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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-05-29 MINUTES OF COUNCIL MAY 29, 2018 The Batesville City Council met in regular session on May 29th at 5:30 pm at the Municipal Building. Mayor Rick Elumbaugh presided over the meeting. Utility Billing Supervisor Nick Baxter gave the invocation. Upon roll call, the following Councilmembers answered present; Chris Beller, Tommy Bryant, Margaret Henley, Paige Hubbard, Doug Matthews, Chris Poole and David Shetron. Also present were the City Clerk Denise Johnston and City Attorney Tim Meitzen. Councilmember Crafton was absent. Councilmember Bryant moved to approve the minutes from the previous meeting. Councilmember Shetron seconded and all voted for. Councilmember Bryant moved to approve the prepared agenda as amended. Councilmember Shetron seconded and all voted for. CITIZENS COMMENTS None UNFINISHED BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS A) RESIGNATION AND PRESENTATION TO MS. SONYA CRAFTON GAITHER Mayor Elumbaugh announced that Councilmember Crafton-Gaither, who recently married, informed him that she had moved out of her ward and therefore was resigning from her position as councilmember. The Mayor therefore accepted Ms. Gaither's resignation and declared a vacancy for Ward 3, Position 1. The Mayor asked Ms. Gaither, who was in the audience, to come forward to receive a plaque for her service on the city council. Mayor thanked Ms. Gaither for her service and wished her will new endeavors. Ms. Gaither expressed her gratitude for working with the council and the citizens of Batesville for giving her the opportunity to serve. B) PRESENTATION FROM MS. CRYSTAL JOHNSON CEO OF THE BATESVILLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REGARDING MARKETING OF THE CITY OF BATESVILLE AND INDEPENDENCE COUNTY Ms. Crystal Johnson, CEO of the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce addressed the council with an update on their marketing strategies for Batesville and Independence County. She said since the City recently won 4 Trend Setting Awards along with the overall Pentacle Award, she formed a committee of local business leaders and marketing advisors to come up with a plan to showcase Batesville and Independence County. Mr. Eric Bork, Marketing Advisor for Lyon College, and a member of the committee, said the committee decided on 12 topics to promote. Each topic will have a video which will be promoted for two weeks giving us 24 weeks of videos highlighting our Trend Setting awards as will as education, medical and other assets of Batesville. Mr. Bork played one of the videos for the council. Ms. Johnson said this is the first of a three-phase plan and said she and the committee are working hard on the next phase. C) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO CONTRACT WITH RJR ENTERPRISES FOR PLAY EQUIPMENT PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION AT RIVERSIDE PARK Councilmember Beller introduced a resolution to contract with RJR Enterprises for the purchase and installation of new play ground equipment at Riverside Park. Councilmember Beller moved to read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Shetron seconded and the electronic vote was 7 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the resolution. Councilmember Henley seconded and the electronic vote was 7 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2018-05-04- R. D) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO CONTRACT WITH RLH CONSTRUCTION, LLC FOR VARIOUS PARK IMPROVEMENTS IN MAXFIELD PARK Councilmember Bryant introduced a resolution to contract with RLH Construction, LLC to do various park improvements to Maxfield Park. Councilmember Bryant moved to read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Beller seconded and the electronic vote was 7 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the resolution. Councilmember Hubbard seconded and the electronic vote was 7 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2018-05-05-R. E) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE #947 Councilmember Bryant introduced an ordinance to amend ordinance #947, which established a joint Industrial Park between the City of Batesville and Independence County. Councilmember Bryant said the original ordinance primarily gave the committee authority to buy, hold and manage land in the industrial park. He said since the passage of the original ordinance in 1980, the scope of the committee needs to be broadened to be able to help attract and develop businesses to Batesville and Independence County. Councilmember Shetron moved to suspend the rules and