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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-07-14 MINUTES OF COUNCIL JULY 14, 1998 The Batesville City Council met for its regular meeting on July 14, at 5:30 P.M. at the Municipal Building. Mayor Joe Biard presided over the meeting. Councilmember Ford gave the invocation. Upon roll call, all the council answered present. Also present were the City Clerk and the City Attorney. Councilmember Ford moved to approve the minutes from the previous meeting and Councilmember Pectol seconded. All voted for. Councilmember Ford moved to approve the prepared agenda as amended and Councilmember Gaither seconded. All voted for. FIRE DEPARTMENT PRESENTATION Fire Chief Bob Davis presented a plaque to retiring firefighter Mike Debow. Mr. Debow started with the Batesville Fire Department on June 19, 1978 and was the first person who started as a full paid firefighter. MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS — PART 1 Mayor Biard read a prepared statement regarding his position on the need to re-work the current zoning book. There are several areas that need to be addressed. The Mayor suggested that the council and planning commission meet as a group along with any citizens who would like to make suggestions for changes in the current code. Councilmember Bone moved to have the Mayor forward his letter to the commission and set a time for the council and commissioners to meet as a group. Councilmember Carpenter seconded and all voted for. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE TO RE-ZONE CERTAIN PROPERTY OWNED BY IDEAL BAKING COMPANY, INC. FROM R-2 TO 1-2 Mr. Don McSpadden, attorney for Elmer L. Cochran, Jr., addressed the council requesting the re-zoning for certain property owned by Ideal Baking Company, Inc. from R-2 to I-2. Mayor Biard read the ordinance for the first reading and Councilmember Bone moved to suspend the rules and place the ordinance on the second reading. Councilmember Carpenter seconded and the roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. The mayor read the ordinance for the second reading and Councilmember Cargill moved to further suspend the rules and place the ordinance on the third and final reading. Councilmember Bone seconded and the roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. The Mayor read the ordinance for the final reading and Councilmember Bone moved to adopt the ordinance and Councilmember Gaither seconded. The roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. The ordinance was given # 98-7-1. Councilmember Gaither moved to adopt the emergency clause. Councilmember Cargill seconded and all voted for. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE TO RE-ZONE CERTAIN PROPERTY IN THE SAWMILL ADDITION FROM C-2 TO R-1. Mr. Zack Mobley addressed the council with a request to re-zone certain property in the Sawmill Addition from C-2 to R-1. Mayor Biard read the ordinance and Councilmember Gaither moved to suspend the rules and place the ordinance on the second reading. Councilmember Cargill seconded and the roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. The Mayor read the ordinance for the second reading and Councilmember Carpenter moved to further suspend the rules and place the ordinance on the third and final reading. Councilmember Cargill seconded and the roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. The mayor read the ordinance for the third reading and Councilmember Bone moved to adopt the ordinance. Councilmember Gaither seconded and the roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. The ordinance was given 98-7-2. DISCUSSION CONCERNING POSSIBLE REMOVAL OF THE SKATEBOARD RAMP FROM RIVERSIDE PARK Mayor Biard showed the council pictures of the skateboard ramp at Riverside Park. The ramp is in need of repair and according to the City's Safety Director, not safe. Also, a bar used to "slide" by the skaters was constructed on the ramp without any authorization from the City. The Mayor reminded the council that the skaters had promised to keep the skateboard ramp clean and in good condition but as the pictures showed, this was not the case. Several skaters were in attendance and said they were not the ones who trashed the area or did damage to the ramp. Brian Stephens said he added the bar to the ramp and did not realize that he needed permission to do so. The group said this was the only place that they had to skate and asked the council to consider building another ramp in an area not as visible as Riverside Park. The Mayor said there might be room by the tennis courts at Fitzhugh Park. Councilmember Gaither moved to table the decision on removing the ramp until the next meeting to give the council time to look for an alternative sight. Councilmember Pectol seconded and all voted for. MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS — PART 2 Mayor Baird said he had the street department place "No Parking" signs on Ramsey Street behind ConAgra. The Mayor said management from ConAgra contacted him because employees were parking on both sides of Ramsey Street instead of the parking lot provided by ConAgra. The parked cars were causing problem with large trucks. The Mayor said after placing the signs, he had received several phone calls from employees who were very angry with him for having the signs erected. The Mayor said he would like the council's opinion in the matter. The council agreed with the mayor for placing the signs and encouraged him to leave them. Mayor Biard said the Corp. or Engineers need a variance of the City's flood plain ordinance in order to continue the river bank stabilization on the White River. Councilmember Insell moved to authorize the Mayor to grant the variance and Councilmember Cargill seconded. All voted for. CEMETERY RESOLUTION Cemetery resolution # 98-195- 1 o behalf of Max and Rita Wycough for $200.00 for presented to the council for approval. Councilmember Gaither moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember Pectol seconded. All voted for. REVIEW OF BILLS After a review of the bills, Councilmember Bone moved that they be paid and Councilmember Gaither seconded. All voted for. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Gaither told the council that after the last council meeting, he and Mr. Pectol drove to Riverside Park. Mr. Gaither said that the kids that park at the river immediately harassed them. First, a boy said something that he could not hear but was sure it was not nice. Then, a girl jumped out of her car and acted like she was going to fight them. She yelled at them because their car light were shinning on her car. Mr. Gaither said the cars were parked everywhere but in the striped areas. After a discussion, Councilmember Ford moved to instruct the Sheriff's Department to have a unmarked, plain clothed officer patrol Riverside Park and Chaney Drive every night and issue tickets for parking violations, littering, etc. The council said they were tired of being intimidated by the kids at the park. There being no further business, Councilmember Mitchum moved that the meeting be adjourned and Councilmember Insell seconded. All voted for. JOE M. BIARD, MAYOR DENISE M. JOHNSTON, CITY CLERK