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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-08-10 MINUTES OF COUNCIL AUGUST 10, 2021 The Batesville City Council met in regular session on August 10, 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, Tommy Bryant, Scott Fredricks, Paige Hubbard, Fred Krug, Doug Matthews, and Chris Poole. Also present were the City Clerk Denise Johnston and City Attorney Tim Meitzen. Councilmember Julie Hinkle was absent. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Councilmember Hubbard moved to approve the minutes from the previous meeting. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and voted for. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Councilmember Fredricks moved to approve the prepared agenda. Councilmember Bennett seconded and all voted for. CITIZENS COMMENTS None UNFINISHED BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS A) POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT Police Chief was unable to attend due to a scheduling conflict. B) ENGINEER’S REPORT City Engineer Damon Johnson addressed the council with his monthly report. Mr. Johnson reported that most departments are working understaffed which causes most projects to take longer to complete. There is a nationwide problem with staffing, due to the COVID19 pandemic and it doesn’t look like it is going to get better anytime soon. The engineering work for the Water Treatment is nearing completion and the sewer project is continuing on schedule. Construction crews have had several water leaks to repair, which also pulls them off of their current project in order to repair the lines. C) ENTEGRITY SOLAR REPRESENTATIVES TO PRESENT A SOLAR PROJECT PROPOSAL Mr. Rick Vance with Entegrity addressed the council regarding the development of solar power for all city facilities. The city accepted Entegrity’s Request for Qualifications this past March. Mr. Vance explained the time line for the project and again reiterated that Entegrity will assume all the expenses for construction and maintenance of the solar panels. They plan on installing a “floating design” at our Wastewater Plant. He said in this area, floating panels are not common but they are being used more across the country and very successfully. They also plan on installing a single “covered parking design” at the community center. After a slide presentation Councilmember Bryant moved to authorize the Mayor to sign the agreement with Entegrity to precede the solar project. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and all voted for. D) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH A PERMANENT ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT IN DOWNTOWN BATESVILLE Councilmember Bryant introduced an ordinance to establish a permanent entertainment district in downtown Batesville. Mr. Bryant said the State Legislature passed a law allowing “dry” cities and counties to establish an entertainment district which allows a person to carry an open container of alcohol while within the district. All alcohol taken outside of a licensed business must be contained in a paper or plastic cup imprinted with the entertainment district logo. All alcohol laws apply in the district. Mr. Bryant said he has visited Springdale, Rogers and Mountain Home, who have implemented entertainment districts and all the comments he received from the businesses involved and citizens were positive. Councilmember Bennett moved to suspend the rules and read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and the electronic roll count was 7 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the ordinance by title only. After several members of the audience addressed the council with their support for the district, Mayor Elumbaugh said the ordinance will be placed on the next meeting’s agenda. E) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE BATESVILLE ZONING DISTRICT MAP REGARDING PROPERTY LOCATED BETWEEN 3096 HARRISON STREET AND 3245 JUNIPER Code Enforcement Officer Chad McClure addressed the council on the proposed zoning change request. Councilmember Bryant introduced an ordinance to amend the Batesville Zoning District Map for property located between 3096 Harrison Street and 3245 Juniper. The property is currently zoned R-1 and is being requested to be R-2. Councilmember Matthew moved to suspend the rules and read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and the electronic roll call was 7 for 0 against. City Attorney Tim Meitzen read the ordinance by title only. After a discussion, Councilmember Fredricks moved to further suspend the rules and waive the second and third readings. Councilmember Matthews seconded and the electronic vote was 7 for and 0 against. Councilmember Bennett moved to adopt the ordinance and Councilmember Fredricks seconded. The electronic roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. The ordinance was given No.2021-08-02. F) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE BATESVILLE ZONING DISTRICT MAP REGARDING PROPERTY LOCATED AT 405 WHITE DRIVE Councilmember Bryant introduced an ordinance to amend the Batesville Zoning District regarding property located at 405 White Drive. Councilmember Fredricks moved to suspend the rules and read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Bennett seconded and the electronic roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. Again, Mr. McClure explained the reason for the re-zone request. Mr. Meitzen read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Matthews moved to further suspend the rules and waive the second and third readings. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and the electronic vote was 7 for and 0 against. After a discussion, Councilmember Matthews moved to adopt the ordinance. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and the electronic voted was 7 for and 0 against. The ordinance was given No. 2021-08-03. G) EXECUTIVE SESSION Councilmember Matthews moved to go into executive session and Councilmember Bennett seconded. All voted in favor. Upon returning from executive session, no decisions were made. H) PAID BILLS REPORT The council was given a copy of the July Paid Bills Report. MAYOR’S COMMENTS Mayor Elumbaugh said he was saddened from the recent loss of Mr. Andy Buschman, Curtis Wainwright and Chandler Gillmore. Mr. Bushman and Wainwright lost their lives from COVID and Mr. Gillmore in a swimming accident. The Mayor that the community keep the families of these three in their thoughts and prayers. Because the current strain of COVID seems to be more deadly, the Mayor encouraged everyone to get their COVID vaccination, for themselves and the others that they could infect. th The Mayor said has he scheduled a council meeting for August 24. LIAISON REPORTS Councilmember Bryant said the FAA has sped up the process for three major projects for the Airport. Councilmember Matthews gave additional information regarding the Airport work. First, he said the State is helping with the addition of new hangers. The FAA has funding for the LED lighting for the main runway and taxi runway. He said the lighting is a multi-million- dollar job and will be a vast improvement to our airport. COUNCIL COMMENTS None ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Councilmember Fredricks moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilmember Bennett seconded and all voted for. The meeting was adjourned at 6:58 pm. RICK ELUMBAUGH, MAYOR DENISE M. JOHNSTON, CITY CLERK