read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Bryant seconded and the electronic vote was 7 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Bryant 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 Bryant moved to adopt the ordinance and Councilmember Shetron seconded. The electronic vote was 7 for and 0 against. The ordinance was given #2018-05-01. F) EXECUTIVE SESSION Councilmember Bryant moved to go into executive session and Councilmember Henley seconded. All voted for. Upon returning from executive session, Councilmember Shetron moved to re- appoint Mr. Cord Davidson and Mr. Kyle McMullin to the Planning Commission. Councilmember Bryant seconded and all voted for. Both terms will expire 06/10/2023. Councilmember Bryant moved to appoint Ms. Julie Hinkle to fill the unexpired term of Ms. Sonya Crafton-Gaither on the City Council. Mr. Bryant said Ms. Hinkle is running unopposed for Ms. Gaither's position in November, therefore she would be the obvious replacement for the position. Councilmember Shetron seconded and all voted for. MAYOR COMMENTS Mayor Elumbaugh said he had conflicts with the June and July council meetings. He asked for the council's approval of moving the June 12th meeting to June 11th and canceling the June 26th meeting and changing the weeks for the July meetings. The scheduled meetings in July are the 10th and 24th and he would like to change them to the 17th and 31St. Councilmember Bryant so moved and Councilmember Beller seconded. All voted for. The Mayor said he and the City Attorney had received phone called from the Department of Finance and Administration regarding the city's reimbursement to the state for District Judge Chaney Taylor's salary. Judge Taylor is a state employee. The state pays for '/2 of his salary and the remaining 1/2 has been being paid by the city and the county, equally. The council discussed and thought a fairer way would be for each city in the county and well as the county to pay its per capita share. Councilmember Bryant moved for the city to pay based on our per capita share and to send a letter to the county and the DF&A explaining their decision. Councilmember Henley seconded and all voted for. Mr. Johnathan Abbott addressed the council to discuss transportation at the Christmas display at Riverside Park. Mr. Abbott said currently we use horse drawn carriages for those who want to ride through the park. He said the problems are many with the carriages but the main issue is the wait for a ride. Last year the wait would get up to 3 hours. He gave the council pictures of a "train" which is pulled by a tractor, that is modified to look like a train engine. The train has two compartments, one that is handicap excisable for a wheel chair, and can carry several people. During the off month, the tractor can be used for other purposes. Mr. Abbott gave the council an estimate of$58,035.00 for the train but said he thinks the bids would be considerably less. He also has talked with a few individuals who may be interested in sponsoring one of the cars to help with the cost. Councilmember Bryant moved for Mr. Abbott to proceed with purchasing the train. Councilmember Matthews seconded and all voted for. Mayor Elumbaugh said he visited with Mr. Charles Barnett, a commissioner on the Airport Commission, and said the airport is in the process of purchasing some property adjacent to the airport. He said Mr. Barnett said they believe they have the funds to purchase the property but wanted the City's backing if they needed to ask for a short-term loan from the City. Councilmember Bryant moved for the Airport Commission to move forward with the purchase of the land and Councilmember Matthews seconded. All voted for. LIAISON REPORTS None COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Beller said the City hosted the Jr. Olympics Volleyball league this past weekend bringing in over 100 kids and their parents and filling 110 hotel rooms in Batesville for 2 nights. He said everyone was very pleased with the facilities and the friendliness of the staff. Councilmember Bryant said there will be a ground-breaking ceremony Wednesday May 30th at 10:30 for Intimidator at the Industrial Park. Mr. Bryant encouraged all to attend. Councilmember Henley mentioned there are still lots of limbs all over town that need to be picked up. Councilmember Matthews said that a portion of College Street is closed due to the Utility Construction. He said McCaleb has reopened but is difficult to drive on. ADJOURNMENT There being no more business, Councilmember Bryant moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilmember Hubbard seconded and all voted for. RICK ELUMBAUGH, MAYOR DENISE M. JOHNSTON, CITY CLERK