HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-12-21 Special Meeting MINUTES OF COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
12/21/2004
The Batesville City Council met in special session on December 21, at 12:00 PM
at the Municipal Building. Mayor Joe Biard presided over the meeting. Upon roll call
the following Councilmembers answered present: Jim Cargill, R.L. Carpenter, Robert
Ford, Gerald Gaither, Jim Mitchum, Jerry Pectol, and Jim Watkins. Also present were
the City Clerk Denise Johnston and the City Attorney Scott Stalker.
Councilmember Ford moved to approve the prepared agenda. Councilmember
Cargill seconded and all voted for.
DISCUSSION OF ASSISTANCE FOR LOCAL PLANT
Mayor Biard introduced Mr. Scott Conger, Plant Manager and Mr. Gregory
Dyess, Labor & Employee Relations Manager with GDX. The plant was built in 1964
and currently has 450 employees. Mayor Biard said there is a possibility that GDX will
be closing its doors in Batesville. Mr. Conger said GDX has 13 plants, 5 of them in
North America. He said currently their company has enough work for about 3 plants
therefore 1 or 2 plants possibly will be closed. He said all 5 plants are fighting to keep
their locations open. Mayor Biard said if the Batesville plant remains open there is a
possibility that they may bring in another production line to the plant which will bring an
additional 65 to 75 jobs and stability for the current plant.
Mayor Biard asked the council to consider lowering the water and sewer rates for
GDX to the same rate as manufacturing within the city limits of Batesville for a three-
year period. The Mayor said lowering the rate would save GDX approximately $17,000
per year. Mr. Larry Tharnish, manager of the Batesville Water Utility said the Utility
Commission was in favor of the rate reduction.
Councilmember Carpenter moved to honor the Utility Commissions request to
lower the water utility rate for GDX for three years. Councilmember Watkins seconded
and all voted for. Councilmember Carpenter asked Mr. Conger to consider annexing into
the City if their plant remains open.
There being no further business, Councilmember Watkins moved that the meeting
be adjourned. Councilmember Gaither seconded and all voted for.
JOE M. BIARD, MAYOR
DENISE M. JOHNSTON, CITY CLERK