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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-11-16 MINUTES OF COUNCIL NOVEMBER 16, 2021 th The Batesville City Council met in regular session on November, 16 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, Doug Matthews, and Chris Poole. Also present were the City Clerk Denise Johnston and City Attorney Tim Meitzen. Councilmembers Paige Hubbard and Fred Krug were absent. Councilmember Hinkle moved to approve the minutes from the previous two meetings. Councilmember Bryant seconded and all voted for. Councilmember Hinkle moved to approve the prepared agenda and Councilmember Pool seconded. All voted for. CITIZENS COMMENTS None UNFINISHED BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS A) ENGINEER’S REPORT City Engineer Damon Johnson addressed the council with his monthly report. Mr. Johnson said Contract Section III is progressing with approximately 75% of the line installed, however, 4 bores still need to be completed. The bore under the Polk Bayou is done, which was a big accomplishment. 2 of the 4 bores yet to be completed are under railroads. Mr. Johnson said he has been working for the past 5 years to try to satisfy the railroad’s requirements. The railroad is very difficult to deal with but he is hopeful he will have a right of occupancy on the railroad property soon so the contractors will be able to start on the bores. Mr. Johnson said both utility plants are running well and the large water line replacement on Broad Street is progressing as planned. The Street Department is making street repairs, filling pot holes from regular wear and tear on our city streets. The preliminary engineer report for the Water Treatment Plant should be ready for the council to review within the next week or two. Mr. Johnson also told the council the he and the Mayor were flown to California last week by Integrity Solar, the company that the City has contracted with to supply solar power to city facilities. During the trip they were able to visit other businesses that are using the floating solar panels that are being recommended for the city. Mr. Johnson said the trip was very informative and has put to rest any apprehensions he and the Mayor may have had. He said they hope to have the project completed by the end of next year. B) POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT Police Chief Alan Cockrill addressed the council with his monthly report. Chief Cockrill reported 58 accident reports, 51 incident reports and 12 arrests. He has hired one new officer and the one remaining vacancy will be fill in January, 2022. C) MS. CRYSTAL JOHNSON WITH AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REPORT Ms. Crystal Johnson, CEO, Jamie Rayford, Chief Operating Officer and Chris Hill, Communications Director, all with the Batesville Chamber of Commerce and Dr. Brian Shonk, Vice Chancellor of the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville, UACCB addressed the council with the first quarterly report for the newly established Economic Development Program. Ms. Johnson gave an update on current manufacturing and retail projects. Ms. Johnson gave as much information as she could without breaking any confidentiality agreements with the prospective business. Each business is given a “code name” in order to give some information without revealing the actual business name. Ms. Johnson also announced that the State Chamber has a pilot grant project and our Chamber received a $35,000.00 grant. The grant includes retail data from a Retail Coach, with which Mr. Hill was able to develop a marketing package that has information that site consultants and prospective businesses need in order to make informed decisions. Ms. Rayford introduced Mr. Brian Shonk, to inform the council of the work of the Workforce Operation for Rural Communities Initiative. Mr. Shonk said the grant provided by the United States Department of Labor is a great tool, along with the local partners with White River Medical Center, Bay Boy Mowers and Intimidator Group, they will provide training at no cost to the perspective employee and will also help with costs such as child care. The grant funds of $1,075,000.00 over a 3-year period will also add $2.00 per hour on starting wages for those who complete the training. D) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE BATESVILLE PRESCHOOL FACILITY Councilmember Bryant introduced a resolution to authorize the Mayor to enter into a contract for an Arkansas Economic Development Commission grant for improvements to the Batesville Preschool facility. Councilmember Bryant moved to read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Bennett seconded and the roll call count was 6 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember Bennett seconded. The roll call count was 6 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2021-11-01-R. E) DISCUSS THE USE OF AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS AND HAZARD PAY Councilmember Poole said he would like to recommend that the City use funds that the City received from the American Rescue Plan Funds to compensate city and utility employees who worked in 2020 and meet specific criteria. He asked for full- time and permanent part-time employees who worked specific number of hours and are currently still employed with the City or Utility to receive between $450.00 to $3,500.00, depending on the criteria. Councilmember Poole put his request in the form of a motion and Councilmember Bryant seconded. The roll call count was 6 for and 0 against. Councilmember Bryant said he would also like to recommend a year-end incentive pay for city and utility employees who meet specific criteria and worked hours and are still employed with the city or utility department. The incentive will range from $75.00 to $500.00. Councilmember Bryant put his request in the form of a motion and Councilmember Fredricks seconded. The roll call count was 6 for and 0 against. F) EXECUTIVE SESSION Councilmember Bryant moved to go into executive session to discuss the vacancies in the Planning Commission and Public Facility Board. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and all voted for. Upon returning from Executive Session, Councilmember Fredricks moved to re- appoint Mr. Stephen (Kegal) Smart to the Airport Commission. Councilmember Bryant seconded and all voted for. Mr. Smart’s term will expire November 9, 2026. Councilmember Poole moved to re-appoint Mr. Lee Conditt to the Public Facilities Board. Councilmember Bryant seconded and all voted for. Mr. Conditt’s term will expire November 10, 2026. G) PAID BILLS REPORT The council was given a copy of the October Paid Bills report for review. MAYOR COMMENTS Mayor Elumbaugh said the city received 3 bids for the site work for the new Public Works shop building. He said the bids are currently being reviewed. th The next council meeting is scheduled for December 14. LIAISON REPORTS Councilmember Matthews said the airport runway improvement project is underway. The work is being done with a 100% grant from the FFA. Bids have been received and accepted and now they are just waiting on the material to be delivered. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Bennett said she drove by the new splash pad in West Batesville. Although it is winter and the water was not on, the facility looks great. The new splash pad was constructed with a 50/50 grant. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Councilmember Matthews moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilmember Bennett seconded and all voted for. The meeting adjourned at 6:35 pm. RICK ELUMBAUGH, MAYOR DENISE M. JOHNSTON, CITY CLERK