u/RebelliousPlatypus

Hey folks,

It’s that time again. The Elkhart City Council meets tonight at 6 PM in Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall.

This agenda has a little bit of everything: infrastructure, airport funding, the municipal wheel tax, tree regulations, a zoning amendment, an alley vacation, and a few resolutions.

On second and third reading, we have:

Proposed Ordinance 26-O-24: This appropriates $622,900 from the Capital Outlay Fund for repairs and improvements to the retaining walls at the Indiana Avenue Underpass around South Main Street and East Indiana Avenue.

Proposed Ordinance 26-O-25: This approves a major amendment to the Remington Park DPUD M-1 Section Four at 3806 Gallatin Way. The change would allow a small day program for young adults with disabilities as a permitted use at that location. The Plan Commission held a public hearing on June 1 and forwarded it to Council with a do-pass recommendation.

We also have one tabled ordinance:

Proposed Ordinance 26-O-21: This is the annexation request for property commonly known as the intersection of CR 6 and Northland Drive. The property would come into the City of Elkhart and be zoned M-1, Limited Manufacturing. This was previously discussed and tabled until tonight for second and third reading and a final vote.

On first reading, we have:

Proposed Ordinance 26-O-26 and Proposed Ordinance 26-O-27: These two ordinances work together for the Runway 18/36 pavement rehabilitation project at the Elkhart Municipal Airport. The total project is estimated at $2,320,765.06, including contingency. The FAA is covering 95% through a reimbursable grant, INDOT is covering 2.5%, and the city’s local share is 2.5%, or $66,017.39. The FAA, INDOT, and State Board of Accounts require the full project cost to be appropriated up front, which is why there are two companion ordinances.

Proposed Ordinance 26-O-28: This adopts the Elkhart Municipal Wheel Tax and Municipal Excise Surtax and creates the required city funds.

Let me be clear because this one is already causing confusion: this does NOT raise taxes on personal vehicles. Passenger vehicles, small trucks, and motorcycles already pay the $25 surtax through the BMV. That rate does NOT change. The money would simply go directly to the city instead of going to the county first. Commercial vehicles, which make up about 10% of registrations, would move from the county’s current range of $10 to $35 to a flat $40 wheel tax. The main reason for doing this is that the State now requires cities to adopt this locally in order to access up to $1 million in annual road maintenance funding through the Lane Mileage Direct Distribution.

Proposed Ordinance 26-O-29: This updates the city’s tree ordinance. The current ordinance is outdated and does not match how tree care actually operates in the city. This proposal places city-wide tree care authority under the Board of Public Works, creates a Tree Board, defines the role of the City Forester, sets up licensing and permitting for tree care, creates an appeal process, and helps keep Elkhart in compliance with Tree City USA standards. No additional appropriation is expected from this ordinance.

For resolutions:

The tax abatement items will remain in committee for further review. The Tax Abatement Committee as a Whole is scheduled to meet Wednesday, July 8 at 6 PM to review those abatements.

Proposed Resolution 26-R-35: This commemorates the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. The resolution recognizes the Semiquincentennial, reflects on the ideals of liberty, equality, self-government, and civic engagement, and encourages residents and community organizations to take part in activities recognizing this milestone.

Proposed Resolution 26-R-36: This updates the City of Elkhart’s nepotism policy, originally adopted in 2012. The proposed update strengthens the city’s standards beyond the minimum requirements of Indiana law and formally places the updated policy into the employee handbook.

There is also an alley vacation public hearing:

Alley Vacation 26-V-03: HMS Elkhart, LLC has petitioned for the vacation of part of a north/south alley off West Wolf Avenue. This involves a portion of a 12-foot alley near lots in the Ellison Addition.

As always, the public is welcome to attend in person or watch online through the city’s website. Public comment is available during the meeting, and comments are limited to three minutes.

Hey folks,

Councilman Mishler here from the first district, just wanted to share some of our upcoming events.

This isn't everything, either. We also have the Elkhart Municipal Band that puts on free concerts every Tuesday at 8PM at McNaughton park.

Hope to see you at some of these. Feel free to stop me and say hi.

Have a great holiday weekend!

Hey folks, milling schedule for next week.

