Camera upgrades and project progress topics at meeting

A previous incident at town hall opened discussion about the building’s surveillance system during the Hagerstown Town Council meeting on March 2.  All council members but Donnie Benedict were present.

When cameras failed to record a resident’s fall at town hall last year, the council welcomed vendor Jason Flood, owner of Midwest I.T., to discuss operational issues. Flood detailed that the recording feature functions when motion is detected. The resident fell outside of the camera’s view, so the footage was not recorded. Flood suggested purchasing a camera to monitor that spot and possibly upgrading the current camera to a model with more features. He also addressed prior software access issues. Town manager Chris LaMar and Police Chief Keith Folkner will discuss options with Flood at a later date. 

Town attorney Jon Madison suggested an ordinance to detour semis from a railway crossing in severely poor condition. Talks with Norfolk Southern Railway have been unsuccessful in verifying who would be responsible for repairs. Council members Brian Longbons and Chris Blaase agreed that repairs shouldn’t be the town’s responsibility, with Longbons suggesting they propose a collaborative effort with Norfolk Southern to pursue a solution. A call with Norfolk is scheduled for later this month. 

Madison also advised on the potential sale of a bucket truck to Cambridge City and acquisition of a refurbished transformer. The council approved a first reading of an amendment to remove the fee cap on building permits and will pursue appraising two lots involved in a potential property swap with a resident. 

LaMar shared upcoming projects, including service hole repairs, water meter replacements, pole attachments by Frontier and walkway upgrades at the water plant. The water project continues with piping finished from North Washington to Baker Street. Work will shift to North Perry St. and the south side of town, establishing new lines and burying old ones. The goal is to be finished by the end of the month. 

Board reports

• Police had 200-plus calls in February, will gradually transition to the new Indiana Department of Transportation-mandated speed limits and will renew the SRO contract with Nettle Creek schools. 
• The fire department had fewer runs but saw an increase in Recovery Works calls, planned a March 7 training in Winchester, received new grant-funded radios and has one engine in the shop for repairs. 
• The airport board began its foresting project. 

 

Other business

• Heart of Hagerstown will have capacity-building training with the Wayne County Foundation. Their grant for the tire recycling project was approved; it will be held in late summer.
• A proclamation was passed to declare March 16, 2026, as Louise Cory Wilson**** Day, celebrating the former resident’s 100th birthday. 
• A resolution to create two funds from the county wheel tax and surtax was approved; the town receives around $2,000 per month. 
• Pitcher’s motion to introduce making the building commissioner a full-time position was approved. 
• Blaase’s motion to transfer $25,000 from the electric fund to the line for vendor Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc., ahead of new rates, was approved. 
• An $82.07 credit to a resident at 550 N. Sycamore St. for a sewer leak was approved 3-1, with Blaase opposing.
• Clerk-Treasurer Julie Neal will work with human resources on a new handbook. Nash will also submit the town’s annual report to the Western Wayne News.
• Two invoices for the water project were approved for Warner Engineering and Indiana EarthWorks. 

Town Hall will be closed on April 3 for Good Friday. The next meeting is Wednesday, April 6, at 6:30 p.m., 49 E. College St., Hagerstown. The public may attend.