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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-12-15 MINUTES OF COUNCIL DECEMBER 15, 2020 The Batesville City Council met in regular session on December 15, 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; Tommy Bryant, Scott Fredricks, Julie Hinkle, Paige Hubbard, Fred Krug, Doug Matthews, Pete Musgrave and Chris Poole. City Clerk Denise Johnston was also present. City Attorney Tim Meitzen was absent. Councilmember Hinkle moved to approve the minutes from the previous meeting. Councilmember Bryant seconded and all voted for. Councilmember Bryant moved to approve the amended agenda. Councilmember Hinkle seconded and all voted for. CITIZENS COMMENTS None UNFINISHED BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS A) MR. DOUG SMITH WITH A PRESENTATION FROM GOVERNOR ASA HUTCHINSON’S OFFICE Mr. Doug Smith with Governor Asa Hutchinson’s Office presented Mayor Elumbaugh with a letter from Governor Hutchinson. The letter recognized and thanked the city administrators, business leaders, and dedicated volunteers who have played a role in creating the city’s White River Wonderland Christmas lights display. The Governor also said how important it is during the COVID-19 pandemic to be able to celebrate the holidays in a special way that is also free and safe for Arkansans young and old. Mayor Elumbaugh read the letter aloud and thanked Mr. Smith for delivering the letter. B) ENGINEER’S REPORT City engineer Damon Johnson addressed the council with his monthly report. Mr. Johnson said the utility construction department has been chasing water leaks and repairing a storm drain collapse in Westside. Both utility plants are running as normal and they are still working on the water plant upgrade evaluation. Preliminary work has been completed and sent to ARNC for approval for the Contract Section III project. Councilmember Musgrave asked Mr. Johnson the status on the Stillhouse Branch project. Mr. Johnson said he has visited with the Corp of Engineers and told them their work would need to be delayed until the Christmas lights are removed from Riverside Park. He said the Corp said they will notify him sometime in January. C) MAIN STREET BATESVILLE YEAR END UPDATE Ms. Mandy Curtwright, Director of Main Street Batesville, addressed the council with a slide/video presentation that she narrated. Ms. Curtwright highlighted the past 11 months and gave examples of how they were able to host several events even during the pandemic. Ms. Curtwright also requested the same $20,000.00 support from the city for 2021. D) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE FOR THE APPROVAL OF AN APPLICATION FOR A CLUB PERMIT Councilmember Bryant introduced an ordinance approving Club Las Playitas’ application for a private club permit. Councilmember Bryant 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. Ms. Johnston read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Bryant noted that the proposed ordinance does not authorize the business to have a club permit, it simply allows the business to apply to the ABC Board for such permit. Councilmember Bryant then moved to further suspend the rules and waive the second and third readings. Councilmember Hubbard seconded and the electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the ordinance and Councilmember Hinkle seconded. The electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. The ordinance was given #2020-12-01. Ms. Johnston read the emergency clause. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the emergency clause. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and the electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. E) PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE CLOSING OF AN ALLEYWAY ON BATES STREET Mayor Elumbaugh opened the public hearing at 5:53 pm for comments regarding the closing of an alley located in the Bates Addition, Block 2 Lot 4 and Block 3 Lot 4 off Bates Street in Batesville. There being no comments, the Mayor closed the public hearing at 5:54 pm. F) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE CLOSING THE ALLEY LOCATED AT BATES ADDITION BLOCK 2 LOT 4 AND BLOCK 3 LOT 4 IN BATESVILLE Councilmember Fredricks introduced an ordinance to close an alleyway located in the Bates Addition, Block 2 Lot 4 and Block 3 Lot 4 in Batesville. Councilmember Bryant 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. Ms. Johnston read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Matthews then moved to further suspend the rules and waive the second and third readings. Councilmember Bryant seconded and the electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the ordinance and Councilmember Fredricks seconded. The electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. The ordinance was given #2020-12-02. G) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE TO LEVY FEES FOR TRASH AND GARBAGE PICKUP SERVICE Councilmember Bryant introduced an ordinance that will levy new sanitation fees for trash and garbage pickup service in the City of Batesville. Ms. Johnston read the ordinance in full. Councilmember Bryant then moved to further suspend the rules and waive the second and third readings. