Village of Edgerton Council Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, September 2, 2026 at 5:30 PM
- Mayor Day called the meeting to order at 5:30PM with the Pledge of Allegiance and Prayer.
- Y – Yes, N – No, A – Abstain, Abs – Absent
- Roll Call:
|
Blinzler, Sharon |
Y |
|
Gruver, Jason |
Y |
|
Bowsher, Brian |
Y |
|
VanAusdale, Leslie |
Y |
|
Wallace, Chuck |
Y |
|
Wampler, Pam |
Y |
6 Members Present
Other Village Representatives Present:
- Denise Knecht – Fiscal Officer; Doug Zimmerman – Acting Administrator; Amanda Knecht – Executive Assistant
Media Present:
- Cindy Thiel – The Edgerton Earth; Brianna Balogh – The Village Reporter; Grace Ayers – The Bryan Times
Public Present:
- None
- Motion to Approve Meeting Minutes from 08/19/26:
|
Blinzler, Sharon |
Y |
|
Gruver, Jason |
Y |
|
Bowsher, Brian |
Y |
|
VanAusdale, Leslie |
Y MOTION |
|
Wallace, Chuck |
Y 2ND |
|
Wampler, Pam |
Y |
Motion PASSED 6-0
Mayor Update by Robert Day:
- Trick or Treat scheduled for Saturday, October 31st from 4:30p-7p; Trunk or Treat 6p-7:30p; Costume Judging @ 7p in front of Town Hall
- Town Hall gym floor- currently stripped down to bare wood and looking forward to the finished product that will include pickle ball court lines
Administrator Update by Doug Zimmerman:
- Sidewalk Project – Appraisal letters have been sent, and are starting to be received by residents. EDG will be in town 9/9-9/11 to go door to door; meeting with EDG for a preliminary meeting to discuss thier upcoming visit; properties needing acquisition will require at least 30 days
- Water Treatment project- missed opportunity with WSRLA funding; discussed with OPWC, and they are reviewing our request to hold off until February so we can apply for more funding and hopefully keep OPWC funding also
- Main Lift Station Replacement project – Jones & Henry agreement reviewed by legal and being presented to Council for approval this evening
- John W Lift Station – Waiting for parts
- Transformer – Still reviewing options
- Community Building – Gathering quotes to correct issues, hope to negotiate a settlement
- Miller Park Pond – Well pump was rebuilt and is working; visible water quality improvements
- Advanced Energy Fund Grant – Initial calculations on energy savings for Village Hall do not meet minimum requirements for grant; complete audit results will be available later
- West Indiana Street Improvements – Applying for OPWC monies; project estimates were $1.1 million, $633k in loans, and $90k in local monies; timing is not best for another project, so we decided to pass this funding cycle
- PWS – Interviews held 9/1
- Personnel – Currently openings in Police, Electric, 2 Public Works, Village Administrator
- Street department making a Capital Budget purchase – 2027 Ford F350 for $49,800
Fiscal Officer Update by Denise Knecht:
- August 2026 financials emailed and ready for signatures
- Time to start thinking about 2027 budget, we will begin working on the schedule
- Motion to pay bills 09/02/26:
|
Blinzler, Sharon |
Y |
|
Gruver, Jason |
Y MOTION |
|
Bowsher, Brian |
Y |
|
VanAusdale, Leslie |
Y |
|
Wallace, Chuck |
Y |
|
Wampler, Pam |
Y 2ND |
Motion PASSED 6-0
Employment status- Resignation: Jeanette Reas, part-time general laborer for facility janitorial services, submitted resignation as of 08/21/2026.
- Motion to accept the resignation of part-time general laborer Jeanette Reas, effective 8/21/2026:
|
Blinzler, Sharon |
Y |
|
Gruver, Jason |
Y 2ND |
|
Bowsher, Brian |
Y |
|
VanAusdale, Leslie |
Y MOTION |
|
Wallace, Chuck |
Y |
|
Wampler, Pam |
Y |
Motion PASSED 6-0
Employment Status – Hire: Bennie M Thomas resigned in May for personal reasons and would like to return to the department as TEMS auxiliary officer. Thomas conducts a lot of training for the department and with the Village as well.
- Motion to approve hire of Bennie M Thomas as TEMS Auxiliary Officer of the Police Department at $25/hr effective 9/2/2026:
|
Blinzler, Sharon |
Y MOTION |
|
Gruver, Jason |
Y |
|
Bowsher, Brian |
Y 2ND |
|
VanAusdale, Leslie |
Y |
|
Wallace, Chuck |
Y |
|
Wampler, Pam |
Y |
Motion PASSED 6-0
Bank transition: Met with Hicksville Bank on Monday; they are anticipating the sale to Interra Credit Union to be completed mid-October. As previously discussed, we are not able to house public funds within a Credit Union, so we need to begin the transition to a new bank. We already have a depository agreement in place with State Bank, but there will need to be an amendment to our agreement. Once the new account is set up, we will begin working through the process of contacting vendors and entities making direct deposits to provide our new banking information.
