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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-06-08 MINUTES OF COUNCIL JUNE 8, 2021 th The Batesville City Council met in regular session on June 8, at 5:30 pm at the Municipal Building. Mayor Rick Elumbaugh presided over the meeting and welcomed our new Councilmember Brittany Bennett. Utility Office Manager Nick Baxter gave the invocation. Upon roll call, the following Councilmembers answered present; Brittany Bennett, Tommy Bryant, Scott Fredricks, Julie Hinkle, Paige Hubbard, Fred Krug, Doug Matthews, and Chris Poole. 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 Fredricks seconded and all voted for. Councilmember Hubbard moved to approve the prepared agenda. Councilmember Bryant seconded and all voted for. CITIZENS COMMENTS None UNFINISHED BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS A) POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT Mayor Elumbaugh said Police Chief Alan Cockrill was not able to attend tonight’s meeting. B) ENGINEER’S REPORT City Engineer Damon Johnson addressed the council with his monthly report. Mr. Johnson said there are several large jobs going on throughout the city. Contract Section III has started at Riverside Park. Mr. Johnson acknowledged the large “mess” that this job is causing. He added that all the rain has even made it worse. He said they are trying not to close the entire park during the construction and the contractors are keeping an eye out for pedestrians. The Street Department is working on cleaning up the disarray that all the rain has caused. There have been several drain failures during the rain. The Wastewater Treatment Plant is running well. Mr. Johnson said he is working closely with the engineers with Olsson Engineering on a plan to update the Water Treatment Plant. He said they were having weekly Zoom meetings and he is expecting a preliminary report this fall. Mr. Johnson said there th was a business on 20 Street that received substantial damage from a sewer line backed up. The City has an ordinance authorizing Mr. Johnson to reimburse for damages up to $10,000.00 if the cause was due to utility negligence. Mr. Johnson said he had investigated the backup and determined that it was on the Utility side. The cost to repair the damage was $21,220.00. Mr. Johnson said he feels that the city should reimburse the total amount. Councilmember Bryant moved to reimburse to the property owners $21,220.00 for damages. Councilmember Hubbard seconded and all voted for. C) MR. JOHNATHAN ABBOTT WITH A CHRISTMAS LIGHT UPDATE Mr. Johnathan Abbott addressed the council with a request to purchase a Bald Eagle Barn to modify and use as a portable concession stand. Mr. Abbott said the building that they have used in the past is entirely too small. He said all the items sold at the concession stand is donated so all the money collected is profit. The building he is looking at is $15,908.20 and he can pay for half of it this year and the balance with next year’s proceeds. Mayor Elumbaugh said the city can borrow from the utilities and pay it back next year. Councilmember Bryant moved to approve the purchase of the Bald Eagle Barn and Councilmember Fredricks seconded. All voted for. D) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO APPLY FOR A MATCHING GRANT WITH THE ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, HERITAGE AND TOURISM Councilmember Bryant introduced a resolution authorizing the Mayor to make an application to the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism for assistance to develop an RV Park on the White River. Councilmember Bryant moved to suspend the rules and read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Hubbard seconded and the electronic vote was 8 for and 0 against. City Attorney Tim Meitzen read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Hinkle moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember Fredricks seconded. The electronic vote was 8 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2021-06-01-R (THIS WAS REPLACED BY A TH RESOLUTION FOR A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE AT RIVERSIDE PARK ON JULY 6, 2021). E) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONS TO ADMINISTER AND REGULATE THE RIGHT-OF-WAY EASEMENTS IN THE CITY OF BATESVILLE. The council was given a draft of an ordinance to establish standards and specifications to administer and regulate the right-of-way easements inside the City limits of Batesville. Mayor Elumbaugh recognized Mr. Steve Lewis, who has been a commissioner on the City’s Planning Commission for sixteen years and he offered a few suggestions to improve the ordinance. The council discussed several issues that code enforcement is having with out of town construction companies coming to Batesville and digging up our streets and right-of-ways with no accountability. Mayor Elumbaugh said he hoped to have a final draft to be considered at the next council meeting. F) EXECUTIVE SESSION Councilmember Bryant moved to go into executive session to discuss the appointment to several city commissions. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and all voted for. Upon returning from executive session, Councilmember Bryant moved to re-appoint Mr. Chintan Patel, Ms. Cathy Drew and Ms. Haley Stephens to the Advertising and Promotion Commission. Councilmember Fredricks seconded. All voted for. Mr. Patel’s term expires January, 2024 and Ms. Drew’s and Ms. Stephens’ terms expire January, 2025. Councilmember Krug moved to appoint Mr. Robb Roberts to the Historic District Commission. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and all voted for. Mr. Roberts will be filling the unexpired term of Mr. Terry King. His term will expire January 8, 2024. Councilmember Fredricks moved to appoint Mr. Kyle McMullin to the Planning Commission. Councilmember Bryant seconded and all voted for. Mr. McMullin will replace Mr. Joe Shell whose term has expired. Mr. McMullin’s term will expire June 10, 2026. G) PAID BILLS REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT The council was given a copy of the May, 2021 paid bills report and financial statement for review. MAYOR COMMENTS th Mayor Elumbaugh asked to change the July council meeting to July 6 due to scheduling conflicts. Councilmember Bryant moved to change the meeting date and Councilmember Fredricks seconded. All voted for. The Mayor said he would like for the council to go the Northwest Arkansas with him to look at things to improve our city. He said with an overnight trip, they could visit Fayetteville, Bentonville, Rogers and Springdale and look at things such as infrastructure, parks and recreation, and housing developments. Mayor Elumbaugh asked the council to check their schedules and let him know if they can attend. Lastly, Mayor Elumbaugh said he has had a request to install a street light near the stoplight at the intersection of Dogwood and Harrison Streets. Councilmember Bryant moved to install the street light. Councilmember Poole seconded and all voted for. LIAISON REPORTS None COUNCIL COMMENTS None ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Councilmember Matthews moved to be adjourned. Councilmember Bryant seconded and all voted for. The meeting adjourned at 6:29 pm. RICK ELUMBAUGH , MAYOR DENISE M. JOHNSTON, CITY CLERK