Weather permitting, the City of Elkhart Street Department will be milling streets from Monday, July 6th through Friday, July 10th.

Monday, July 6th

1. Sherman St. – 3rd St. to Clyde St. (Sherman St. Bridge)

2. Clyde St. – Sherman St. to Jefferson St.

3. Jefferson St. – 3rd St. to west dead end

Tuesday, July 7th

1. Vistula St. – 3rd St. to Franklin St.

2. W. Lexington Ave. – 3rd St. to 6th St. (Lexington St Bridge)

Wednesday, July 8th

1. W. Lexington Ave. – 3rd St. to 6th St. (Lexington St Bridge)

2. 4th St. – W. Lexington Ave. to High St.

3. 5th St. – W. Lexington Ave. to High St.

4. 6th St. – Vistula St. to W. Franklin St.

Thursday, July 9th

1. Gardner Ct. – Hillside Ct. to Vistula St.

2. Hillside Ct. – Franklin St. thru East St.

3. W. High St. – Franklin St. thru East St.

4. 317 W. High St. alley and lot – Probation office alley & lot

Friday, July 10th

1. E. Beardsley Ave. – Osolo Rd. to Howard St.

Please remove all vehicles from the street before 7:00 a.m. and do not return them until after 7:00 p.m. or until barricades have been removed.

For the safety of crews and residents, please do not move or remove barricades.

Sidewalks and/or alleyways will be accessible to and from your home, but street access will be prohibited during the milling process.

We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work to improve our streets and continue providing quality service to the community

Hey folks,

This coming week we have a Wheel Tax and Vehicle Excise Surtax (26-O-28) on Monday night's City Council agenda for first read, so let's do a quick Q&A.

Q: Is the City of Elkhart raising my taxes?

A: For about 90% of city residents, no. If you own a passenger car, small truck, or motorcycle, you already pay a $25 vehicle excise surtax when you renew your registration. That amount doesn't change.

Q: Then what's changing?

A: Right now, if you live in the City of Elkhart, those dollars are collected by the State and distributed through the County before the City receives its share.

If this ordinance passes, those same dollars go directly to the City of Elkhart instead.

Q: Am I going to pay both the City and County?

A: No. In 2026, the Indiana General Assembly passed SEA 179, which prevents new municipal wheel taxes and vehicle excise surtaxes from duplicating existing county taxes. That means no double taxation for Elkhart residents.

Q: But Goshen passed a wheel tax and they have to pay both a city and county wheel tax.

A: That's true. Goshen's municipal wheel tax was already in place before SEA 179. The 2026 law applies to new municipal wheel taxes, which is why Elkhart residents would not pay both if this ordinance is adopted.

Q: So who actually sees a change?

A: Commercial vehicles. About 10% of vehicle registrations fall into that category. Those vehicles currently pay a county wheel tax ranging from $10 to $35, depending on the type of vehicle. Under this proposal, those fees would instead become a flat $40 municipal wheel tax.

Q: Why is the City doing this?

A: Because state law now ties eligibility for the Lane Mileage Direct Distribution (LMDD) program to adopting a municipal wheel tax and vehicle excise surtax. If we don't adopt them, Elkhart could lose access to up to $1 million per year in additional state road funding.

Q: If you don't pass it, will my taxes go down?

A: Unfortunately not, Voting no doesn't lower taxes for Elkhart residents. It just means those dollars don't stay with the City, and we risk losing up to $1 million in additional state road funding.

Q: Is the City getting more money from this?

A: Not from the wheel tax itself. The City currently receives about $1.3 million in wheel tax and vehicle excise surtax revenue, and it would continue receiving about $1.3 million under this ordinance. The real benefit is preserving our eligibility for up to $1 million annually in additional state road funding.

Please feel free to ask any questions.

Hey folks,

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It's that time again. The Elkhart City Council will meet tomorrow evening. Before the regular meeting, we'll have the annual presentation from Public Works on our water and sewer systems. The public is welcome to attend or watch online.

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On the agenda we have a small voluntary annexation along CR 6. The property is expected to be used for the storage of RV frames.

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We also have 18 tax abatement compliance resolutions for review. These will be read into the record and then referred to the Tax Abatement Committee for review and recommendation.

