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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-05-19 MINUTES OF COUNCIL MAY 19, 2020 The Batesville City Council met in regular session on May 19, 2020 at 5:30 pm at the Batesville Community Center. Mayor Rick Elumbaugh presided over the meeting. Utility Office Manager Nick Baxter gave the invocation. Upon roll call, the following Councilmembers answered present; Tommy Bryant, Scott Fredricks, Julie Hinkle, Paige Hubbard, Fred Krug, Doug Matthews, Pete Musgrave and Chris Poole. City Clerk Denise Johnston was also present. City Attorney Tim Meitzen was absent. Councilmember Bryant moved to approve the minutes from the previous meeting. Councilmember Krug seconded. All voted for. Councilmember Bryant moved to approve the prepared agenda. Councilmember Hinkle seconded and all voted for. CITIZENS COMMENTS None UNFINISHED BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS A) POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT Police Chief Alan Cockrill addressed the council with his monthly report. His report showed activity for March and April, 2020. The big difference, Chief Cockrill said, was in accidents. Because of the COVID-19 situation and people staying home, the accidents went from 31 in March to 11 in April. B) ENGINEERS REPORT City Engineer Damon Johnson addressed the council with his monthly report. Mr. Johnson said the Eagle Mountain water tower is near completion, hopefully within the next 45 days. Both plants are operating well with a few usual maintenance issues. Mr. Johnson said the street work on Broadwater Lane is completed and back open to traffic. He said the street and construction crews are struggling to keep up with demands from the public. Mr. Johnson asked for the citizens to please be patient, that the spring rains always bring flooding issues and they have to prioritize the issues with emergency's getting attention first. Mayor Elumbaugh commented on the street repair work that our city crews do stating that their work is superior and will not have to be replaced again in our life time. C) FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT Police Chief Brent Gleghorn addressed the council seeking permission to purchase a used 2015 Pierce / Kenworth Commercial Pumper truck. The truck is located at Brindlee Mountain Fire Apparatus in Union Grove, AL. Chief Gleghorn said he and Assistant Chief Painter were going to Alabama tomorrow to check out the truck and if it is like it appears to be they want to purchase it out of their County Sales Tax funds. He said he has talked to the owner of the business and they said if they run the truck through their inspection crew, the cost will be $225,000.00. If they don't inspect the truck they could sell it for $190,000.00. The Chief said they will completely check the truck out before they purchase it and hope to get it for less than the $190,000.00. Councilmember Matthews moved to allow Chief Gleghorn and Assistant Chief Painter to inspect and if need be, negotiate the price and purchase using their County Sales Tax funds. Councilmember Poole seconded and all voted for. D) HEAR AN UPDATE FROM BATESVILLE CHAMBER CEO CRYSTAL JOHNSON AND TOURISM DIRECTOR KYLE CHRISTOPHER Crystal Johnson, CEO of the Chamber of Commerce and Kyle Christopher, Tourism Director addressed the council regarding the A&P Tax and the current COVID-19 impact. Mr. Christopher said one of the hardest hit industries during the COVID pandemic has been the hospitality businesses. He said that before the pandemic hit, our hotels were running at almost complete capacity. Since the pandemic, they are almost empty. Ball tournaments, graduations, the Scottish Festival are among a few events that have been cancelled and would have surely filled our hotels. Mr. Christopher said as a good gesture to our hotels, he is requesting that the hotels be refunded for the A&P tax they collected in February and March so they can hopefully retain their employees or pay a water bill. He said the A&P Commission voted for the proposed COVID relief suggestion and they would also like the council support. E) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TEMPORARILY ABATING AND REFUNDING BATESVILLE A&P TAX Councilmember Bryant introduced a resolution to temporarily abate and refund Batesville A&P Tax for the months of February and March, 2020. Councilmember Matthews moved to suspend the rules and read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Bryant seconded and the roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. Ms. Johnston read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Hinkle moved to adopt the resolution. Councilmember Bryant seconded and the roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2020-05-01-R. F) CONSIDER AN AIRSPACE LEASE FOR FIRST COMMUNITY BANK The council considered an airspace lease between the City of Batesville and First Community Bank for the airspace rights above South 14th Street. First Community is building additional office spaces across 14th Street from their main office building located at 1325 Harrison Street and wish to build an elevated pedestrian walkway over the street to connect the two buildings. Councilmember Matthews moved to give the Mayor authority to enter into an agreement with First Community Bank for the airspace. Councilmember Bryant seconded and all voted for. MAYOR COMMENTS Parks Director Jeff Owens addressed the council and updated them on the current hours of operation and new distancing practices within the parks department and Community Center. Mr. Owens said this is all new to everyone and we are all having to learn a new way of doing things. He said he will be watching the numbers and will adjust the house as needed. Utility Billing Supervisor Nick Baxter addressed the council on behalf of Georgena Rise and Willie Joe Tate for a water meter to be placed at 2959 North Central Avenue, outside the Batesville City limits. Mr. Baxter said they are in the process of purchasing the property and said if the purchase goes through, they will come in and sign the necessary form to annex into the city if the property ever becomes contagious. Councilmember Matthews said moved to approve the meter if they purchase the property and sign the annexation form. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and all voted for. Mayor Elumbaugh updated the council on the most recent Census percentages. As of May 18th, Batesville response is 60.3%, Independence County is at 58.4% and the State of Arkansas is at 54.5%. The Mayor again expressed how important a correct and complete census count is for our community. The Mayor told the council that he has started his "Walk every street" campaign. He said he started 5 weeks ago and has so far walked 48 miles of streets. He said he meets lots of folks and notices things like street drains and pot holes and has taken lots of pictures. He invited the council and press to join him on his walks. The Mayor says as of now, the next meeting will be June the 16th and hopefully will be back at City Hall. LIAISON REPORTS None COUNCIL COMMENTS None 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