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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-11-14 MINUTES OF COUNCIL November 14, 2023 The Batesville City Council met in regular session on November 14, 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, Julie Hinkle, Paige Hubbard, Fred Krug, Doug Matthews, Chris Poole and Landon Reeves. Also present were the Admin Asst. Jennifer Corter and City Attorney Tim Meitzen. Councilmember Paige Hubbard and City Clerk Denise Johnston were absent. Councilmember Hinkle moved to approve the minutes from the previous meeting. Councilmember Poole seconded and all voted for. Councilmember Fredricks moved to approve the prepared agenda. Councilmember Hinkle seconded and all voted for. CITIZENS COMMENTS Mr. Michael Beaumont from 350 E. Charles St. spoke briefly about his time in Batesville and how he has watched it grow and prosper. Batesville has always taken pride in the appearance of the city and he asked the council to vote yes to the camping ban to make the bayou area beautiful again. Mr. Barrett Moore from 790 Eagle Mtn. Blvd. addressed the council and agrees that camping needs to be addressed but would like to see a plan in place to help those affected by the no camping ordinance. Mr. Mike Wilson from the First United Methodist church addressed the council with stats from the churches warming center and Saturday community breakfast. He would like the council to look for options to help the displaced and homeless. Mr. Kevin Kling, a Desha resident but his wife owns a business on Westside, addressed the council saying he sees the homeless problem but thinks there should be more research in to a way to help those in need. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS A) MAIN STREET BATESVILLE UPDATE AND BUDGET REQUEST Ms. Maggie Tipton- Smart, Main Street Batesville Director, and Ms. Amanda Roberts addressed the council with the 2024 budget request. Ms. Tipton-Smart presented an overview of the past year and highlighted events for the upcoming 2024 year. Main Street is asking for a total of $38,000.00 budget contribution. This would be $8,000.00 over the previous year and if agreed upon, no increase would be asked for the next three years. She stated that the Levitt Amp Grant would supplement the rising cost through 2026. This will be considered during the current budget process. Councilmember Bennett asked about the eating establishments progress and if there was an expected completion time. Ms. Tipton-Smart said that both were waiting for interest rates to possibly drop but there are two or three others that may be opening in the next 18 months or so. B) MR. BOB CARIUS AND MS. SELINA WALLIS, DIRECTOR OF THE SENIOR CITIZENS PROGRAM, WITH AN UPDATE ON FUNDRAISING PROJECT TO FURNISH THE NEW SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER Mr. Bob Carius and Ms. Selina Wallis, director of the Senior Citizens Program addressed the council with an overview of the program and services they provide. A new Senior Wellness and Activity Center being built here in Batesville and being fully paid for by the American Rescue Plan Act funds. Fundraising is underway to purchase new furnishings for the center. To date, $108,250.00 has been pledged of the $300,000.00 needed to fully furnish the center. A brochure was handed out with pledge card. C) SCENIC HILL SOLAR WITH A PRESENTATION ON THEIR RECENT SOLAR AUDIT FOR THE CITY The representatives from Scenic Hill Solar were not able to make the meeting, so this will be presented at a later date. D) CONSIDER A REQUEST FROM MR. FRANK TRIPP FOR A SEWER LINE EXTENSION TO HIS PROPERTY AT 3075 EAST MAIN Mr. Frank Tripp and Nick Baxter, Utility Manager, came before the council requesting a possible sewer line extension to 2510 N. St. Louis. Mr. Tripp is looking at possibly putting a new housing development in this area. Councilmember Krug made a motion to grant the sewer line extension. Councilmember Pool seconded and the roll call was 7 for and 0 against. Mr. Tripp added that he has already installed 12,000 ft of sewer line and 4 manholes. He requested that we look at adding more sewer lines in the Miller Creek area for expansion both north and east. E) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO WAIVE COMPETITIVE BIDDING FOR A NEW FIRE DEPARTMENT RESCUE TRUCK Fire Chief Mark McCollum addressed the council and said that Batesville has the only manned fire station in Independence County and ready to respond with a rescue truck. We have two personnel dedicated to the rescue truck, 24/7. Mayor Elumbaugh said that this truck is very crucial to Independence County. We currently have two others who have committed to partner with the city for the purchase of this truck. At this time we need to