- Motion to authorize the Village of Edgerton to open a new operating bank account with State Bank for the purpose of conducting general operating business and managing Village funds, and further authorizing the Village Fiscal Officer, Denise Knecht and Village Mayor, Robert Day to execute all necessary documents and take all actions required to establish and maintain the account in accordance with Village policies and applicable law:
|
Blinzler, Sharon |
Y |
|
Gruver, Jason |
Y MOTION |
|
Bowsher, Brian |
Y |
|
VanAusdale, Leslie |
Y |
|
Wallace, Chuck |
Y 2ND |
|
Wampler, Pam |
Y |
Motion PASSED 6-0
Main Lift Station Replacement project: As mentioned previously, we received the agreement for preliminary design and funding support from Jones & Henry Engineers for the Main Lift Station Replacement project. Reid has reviewed and approved the agreement. Jones & Henry is ready to get started on our next project!
- Motion to approve agreement between Village of Edgerton and Jones & Henry Engineers, Ltd for Preliminary Design & Funding Support for the Main Lift Station Replacement Project:
|
Blinzler, Sharon |
Y |
|
Gruver, Jason |
Y MOTION |
|
Bowsher, Brian |
Y |
|
VanAusdale, Leslie |
Y |
|
Wallace, Chuck |
Y |
|
Wampler, Pam |
Y 2ND |
Motion PASSED 6-0
Tree Commission: Due to time constraints Brian Bowsher is not able to fully commit to the Tree Commission board, so he has submitted his resignation.
- Motion to approve resignation of Tree Commission member, Brian Bowsher:
|
Blinzler, Sharon |
Y |
|
Gruver, Jason |
Y 2ND |
|
Bowsher, Brian |
Abstain |
|
VanAusdale, Leslie |
Y MOTION |
|
Wallace, Chuck |
Y |
|
Wampler, Pam |
Y |
Motion PASSED 6-0
Council Discussion:
Pam Wampler held a family reunion at the outdoor pavilion at the park, and her family loved the park.
Brian Bowsher asked if there is a possibility to paint the curb at the bump-outs downtown. Also wanted to know whose responsibility the weeds are throughout downtown. Business owners are responsible for taking care of them in front of their respective business.
Sharon Blinzer was told there is broken glass on the blacktop/parking area near the Puppy Pound park behind Town Hall and asked if we could take care of that.
Chuck Wallace suggested that Council reach out to see if it’s possible to get involved/ help with Trunk or Treat and Costume Judging.
- Motion to enter into executive session to consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion or compensation of a public employee or official at 6:07PM:
|
Blinzler, Sharon |
Y |
|
Gruver, Jason |
Y |
|
Bowsher, Brian |
Y |
|
VanAusdale, Leslie |
Y MOTION |
|
Wallace, Chuck |
Y |
|
Wampler, Pam |
Y 2ND |
Motion PASSED 6-0
- Motion to exit executive session at 7:14PM:
|
Blinzler, Sharon |
Y 2ND |
|
Gruver, Jason |
Y |
|
Bowsher, Brian |
Y |
|
VanAusdale, Leslie |
Y MOTION |
|
Wallace, Chuck |
Y |
|
Wampler, Pam |
Y |
Motion PASSED 6-0
Action taken after executive session
Public Works Superintendent hire: We respectfully request to hire Bo Aldrich as probationary full-time Public Works Superintendent at $38.53/hr. The switch from hourly to salary will take effect on 9/7/2026 for payroll purposes, and his probationary period will end on 12/27/2026.
- Motion to approve Bo Aldrich as probationary Public Works Superintendent at 38.53/hr effective 9/2/2026:
|
Blinzler, Sharon |
Y |
|
Gruver, Jason |
Y 2ND |
|
Bowsher, Brian |
Y |
|
VanAusdale, Leslie |
Y MOTION |
|
Wallace, Chuck |
Y |
|
Wampler, Pam |
Y |
Motion PASSED 6-0
Mayor Day added that we have appreciated Aldrich’s willingness to step up both times and his efforts to keep things rolling do not go unnoticed. His peers respect him and he has made transitions through rough waters look smooth.
- Motion to adjourn at 7:16PM:
|
Blinzler, Sharon |
Y |
|
Gruver, Jason |
Y MOTION |
|
Bowsher, Brian |
Y |
|
VanAusdale, Leslie |
Y |
|
Wallace, Chuck |
Y |
|
Wampler, Pam |
Y 2ND |
Motion PASSED 6-0