperson Hawkins— No comment • Councilperson Snelling—"We are trying to get our financial committee together and we sent an email to our legal counsel and they haven't responded." President Reed: "That's completely my fault. We are taking care of it and you should have an invite within the week." Councilperson Snelling: "Thank you." • Councilperson Stoner—"I'm just so frustrated right now. My frustration isn't at a single person, but I'm frustrated for the people of Jeffersonville, it's just not fair. Daniel, you did a really great job on your leadership force. I know you did a lot of work reaching out to CEOs and executives and putting that together. I just appreciate everything you're doing. I look forward to being there on the 17th for that." ADJOURNMENT: Council President Reed made the motion to ADJOURN the meeting at 06:22 p.m. DISCLAIMER: These minutes are a summary of actions taken at the Jeffersonville City Council meetings. The full video archive of the meeting is available for viewing at www.cityofjeff.net for as long as this media is supported. APPROVED BY: G✓ /� ,22 Donna Reed, ouncil President TTEST: Lisa Gill, Clerk