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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-11-26 MINUTES OF COUNCIL NOVEMBER 26, 2002 The Batesville City Council met in regular session on November 26, at 5:30 PM 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 Cargill, R.L. Carpenter, Robert Ford, Gerald Gaither, Jim Mitchum, Jerry Pectol, Paula Terrell and Jim Watkins. Also present were the City Clerk Denise Johnston and the City Attorney Scott Stalker. Councilmember Ford moved to approve the minutes from the last meeting. Councilmember Cargill seconded and all voted for. Councilmember Ford moved to approve the prepared agenda as amended. Councilmember Gaither seconded and all voted for. DISCUSSION ON AIRPORT IMPROVEMENTS Attorney John Belew addressed the council with a request from the Batesville Airport Commission for funding to purchase land & airspace. The airport has been approved for a grant that consists of a 90% Federal, 5% State and 5%local funding. Mr. Belew said in order to install a new instrument landing system, which the FAA is going to install and maintain at no cost to the airport, they need to purchase 22 acres of land, 3 hangers and air space. The airport has had land appraised at $3,000 per acre. Talks with the landowner said they want $4,000 therefore, the airport may have to have the land condemned and the fair market value decided by a jury. One of the hangers has been appraised for and the price accepted by the owner for $71,000. The City's portion is $3,550.00. He said that the City's share of the 22 acres could be around $4500. Councilmember Watkins moved to approve the expenditures for approximately $8,000 and to proceed with the acquisition of the property. Councilmember Carpenter seconded and all voted for. EXECUTIVE SESSION Councilmember Carpenter moved to go into executive session and Councilmember Cargill seconded. All voted for. Upon returning from executive session, no decisions were made. 2003 BUDGET PRESENTATION Mayor Biard gave the council the proposed 2003 budget. He explained that they were given two budgets to choose from, one includes a 3%pay increase for city employees and the other includes a 5%pay increase. He also asked the council to consider a pay insensitive for this year to include $300 for full time and $150 for part time employees. He said this would cost approximately $20,000 and could be paid for out of a refund that the general fund received for levee expenses. Mayor Biard said he wanted to clarify for the record that we are not transferring Landscaping into the Street Department but we would be transferring one Landscaping person into the Street Department for Street Department purposes including mowing right-of-ways, etc. The Mayor said he would like to pass the budget at the next meeting, December 10. There being no further business, Councilmember Watkins moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilmember Carpenter seconded and all voted for. JOE M. BIARD, MAYOR DENISE M. JOHNSTON, CITY CLERK