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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-02-24 (2) MINUTES OF COUNCIL FEBRUARY 24, 2009 The Batesville City Council met in regular session on February 24, at 5:30 pm at the Municipal Building. Mayor Elumbaugh called the meeting to order. Councilmember Insell gave the invocation. Upon roll call the following council answered present; Tommy Bryant, Margarett Henley, Davy Insell, Fred Krug, Doug Matthews, Matt McDonald, Richard O'Neal and David Shetron. The City Clerk Denise Johnston was also present. City Attorney Scott Stalker was absent. Councilmember Insell moved to approve the minutes from the previous meeting. Councilmember Shetron seconded and all voted for. Councilmember Bryant moved to approve the prepared agenda and Councilmember Insell seconded. All voted for. CITIZENS COMMENTS None UNFINISHED BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS (A) REQUEST FROM MASTER GARDNER'S Mr. Chester and Mrs. Sharon Clark Master Gardener's addressed the council regarding the consideration of a Community Vegetable Garden. Mr. Clark said the Master Gardner's have not yet voted to start a Community Garden site but would like to get the council's support for the plan. The City has a plot of ground that is suitable for the project across from Row Lake. The ground would be divided into plots, approximately 4' X 10' and individuals would apply for a plot for one year. Mr. Clark said the Master Gardener's will set the rules for participants if the project goes forward. He said they would ask the City to provide a water system with PVC pipe, a night watcher, dirt and bark chips. The council agreed that the project would be a good community project. Councilmember O'Neal moved to support the Master Gardener's for a Community Vegetable Garden. Councilmember Krug seconded and all voted for. (B) MR. NICK BAXTER REGARDING THE "RED FLAG RULE" Mr. Nick Baxter with the Water Utilities addressed the council regarding the "Red Flag Rule". Mr. Baxter gave the council the rules and said the FTC has passed the rules for identity protection for utility customers. He said he has been working with the Municipal League and will keep the council informed of any and all changes to be made. (C) EXECUTIVE SESSION Councilmember Matthews moved to go into executive session and Councilmember Shetron seconded. All voted for. Upon returning from executive session, Councilmember Krug moved to re-appoint Mr. Terry Watson to the Parks and Recreation Commission. Councilmember Bryant seconded and all voted for. Mr. Watson's term will end 1/10/2014. (D) MR. VINCENT MIELE REGARDING TAXI FRANCHISE Mr. Vincent Miele addressed the council regarding a Taxi Franchise. Mr. Miele was approved for a franchise at the last meeting if all requirements were met. Mr. Miele was lacking the proper endorsement on his driver's license. Mr. Miele said he would get the additional requirements as requested. (E) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE TO UPDATE THE TAXI FRANCHISE Mr. Tim Conyers with Code Enforcement addressed the council regarding the proposed changes in the Taxi Franchise. Mr. Conyers said the main changes were in the fee structure and taking the burden of granting a franchise from the council to the office of Code Enforcement. The council will take the amendments under advisement and consider the changes at the next meeting. (F) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO APPLY FOR A DELTA REGIONAL AUTHORITY C009 FEDERAL GRANT Councilmember Insell introduced a resolution authorizing the Mayor to apply to the Delta Regional Authority for 2009 funding. The City Clerk read the resolution in full. Councilmember Matthews moved to adopt the resolution. Councilmember Bryant seconded and the roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2009-2-1-R. (G) ENGINEER'S REPORT Mr. Johnson said he attended a meeting with the ARNC and as was pleased to find out that the new regulation regarding withdrawing water from the White River does not apply to Municipalities. He said they could however request for conservation during extreme droughts. Mr. Johnson then gave the council an update on all the projects going on around the City. (H) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION REQUESTING STIMULUS MONIES FOR THE WASTEWATER FACILITY, WHITE RIVER MEDICAL CENTER AND THE BATESVILLE REGIONAL AIRPORT Councilmember Matthews introduced a resolution supporting the request for stimulus monies for the Wastewater facility, White River Medical Center and the Batesville Regional Airport. The City Clerk read the resolution in full. Councilmember Matthews moved to adopt and Councilmember O'Neal seconded. The roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2009-2-2-R. (1) DELETED -COMBINED INTO ITEM H (J) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE TO ADOPT CURRENT FIRE AND BUILDING CODES Councilmember Shetron introduced an ordinance that would adopt the current fire and building codes for the City of Batesville. Councilmember Matthews moved to read the ordinance by title only and suspend the rules to wave the second and third readings. Councilmember Bryant seconded and the roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. The City Clerk read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the ordinance and Councilmember Shetron seconded. The roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. The ordinance was given #2009-2-1. The City Clerk read the emergency clause and Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt. Councilmember Insell seconded and the roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. (K) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO ADOPT A COMPREHENSIVE MASTER PLAN Councilmember Bryant introduced a resolution to adopt a Comprehensive Plan for the City of Batesville Planning area as recommended by the Planning Commission. The City Clerk read the resolution in full and Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt. Councilmember Shetron seconded and the roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2009-2-3-R. (L) REVIEW PAID BILL REPORT FOR JANUARY 2009 The council reviewed the paid bills report for January 2009. (M) REVIEW FINANCIALS The council reviewed the January 31, 2009 financials. COMMENTS FROM THE MAYOR Mayor Elumbaugh and Sanitation Supervisor Marty Thompson gave the council a list of all the bids received for the two residential sanitation trucks and one commercial sanitation truck. The City received four bids for each vehicle. After a review, Councilmember Shetron moved to accept the low bids and Councilmember Matthews seconded. All voted for. The commercial truck low bid was Downing Sales & Service of$189,721.00. The residential trucks low bid was Tuck Centers of Arkansas for$113,188.00 each. The Mayor said he received word today that the city has been approved for a stop light at 30th and Harrison Streets. Mayor Elumbaugh reminded everyone about the upcoming sales tax election and encouraged everyone to attend the public forums to educate themselves on the issue. LIAISON REPORTS None COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Bryant thanked the council and Planning Commission members for the new Comprehensive Master Plan. He said the City first adopted a plan in 1957 and again in 1968 and said the new plan will help move Batesville forward. Councilmember Krug said a citizen wanted to thank City employees Marty Thompson and Johnny Coles for their fast response during a recent rain that caused her house to be on an island. The employees unstopped a drain and saved the house from flooding. Councilmember Matthews asked code enforcement to send out reminder letters to business owners who have not come into compliance with the City's policy on paved parking lots. Business owners have until July 15, 2011 to pave their parking lots. Dr. Matthews said a courtesy reminder letter would be a good gesture. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Councilmember Bryant moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilmember Insell seconded and all voted for. RICK ELUMBAUGH, MAYOR DENISE M.JOHNSTON, CITY CLERK