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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-10-12 MINUTES OF COUNCIL OCTOBER 12, 2021 The Batesville City Council met in regular session on October 12th, 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, Julie Hinkle, Fred Krug, Doug Matthews and Chris Poole. Also present were the City Clerk Denise Johnston and City Attorney Tim Meitzen. Councilmember Hubbard was absent. Councilmember Hinkle moved to approve the minutes from the previous meeting. Councilmember Bryant seconded. All voted for. Councilmember Bennett moved to approve the prepared agenda as amended. Councilmember Hinkle seconded and all voted for. CITIZENS COMMENTS None UNFINISHED BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS A) DuSHUN SCARBROUGH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ARKANSAS MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. COMMISSION TO PRESENT “OUR BELOVED COMMUNITY PARTNER” AWARD Mr. DuShun Scarbrough, Executive Director of the Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission addressed the council to present the City with an award for being chosen as “Our Beloved Community Partner” designation. Mr. Scarbrough along with Commissioner Andy Montgomery and Arkansas State Representative Stu Smith, recognized several police officers for their professionalism and participation during a Black Matters peaceful protest held at Riverside Park on rd June 3, 2020. Mr. Scarbrough presented each of the following officers with a peace-keeping medallion; Police Chief Alan Cockrill, Lieutenant John Scarbrough, Detective Freddie Friar, Patrol Sargent Rick Davis, Patrol Officer Dustin Vernon, and Part-time Patrol Officer Eddie Brown, Jr. In closing, Mr. Scarbrough announced that Mr. Eric Breaden, better known as Victor Newman in the long running soap opera the Young and the Restless, will be the guest speaker at next year’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration. B) POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT Police Chief Alan Cockrill addressed the council with his monthly department report. Chief Cockrill said all of his full-time officers are now certified. The new officers went through a rifle course and were issued rifles upon completed the course. Chief Cockrill also informed the council that he ordered ammunition last January and as of today, has not received any ammo. C) ENGINEER’S REPORT City Engineer Damon Johnson addressed the council with his monthly report. Mr. Johnson said both plants are running with little to no issues. The Street Department is working on storm drain issues in the Sawmill Addition. The Contract Section III project is continuing at a good pace. Most of the lines have been laid except for the lines that require a bore under a street or highway. The engineering report for the Water Treatment Plant will be ready soon. Councilmember Bryant asked about all the street cuts and yard digs done by AT&T. Mr. Johnson said they are beginning to make the repairs and the city is watching to make sure they are repaired to the city’s standards. D) MAIN STREET BATESVILLE UPDATE Mandy Curtwright, Main Street Batesville Executive Director, and Bob Carius addressed the council with a Main Street Batesville update. Ms. Curtwright commented that our Main Street lost only one business in 2020 due to the COVID epidemic. She gave the council an update of the different attractions and fund raisers for 2020 and 2021. The car show always attracts a large crowd as does the haunted house attracting approximately 200 admissions per night. A new event in 2021 was the Big Fun on the Bayou held and the new Maxfield rd Park. A Halloween parade is scheduled on October 23 and Halloween will be th observed on October 30 with businesses taking part as will as activities in the Pocket Park. Ms. Curtwright thanked the City for its continued support and asked for an increase of $5,000.00 for 2022. Mayor Elumbaugh said the request will be considered during the 2022 budget process. E) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE TO RAISE THE AMOUNT OF EXPENDITURES REQUIRED FOR COMPETITIVE BIDDING Councilmember Bryant introduced an ordinance to adopt the new State requirements for competitive bidding for goods and services from $20,000.00 to $35,000.00 and for public improvements from $35,000.00 to $50,000.00. Councilmember Hinkle moved to suspend the rules and read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Bryant seconded and the roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the ordinance by title only. After a discussion, Councilmember Bryant moved to further suspend the rules and waive the second and third readings. Councilmember Bennett seconded. The roll call vote was 7 for and 0 against. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the ordinance. Councilmember Bennett seconded and the roll call vote was 7 for and 0 against. The ordinance was given #2021-10-1. Mr. Meitzen read the emergency clause. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the emergency clause. Councilmember Hinkle seconded and the roll call vote was 7 for and 0 against. F) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE REDISTRICTING WARDS FOR THE CITY OF BATESVILLE Councilmember Bryant introduced an ordinance to redistrict the City of Batesville wards due to the new 2020 Census results. Councilmember Bryant moved to suspend the rules and read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and the roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Bryant moved to further suspend the rules and waive the second and third readings. Councilmember Bennett seconded and the roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. After a discussion, Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the ordinance. Councilmember Poole seconded and the roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. The ordinance was given #2021-10-2. Mr. Meitzen read the emergency clause. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the emergency clause. Councilmember Bennett seconded and the roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. G) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO REVISE THE BATESVILLE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Councilmember Bryant introduced a resolution to revise Batesville’s th Comprehensive Plan. On October 4, the Batesville Planning Commission adopted certain revisions to the Plan, including incorporation of a new Master Street Plan and Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. Mr. Meitzen read the resolution. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the resolution. Councilmember Poole seconded and the roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2021-10-1-R. H) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE BATESVILLE ZONING DISTRICT MAP Councilmember Bryant introduced an ordinance to amend the Batesville Zoning Districts Map. The area amended were properties currently zoned Historic Residential (HR-1) in an area bounded on the north side of Bates Street, the south side of Broad Street, River Street and Slater Street will be changed to Single Family residential (R-1) or Medium Density Residential (-2). Councilmember Bryant moved to suspend the rules and read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and the roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Bryant moved to further suspend the rules and waive the second and third readings. Councilmember Bennett seconded and the roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the ordinance and Councilmember Bennett seconded. The roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. The ordinance was given #2021-10-3. I) CONSIDER THE LEVY OF TAXES FOR THE YEAR 2021, PAYABLE IN 2022 The council considerd the Levy of Taxes for the year 2021, payable in 2022. The taxes considered were 5 Mills for City General and 1 Mill for Firemen’s Pension. Mayor Elumbaugh noted the amounts were not changed from last year. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the proposed Levy of Taxes. Councilmember Poole seconded and all voted for. J) EXECUTIVE SESSION Councilmember Bryant moved to go into executive session, regarding city personnel. Councilmember Poole seconded and all voted for. Upon returning from executive session, Mayor Elumbaugh announced that long time employee, Sanitation Supervisor Marty Thompson, is taking a medical leave of absence for an undetermined length of time. The Mayor said Mr. Jason Jones will assume the duties of Sanitation Supervisor during Mr. Thompson’s absence. K) PAID BILLS REPORT The council was given a copy of the September Paid Bills Report for review. MAYOR COMMENTS Mayor Elumbaugh recognized Ms. Amy Howard with the Old Independence Regional Museum. Ms. Howard thanked the council for their continued support and reminded them that the exhibits change and encouraged them to visit the museum often. th The Mayor said the next council meeting will be November 9. LIAISON REPORTS None COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Bryant recognized Cemetery/Landscape Supervisor Jonathan Abbott and his employees for all the work they do for the City. In addition to maintaining Oaklawn Cemetery, his crew also mows the majority of city properties throughout the City. Mr. Abbott and his crew also do the Christmas decorations in downtown Batesville and the Winter Wonderland at Riverside Park. Mr. Bryant thanked Mr. Abbott and his crew for the numerous hours and hard work they do to beautify our city. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Councilmember Bryant moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilmember Krug seconded and all voted for. The meeting was adjourned at 6:35pm. RICK ELUMBAUGH, MAYOR DENISE M. JOHNSTON, CITY CLERK