HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-07-25 MINUTES OF COUNCIL
JULY 25, 2006
The Batesville City Council met in regular session on July 25, at 5:30 PM at the
Municipal Building. Mayor Joe Biard presided over the meeting. Councilmember
Matthews gave the invocation. Upon roll call the following councilmembers answered
present: Fred Krug, Doug Matthews, Dana Mynatt, David Shetron, Stephen Smart
and Paula Terrell. The City Clerk was also present. Councilmembers Carpenter and
Pectol and City Attorney Scott Stalker were absent.
COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS
Mayor Biard opened the floor for citizen comments. There being none, the floor
was closed.
ROUTINE BUSINESS
Councilmember Smart moved to approve the minutes from the previous
meeting and Councilmember Matthews seconded. All voted for.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
"ORDINANCE EXEMPTING THE CITY FROM SHIELDED LIGHTING ACT — 2ND
READING
Councilmember Matthews moved to read the proposed ordinance for the
second reading by title only. Councilmember Krug seconded and the roll call count
was 6 for and 0 against. Mayor Biard read the ordinance by title only and opened the
floor for discussion. The ordinance will be placed on the next agenda for the third and
final reading.
NEW BUSINESS
"REPORT ON SOUTHSIDE INCORPORATION LITIGATION
Mayor Biard told the council that in the absence of the City Attorney who is
recovering from a hip replacement surgery, he retained the serviced of Attorney Bill
Walmsley in regards to the Southside Incorporation issue. Mr. Walmsley addressed
the council and brought them up to date on the current appeal. After a brief
discussion, the Mayor asked the council if they wished to keep Mr. Walmsley on
retainer. Councilmember Smart moved to retain Mr. Walmsley through the Circuit
Court hearing and Councilmember Krug seconded. All voted for.
"DISCUSSION, AS REQUESTED, ON SPEEDING IN THE CITY
Mr. Richard Black addressed the council on behalf of a large group of citizens
concerned about the speeding in Batesville. Mr. Black lives on Main Street and said
his main concern is the Main, College and Boswell areas but realizes that there is a
problem all over town. He offered a few suggestions such as hiring more police to
patrol the problem areas, making Main and College two way from 12th street to 5th
street, and placing stop signs or stop lights on Main, College and Boswell. Several
other citizens spoke of the speeding problems and said the city needs a long range
plan. The council discussed forming a study group of council and citizens to see how
best to solve the problem. Councilmember Krug said the council needed to make a
decision tonight and they can always change any decision they make.
Councilmember Matthews moved to place stops signs for a three way stop on 9th and
Main and 8th and College and a four way stop at 8th and Boswell, and to form a study
group of councilmembers and citizens to come up with a long range plan for speed
control. Councilmember Mynatt seconded and all voted for. Mayor Biard appointed
Councilmember Terrell as chair of the study group. Councilmembers Mynatt,
Matthews and Shetron volunteered to be on the committee and several members of
the audience raised their hands to be a part of the committee.
"CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE ON SMOKE-FREE PARKS AND
RECREATION AREA
Councilmember Terrell introduced an ordinance that would prohibit the use of
tobacco products on certain parks and recreation areas owned and leased by the City
of Batesville. Mayor Biard read the ordinance in full and opened the floor for
discussion. Councilmember Terrell said that the ordinance read was not the most
recent version of the ordinance. The council decided to vote down the ordinance
before them and have the revised version at the next meeting. Councilmember
Matthews moved to suspend the second and third readings and Councilmember Krug
seconded. The roll call count was 6 for and 0 against. Councilmember Matthews
moved to adopt the ordinance and Councilmembers Shetron seconded. The roll call
count was 0 for and 6 against. The motion failed.
COMMENTS FROM DEPARTMENT HEADS
None
COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS
Councilmember Shetron gave the council a copy of the recent bid proposal for
the annual audit for the Water Utilities. The Utilities accepted a bid of$4,400.00 plus
mileage from Allen Wade Turner & Associates of Searcy, AR.
Councilmember Matthews asked to set the date for the budget review. The
council set August 14 and 15 at 5:00 PM to review the budget.
COMMENTS FROM CITY ATTORNEY
None
COMMENTS FROM MAYOR
The council was given a copy of the June, 2006 financial statement.
There being no further business, Councilmember Krug moved that the meeting
be adjourned. Councilmember Matthews seconded and all voted for.
JOE M. BIARD, MAYOR
DENISE M. JOHNSTON, CITY CLERK