[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6256873,"mediaKeyId","3155214-75c0373641baa65ef04640907f3fb799","parentId",3155214,"title","Martinsville council reviews 2025 budget materials, plans sign and parking ordinance work; county animal control service ending","audioSeconds",2151,"startMs",828000,"endMs",2979000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3155214-75c0373641baa65ef04640907f3fb799&start=828&end=2979","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3155214-75c0373641baa65ef04640907f3fb799/thumbnail_828000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6256873/Martinsville-City/Morgan-County/Indiana/Martinsville-council-reviews-2025-budget-materials-plans-sign-and-parking-ordinance-work-county-animal-control-service-ending","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6256873-e1d24d9c357f1f9879d5297a86a710b1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200072&Signature=QO~RtrnFTckhyTFEMVe87ahwSgR4J4NJW4R-LYAgQSWA9w1WXd0rg8XYSpreAEneZWKmQxAmMNDnBixhPGu9MnTkoJwcnBQ06mICznBQdGS27NiZK9wX2r5ZAb2JhQr8qE9tBJvapJHhTvWJrYTwAisM75oNgX1HmSi3ffH2Px0Q2ekIRGk9IPVRMmswwhd6-Ooo0VSer4F7e9h0Pcln4O8LMjTTQU~QSwYMc9~D8Uf~atF8~hHK4TVC6niyZ0r1eNU90jGy~4pqxQLE0zvQQ6iMY5e3ImgXpThuUd5gIvoG-RLFQF3ltoWOslqUV0FMxrNe~n86zkDe-kKHODvUVw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Martinsville IN","date","2025-04-30T08:27:00.377Z","article","Clerk Meredith told the Martinsville Common Council on Dec. 9 that the city's 2025 budget package has been submitted to the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF) and that staff expect the submission to be accepted. Meredith said the city will begin using a three‑column budget worksheet at the next workshop that shows the previous year’s approved budget, actual expenditures and the current proposed budget to base future appropriations on prior‑year spending rather than prior‑year budgets.

Meredith said the city expects to meet a target of returning 2% to its fund balance at year‑end and reported the transition to a new financial software package is ahead of schedule, though he cautioned that software transitions can produce “hiccups.” The clerk said staff provided council members a five‑year rolling expenditures-and‑receipts document in advance of next year’s budget workshop and asked for feedback on formatting before the workshop.

Planning and animal control matters: The council named volunteers from the planning commission and three council members to review the city sign ordinance and said a parking ordinance rewrite is under review; staff will ask council members to inspect their wards before town‑hall meetings expected in March or April. The mayor and council also said the county’s animal control contractor, identified in news reporting as the Humane Society, has given the county 30 days’ notice that it will stop providing animal control services; city and county officials are working on a countywide animal control policy.

Community grants and claims: Councilman Phil Decker Sr. announced awards from a city set‑aside for nonprofit grants that were funded from state surplus dollars. The council presented awards to the Martinsville Baseball & Softball Organization, Martinsville Junior Football League, Martinsville Neighborhood Crime Watch, Veterans Memorial Park (for a brick purchase project) and the Martinsville Area Senior Center (for interior remodeling). The transcript does not specify award amounts. The council also approved routine claims and minutes during the meeting by motion; votes were recorded as “aye” with no recorded opposition in the transcript.

Why it matters: The DLGF submission, budget formatting change and software transition set expectations for how city finances will be reviewed during the 2025 budget cycle. At the same time, the imminent end of the county animal control contract could require coordinated policy or procurement work at the county level and affect how humane and animal control services are delivered locally.

Discussion and next steps: Council members will review ward maps and participate in planned town halls for the parking ordinance; staff will continue work with the county on an animal control policy. The council scheduled a budget workshop for Dec. 12 focused on municipal buildings and set the next regular meeting for Dec. 23. The transcript records no formal ordinance changes at the Dec. 9 meeting.