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Each year, companies receiving tax abatements must report their progress and demonstrate they've met at least 90% of their stated investment or employment goals. Companies that fail to meet those commitments can face clawbacks of their abatements.

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The Tax Abatement Committee, which I chair, will meet on Wednesday, June 24, to review each filing and make recommendations. The full Council will then consider those recommendations in July and vote on whether to approve or reject each compliance resolution.

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Other than that, it's a fairly light agenda. The annexation and tax abatements will be referred to committee for further review before returning to the Council for final action.

Hey folks,

Looking for something fun to do with the kids? Rhapsody is this weekend! Check out the details below. Hope to see you there.

🎶 Rhapsody Arts & Music Festival is this weekend!

Before you head to Island Park, be sure to check out our Know Before You Go Guide. It includes:

✅ Festival schedule

✅ Parking information

✅ Traffic routes and road closures

✅ What to bring (and what to leave at home)

✅ Festival map and helpful tips

⚠️ Important reminders for 2026:

🚗 Traffic patterns have changed due to road closures and construction in the area. Please review the traffic map before you leave home.

🪑 Bringing a chair or blanket is highly recommended. Benches have been removed as part of this year's new festival layout, so you'll want a comfortable spot to enjoy the music and activities.

Take a few minutes to review the guide now so you can spend more time enjoying the festival later!

Hey folks,

Today we got to break out the fancy shovels again, this time to celebrate something that's going to make a lot of kids and families happy.

A new splash pad is coming to Ullery Park, along with a new restroom facility, pavilion, event lawn, improved walkways, landscaping, and other park improvements. It's a major investment in a neighborhood park.

This project is about creating more places for kids to play, families to gather, and neighbors to spend time together. Whether it's cooling off on a hot summer day, enjoying a picnic, attending a community event, or just spending time outdoors, these improvements will help make Ullery Park an even better community space.

A huge thank you to the Parks Foundation, DLZ, and the many donors, both large and small, who helped make this project possible. Public-private partnerships like this help us continue improving quality of life throughout our city.

This should be completed by August.

Hey folks,

It’s that time again. We have our first Elkhart City Council meeting of June tomorrow night at 6 PM in Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall.

This agenda is fairly light, but there are several important items being voted on. To my understanding the tabled items can be removed from the table to be voted on. So there likely WILL be a vote on repairs for the Nappanee Street pedestrian bridge.

On second and third reading, we have three ordinances:

Proposed Ordinance 26-O-21: This is an annexation request for property commonly known as the intersection of CR 6 and Northland Drive. This would bring that real estate into the City of Elkhart. The new property owners would like to store RV frames there.

Proposed Ordinance 26-O-22: This appropriates $214,697.37 from the Capital Outlay Fund and authorizes the Controller to transfer those funds to the Hively Avenue Overpass Fund.

Proposed Ordinance 26-O-23: This appropriates that same $214,697.37 for the first interest loan payment on the Hively Avenue Overpass project.

For the Hively Avenue Overpass project, the city had to front $20 million for the project. The federal government will reimburse that $20 million after the project is completed, but the interest is not reimbursed. These ordinances cover the first interest payment tied to that upfront project funding.

We also have three previously tabled ordinances expected to be voted on. These were tabled because of a computer glitch with the State of Indiana, not because of an error on the city’s side:

Proposed Ordinance 26-O-20-R: $337,230 from the General Fund for the Nappanee Street Pedestrian Bridge Restoration Project. This is not a permanent replacement, but it is needed to keep the bridge usable while a new bridge is designed and built.

Proposed Ordinance 26-O-18: $31,318.11 to replace radio repeaters at the Public Works and Utility Building.

Proposed Ordinance 26-O-19: $51,480 to migrate Central Square Computer Aided Dispatch to a new server.

Hey folks,

Hall of Heroes Comic Con is back this weekend at the RV Hall of Fame, and if you're looking for something fun to do, it's worth checking out.

The convention brings together artists, authors, comic creators, collectors, cosplayers, vendors, and fans from across the region. Come on down and check it out!

Today Until 6PM

And Sunday from 10Am to 5PM

Hey folks,

Road milling update first week of June.

