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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-05-08 MINUTES OF COUNCIL MAY 8, 2001 The City of Batesville met in regular session on May 8, at 5:30 p.m. at the Municipal Building. Mayor Joe Biard presided over the meeting. Councilmember Ford gave the invocation. Upon roll call the following Councilmembers answered present; Jim Mitchum, Jerry Pectol, Jim Watkins, Dana Bone, Jim Cargill, R.L. Carpenter, Robert Ford and Gerald Gaither. Also present were the Deputy City Clerk Brenda Riley and City Attorney Scott Stalker. Councilmember Ford moved to approve the minutes from the previous meeting. Councilmember Cargill seconded and all voted for. Councilmember Ford moved to approve the prepared agenda as amended and Councilmember Pectol seconded. All voted for. INDEPENDENCE COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION Mr. Jim Shirrell with the Independence County Economic Development Foundation gave the Council a copy of a prepared news release that the Foundation has engaged in with Market Street Services, Inc. of Atlanta, Georgia to perform an assessment of Independence County. The assessment will identify the strengths and weaknesses of the county and identify target industry groups that will fit the county profile. Mr. Shirrell told the council that the first meeting would be held on the campus of the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville on Tuesday, June 5, 2001 at 5:30 p.m. Mr. Shirrell encouraged all the council to attend the meeting for their input. REPORT FROM SHERIFF'S OFFICE Sheriff Dan Johnson and Chief Deputy John Hilburn addressed the council with the monthly activity and status report for the Sheriff's office. The Sheriff also requested the council to consider appropriating funds to purchase 3 new computers and printers for the Sheriff's office. (Estimated cost $3500.00). Sheriff Johnson told the council that the computers they have now are not adequate to operate some of the software they are required to run. Sheriff Johnson told the council that he would make a formal request at a later date after the department is moved into its new location. The Sheriff updated the Council on the Sheriff's department move to 1750 Myers. The tentative date to move will be May 18, 2001. CONSIDER AND ORDINANCE MAKING AMENDMENTS TO THE INTERLOCAL COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT ON LAW ENFORCEMENT The Mayor told the Council that there were a couple of minor changes to the interlocal agreement that need to be changed. Councilmember Mitchum introduced the ordinance. Mayor Biard read the ordinance for the first reading and Councilmember Cargill moved to suspend the rules and place the ordinance on the second reading. Councilmember Gaither seconded and the roll call was 8 for and 0 against. The Mayor read the ordinance for the second reading. Councilmember Cargill moved to further suspend the rules and place the ordinance on the third reading. Councilmember Watkins seconded and the roll call was 8 for and 0 against. The Mayor read the ordinance for the final reading and Councilmember Watkins moved to adopt the ordinance. Councilmember Cargill seconded and the roll call count for 8 for and 0 against. Councilmember Gaither moved to adopt the emergency clause. Councilmember Cargill seconded and all voted for. The ordinance was give No. 2001-5-1. PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER CONDEMNATION OF PROPERTY ON CHERRY STREET Mayor Biard ask Code Enforcement Officer Chad McClure to bring the Council up to date on the property located on Cherry Street. Mr. McClure told the council that he had been in contact with the property owner and that the owner had asked for the property not to be condemned. Mr. McClure stated that in his opion the structure was a safety hazard and should be condemned. The public hearing was opened at 6:01 p.m. and closed at 6:04 p.m. Councilmember Cargill made a motion to proceed with the condemnation procedures. Councilmember Watkins seconded and all voted for. PROPOSED ORDINANCE MAKING SLIGHT REVISIONS IN SECTION VIII OF ZONING CODE (COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS) Mrs. Miriam Lee with the planning commission addressed the council about the proposed revisions in section VIII of the zoning code. Councilmember Cargill introduced the ordinance. Mayor Biard reading the ordinance for the first reading. After the Mayor read the ordinance the floor was opened for discussion. After some discussion the ordinance will be placed on the next agenda for the second reading. CODE ENFORCEMENT REPORT ON THREE PROPERTIES Code Enforcement Officer Chad McClure informed the council of three properties that needed to be condemned. The first property is located at 1108 15th street. Councilmember Bone made a motion to set a public hearing and to proceed with condemnations proceedings. Councilmember Cargill seconded and all voted for. The second property does not have an address but is located on Case Street between 14th and 15th Streets . Councilmember Bone made a motion to set a public hearing and to proceed with condemnations proceedings. Councilmember Pectol seconded and all voted for. The third property is located at 5th and Vine Street. Councilmember Cargill made a motion to set a public hearing and to proceed with condemnations proceedings. Councilmember Pectol seconded and all vote for. Mr. McClure ask the council about changing and/or adding wording to both the unsightly property and abandon vehicles ordinances. The council instructed him to work with the City Attorney and bring the changes back to the council with the revisions at the next meeting. MAYOR ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Biard ask the council for approval to hire a part-time dispatcher to work from 6:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. He told the council that they had a need for three dispatchers because of the heavy traffic on these days. The Mayor told the council that the estimated cost for the rest of the year would be about $7500.00. He told the council that the funds could be taken out of the CMRS fund to pay back general fund. The council instructed the Mayor to go ahead and hire Leslie Coleman for the remainded of this year. The Mayor told the council that the construction contract on the bank stabilization project had been awarded to Souter Construction Co. The project is expected to complete by November 10, 2001. The Mayor told the council that the streetlights had been disconnected due to the relocation of some of the utilities. Deputy City Clerk Brenda Riley informed the council that she and the City Clerk Denise Johnston would be traveling to Dallas, Texas on May 18-21, 2001 for a conference. Councilmember Bone made a motion to approve this out-of-sate travel request and Councilmember Gaither seconded and all voted for. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Pectol told the council that the railroad tracks on Central Avenue were very rough and ask the Mayor to contact the Highway Department to see if something could be done fix them. Councilmember Ford informed the council that he has received several phone calls about the neglect of the cemetery. Mayor Biard said he would tell the cemetery employees of his concern. There being no further business Councilmember Mitchum moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilmember Watkins seconded and all voted for. Brenda Riley, Deputy Clerk Joe M. Biard, Mayor