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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-05-27 MINUTES OF COUNCIL MAY 27, 2008 The Batesville City Council met in regular session on May 27, 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. Also present were the City Clerk and the City Attorney. Councilmember Shetron moved to approve the minutes from the previous meeting and Councilmember Matthews seconded. All voted for. Councilmember Terrell moved to approve the prepared agenda. Councilmember Pectol seconded and all voted for. COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS Mr. George Brickell stood and said he believes the city has an ordinance regarding single family dwellings and the ordinance is not being enforced. He said there are several single dwelling homes in Batesville that are housing multiple families in them. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS A) RECOGNIZE THE BATESVILLE SR. GIRLS TRACK TEAM Mayor Elumbaugh introduced the coaches of the BHS Lady Pioneers Track and Field team. The Lady Pioneers recently won the 2008 AAAAA State Championship for the forth year in a row. Each Lady Pioneer was given a proclamation as they introduced themselves and their position on the team. B) CONSIDER A TAX-BACK RESOLUTION FOR CUSHMAN SAWMILL Councilmember Smart introduced a resolution that will endorse Cushman Sawmill to participate in the Tax Back Program. City Attorney Stalker read the resolution in full. Councilmember McDonald moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember Shetron seconded. All voted. The resolution was given #2008- 05-01-R. C) CONSIDER CONDEMNATION OF PROPERTIES Code Enforcement Officer Chad McClure addressed the council regarding six properties to consider for condemnation. The first property is located at 401 W. Main Street, owned by the estate of Nelse Barnett. Mr. Norman Barnett, son of Nelse Barnett addressed the council regarding the property. Mr. Barnett said he has hired someone to clean up the exterior of the property and is waiting on a bid to have the roof repaired. His intensions are to sell the property. Councilmember McDonald moved to allow Mr. Barnett 30 days to have the property cleaned up and the roof repaired. Councilmember Pectol seconded and all voted for. The second property is located at 435 9t" Street. Mr. McClure said he has been in contact with the owner, Mr. Reginald Davis, and he wants the city to continue with the condemnation and tear down and clean up the property. Mr. McClure said Mr. Davis indicated he would reimburse the City for all the cost associated with the removal and clean up of the property. Councilmember Terrell introduced the condemnation resolution for the property. City Attorney Stalker read the resolution in full. Councilmember Terrell moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember Carpenter seconded. All voted for. The resolution was given #2008-05-02-R. The third property is located at 1089 Grace Street owned by Connie Blevins. Mr. McClure said the property owner had been notified and no improvements have been made to the property. Councilmember Matthews introduced the resolution for condemnation. The City Attorney read the resolution and Councilmember Terrell moved to adopt. Councilmember McDonald seconded and all voted for. The resolution was given #2008-05-03-R. The forth property is located at 1311 Addie Street owned by Mr. Paul McDonald. Mr. McDonald addressed the council and informed them of the improvements that he had made to the property. His intensions are to sell the property. After a discussion, the council concluded the property does not now meet the criteria for condemnation. They did encourage Mr. McDonald to continue working of the property and that the Code Enforcement Office would continue to monitor the progress. The fifth property is located at 1898 Porter Street. Mr. James Cruse, owner of the property addressed the council. He said in the last three weeks he has installed new doors, windows and cleaned up the yard. He plans to complete the renovations and sell the property. Councilmember Matthews moved to extend Mr. Cruse an additional 30 days to make the necessary improvements to the property. Councilmember Carpenter seconded and all voted for. The last piece of property is located at 1907 Porter Street. The property is owned by Mr. William B. Swaims. Mrs. Sharon Swaims addressed the council for her husband who is currently in Iraq. Mrs. Swaims gave the council pictures of the recent improvements made to the property. The council discussed the condemnation requirements and concluded that the property no longer met the requirements. They did however tell Mrs. Swaims that additional improvements need to be made and the Code Enforcement Office will be monitoring the work. D) ENGINEER'S REPORT City Engineer Damon Johnson addressed the council. He gave a general overview of the current projects around the city. Mr. Johnson said the recent CAO issued by the ADEQ was harsh and asked the city to schedule an Ad Hoc meeting to discuss the City's options. Mr. Johnson said Adjusters International has been on site since last Thursday and has so far completed 20 small projects totaling approximately $107,000. They intend to start on the large projects this Thursday. He said they have worked with all the department heads and said they had received all the paperwork they had requested and were very pleased with the help they were getting from the city employees. Mr. Johnson is expecting a written report later this week along with a detailed report of their expenses. E) EXECUTIVE SESSION Councilmember Matthews moved to go into executive session and Councilmember Shetron seconded. All voted for. Upon returning from executive session, Councilmember Smart moved to appoint Mr. Scott Fredricks to the Parks and Recreation Commission. Councilmember Shetron seconded and all voted for. Mr. Fredricks will fill the expired term of Mr. Dennis Butler. His term will run through May 10, 2013. F) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS The council reviewed the April 30, 2008 financial statements COMMENTS FROM THE MAYOR Mayor Elumbaugh said the core drilling for the new fire station has been completed and things should start progressing soon. The Mayor set June 3rd at 5:15 PM for the Ad Hoc meeting requested by Mr. Johnson. LIAISON REPORTS Councilmember McDonald said at the last Parks and Recreation meeting, they discussed the problem of people smoking in the parks. The city passed an ordinance banning smoking on any city property where children congregate. He said they were having some additional signs made with the ordinance number and fines printed on the signs. He asked the council to help spread the news that the parks are smoke free areas. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Matthews asked why there seemed to be only the same two vendors at the new Farmer's Market since they relocated. At the old location there were several vendors. Councilmember McDonald said the Farmer's Market committee met recently with people from the Newport Farmer's Market. He said the City has a nice facility but we were still not very organized. Mayor Elumbaugh said he would notify the council the next time the committee meets and they could attend and offer their input. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Councilmember Matthew moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilmember Pectol seconded and all voted for. RICK ELUMBAUGH, MAYOR DENISE M. JOHNSTON, CITY CLERK