Weather permitting, the City of Elkhart Street Department will be milling streets from Monday, June 1st through Friday, June 4th.

Milling Schedule:

• Monday, June 1st — Bicentennial Park parking lot from Hannah Ct. to Elkhart Ave., and Marion St. from Main St. to East St.

• Tuesday, June 2nd — E. Franklin St. from Main St. to Waterfall Dr., and Waterfall Dr. from Franklin St. to East St.

• Wednesday, June 3rd — Waterfall Dr. from Prairie St. to Division St. (RxR crossing); the Waterfall Dr./Division St./Blazer Blvd./Richmond St. intersection; and Burrell Dr. from E. Jackson Blvd. to the north dead end.

Please remove all vehicles from the street before 7:00 a.m. and do not return them until after 7:00 p.m. or until barricades have been removed.

For the safety of crews and residents, please do not move or remove barricades.

Sidewalks and/or alleyways will be accessible to and from your home, but street access will be prohibited during the milling process.

We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work to improve our streets and continue providing quality service to the community.

Hey folks

Paving Schedule for the Week of May 11th.

"Weather permitting, the City of Elkhart Street Department will be paving streets from Monday, May 11th through Friday, May 15th.

Paving Schedule:

• Monday, May 11th — Hubbard Ave. from Benham Ave. to 6th St.

• Tuesday, May 12th — Hubbard Ave. from 6th St. to 8th St.

• Wednesday, May 13th — 10th St. from Lusher Ave. to Blaine Ave.

• Thursday, May 14th — 10th St. from Blaine Ave. to W. Cleveland Ave.

• Friday, May 15th — Indiana Ave. to Doctor M.L.K. Jr. Dr.

Please remove all vehicles from the street before 7:00 a.m. and do not return them until after 7:00 p.m. or until barricades have been removed.

For the safety of crews and residents, please do not move or remove barricades.

During paving operations, street access will be restricted. Please use sidewalks or alleyways to access your home and plan for possible travel delays.

We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work to improve our streets and continue providing quality service to the community.

#cityofelkhart #elkhartindiana #roadclosures"

Hey folks,

As *NSYNC used to say, “It’s gonna be May.” Well, it already is, and we have our first Elkhart City Council meeting of the month.

On tonight’s agenda, we have an alley vacation on Markle Avenue, along with two ordinances on second and third reading: one appropriating $31,318.11 to replace radio repeaters at Public Works, and another appropriating $51,480.00 to migrate the Central Square computer-aided dispatch system to new servers.

We also have movement on the Nappanee Street Pedestrian Bridge. The proposal is for $337,230.00 from the General Fund to repair and extend the life of the current bridge while a new bridge is being designed and funded. The goal is to avoid any gap where residents are left without a usable pedestrian bridge.

There is also a resolution acknowledging Peace Officers Memorial Day on May 15, honoring law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty, including five officers from the City of Elkhart. The Ceremony will be May 14th at 11am on Central Green in downtown Elkhart, all are welcome.

As always, the meeting is at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall.

Second Read (To be voted upon)

Ordinance 26-O-17 – Markle Avenue Alley Vacation

Vacates a north-south alley near 2220 Markle Avenue at the request of an adjacent property owner, allowing the land to be incorporated into neighboring parcels while preserving utility access.

Ordinance 26-O-18 – Radio Repeater Replacement ($31,318.11)

Appropriates funding to replace two failing Public Works radio repeaters, ensuring continued communication for field operations.

Ordinance 26-O-19 – CAD System Migration ($51,480.00)

Funds the migration of the Central Square computer-aided dispatch system to new servers to prevent potential failure of emergency communication services.

First Read (Not to be voted upon)

Ordinance 26-O-20-R – Nappanee Street Pedestrian Bridge ($337,230.00)

Appropriates funding from the General Fund to repair the existing pedestrian bridge and extend its service life while a full replacement is designed and planned.

Resolution (To be voted upon)

Resolution 26-R-12 – Peace Officers Memorial Day (May 15, 2026)

Recognizes Peace Officers Memorial Day and honors law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty, including five from the City of Elkhart.

