HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-09-12 MINUTES OF COUNCIL
SEPTEMBER 12, 2000
The Batesville City Council met for its regular meeting on September 12, 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. 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 minutes from the previous meeting and
Councilmember Gaither seconded. All voted for.
BRIEF REMARKS BY FORMER CITY AUDITOR RON CANTRELL REGARDING AUDIT BY
PRIVATE FIRM OR STATE AUDIT
Mr. Ron Cantrell, CPA, addressed the council to explain the difference between an audit
preformed by a private firm and an audit preformed by the State of Arkansas. Mr. Cantrell gave
several reasons why a city would ask for a private audit or a state audit. After a discussion, the
council decided to wait on making a decision on which audit to choose for the City.
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO ZONING CODE ALLOWING MAIN BANKS WITH DRIVE-IN
FACILITIES TO BE ALLOWED IN C-2 ZONING
Attorney Eric Hance addressed the council to explain a proposed ordinance that would
allow main banks with drive-in facilities to be allowed in C-2 zoning. Mayor Biard read the
ordinance and Councilmember Bone moved to suspend the rules and place the ordinance on
second reading. Councilmember Ford seconded and the roll call count was 8 for and 0 against.
The Mayor read the ordinance for the second reading and Councilmember Ford moved to
further suspend the rules and place the ordinance on the third 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 Insell moved to adopt the ordinance and Councilmember
Gaither seconded. The roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. The ordinance was given #
2000-9-1. Councilmember Bone moved to adopt the emergency clause and Councilmember
Cargill seconded. All voted for.
CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE TO REZONE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 3290 HARRISON
FROM R-1 TO C-2.
Mayor Biard read an ordinance that would rezone 8.83 acres located at 3290 Harrison
Street from R-1 to C-2. Councilmember Ford moved to suspend the rules and place the
ordinance on second reading. Councilmember Bone seconded and the roll call count was 8 for
and 0 against. The Mayor read the ordinance for the second reading and Councilmember Ford
moved to further suspend the rules and place the ordinance on the third reading.
Councilmember Carpenter seconded and the roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. The Mayor
read the ordinance for the final reading and Councilmember Cargill moved to adopt the
ordinance and Councilmember Carpenter seconded. The roll call count was 8 for and 0 against.
The ordinance was given #2000-9-2.
CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE ANIMAL CONTROL ORDINANCE RELATING
TO CITATIONS AND WARNINGS.
Mayor Biard read an ordinance to amend the current animal control ordinance to instruct
that all citations and warnings be in written form. Councilmember Insell moved to suspend the
rules and place the ordinance on second reading. Councilmember Gaither seconded and the
roll call count was 5 for (Insell, Mitchum, Bone, Cargill and Gaither) and 3 against (Pectol,
Carpenter and Ford). After a discussion on how the ordinance should be worded,
Councilmember Mitchum moved to table the ordinance and Councilmember Ford seconded.
The roll call count war 7 for and 1 (Gaither) against.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Councilmember Gaither moved to go into executive session and Councilmember
Mitchum seconded. All voted for.
Upon returning from executive session Mayor Biard said that no action was taken
regarding a city employee. The Mayor said that Mr. Alan McNamee, who is currently on the
Utility Commission is going to be have to temporally leave the country and needed to be
replaced on the Commission. Councilmember Insell moved to appoint Mr. Jim Whitson to
replace Mr. McNamee. Councilmember Bone seconded and all voted for.
MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Biard asked the council to consider a contract between the City and Jimmy
Woods. The Mayor said Mr. Woods resigned from the City last Friday, September 8. Mayor
Biard said Mr. Woods worked with the Corp of Engineers regarding the Levee Project and
several grant projects. He said he thought it would be of the City's best interest to contract with
Mr. Woods to continue these projects until another employee could be trained. The Mayor
played a video showing the work that Mr. Woods does at the rain gauges at Allison and Calico
Rock. Councilmember Insell said he talked with representatives with the USGS and they said
that the City currently has a contract with them to maintain the rain gauges and there is no need
for a City employee to monitor them. Mr. Insell said he thought the other projects that Mr.
Woods was doing could be distributed to other City employees. Mr. Insell made a motion not to
enter into the contract with Mr. Woods and Councilmember Carpenter seconded. All voted for.
The Mayor said the principle of the Batesville Middle School contacted him regarding the
traffic flow on Water Street when school dismisses. Currently cars park on both sides of the
streets to pick up children causing the children to have to cross the street during the heavy
traffic. The Mayor suggested "No Parking Signs" on the North side of Water Street. This would
force the cars to park on the South side and stop the children from crossing the street.
Councilmember Gaither moved to place the signs and Councilmember Bone seconded. All
voted for.
CONTINUATION OF UTILITY RATE PRESENTATION
Mr. Jim Ulmer and Mr. Larry Tharnish continued their presentation regarding the
possibility of water and sewer rate increases. After a lengthy discussion, the council asked Mr.
Ulmer to come to the next meeting with additional options for rate increases. Mr. Ulmer will not
be able to attend the next meeting so he will be at the October 10 meeting.
PAID BILLS REPORTS
The council was given a copy of the paid bills reports for the month ending August 31,
2000.
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