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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-05-09 MINUTES OF COUNICL MAY 9, 2000 The Batesville City Council met in regular session on May 9, at 5:30 P.M. at the Municipal Building. Mayor Joe Biard presided over the meeting. Councilmember Gaither gave the invocation. Upon roll call, all the council answered present. Also present were the City Clerk and the City Attorney. Councilmember Cargill moved to approve the minutes from the previous meeting. Councilmember Pectol seconded and all voted for. Councilmember Ford moved to approve the prepared agenda as amended and Councilmember Cargill seconded. All voted for. GFOA AWARD Mayor Biard recognized Denise Johnston, City Clerk, and Lisa Shales with Hughes, Welch and Milligan, CPA'S for the recent Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting awarded by the Government finance Officers Association. The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management. A plaque recognizing this accomplishment will be displayed in city hall. REPORT BY DAVE HUGHES Mr. Dave Hughes, owner of property located at 548 Broad Street, was instructed at the March 23rd council meeting to report back to the council at the May 9 meeting regarding the progress of the restoration of his Broad Street property. Mr. Hughes was not at the meeting and did not call. Councilmember Cargill says he passes the property almost every day and a small effort had been made to restore the structure on the property. Councilmember Carpenter moved to start condemnation proceedings on the property. Councilmember Bone seconded and all voted for. REPORT ON UNION PACIFIC PROPERTY ON LAWRENCE STREET Mayor Biard read a letter the City Attorney drafted and mailed to a representative of the Union Pacific Property located on Lawrence Street regarding cleaning up the property. The letter asked for a response within 10 days from the date of the letter which was dated April 13, 2000. The Mayor said he or Mr. McClure had not heard from anyone. Councilmember Pectol moved to start condemnation proceedings on the property and Councilmember Carpenter seconded. All voted for. EXECUTIVE SESSION Councilmember Bone moved to go into executive session. Councilmember Gaither seconded and all voted for. Upon returning from executive, Councilmember Bone moved to re-appoint Mr. Bill Phillips to the Housing Authority. Councilmember Insell seconded and all voted for. MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Biard said he thought an agreement had bee reached in the ADA lawsuit. The Mayor said the city will be required to make 96 sidewalk cuts over the next 5 years as well as have all city buildings in compliance. He said he should have a resolution for the council to consider regarding the settlement at the next meeting. PAID BILLS REPORTS The council was given a copy of the paid bills reports and revenue statements for the month ending 4-30-00. LIAISON REPORTS Councilmember Insell addressed the council regarding the Interlocal Agreement for law protection between the City and the County. Councilmember Insell said at the meeting on April 13t", it was stated that everything was okay. Mr. Insell said everything is not okay and the agreement needed amended or terminated. He said the moral of the department had improved after the pay increases but was still low. He commented on the conduct of a certain officer, accumulated compensation time, and alleged missing monies at the Sheriffs Department, among other things. Several councilmembers agreed with Mr. Insell and said the agreement needed strengthening in several areas. Councilmember Ford moved for Mr. Insell to draft a new agreement for the council to consider at the next meeting. Councilmember Carpenter seconded and all voted for. COUNCIL REPORTS Councilmember Carpenter moved to have the City Attorney draft a letter to the tenant in the Municipal Building that is $2,600 behind on rent. The letter is to give the tenant 30 days to pay in full or vacate the building. Councilmember Pectol seconded and all voted for. Mr. Carpenter said he had read on the Internet about a "city courtesy car". Mr. Carpenter asked the Mayor about the car. Mayor Baird said the car was an arrangement he had with Truman Baker Ford and that it did not involve the City in any way. Mr. Carpenter said he had heard that a city employee had been taking college classes on city time and said he would like to know if that was true. Mr. Carpenter also requested the City Clerk to furnish him with a list of all city employees who drive city cars home. MOW PROPERTY ON VINE STREET Councilmember Bone said there was a vacant house on Vine Street across from the Chamber of Commerce that needed mowing. Mr. McClure said the property owner lives out of town. Mr. McClure said the city could mow the property and place a lean against the property for the expenses the city occurs. Councilmember Insell moved to mow the property and place the lean against the property. Councilmember Gaither seconded and all voted for. LANDERS THEATER Councilmember Insell asked the status of the Landers Theater. The Mayor said he had recently talked with the party that was interested in the property. Councilmember Gaither moved to put the Landers Theater property on the next agenda for discussion. Councilmember Insell seconded and all voted for. There being no further business, Councilmember Mitchum moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilmember Insell seconded and all voted for. JOE M. BIARD, MAYOR DENISE M. JOHNSTON, CITY CLERK