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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-11-28 MINUTES OF COUNCIL NOVEMBER 28, 2023 th The Batesville City Council met in regular session on November 28, 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, Doug Matthews, Chris Poole and Landon Reeves. Also present were the City Clerk Denise Johnston and City Attorney Tim Meitzen. Councilmember Hinkle moved to approve the minutes from the previous meeting. Councilmember Bennett seconded and all voted for. Councilmember Matthews moved to approve the prepared agenda. Councilmember Hinkle seconded and all voted for. CITIZENS COMMENTS Ms. Autumn Raviscioni addressed the council regarding the homeless community in Batesville. Ms. Raviscioni works with Our Fathers Table in feeding the needy and helping those in need to get back on their feet. She said her organization along with the local Ministerial Alliance are working together to help in finding solutions for the homeless in our community. Mr. Barrett Moore also addressed the council encouraging them to not pass the proposed ordinance regarding camping on city property. Mr. Moore said he sees problems with the proposed ordinance and believes there are better ways to help with the homeless population in Batesville. Ms. Jim McDonald addressed the council also requesting the proposed ordinance not be passed. Mr. McDonald said the community needs to find a humane solution to the homeless problem. Mayor Elumbaugh said he has visited with several citizens who are forming a group to help with solutions for our homeless population. He said he would like volunteers from the council to represent the city with the group. Councilmembers Bennett and Hubbard volunteered to help. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A) SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE BANNING UNAUTHORIZED CAMPING WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF THE CITY OF BATESVILLE Councilmember Poole moved to read the second reading by title only and waive the third reading of an ordinance banning unauthorized camping within the city limits of the City of Batesville. Councilmember Hinkle seconded and the electronic roll call count was 6 for and 2 (Hubbard and Matthews) against. Mr. Meitzen read the ordinance by title only. Mayor Elumbaugh asked for a motion to adopt the ordinance. There being no motion, the ordinance failed. NEW BUSINESS A) POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT Mayor Elumbaugh said the Chief did not have a report for tonight’s meeting. B) FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT Mayor Elumbaugh said the Fire Chief had a conflict with tonight’s meeting and was unable to attend. C) ENGINEER’S REPORT City Engineer Damon Johnson addressed the council with his monthly report. Mr. Johnson first addressed the large barge located on the White River. Mr. Johnsons explained that the barge is there to collect core samples off the bottom of the river near the site for the new intake for the water plant. He said the barge should be gone in about a week. Mr. Johnson said the 30-day Engineering evaluation is underway with meetings twice a week lasting 3 to 4 hours each. They are currently discussing what we want verses what we need. Mr. Johnson said he was waiting on the paving company for a date to pave Broad Street. He also updated the council on the new boat ramps for the Bayou. The ramp off White Drive is completed and work in being done on the access road to the ramp. Work is continuing on the Golden Overpass ramp. He said hopes ramp, roads and parking areas to be completed by spring. D) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE #2014-07-01 AND MODIFYING FEES AND RATES TO BE CHARGED BY BATESVILLE WATER AND SEWER UTILITIES FOR WORK RELATED TO WATER AND SEWER SERVICES Councilmember Poole introduced an ordinance to amending ordinance #201407- 01 to modify fees and rates for Batesville Water and Sewer Utility services. City Engineer Damon Johnson said the Utilities rate study is twofold. One, it meets the new requirements put into law by the Arkansas Legislature requiring all city owned utilities to have a rate study every five years and two, the utilities is receiving a loan from the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission for the new Water Treatment Plant and they require a rate study for their loan. The proposed ordinance is to adopt the rates for the next five years as recommended by the rate study. Councilmember Poole introduced the ordinance. Councilmember Bennett moved to read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Poole seconded and the electronic vote was 8 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the ordinance by title only. Mayor Elumbaugh said the ordinance will be placed on the next meeting’s agenda for the second reading. E) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF PROPERTY TO THE ARKANSAS STATE HIGHWAY COMMISSION Councilmember Bennett introduced a resolution authorizing the sale of certain property to the Arkansas State Highway Commission. The property is for the widening of Highway 69 from its intersection with 394 through Moorefield. The selling price is $1,875.00. Councilmember Matthews moved to suspend the rules and read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Bennett seconded. The electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the resolution by title only. After a discussion, Councilmember Hinkle moved to adopt the resolution. Councilmember Krug seconded. The electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2023-11-02-R. F) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE DESIGNATING CITY OWNED PROPERTY CONTIGUOUS TO POLK (AKA “POKE”) BAYOU AS A CITY PARK Councilmember Poole introduced an ordinance designating city owned property contiguous to Polk (AKA “Poke”) Bayou as a city park. Councilmember Matthews moved to suspend the rules and read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Krug seconded and the electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the ordinance by title only. Mayor Elumbaugh said the ordinance will be placed on the next meeting’s agenda for the second reading. G) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE DESIGNATING CITY OWNED CEMETERIES AS CITY PARKS Councilmember Matthews introduced an ordnance designating city owned cemeteries as city parks. Councilmember Reeves moved to suspend the rules and read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and the electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the ordinance by title only. Mayor Elumbaugh said the ordinance will be placed on the next meeting’s agenda for the second reading. H) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE REGARDING CITY PARKS HOURS OF OPERATION Councilmember Fredricks introduced an ordinance to amend ordinance #2020- 08-01 regarding the hours of operations for city parks. Councilmember Poole moved to suspend the rules and read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and the electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the ordinance by title only. Mayor Elumbaugh said the ordinance will be placed on the next meeting’s agenda for the second reading. MAYOR COMMENTS th Mayor Elumbaugh said the next meeting will be December 12. He also said the new playground equipment has been delivered to the splash pad in West Batesville. The Mayor said the playground equipment will be a great asset for the splash pad. LIAISON REPORTS None COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Fredricks invited the council to attend the Batesville School District Ground Breaking for the new Cafeteria and Fine Arts Facility at the High School th Campus. The ceremony is Wednesday, November 29 at 1 p.m. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Councilmember Matthews moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilmember Bennett seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 5:50 p.m. __________________________ Mayor, Rick Elumbaugh ______________________________ City Clerk, Denise M. Johnston