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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-02-12 MINUTES OF COUNCIL FEBRUARY 12, 2008 The Batesville City Council met in regular session on February 12, at 5:30 PM at the Municipal Building. Mayor Rick Elumbaugh presided over the meeting. Councilmember Smart gave the invocation. Upon roll call the following councilmembers answered present: R.L. Carpenter, Fred Krug, Doug Matthews, Matt McDonald, Trula Pectol, David Shetron, Stephen Smart and Paula Terrell. Deputy City Clerk Brenda Riley was also present. The City Clerk and City Attorney were absent. Councilmember Shetron moved to approve the minutes from the previous meeting and Councilmember Smart seconded. All voted for. Councilmember Matthews moved to approve the prepared agenda as amended. Councilmember Terrell seconded and all voted for. CITIZENS COMMENTS None UNFINISHED BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS (A) REQUEST FROM DEBBIE McKENZIE WITH THE U.S. POST OFFICE Ms. Debbie McKenzie, representing the Arkansas Postal Workers Union, addressed the Council to ask for their help in keeping the sorting of the mail here in Batesville instead of it being sent to Jonesboro. Ms. McKenzie addressed the Council 2 years ago with the same issues about moving the sorting of the mail to Little Rock. The Council pasted a resolution #2006-2-1-R asking for congressional investigation and the United States Postal Service put the move on hold. Ms. McKenzie is asking for the Mayor and Council to intervene again and pass another resolution in support of keeping the sorting of the mail here in Batesville. The Mayor told Ms. McKenzie that he would prepare another resolution, and ask each councilmember to write a letter to Congressman Marion Berry asking for his help. The council also suggested that Ms. McKenzie contact other officials in each county that would be affected by the move. (B) PRESENTATION FOR ED HOLLER WITH MAIN STREET BATESVILLE Mayor Elumbaugh presented Mr. Ed Holler with the "Spirit of Main Street" volunteer award for his work with the Main Street Arkansas Program. Mr. Elumbaugh commended Mr. Holler for his time that he has volunteered to the Batesville Main Street program. (C) PRESENTATION FOR THE BARBARA BROOKS FAMILY Mr. Elumbaugh presented a plaque to the family of the late Barbara Brooks family. Mrs. Brooks was a longtime Animal Control Assistant for the City of Batesville. The plaque was presented to the family and in return, the family asked that it be placed in the new Animal Control Shelter in her memory. (D) INFORMATION ON CONTRACTING METER READING, CITY ENGINEER DAMONJOHNSON Mr. Damon Johnson, City Engineer addressed the council about moving forward with contracting out the water meter reading for the city. Mr. Andy Conley with Baker Engineering talked briefing to the council about entering into a one-year contract to provide meter reading at $1.15 per meter. This would be a slight saving to what the city is currently paying. The City would be able to renegotiate at the end of the first year for an additional two years with a 2 percent cost of living increase. Councilmember Shetron made a motion to move forward and Councilmember Terrell second. All vote for. (E) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE TO ACCEPT STREETS IN RECENTLY APPROVED SUBDIVISIONS Councilmember Shetron introduced an ordinance to accept streets in the North Park Subdivision, Aberdeen Park Subdivision, Richland Heights Subdivision and Woodlands at Eagle Mountain Subdivision. The Deputy Clerk read the ordinance in full. Councilmember Terrell moved to suspend the rules and waive the second and third readings. Councilmember Shetron seconded and the roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. Councilmember Shetron moved to adopt the ordinance and Councilmember Matthews seconded. The roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. The ordinance was given #2008-2-1 (F) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO ENTER INTO AN ADMINISTRATIVE AGREEMENT WITH WHITE RIVER PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT FOR PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT GRANT Councilmember Smart introduced a resolution that would authorize the Mayor to enter into an administrative agreement with White River Planning and Development District to identify and implement the regulations pertaining to a recent Department of Parks and Tourism grant for playground equipment at Riverside Park. The Deputy Clerk read the resolution in full. Councilmember Smart moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember Shetron seconded. All voted for. The resolution was given #2008-2-1-R. (G) SET PUBLIC HEARING TO PLACE LIENS ON CONDEMNED PROPERTIES Councilmember Shetron moved to set a public hearing for February 26, 2008 on four separate properties in the City. Councilmember Terrell seconded and all voted for. The properties are 1712 Lyon, 2029 Neeley, 320 Baker and 555 Hawkins Street. (H) EXECUTIVE SESSION Councilmember Matthews moved to go into executive session. Councilmember Shetron seconded. All voted for. Upon returning from executive, Councilmember Terrell moved to re- appoint Nancy Thomas to the Public Facility Board. Councilmember Shetron seconded. All voted for. Ms. Thomas' term will expire November 11, 2011. (1) PAID BILLS REPORT The council was given a copy of the January 2008 paid bills report. MAYOR'S COMMENTS Mayor Elumbaugh discussed setting a date and place in March or April for a town meeting to discuss long range planning with planning consultants. The Mayor informed the council that Mr. Brooks Jackson with Jackson Brown King Architects would be in Batesville this Thursday to discuss the new fire station. Councilmember Shetron made a motion to retain the services of Brooks Jackson King Architect services and Councilmember McDonald second. All vote for. The Mayor told the council that he had had several calls about campaign signs that had been put up. Under the current city ordinance, campaign signs should only be put up 90 days before the elections and should be removed seven days after. The Mayor informed the Council that the City Attorney had been injured in a car accident earlier today and asked the council to keep Mr. Stalker in their prayers. LIAISON REPORTS None COUNCIL COMMENTS Dr. Matthews informed the council that the new draft for the sub division regulations were available on the City of Batesville website for review. Councilmember Terrell asks about ontaining signs for"children at play". She was told to check with City Yard. Councilmember Carpenter informed the council that a salary survey was available from the Arkansas Municipal League if anyone was interested. This report summarized the salaries for other employees from other towns around the state by population. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Councilmember Shetron moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilmember Carpenter seconded and all voted for. RICK ELUMBAUGH, MAYOR BRENDA RILEY, DEPUTY CLERK