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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-09-10 MINUTES OF COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 10, 2024 th The Batesville City Council met in regular session on September 10, 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; Brittany Bennett, Scott Fredricks, Julie Hinkle, Paige Hubbard, Fred Krug, Chris Poole, Landon Reeves and Robb Roberts. Also present were the City Clerk Denise Johnston and City Attorney Tim Meitzen. Councilmember Poole moved to approve the minutes from the previous meeting. Councilmember Hubbard seconded and all voted for. Councilmember Hinkle moved to approve the prepared agenda and Councilmember Bennett seconded. All voted for. CITIZENS COMMENTS None UNFINISHED BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS Mayor Elumbaugh asked to move Item E, regarding the Bond Ordinance, to the top of the agenda due to a councilmember needing to leave the meeting a little early. E) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF A SALES AND USE TAX BOND FOR THE PURPOSE OF IMPROVEMENTS TO THE WATER FACILITIES Councilmember Poole introduced an ordinance to authorize the issuance of a Sales and Use Tax Bond for the purpose of improvements to the Water Treatment Facilities. Councilmember Krug moved to suspend the rules and read the ordinance for the first reading by title only. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and the electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. Mr. Ryan Bowman with Friday, Eldredge and Clark, LLP addressed the council and gave a brief explanation of the proposed bond issue. City Attorney Tim Meitzen read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Roberts moved to further suspend the rules and read the ordinance for the second reading by title only. Councilmember Bennett seconded and the electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the ordinance by title only for the second reading. Councilmember Reeves moved to further suspend the rules and read the third reading by title only. Councilmember Bennett seconded and the electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. Councilmember Fredricks moved to adopt the ordinance and Councilmember Poole seconded. The electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. The ordinance was given #2024-09-01. A) POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT Police Chief John Scarbrough addressed the council with his monthly report. The council was given a monthly report with data comparisons from July to August, 2024. Chief Scarbrough was asked the status of the new vehicle computers. The Chief said it is in the hands of the IT Department. IT is looking for the best company to provide the city-wide Wi-Fi, with T-Mobile being the best so far. B) ENGINEERS REPORT City Engineer Damon Johnson addressed the council with his monthly report. Mr. Johnson said the plants are running well. The Street Department is still struggling to keep up with drainage issues and potholes while running severely short staffed. Mr. Johnson said in order to close on the Bond by st October 31, he has to have the guaranteed maximum price, provided by the construction manager at risk, to ANRD to get the loan approved. He reminded the council how the manager at risk process worked and said that during the process they have saved an estimated $15,000,000.00 in construction costs for the project. Councilmember Bennett asked for an update on the Main Street Walk/bike project. Mr. Johnson said the project is still ahead of schedule for completion and lights are being installed this week. C) FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT Fire Chief Mark McCollum addressed the council with his monthly report. Chief McCollum gave the council his monthly printout of calls and training hours. He said he has applied for a grant for 250 smoke detectors and thinks he has a good chance to receive it. If approved, he said they will be able to do home inspections and install the smoke detectors to those who request them until the supply runs out. D) DEPUTY BRUCE WINSTON ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL WITH A BUDGET REQUEST FOR THE DWI COURT Independence County Deputy Bruce Winston addressed the council with a budget request for the DWI Court. Deputy Winston gave a brief overview of the DWI Court which is solely funded by a State Grant. He said the County has donated to the court, a vehicle which enables them to do home inspections on the court participants. He said adding the home inspections greatly increases the accountability of the participant. Deputy Winston is asking for the City to start a fund to help run and maintain the vehicle. The request is for $3,000.00 in start-up funds and $500.00 per month, $6,000.00 annually. The funds will supply gas and regular maintenance and hopefully accumulate to a large amount for when the vehicle needs to be replaced. Mayor Elumbaugh told Deputy Winston that we are about to start working on the 2025 Budget and his request will be considered. F) EXECUTIVE SESSION Councilmember Fredricks moved to go into executive session to consider the hiring, firing, promotion or demotion of one or more city employees. Councilmember Bennett seconded and all voted for. Upon returning from executive session, Councilmember Reeves moved to re-appoint Ms. Kristie Jenkins, Mr. Kyle Kallsnick and Mr. Lackey Moody to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and all voted for. Their appointments will expire September 30, 2027. Councilmember Roberts moved to re-appoint Mr. Zach Mobley and Mr. James Boothby to the Board of Appeals. Councilmember Poole seconded and all voted for. Both positions will expire September 8, 2029. G) FINANCIAL REPORTS The council was given a copy of the August, 2024 financial reports. MAYOR COMMENTS Mayor Elumbaugh said he has conflicts with the October scheduled meetings. thnd Currently the October council meetings are the 8 and 22. The Mayor asked to move thth the meetings to the 15 and 29. Councilmember Fredricks so moved. Councilmember Poole seconded and all voted for. LIAISON REPORTS None COUNCIL COMMENTS None ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Councilmember Fredricks moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilmember Bennett seconded and all voted for. The meeting was adjourned at 6:42 p.m. RICK ELUMBAUGH, MAYOR DENISE M. JOHNSTON, CITY CLERK