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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-12-10 MINUTES OF COUNCIL DECEMBER 10, 2019 The Batesville City Council met in regular session on December 10th, at 5:30 pm at the Municipal Building. Mayor Rick Elumbaugh presided over the meeting. Utility Billing Office Manager Nick Baxter gave the invocation. Upon roll call, the following Councilmembers answered present; Tommy Bryant, Scott Fredricks, Julie Hinkle, Fred Krug, Doug Matthews and Pete Musgrave. Also present were the City Clerk Denise Johnston and City Attorney Tim Meitzen. Councilmembers Paige Hubbard and Chris Poole were absent. Councilmember Bryant moved to approve the minutes from the previous meeting. Councilmember Hinkle seconded and all voted for. Councilmember Bryant moved to approve the prepared agenda and Councilmember Hinkle seconded. All voted for. CITIZENS COMMENTS Ms. Selina Wallis addressed the council and thanked them for their time at the last meeting and said she would appreciate it if the City would consider, during our budget process, help with the funding of the Independence County Senior Citizens Program. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS A) POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT Police Chief Alan Cockrill addressed the council with his monthly report. The chief gave the council statics for November and said the 5 new police trucks have been ordered and should be in by the end of January. His department has two new officers who will go to the police academy in January and he currently has one unfilled position. B) ENGINEER’S REPORT City Engineer Damon Johnson addressed the council with his monthly report. Mr. Johnson said the Eagle Mountain water tank re-paint is making good progress. He said the crew is currently working on the outside of the tank while the weather corporates then during the cold weather, they will move to the inside. Both plants are running well. The street crews are still working on Juniper Street but the street is now open for traffic. Moss street is almost completed with the exception of some dirt work. Utility construction crews are still doing line replacement near Lyon College. Mayor Elumbaugh said he had a citizen visit with him regarding the work on Moss Street and was commending Mr. Johnson and the workers on a job well done. C) HEAR A PRESENTATION FROM ENTERGY REGARDING BENEFITS OF SOLAR POWER Mr. Flave Carpenter, Customer Service Manager for Entergy-Arkansas and Mr. Ventrell Thompson, Regional Customer Service Manager of North Arkansas, addressed the council regarding solar power. Mr. Carpenter said he knows the city has had previous presentations from third party vendors regarding solar power and he and Mr. Thompson wanted to give the council all the information they need to make an informed decision when it comes to solar power. One of the main differences in Entergy and the other vendors is Entergy only requires a one-year contract, not a long-term contract. Mr. Thompson also said there are still several rules that have to be worked out with the Arkansas Public Service Commission regarding the new Act 464 passed this year by congress. Both gentlemen offered their help in any way the city requests. D) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF 19 ACERS LOCATED ON HIGHWAY 167 ASCENDING RAMSEY MOUNTAIN Councilmember Bryant introduced a resolution to authorize the Mayor to enter into an Interlocal Agreement with the City of Southside and Independence County for the purchase of approximately 19 acres ascending Ramsey Mountain of Highway 167, with Batesville’s share to be $45,943.60, more or less, with any closing costs to be divided equally by the parties. Councilmember Bryant moved to suspend the rules and read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and the electronic roll call count was 5 for and 1(Krug) against. The motion failing, Mr. Meitzen read the resolution in full. Councilmember Krug asked if there would be an agreement regarding who would be responsible for the maintenance of the property. Mayor Elumbaugh said a committee will be appointed and all entities will sit down and work out the details. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember Hinkle seconded. The electronic roll call count was 6 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2019-12-01-R. E) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION FOR THE CITY OF BATESVILLE TO SUPPORT HJR 1018 OF 2019 Councilmember Bryant introduced a resolution in support of the house joint resolution 2018 of 2019, proposing an amendment to the Arkansas Constitution to continue a levy of a one-half percent sales and use tax for state highways and bridges; county roads, bridges and other surface transportation, as special revenue to be distributed under the Arkansas Highway Revenue Distribution Law. Councilmember Bryant said the current one-half cent tax is set to expire and this proposed tax would continue what is in place now. Cities and Counties get a portion of the tax to help with roads as well as grants from the state. Councilmember Fredricks moved to suspend the rules and read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Bryant seconded and the electronic roll call count was 6 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember Hinkle seconded. The electronic roll call count was 6 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2019-12-02-R. F) BATESVILLE, CHRISTMAS CAPITOL OF ARKANSAS PROCLAMATION Mayor Elumbaugh read a proclamation to proclaim the City of Batesville to be the Christmas Capital of Arkansas G) DISCUSSION OF THE PROPOSED 2020 BUDGET The council was given a copy of the proposed 2020 budget. Ms. Johnston pointed out a few changes from the original copy they had received last week. After a discussion, Councilmember Bryant introduced an ordinance to approve the 2020 budget for the City and Batesville Utilities. Councilmember Bryant moved to suspend the rules and read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and the electronic roll call count was 6 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 Fredricks seconded and the electronic roll call count was 6 for and 0 against. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the ordinance and Councilmember Fredricks seconded. The electronic roll call count was 6 for and 0 against. The ordinance was given #2019-12-01. Mr. Meitzen read the emergency clause. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the emergency clause. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and the electronic roll call count was 6 for and 0 against. H) EXECUTIVE SESSION Councilmember Bryant moved to go into executive session and Councilmember Hinkle seconded. All voted for. Upon returning from executive session, Councilmember Fredricks moved to re- appoint to the Historic District Commission, Ms. Shannon Haney, Mr. Nelson Barnett and Mr. Terrell Tebbitts. Councilmember Bryant seconded and all voted for. All three terms will expire January 08, 2023. Councilmember Krug moved to appoint Mr. Calvin Wright to the Parks and Recreation Committee. Councilmember Bryant seconded and all voted for. Mr. Wright will be replacing Mr. Kim Looney. Mr. Wright’s term will expire September 30, 2022. I) PAID BILLS REPORT The council was given a copy of the November, 2019 paid bills report for review. MAYOR COMMENTS Mayor Elumbaugh said again this year he has had numerous compliments on the th Christmas lights. Mr. Abbott reported that as of Monday night, December 9, 16,546 cars have driven through Riverside Park. LIAISON REPORTS None COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Krug said he wanted to thank the employees of the city for their hard work and made a motion to give all full-time employees $500.00 and part-time employees $250.00 for a year-end bonus. Councilmember Bryant seconded the motion and also commended the employees for the hard work. All the council voted in favor. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Councilmember Bryant moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and all voted for. RICK ELUMBAUGH, MAYOR DENISE M. JOHNSTON, CITY CLERK