Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-08-12 MINUTES OF COUNCIL AUGUST 12, 2008 The Batesville City Council met in regular session on August 12, at 5:30 PM at the Municipal Building. Mayor Rick Elumbaugh presided over the meeting. Councilmember Krug gave the invocation. Upon roll call the following councilmembers answered present: R.L. Carpenter, Davy Insell, Fred Krug, Doug Matthews, Matt McDonald, Trula Pectol, David Shetron, and Paula Terrell. Also present were the City Clerk and the City Attorney. Councilmember Shetron moved to approve the minutes from the previous meeting and Councilmember McDonald seconded. All voted for. Councilmember Shetron moved to approve the prepared agenda. Councilmember Insell seconded and all voted for. COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS Mrs. Mayfan Thomas, owner of The Paper Chase book store on Main Street addressed the council. Mrs. Thomas said she was opposed to changing Main Street back to a two way street in front of her business and also against removing the stop light and replacing it with a 4-way stop. Mrs. Thomas said changes would be a hardship for her costumers. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS A) RECOGNIZE THE 9 YEAR OLD BOYS BASEBALL STATE CHAMPIONS Mayor Elumbaugh recognized Mr. Thomas Palese, ICYAA Director of the baseball division, who introduced Coaches Scott Fredricks and Shane Swaims of the Batesville All-Star 9 year old baseball team. The boys recently won the State Championship. Each team member was introduced and received a proclamation in their honor. Coach Brian Reeves was unable to attend. B) MR. BRENT BENTLEY REGARDING CHANGING ONE BLOCK OF MAIN STREET BETWEEN CENTRAL AVENUE AND STATE STREET TO TWO WAY TRAFFIC AND CONSIDER THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT TO PLACE A 4-WAY STOP AT THE INTERSECTION OF MAIN AND CENTRAL Mr. Brent Bentley addressed the council regarding changing one block of Main Street between Central Avenue and State Street back to two way traffic. Mr. Bentley said it would make it easier for business owners and patrons to get back to Central Avenue which is a main artery in Batesville. Mr. Bentley had a petition signed by several business owners and their employees in support of the change. He said he contacted Mr. Lyndal Waits with the Highway Department regarding the stop light and the Highway Department did a study and recommended a 4-way stop instead of a stop light. Councilmember Shetron moved to refer the request to the Planning and Zoning Commission to be studied along with the traffic master plan. Councilmember Matthews seconded and all voted for. C) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE ARKANSAS COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF BEHALF OF BAD BOY MOWERS Councilmember McDonald introduced a resolution that would authorize the Mayor to submit an application to the State of Arkansas on behalf of Bad Boy Mowers for a grant for an economic development project. City Attorney Stalker read the resolution in full. Councilmember Terrell moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember Krug seconded. All voted for. The resolution was given #2008-08-01- R. D) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH WHITE RIVER PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT TO ADMINISTER FUNDS RECEIVED FROM AEDC Councilmember Shetron introduced a resolution that would authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute an agreement with White River Planning and Development District to provide administrative services for grant monies received from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. City Attorney Stalker read the resolution in full. Councilmember McDonald moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember Shetron seconded. All voted for. The resolution was given #2008-08-02-R. E) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO APPLY FOR GRANT FUNDS TO HELP IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW FIRE STATION Councilmember Shetron introduced a resolution to apply for a grant to help in the construction of the new fires station in West Batesville. City Attorney Stalker read the resolution in full. Councilmember Matthews moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember Shetron seconded. All voted for and the resolution was given #2008-8- 3-R. F) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE TO SET HOURS AT CITY PARKS Councilmember McDonald introduced an ordinance that would close all city parks from 12:00 AM (midnight) and reopen at 5:00 AM. City Attorney Stalker read the ordinance in full. Mayor Elumbaugh said closing the parks will not effect any fishing on the White River and does not change the hours of the "Children's Park" at Riverside Park. The ordinance will be placed on the next meetings agenda for the second reading. G) CEMETERY RESOLUTION The council considered a cemetery resolution for Mr. Paul Wright, Certificate # 80-225-1 for $400.00. Councilmember Terrell moved to accept the resolution and councilmember Carpenter seconded. All voted for. H) DISCUSS A FUEL PROPOSAL FROM MURPHY OIL Mayor Elumbaugh said he had been approached by Mr. John Wakefield with Murphy Oil who offered a program that would give a discounted fuel rate for the City and the County. City Clerk Denise Johnston said she took the rate figures offered by Murphy Oil and compared them to what the City was paying over an 18 day period and it was about a $375.00 savings which would be approximately $9,000.00 over a year. After a discussion, the council said they would like to meet with the department heads before making any decisions on the proposal. 1) ENGINEER'S REPORT Mr. Damon Johnson City Engineer updated the council on several projects throughout the City. J) REVIEW PAID BILLS REPORT The council reviewed the paid bills report for July, 2008. COMMENTS FROM THE MAYOR Mayor Elumbaugh said he had been notified that the City would receive a 5% increase from IESI for garbage disposal. LIAISON REPORTS None COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Terrell asked who was responsible for stretching the cable across the river. She said the buoys were pushed to the end and not spaced across the cable and therefore the cable was not visible for boaters. The Mayor said he thought it was a rope and not a cable but he would notify Mrs. Rita Potts with the Independence County with the concerns. Councilmember Matthews said he wanted to encourage the citizens of Batesville and Independence Count to call the Quorum Court representative and voice their opinion on the proposed Economic Development tax. The Quorum Court will decide in the next couple of weeks whether to go for a '/4 or '/2 cent tax. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Councilmember Krug moved that the meeting be adjourned and Councilmember Pectol seconded. All voted for. RICK ELUMBAUGH, MAYOR DENISE M. JOHNSTON, CITY CLERK