Ending: Clerk Meredith invited council members to send formatting feedback for the new budget worksheets before the upcoming workshop; the council will consider any ordinance drafts in future meetings and town halls.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","December 9, 2024 Common Council Meeting Martinsville, Indiana","oneSentenceSummary","Clerk Meredith told the Martinsville Common Council on Dec. 9 that the city's 2025 budget package has been submitted to the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance and staff expect acceptance.","taxTitle","Martinsville City, Morgan County, Indiana","taxId",63770,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6256878,"Martinsville police present year-end report, honor officers for lifesaving responses",990,1350000,2340000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3155214-75c0373641baa65ef04640907f3fb799&start=1350&end=2340","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3155214-75c0373641baa65ef04640907f3fb799/thumbnail_1350000.jpg","/articles/6256878/Martinsville-City/Morgan-County/Indiana/Martinsville-police-present-year-end-report-honor-officers-for-lifesaving-responses","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6256878-13b77d0b16f234c9c294c9f2a46cfd46/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200072&Signature=RaSyQagEfAIQN9yY8n-dyv6CxMjJDIBWiEX9e~nuwMtHC9bmkxxHmnN-cYfX5my1eCURbHO-Dmn7m6VqRImYTY1I2pyTVkt5KQT6NDGYOR9qf9HIAflg~edBRAKxkloin9hRWjsObSzvb7dEyLNHRPfbhjz9EJ-YxynYM2etG5QMx~lc1~FVu-g~fJ5sFkqZuoowAF5onTxDLgMJUbwvl4ZMedVcAIXTapHI13JQ8I4HyquFXY~b3Z9QqHjCo-ZQLB8VtbOkouB3vGhVWsV3iY~TYTkgJ3PUjR~zhQGfkt1v15rb2-yMrjKQGEIYmw94BfOS~NAN0a0hP4E~furWvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chief Rick Lang, chief of the Martinsville Police Department, told the Martinsville Common Council on Dec. 9 that the department hired seven officers this year, is proposing internal restructuring to create clearer career paths and specialty pay, and recognized several officers with life‑saving awards for emergency responses earlier in 2024.

The report and awards drew attention to two on‑the‑street rescues described by Lang: an on‑highway overdose response in late August in which Officer Michelle Weaver and others administered naloxone (Narcan) and two people were taken to hospitals, and an Aug. 24 single‑vehicle crash on I‑69 in which Officer Pond, Reserve Officer Jeff Jackson and bystanders removed an unconscious driver from a burning vehicle. Lang read investigation narratives at the meeting and presented life‑saving recognition to Weaver, Pond, Jackson and Reserve Officer Jared Khan, among others. “I am shocked and honored that I was even considered for recognition,” Weaver said, according to the chief’s remarks. “From my perspective, I was just doing my job.”

Why it matters: staffing levels, pay structure and recognition policies shape retention and readiness in a small city police force. Lang said the hires were intended to restore staffing levels after recent departures. He reported the department lost one officer to a lateral transfer and one to retirement since Nov. 1; he also said the department remains, by FBI comparison for cities this size, “down 6 to 8” officers even after hiring. Lang told the council the department’s budgeted manning table is filled for the current budget year.

Details from the presentation:

- Staffing: Lang said seven officers were hired this year to replenish the force. He described one lateral transfer out and one retirement since Nov. 1; other officers considered leaving but stayed, he said. Lang said the department remains under the level recommended by FBI data for a city of Martinsville’s size by an estimated six to eight officers but is “flush” with what the current budgeted manning table funds.

- Career path and pay: Lang said the department plans to restructure advancement opportunities so non‑uniform positions such as detective can lead to sergeant rank, giving officers more avenues for promotion without remaining in uniform roles. He also said the department has paid stipends for specialty assignments (SWAT, public information officer, K‑9 and others) to compensate officers who take extra duties.

- Recognitions and incidents: Lang summarized two incidents presented at the meeting: an overdose response on Aug. 28 in which Weaver deployed naloxone after observing an unresponsive passenger and assisting a second person who also showed signs of overdose; and an Aug. 24 crash on I‑69 where Pond and others extracted an unconscious driver from a smoking, unstable vehicle and helped get the driver to medical care. Lang described other instances of officers assisting people in severe cold weather, including officers arranging temporary shelter for a homeless person who had recently become sober.

Discussion and next steps: Lang invited questions about the items in the written year‑end report; he emphasized the department’s goal to professionalize and retain officers and thanked city taxpayers and council members for support. There was no formal council vote tied to the report; the recognitions were presented by the chief at the meeting.

Ending: Lang said he would answer any questions on the written report and that the department wants to continue improving retention, training and officer safety. The council did not take formal action on policy changes at the Dec. 9 meeting.","Chief Rick Lang told the Martinsville Common Council the police department hired seven officers this year, is proposing a detective-sergeant career path and specialty pay, and presented lifesaving awards to officers who administered Narcan and rescued crash victims.","actionData","errors"]

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Martinsville council reviews 2025 budget materials, plans sign and parking ordinance work; county animal control service ending

Martinsville police present year-end report, honor officers for lifesaving responses