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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-09-15 MINUTES OF COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 th The Batesville City Council met in regular session on September 15, 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, Doug Matthews, Pete Musgrave and Chris Poole. Also present were the City Clerk Denise Johnston and City Attorney Tim Meitzen. Councilmember Fred Krug was absent. Councilmember Poole moved to approve the minutes from the previous meeting. Councilmember Hubbard seconded and all voted for. Councilmember Bryant moved to approve the prepared agenda as amended. Councilmember Fredricks seconded. 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. Chief Cockrill gave the council his monthly report for July and August. B) ENGINEER’S REPORT City Engineer Damon Johnson addressed the council with his monthly report. Mr. Johnson said the utility plants were working well and the utility construction department is busy fixing water leaks. There are no contract projects currently and he is still waiting to get back the plans for Contract Section III from the Health Department. Street and Sanitation departments are both running with short crews. They are working to clean up the mess that the recent heavy rains caused. The City is getting a grant from the Batesville Preservation Society for sidewalk repairs on Main, College and Boswell Streets. The funds are to locate and repair trip hazards on the sidewalks in the downtown area. C) MR. STEVEN LEWIS WITH CENTERPOINT ENERGY TO PRESENT THE BATESVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT WITH A 2020 COMMUNITY SAFETY GRANT Mr. Steven Lewis with CenterPoint Energy presented Fire Chief Brent Gleghorn with a $1,500.00 grant to be used for community safety. Chief Gleghorn thanked Mr. Lewis for the funds and said they will be able to purchase 75 fire extinguishers. The Chief said his department will go into a home, at the request of the home owner, and check smoke detectors and fire extinguishers and replace or install new ones where needed. D) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT FOR CABINETS FOR BATESVILLE PRESCHOOL Councilmember Bryant introduced a resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract for cabinets for Batesville Preschool. The funding for the project is being provided by a grant from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. Councilmember Bryant moved to suspend the rules and read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Hinkle seconded and the electronic roll call count was 6 for and 1 abstained (Fredricks). Mr. Meitzen read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the resolution. Councilmember Hinkle seconded and the electronic roll call vote was 6 for and 1 abstained (Fredricks). The resolution was given #2020-09-01-R. E) EXECUTIVE SESSION Councilmember Bryant moved to go into executive session to consider appointments to certain boards or commissions. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and all voted for. Upon returning from executive session, Councilmember Fredricks moved to reappoint Ms. Amanda Roberts and Mr. Greg Mohlke to 3-year terms on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. Councilmember Bryant seconded and all voted for. Both terms will expire 9/30/2023. F) PAID BILLS REPORT The council was given a copy of the August, 2020 Paid Bills Report for review. MAYOR COMMENTS th Mayor Elumbaugh asked as if October 13 would be a good date for the next th council meeting. Councilmember Bryant moved to set the next meet for October 13. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and all voted for. th The Mayor asked the council if they had visited the intersection of 30, Josephine and Neeley Streets. The Mayor said he also asked the City Engineer and Police Chief to look at the intersection. Mr. Johnson and Chief Cockrill said they both looked at the intersection and did not see a need for a 3-way stop. Chief Cockrill said there has not been any complaints or accidents since his department started in 2015. th The Mayor said there are times when the view looking west from 30 street is hampered by brush and he would make sure the street department kept the brush cut back. LIAISON REPORTS None COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Bryant said he would like to comment on the recent decision made by Judge Holly Meyer regarding the County’s lawsuit against the City concerning the funding of District Court. The Judge denied the Partial Summary Judgement requested by the County, however, there are still legal issues to be determined. Mr. Bryant said he and Mayor Elumbaugh had visited with the County Judge of Stone County on how they fund District Court. The Judge said they had an agreement with Mountain View for an equal 50/50 split of all expenses and revenues derived from District Court. Mr. Bryant said he thought that was a fair way to solve the funding issue. Councilmember Poole said he also liked the way Mountain View and Stone County equally share expenses and revenues. Mr. Poole said all we have ever wanted was a fair solution for both entities. Mayor Elumbaugh asked if there was a motion regarding the funding of District Court. Councilmember Bryant moved for City Attorney Meitzen to write the County Attorney, Mr. Daniel Haney, with an offer to split the expenses and revenues derived from District Court 50/50 between the County and the City. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and all voted for. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Councilmember Bryant moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and all voted for. The meeting was adjourned at 6:07 pm. RICK ELUMBAUGH, MAYOR DENISE M. JOHNSTON, CITY CLERK