Fairfield City Council met for their regular monthly meeting last (Tuesday) night at Fairfield City Hall. The council approved minutes from January 13, 2026, and July 8, 2025, meetings and unanimously approved bills submitted since the last meeting.
During the public comments section, Lambri Morse, a resident from the Boyleston area addressed ongoing issues with neglected dogs belonging to neighbors since July 2024. Morse described two dogs that frequently escape, are underfed, and appear unhealthy, despite multiple complaints to the Humane Society. Mayor Moore explained that since the issue occurs outside city limits in Boyleston, it falls under Wayne County jurisdiction and recommended she attend the county board meeting scheduled for Thursday at 7 PM at the Wayne County Courthouse.
Alyssa Short and April Smith from Blessed Blooms Flower Farm & Market presented a funding request for facade improvements to their business building west of town. Short explained they are converting a Morton building shell into a proper storefront with a porch, picture windows replacing garage doors, and improved signage to increase visibility. The project involves three business owners, with Short’s sister-in-law as the third partner. The total facade project cost is estimated at $71,000, though they are only requesting reimbursement for qualifying portions under the business tax district guidelines.
Attorney Rice presented two utility easement resolutions for Frontier Community College Foundation’s new gymnasium project. The first resolution addresses a permanent electric utility easement running diagonally from Route 15 to the proposed gymnasium location, coordinated with Wayne White Electric. The second resolution covers a permanent public utility easement for gas and other utilities, replacing a previously vacated easement. Both resolutions were unanimously approved by the council.
Fairfield Fire Chief Andrew Miller presented a comprehensive proposal for purchasing a replacement fire truck. Miller explained their current 1994 Spartan ladder truck, purchased used in 2008, needs replacement after 32 years of service. The proposed 2008 Spartan mill truck offers similar capabilities with the same ladder length but features a slightly larger pump and is approximately one foot longer. Miller emphasized that operational procedures would remain unchanged, maintaining established positioning for critical locations like the hospital’s surgical pavilion. The truck purchase price is $369,000 with financing through Fairfield National Bank at 4.49% interest over 84 months. After thorough inspection and negotiation, including a repair list and complete repainting, the council approved the purchase with a supermajority vote.
Immediately following the fire truck purchase approval, Chief Miller addressed selling their existing ladder truck to Country Mark Energy from Mount Vernon, Indiana, for $60,000. Miller explained that Country Mark Energy had expressed interest months earlier and conducted a thorough two-hour inspection of the vehicle. The company needs the ladder truck for oil-filled fires and was willing to wait the six-month delivery timeline for the new truck. The council unanimously approved this sale after confirming local area fire departments had no interest in purchasing the vehicle.
The council approved a $2,000 allocation from the recreational fund for the annual Easter egg hunt. Mayor Moore noted the recreational fund contains approximately $24,000, with the requested amount covering eggs, candies, and gifts for the community event. This represents a consistent funding level compared to previous years.
A routine street closing request for the FCHS Prom on Saturday, April 11th was approved. The closure will begin at 4 PM and remain in effect until senior announcements conclude, with student parking permitted on East Center Street starting at 10 AM. Police Chief, Ben Lewis confirmed no concerns with the request.
Mayor Moore presented significant revisions to business tax district guidelines developed by the committee. The new tiered structure establishes three funding levels: projects $0-$5,000 eligible for up to 100% reimbursement (one per address per six months), projects $5,001-$25,000 eligible for up to 50% reimbursement (one per address per 12 months), and projects over $25,001 eligible for up to 25% reimbursement (one per address per 12 months). The committee also requires pre-reimbursement inspections to verify completed work. Mayor Moore plans to organize a meeting with downtown business owners to explain the new process and encourage participation. City Attorney, Darrin Rice confirmed he would prepare an ordinance for the business tax district guideline changes for the next council meeting.
Mayor Moore delivered concerning financial news regarding January utility costs. The city’s natural gas bill reached $477,000 due to winter storm conditions and cold weather that saw prices exceed $300 per decatherm in some markets. Natural gas prices increased from $8.88 per thousand cubic feet in December to $14.37 in January, representing a $5 increase that will be passed directly to residents. Combined with electricity costs of approximately $500,000, the city faced nearly $1 million in utility expenses for January alone. Moore stressed next month’s utility bills will see a large increase. The city will be committed to keeping utilities connected but Mayor Moore is asking and urging residents to contact Fairfield City Hall if someone needs some extended terms on their utility bill before shutoffs to arrange payment plans.
The winter weather also created significant operational challenges. Street and bridge crews, working with only four individuals due to one employee’s hip replacement, accumulated substantial overtime clearing snow and ice. Water distribution staff logged 121 hours of overtime addressing weather-related water leaks in extremely cold conditions. Moore praised the dedication of the city crews
Cole Young, the city’s Class A water operator, addressed a recent EPA violation notice regarding total organic compounds (TOC) in the drinking water. The city received a 0.97 average for quarter four when the required standard is 1.0, though they met standards for the other three quarters. Young explained this violation relates to organic materials from the Little Wabash River source and emphasized that no boil order is necessary. The city is working with EPA on potential exemptions and testing granular activated carbon systems that may need regeneration or replacement after three to five years of service.
The meeting concluded with financial reports showing January expenses of $1,702,026 against revenues of $1,525,182, creating a negative balance of $176,845. Year-to-date figures show expenses of $16,436,474 versus revenues of $14,943,540, resulting in a net loss of $1,492,934. The general fund balance stands at $1,238,119 with an additional $1.1 million in certificates of deposit.