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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-01-09 MINUTES OF COUNCIL JANUARY 9, 2024 The Batesville City Council met in regular session on January 9, 2024, 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; Scott Fredricks, Julie Hinkle, Paige Hubbard, Fred Krug, Doug Matthews, Chris Poole and Landon Reeves. Also present were the City Clerk Denise Johnston and City Attorney Tim Meitzen. Councilmember Brittany Bennett was absent. Councilmember Hinkle moved to approve the minutes from the previous meeting. Councilmember Poole seconded and all voted for. Councilmember Reeves moved to approve the prepared agenda and Councilmember Hinkle seconded. All voted for. CITIZENS COMMENTS Mr. Jim McDonald addressed the council regarding the homeless population in Batesville. Mr. McDonald said he is concerned with the upcoming predicted extremely cold weather. Mayor Elumbaugh said if the ordinances pass, he is going to recommend to the council to not pass the emergency clauses making the ordinance not to be in effect for 30 days. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A) THIRD READING OF AN ORDINANCE DESIGNATING CITY OWNED PROPERTY CONTIGUOUS TO POLK (AKA “POKE”) BAYOU AS A CITY PARK Councilmember Poole moved to read the proposed ordinance by title only. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and the electronic roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Matthews moved to adopt the ordinance. Councilmember Poole seconded and the electronic roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. The ordinance was given #2024-01-01. Mayor Elumbaugh said he would like the council to not adopt the emergency clause. The council agreed to not adopt the emergency clause. B) THIRD READING OF AN ORDINANCE DESIGNATING CITY OWNED CEMETERIES AS PARKS Councilmember Hinkle moved to read the proposed ordinance by title only. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and the electronic roll call was 7 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Fredricks moved to adopt the ordinance. Councilmember Hubbard seconded and the electronic roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. The ordinance was given #2024-01-02. Again, the Mayor asked the council to not adopt the emergency, which they agreed too. C) THIRD READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE REGARDING CITY PARK HOURS Councilmember Matthews moved to read the proposed ordinance by title only. Councilmember Hubbard seconded and the electronic roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Matthews moved to adopt the ordinance. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and the electronic roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. The ordinance was given #2024-01-03. Again, the Mayor asked not to adopt the emergency clause, which they agreed too. NEW BUSINESS A) POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT Police Chief Alan Cockrill address the council with his monthly report. Chief Cockrill said December was a very busy month with a homicide on Christmas Day and a suicide last Thursday. He said there has been an arrest for the homicide. The Chief also reported that the last police truck is at Stanly Wood Chevrolet and should be on the streets soon. B) ENGINEER’S REPORT City Engineer Damon Johnson addressed the council with his monthly report. Mr. Johnson gave a quick update on projects throughout the City. He also informed the council that one of our utility service trucks was stolen last week, however, with the help of our GPS unit installed in the truck, it was located quickly and an arrest was made in connection with the incident. C) MS. CRYSTAL JOHNSON, CHAMBER CEO, WITH AN ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UPDATE Chamber CEO Crystal Johnson and Chamber Communications Director Chris Hill addressed the council with Christmas marketing report and Advertising and Promotion report. Mr. Hill gave a quick overview of the local impact from the White River Wonderland lights. A slide show was presented showing online impressions, website analytics and top internet pages visited during the light display. D) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE RULES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE TRANSACTION OF BUSINESS OF THE COUNCIL Councilmember Fredricks introduced an ordinance to adopt the rules and procedures for the transaction of business of the council. Councilmember Poole moved to suspend the rules and read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Hubbard seconded and the electronic roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Matthews moved to further suspend the rules an waive the second and third readings. Councilmember Hinkle seconded and the electronic roll count was 7 for and 0 against. Councilmember Poole moved to adopt the ordinance. Councilmember Reeves seconded and the electronic roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. The ordinance was given #2024-01-04. E) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE TO WAIVE COMPETITIVE BIDDING ON CERTAIN ITEMS FOR 2024 Councilmember Matthews introduced an ordinance to waive competitive bidding on certain items for 2024. Councilmember Matthews moved to suspend the rules and read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Krug seconded and the electronic roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Hinkle moved to further suspend the rules an waive the second and third readings. Councilmember Hubbard seconded and the electronic roll count was 7 for and 0 against. Councilmember Matthews moved to adopt the ordinance. Councilmember Hubbard seconded and the electronic roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. The ordinance was given #2024-01-05 F) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE WILLINGNESS OF THE CITY OF BATESVILLE TO UTILIZE STATE AID STREET MONIES FOR AN OVERLAY PROJECT Councilmember Matthews introduced a resolution to utilize State Aid Street monies for an overlay project. Councilmember Matthews moved to suspend the rules and read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and the electronic roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Poole moved to adopt the resolution. Councilmember Reeves seconded and the electronic roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2024-01- 01-R. G) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO CONTRACT WITH CLARK CONTRACTORS, LLC FOR THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT OF RIVERSIDE PARK AND ASSOCIATED PROJECTS Councilmember Fredricks introduced a resolution to contract with Clark Contractors, LLC for the construction management of Riverside Park and associated projects. Councilmember Reeves moved to suspend the rules and read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and the electronic roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Matthews moved to adopt the resolution. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and the electronic roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2024-01-02-R. H) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PAYMENT OF JUDGEMENT TO INDEPENDENCE COUNTY Councilmember Fredricks introduced a resolution authorizing the payment of judgement to Independence County. Councilmember Matthews moved to suspend the rules and read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and the electronic roll call count 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 roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2024-01-03-R. I) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF REAL PROPERTY ALONG MILLER CREEK Councilmember Reeves introduced a resolution authorizing the purchase of real property along Miller Creek. Councilmember Matthews moved to suspend the rules and read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Hubbard seconded and the electronic roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Matthews moved to adopt the resolution. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and the electronic roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2024-01-04-R. J) EXECUTIVE SESSION Councilmember Matthews moved to go into executive session to consider the promotion, demotion, hiring or firing of only or more city employees. Councilmember Poole seconded and all voted for. Upon returning from executive session, Councilmember Fredricks moved to appoint Councilmember Landon Reeves to the Advertising and Promotion Commission. Councilmember Krug seconded and all voted for. K) FINANCIAL REPORT The council was given a copy of the December, 2024 financial report for review. MAYOR COMMENTS Mayor Elumbaugh said he needed to call a Special Meeting for either January thth 17 or 18 for the Parks and Recreation Bond issue. After a discussion, the council th decided to meet on January 18 as 12:15 p.m. for the special meeting. The Mayor also said he had a conflict for the second scheduled council meeting rdrd on January 23. Councilmember Hinkle moved to cancel the 23 meeting. Councilmember Krug seconded and all voted for. LIAISON REPORT None COUNCIL COMMENTS None ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Councilmember Matthews moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilmember Poole seconded and all voted for. The meeting was adjourned at 6:16 p.m. ________________________________ RICK ELUMBAUGH, MAYOR ____________________________________ DENISE M. JOHNSTON, CITY CLERK