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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-06-13 Minutes of Council June 13, 2000 The Batesville City Council met in regular session on June 13, at 5:30 P.M. at the Municipal Building. Mayor Joe Biard presided over the meeting. Councilmember Pectol gave the invocation. Upon roll call, all the council answered present except Councilmember Bone. Also present were the City Clerk and the City Attorney. Councilmember Ford moved to approve the minutes from the previous meeting. Councilmember Insell seconded and all voted for. Councilmember Ford moved to approve the prepared agenda and Councilmember Cargill seconded. All voted for. DISCUSSION WITH LYNDAL WAITS CONCERNING TRAFFIC SIGNALS Mr. Lyndal Waits with the Arkansas Highway Department addressed the council regarding the possible removal of stoplights at 3rd and Main, 4th and Main and College and Central Avenue. Mr. Waits said a formal request was in order to remove the stoplights. Mr. Waits said traffic patters have changed over the years and the lights may not be needed anymore. He said the city can control the timing on the 3rd and 4th lights since they are on city streets. He said a change in the timing of the lights might be a solution. Councilmember Insell asked if the city could change the lights to flashing caution on Main and stop on 3rd and 4th streets. Mr. Waits said that would be an alternative. He said the city may would to consider one of the alternatives before actually removing the lights. Mayor Biard said he would draft a letter asking for permission to remove the stoplights. DISCUSSION ON ORDINANCE DEALING WITH MAINTENANCE OF REAL PROPERTY Councilmember Cargill presented the council with a sample addition to the city's zoning book that would address unsightly or unsanitary conditions on real property in depth. Mr. Cargill said the current lacked teeth. He asked that the council look at the proposal and discuss it at the next meeting. DISCUSSION OF INTERLOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGREEMENT The council discussed the proposed changes recommended by Councilmember Insell at the last meeting. Councilmember Cargill asked that the City Clerk make a final draft of the agreement and mail it to the council before the next meeting. The council will at that time vote on the changes. MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Biard read a letter from Terry Chandler, new owner of the Landers Theater. Mr. Chandler listed the improvement that he had made to the existing structure. Mr. Chandler, who was at the meeting said he did not know how long it would take him to complete the renovation. He said he was applying for funds to help in the restoration because the theater is the oldest in the state. Mayor Biard asked Mr. Chandler to make monthly reports to the council regarding his restoration progress. Mayor Baird said he needed to call an insurance meeting to discuss the recent rate increase for the city's health insurance. The members on the insurance committee are Councilmembers Bone, Pectol and Insell. The Mayor said he would notify them of the time for the meeting. STATEMENT FROM THE MAYOR Mayor Baird said he had prepared a statement to give to the council as he reported to the Batesville Guard regarding certain expenditures that he made and the " city courtesy car". The Mayor said he has decided to wait until the annual audit report is made to make his statement. He said the audit report is due to be completed by the end of the month. REPORT FROM CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER CHAD McCLURE Mr. McClure said he mailed a certified letter to Mr. James Milburn asking him to mow his property located at 1100 College Street. Mr. Milburn addressed the council and said he trims his lawn to his satisfaction and did not want to mow it. Several neighbors to Mr. Milburn were in attendance and complained how the house looked abandoned and was a fire hazard. Mr. Milburn said he occupied the house. Councilmember Carpenter moved that the city mow Mr. Milburn's lawn and bill him for the expenses the city incurs. Councilmember Pectol seconded and all voted for. Mr. McClure said the city had completed the clean up of the property located at 219 Quail Valley Drive. The council instructed the clerk to figure the cost that the city incurred and put a lean on the property if not paid by the owner. EXECUTIVE SESSION Councilmember Insell moved to go into executive session and Councilmember Gaither seconded. All voted for. Upon returning from executive session, Councilmember Cargill moved to appoint Dr. Doug Matthews to the Planning Commission. Councilmember Insell seconded and all voted for. DISCUSSION OF TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT FORM Councilmember Mitchum moved to approve the submitted Travel Reimbursement Form prepared by the City Clerk. Councilmember Ford seconded and all voted for. Councilmember Carpenter asked the Clerk to come up with a travel policy for the city employees and elected official to follow. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Ford said he would like to go back to the old way of reviewing invoices for payment. After a discussion, Mr. Ford made a motion to return to the old way of reviewing invoices for payment and Councilmember Pectol seconded. The roll call count was 5 against and 2 (Ford and Pectol) for. There being no further business, Councilmember Mitchum moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilmember Gaither seconded and all voted for. JOE M. BIARD, MAYOR DENISE M. JOHNSTON, CITY CLERK