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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-10-09 MINUTES OF COUNCIL OCTOBER 9, 2018 The Batesville City Council met in regular session on October 9t" at 5:30 pm at the Municipal Building. Mayor Rick Elumbaugh presided over the meeting. Utility Office Manager Nick Baxter gave the invocation. Upon roll call, the following Councilmembers answered present; Ronda Bryant, Margaret Henley, Julie Hinkle, Paige Hubbard, Doug Matthews, Chris Poole and David Shetron. Also present were the City Clerk Denise Johnston and City Attorney Tim Meitzen. Councilmember Tommy Bryant was absent. Councilmember Henley moved to approve the minutes from the previous meeting. Councilmember Poole seconded and all voted for. Councilmember R. Bryant moved to approve the prepared agenda. Councilmember Henley seconded and all voted for. CITIZENS COMMENTS Batesville Firemen's Pension recipient Larry Guenzel addressed the council. Mr. Guenzel read a prepared statement which included the history of the city's personal and real property tax levies. Mr. Guenzel asked who advised the city regarding the legality of raising the millage dedicated to fire pensions. City Attorney Tim Meitzen said he was advised that the city council, without a vote by the citizens of Batesville, may raise the levied millage for the pension fund by 10% each year until the millage reached 1 mill. Mr. Guenzel asked to be placed on the next meetings agenda. Mayor Elumbaugh said his request will be considered. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS A) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE TO WAIVE COMPETITIVE BIDDING ON THE REPAIR AND REMODEL OF THE NEW BATESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT Police Chief Alan Cockrill addressed the council regarding the proposed ordinance to waive competitive bidding for the repair and remodel of the new Batesville Police Department property. Chief Cockrill said included in their packets were estimates from M & A Jones Construction, who built the facilities, to do all the repairs and new construction. The Chief said if he had to do all of the contracting, not only would it slow down the work but also be more expensive. Councilmember Poole introduced the ordinance. Councilmember Henley moved to suspend the rules and read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Shetron seconded and the electronic vote was 7 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Shetron moved to further suspend the rules and waive the second and third readings. Councilmember Henley seconded and the electronic vote was 7 for and 0 against. Councilmember Shetron moved to adopt the ordinance and Councilmember Poole seconded. The electronic vote was 7 for and 0 against. The ordinance was given #2018-10-01. Mr. Meitzen read the emergency clause. Councilmember R. Bryant moved to adopt the emergency clause. Councilmember Poole seconded and the electronic vote was 7 for and 0 against. B) CONSIDER BIDS FROM M & A JONES FOR POLICE DEPARTMENT FACILITY REMODEL Mayor Elumbaugh asked the council to consider accepting bids from M & A Jones for the remodel of the new Police Department facilities. Councilmember Shetron moved to accept the bids from M & A Jones. Councilmember Poole seconded and the voice vote was all in favor. C) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ENDORSING FUTURE FUEL CHEMICAL COMPANY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TAX BACK PROGRAM Councilmember Shetron introduced a resolution to endorse FutureFuel Chemical Company to participate in the Tax Back Program as authorized by the Arkansas Code Annotated § 15-4-2706(d) of the Consolidated Incentive Act of 2003. FutureFuel is purchasing additional machinery and equipment to increase capacity of an existing processing line. The cost of the purchase is $5,706,597.00. Councilmember Matthews moved to suspend the rules and read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Hubbard seconded and the electronic vote was 7 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Matthews moved to adopt the resolution. Councilmember Hubbard seconded and the electronic vote was 7 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2018-10-01-R. D) CONSIDER THE LEVY OF TAXES FOR THE YEAR 2018, PAYABLE IN 2019 Councilmember Shetron moved to levy millage rates for the City General 5 Mills and Firemen's Pension .4 Mills for the year 2018, payable in 2109. Councilmember Shetron noted that the proposed rates are the same as last year. Councilmember Matthews seconded and all voted for. E) PRESENTATION TO CITY CLERK DENISE JOHNSTON FOR RECEIVING HER MASTER MUNICIPAL CLERK CERTIFICATION Mayor Elumbaugh and City Clerk Andrea Williams presented Ms. Johnston with a plaque for obtaining the International Institute of Municipal Clerks' designation of Master Municipal Clerk. Ms. Williams, who is the City Clerk for the City of Paragould and also the president of the Arkansas City Clerks, Recorders and Treasurers Association, explained that IIMC grants the MMC designation only to those Municipal Clerks who complete demanding education requirements and who have record of significant contributions to their local government, their community and state. Ms. Williams said there are only 6 other clerks in Arkansas who have their MMC's. F) POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT Police Chief Alan Cockrill addressed the council with his monthly department report. The council was given a copy of the September activity report as well as a commendation memo for Batesville Patrolman Ryan Pierce and two other officers from the Jonesboro Police who arrived at a multivehicle collision. The memo said Officers went to a car that was on its side with occupants still trapped inside. Officer Pierce pushed the vehicle over so the occupants could be extricated, then helped in opening the airway on a young child who was later transported by medivac from the scene. Chief Cockrill said the actions of Officers were a credit to their profession. G) ENGINEER'S REPORT City Engineer Damon Johnson addressed the council with his monthly report. Mr. Johnson said Street and Sanitation departments are still running with about half of their budgeted number of employees. Because of their shortage of employees, the departments are behind on projects and everyday work-related items. The White Drive project is projected to be completed by the end of the year. Both utility plants are running smoothly. MAYOR COMMENTS Mayor Elumbaugh welcomed Mr. Bob Qualls class from Lyon College to the meeting. LIAISON REPORTS Councilmember Henley said on behalf of Main Street Batesville, she wanted to invite everyone to the Main Streets Haunted House. She said the house is located in the old Jaycee's building on Stadium Road. Ms. Henley said the house was very "spooky" and all the proceeds go to Main Street Batesville. COUNCIL COMMENTS None ADJOURNMENT There being no more business, Councilmember Matthews moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilmember Henley seconded and all voted for. RICK ELUMBAUGH, MAYOR DENISE M. JOHNSTON, CITY CLERK