get our name on the truck to be able to have it in 18-24 months. Councilmember Bennett made a motion to introduce the resolution. Councilmember Hinkle made a motion to read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Bennett seconded and all voted for. The electronic roll call was 7 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Hinkle made a motion to adopt the resolution. Councilmember Bennett seconded and the electronic roll call was 7 for 0 against. The resolution will be given #2023-11-01-R F) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE BANNING UNAUTHORIZED CAMPING WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF THE CITY OF BATESVILLE Mayor Elumbaugh gave a brief background of previous attempts to help out the homeless in our area then opened the floor for discussion before the ordinance was introduced. Councilmember Bennett discussed the safety hazards and that her main concern was the safety and wellness of our citizens. She asked for a PowerPoint of some pictures that were taken of the area under the Bayou Bridge be shown for the audience. The pictures showed trash, graffiti, several tents and even some syringes with needles on the end. These pictures were taken 5 days after a citizen had taken his time to clean the trash from the area free of charge. This area is where we are installing the new boat ramps to attract tourist to our area. Councilmember Krug commented that he had spent some time with the individuals living under the bridge. Most of them stated they wanted free lodging and food. Mayor Elumbaugh asked Police Chief Alan Cockrill for his take on this issue. Chief Cockrill said that as of right now, with no ordinance in place, the police department has no backing to do anything. They can enforce the no camping in city parks, so making this area a city park may be the answer. The police officers have connections with some of the area churches to help relocate these individuals during the bitter cold. The private property camping is not the issue, they can be made to leave if not authorized. The public property camping is where the biggest issue is. Councilmember Hinkle introduced the ordinance. Councilmembers Bennett and Krug asked for the ordinance to be read in full. Mr. Meitzen read the ordinance in full and Mayor Elumbaugh said it would be placed on the next agenda for the second reading. G) EXECUTIVE SESSION Councilmember Bennett moved to go into executive session to consider appointments. Councilmember Poole seconded and all voted for. Upon returning from executive session, Councilmember Matthews moved to reappoint Mr. Kirk Warden to the Airport Commission. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and all voted for. Mr. Warden’s term will end 11/9/2028. Councilmember Krug moved to reappoint Mr. Robb Roberts to the Public Facilities Board. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and all voted for. Mr. Roberts term will expire 11/10/2028. Mayor Elumbaugh recommended the council pass an end of the year Employee Retention Incentive. Councilmember Krug made a motion for the proposed incentives following a recommended breakdown, based on meeting certain employee criteria. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and all voted for. H) FINANCIAL REPORT The council was given a copy of the October, 2023 financial statement for their review. MAYOR COMMENTS th Mayor Elumbaugh said the next council meeting would be November 28. Mayor Elumbaugh commended Mr. Billy Corter for his work with Witcher Auctions to sell several items from the old Conoco store and that are not in use anymore. th The auction is open for pre-bid and will go live on Thursday, November 16, if anyone would like to bid on items. Mayor Elumbaugh also asked for Mr. Billy Corter to be able to drive his city issued truck home as an emergency vehicle. Mr. Corter gets called in frequently in different capacities. Councilmember Poole made a motion for Mr. Corter to be allowed to drive his city truck home. Councilmember Bennett seconded and all voted for. LIAISON REPORTS None COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Pool said there is a street light across the street from 190 Crestview that is out and needs to be reported. Mayor Elumbaugh said he and Airport Manager, Mr. Justin Thompson met with the Arkansas Aeronautics Director and was presented with almost a half- million dollar check for the construction of six new T-Hangers. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Councilmember Matthews moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilmember Bennett seconded and all voted for. The meeting adjourned at 7:09 p.m. ________________________________ RICK ELUMBAUGH, MAYOR _______________________________ JENNIFER CORTER, ADMIN ASST.