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and the electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the ordinance and Councilmember Fredricks seconded. The electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. The ordinance was given #2020-12-03. Ms. Johnston read the emergency clause. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the emergency clause. Councilmember Hinkle seconded and the electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. H) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2005-11-2, LICENSE REQUIRED, SECTION E AND G Councilmember Bryant introduced an ordinance to amend the licensing fees for dogs and cats inside the city limits of Batesville. Councilmember Bryant moved to suspend the rules and read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Matthews seconded and the electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. Ms. Johnston read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Bryant then moved to further suspend the rules and waive the second and third readings. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and the electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the ordinance and Councilmember Matthews seconded. The electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. The ordinance was given #2020-12-04. I) EXECUTIVE SESSION Mayor Elumbaugh said he was calling for an executive to consider appointments to the Historic District Commission and to discuss a personnel issue. Councilmember Bryant so moved and Councilmember Hubbard seconded. All voted for. Upon returning from executive, Mayor Elumbaugh said there was no decision on the personnel matter. Councilmember Fredricks moved to reappoint Ms. Barbara Fitzpatrick, Mr. Ron Lewallen and Mr. Terry King to the Historic District Commission. Councilmember Hubbard seconded and all voted for. The appointee’s terms will expire 1/8/2024. J) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE TO ADOPT THE 2021 BUDGET Councilmember Bryant introduced an ordinance to adopt the 2021 budget for all departments in the City of Batesville and Batesville Water Utilities. Councilmember Bryant 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. Ms. Johnston read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Bryant then moved to further suspend the rules and waive the second and third readings. Councilmember Hubbard seconded and the electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. Councilmember Fredricks moved to adopt the ordinance and Councilmember Matthews seconded. The electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. The ordinance was given #2020-12-05. Ms. Johnston read the emergency clause. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the emergency clause. Councilmember Hinkle seconded and the electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. K) PAID BILLS REPORT The council was given a copy of the November, 2020 paid bills report for review. MAYOR COMMENTS Mayor Elumbaugh said the next council meeting will be scheduled for January 12, 2021. The Mayor read a proclamation recognizing Mr. Pete Whetstone (A.K.A. Charles F.M. Noland) post-mortem for his ingenious and pioneering endeavors to serve as an ambassador to the State of Arkansas. Mayor Elumbaugh asked the council to approve end of year bonuses for city employees. The Mayor said the budget does allow for bonuses. Councilmember Krug commented on the dedication of our city employees and the fact that during the COVID pandemic, all city services and continued at usual. Mr. Krug moved to give all full-time employees $500.00 and permanent part-time employees $250.00. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and all voted for. Mayor Elumbaugh asked for the Councilmember’s to authorize him to negotiate th the purchase of the old Entergy Building at 450 11 Street. The Mayor said the long- term plan will be to move Fire Station #1 to the address but in the meantime, the 8,000 sq ft building can be used for storage. Councilmember Fredricks moved to authorize the Mayor to negotiate on behalf of the city to purchase the property. Councilmember Krug seconded. All voted for. Mayor Elumbaugh asked Mr. Johnathan Abbott if he would like to say anything about the Christmas lights. Mr. Abbott said he didn’t have revenue numbers but as of th yesterday, December 14, 30,606 cars had gone through the Winter Wonderland Park. He said Saturday hit a record of 5,114 cars in one day. The Farris Wheel was a big success as well. LIAISON REPORTS None COUNCIL COMMENTS None ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Councilmember Matthews moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilmember Hubbard seconded and all voted for. The meeting was adjourned at 6:57 pm. RICK ELUMBAUGH, MAYOR DENISE M. JOHNSTON, CITY CLERK