Hey folks,

For those who may not know, I also serve as a voting member of the City of Elkhart Plan Commission. The Plan Commission is a quasi-judicial body, which means our role is different from the City Council.

While the City Council can vote based on policy preferences or opinion, the Plan Commission is required to make decisions based strictly on statute, ordinance, and established planning standards. We review petitions like rezonings, annexations, and subdivisions to determine whether they meet legal requirements such as compatibility with surrounding land use, adherence to the comprehensive plan, and compliance with state and local codes. In short, we don’t decide what we like, we decide what meets the law.

We have a relatively short meeting this Monday, with one primary item on the agenda: a proposed annexation off County Road 6.

The request (Petition 26-ANX-01) is a voluntary annexation of approximately 37 acres of land located at 24481 County Road 6 into the City of Elkhart . This means the property owner is requesting to be brought into the city limits.

The property is currently zoned A-1 Agricultural in the county, and the petition also includes a request to rezone it to M-1 Limited Manufacturing once annexed .

According to the staff analysis, the land is largely vacant with a single-family structure and some small outbuildings. It sits near existing industrial zoning to the south and east, and future development is expected to align with industrial or commercial use in that corridor .

City staff is recommending approval of the annexation, noting that it meets statutory requirements, aligns with anticipated future land use, and represents planned growth for the city.

The planning commission does not have a final say, but will vote on a "do or do not pass" recommendation to the city council for final say.

As always, Plan Commission meetings are open to the public, and public comment is part of the process.

Hey folks,

Check out the program below, a great opportunity for the kiddos this summer.

Hey folks,

The 2026 election cycle in Indiana is an odd one. Since there is no Presidential, Senate, or Governor's race on the ballot, this is one of those rare once-every-20-years cycles where the race for Secretary of State becomes the top statewide contest. Because apparently Indiana voters collectively decided that if there is no presidential circus, we might as well spend a year arguing about who gets to oversee car dealerships and election paperwork, ain't our state grand?

Today campaign finance reports were due, and they tell a pretty clear story about where this race stands financially.

Republicans:

Diego Morales (incumbent): Started with $1.187 million cash on hand, raised $107,451.51 this quarter, and ends with $1.199 million cash on hand.

Jamie Reitenour: Raised $2,680 and ends with $2,900 cash on hand.

David Shelton: Started with $6,772.95, raised $21,593.53 this quarter, and ends with $3,684.35 cash on hand.

Democrats:

Blythe Potter: Started with $115,763.26 cash on hand, raised $20,434.53 this quarter, and ends with $66,604.27 cash on hand. She did also have one large donation of $100,000.

Beau Bayh: Started with $1.561 million cash on hand, raised $620,396.68 this quarter, and ends with $1.974 million cash on hand.

Libertarian

Lauri Shillings: Started with $7,606.50, raised $10,306.85 this quarter, and ends with $12,563.64 cash on hand.

Independent: (UPDATE)

Greg Ballard has reported $290,000 in contributions

Harrison Jacobo (SPIN) $0

A couple things stand out.

First, Diego Morales may only have raised about $107,000 this quarter, but because he entered the quarter with nearly $1.2 million already in the bank, he still ends with nearly the same amount. This isn't a great sign for enthusiasm for who is the top of the ticket for the GOP. However I expect a surge of cash post convention if Ballard doesn't get on the ballot. If he does, it will be interesting.

Second, Blythe Potter's campaign appears to be in serious financial trouble. She began the quarter with about $116,000, raised only about $20,000, and ends with just $66,000 cash on hand. The one large donation of $100k helps, but that is not sustainable.

At this point, the Democratic race is not especially close financially. Beau Bayh has raised more than thirty times what Blythe Potter did this quarter and has more than twenty-five times the cash on hand.

Potter may have an energetic following, but statewide races in Indiana are brutally expensive. You need money for staff, travel, mailers, digital ads, TV, field organizing, and all the other glamorous machinery of democracy, we all remember what happened with Woody Myers and Valerie Mccray's campaign.

The big takeaway is this: financially, Beau Bayh looks like the only Democrat currently positioned to seriously compete with Diego Morales in November, while Ballard remains a wildcard, that could shift the dynamic of the race if he gets on the ballot.