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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-07-22 MINUTES OF COUNCIL JULY 22, 2008 The Batesville City Council met in regular session on July 22, at 5:30 PM at the Municipal Building. Mayor Rick Elumbaugh presided over the meeting. Councilmember Terrell gave the invocation. Mayor Elumbaugh welcomed Mr. Davy Insell to the council. Mr. Insell was appointed at the last meeting to fill the unexpired term of Mr. Stephen Smart. Mr. Smart moved outside his ward and had to resign his position on the council. Upon roll call the following councilmembers answered present: R.L. Carpenter, Davy Insell, Fred Krug, Doug Matthews, Matt McDonald, Trula Pectol, and Paula Terrell. Also present were the City Clerk and the City Attorney. Councilmember David Shetron was absent. CITIZENS COMMENTS None OLD BUSINESS A) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE AIRPORT COMMISSION (SECOND READING) The council considered an ordinance that would amend the Airport Commission to allow two members to live outside the city limits of Batesville. City Attorney Stalker read the ordinance in full for the second reading. Councilmember Matthews moved to suspend the rules and wave the third reading. Councilmember Carpenter seconded and the roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. Councilmember Matthews moved to adopt the ordinance and Councilmember Carpenter seconded. The roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. The ordinance was given #2008-07-01. NEW BUSINESS A) MR. BILL WALMSLEY REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Mr. Bill Walmsley, a local attorney, and Mr. Jonah Shumate, President of the Batesville Chamber of Commerce, addressed the council with results from the recently appointed 22 member Economic Development task force. Mr. Walmsley said all the members worked tirelessly for the betterment of Batesville and Independence County. They visited several other cities and counties that have passed sales taxes to fund Economic Development. Mr. Shumate said that Batesville was being considered with two other States for a new industry. He said he was hopeful however if the industry comes to Batesville is it because the State has stepped up and offered the potential business incentives to locate here. Mr. Shumate said the State is helping us this time but the City will be on its own in the future and without any funds for Economic Development we cannot compete with other cities and states for new industry. The task force has recommended a sales tax that would sunset in 7 years, to be held during a special election. The percent of the sales tax and whether it be a city or county tax was not clearly decided. Mr. Walmsley said he would do the legal work to set up a non-profit board at no expense to the city or county. He said the city and county needed to meet and decide how to proceed. Mayor Elumbaugh said he would contact the County Judge and set up a meeting as soon as possible. B) REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE ON SETTING HOURS FOR CITY PARKS Mr. Randy Palmer addressed the council regarding setting hours for city parks. He said the committee agreed that the parks should be closed between 12:00 a.m. (midnight) to 5:00 a.m. The parks affected would be Fitzhugh Park, both swimming pools, Kennedy Park, the North Complex and the Bayou walking trail. He said fishing on the White River would not be affected. Mayor Elumbaugh said he contacted several other cities and found that they also close their parks at night. He said for example, the City of Jonesboro closes their parks at dusk each night. After a brief discussion, the Mayor asked the City Attorney to draft an ordinance to consider at the next meeting. C) EXECUTIVE SESSION Councilmember Carpenter moved to go into executive session and Councilmember Pectol seconded. All voted for. Upon returning from executive session, Councilmember Terrell moved to reappoint Mrs. Sylvia Crosby to the Housing Authority. Councilmember Carpenter seconded and all voted for. Mrs. Crosby's appointed will continue until May 27, 2013. D) ENGINEER'S REPORT City Engineer Damon Johnson gave the council an update on several jobs going on around the city. E) REVIEW FINANCIALS The council reviewed the city financials for June, 2008. COMMENTS FROM THE MAYOR Mayor Elumbaugh said there will be a joint Planning Commission and Council meeting on July 29th at 6:00 PM at the City Hall. The Mayor said dirt work is continuing at the new fire station and he is working on a grant to move the offices of the fire chief and assistant fire chief to the new station. The Mayor said he would contact the county judge and schedule a joint meeting with the Quorum Court regarding the economic development findings. When the date is set he will notify the council. LIAISON REPORT Councilmember Krug said the Batesville Country Club representatives attended the last Parks and Recreation meeting to discuss the possibility of the City taking over the operation and maintenance of their golf course. No decision was made. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Terrell said she would like to revisit the possibility of the City implementing Business licenses. It was questioned how long the city has to wait to bring the issue up again since was voted down in November, 2005. The Clerk said she would check with the Municipal League. Councilmember Matthews asked about the possibility of adding office space on the first floor. The Mayor said the individual that drew the plans was ill and he was not sure if he would be able to do the project. He said we could pay him for is time in drawing the plans and possibly get someone else to bid on the job. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Councilmember Matthews moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilmember Terrell seconded and all voted for. RICK ELUMBAUGH, MAYOR DENISE M. JOHNSTON, CITY CLERK