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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-12-14 MINUTES OF COUNCIL DECEMBER 14, 2021 th The Batesville City Council met in regular session on December 14, 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. CITIZENS COMMENTS Mr. Dan Reed addressed the council with items he believes that need to be priorities with the City: (1) eliminate the smell from the chicken plants; (2) reduce the sales tax by better fiscal responsibility of the city’s funds and (3) fix the narrow roads specifically St. Louis Street. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS A) POLICE DEPARTMENT Police Chief Alan Cockrill addressed the council with his monthly report. The Chief reported that accidents were up primarily from the increase of traffic. He currently has a full staff with only one officer to attend the police academy in January. Chief Cockrill also reported that his department was recently awarded a $34,000.00 for the purchase of new body cameras. B) ENGINEER’S REPORT City Engineer Damon Johnson addressed the council with his monthly report. Mr. Johnson said Contract Section III is progressing well with approximately 95% of the line laid. They have started the tunnel that will go under Highway 167. This is one of 4 tunnel bores in this project. Mr. Johnson said the bores are tedious work but the project is currently ahead of schedule and he is hopeful that it will finish ahead of schedule. The Wastewater Treatment Plant is running well. The winter months are hard on the plant but we are not having any issue making our required permits. Mr. Johnson said he and the Water Treatment Supervisor, Ben Hunter, were going to Nashville, Tennessee tomorrow to visit a water treatment plant using the new technology that they are considering for our plant. He said they plan on visiting a couple other plants then will be able to finish the preliminary report for the plant improvements. Street department is continuing to work on street patching and drainage issues. Mr. Johnson said the paving company said they hope to be able to pave a few of our streets before the end of the year and the Highway Department is waiting on the utilities to move their th lines in order to start the round-a-bout and widening of Myers and 20 Streets. Councilmember Bryant reminded the council that the city received a $400,000.00 grant for this project. C) CONSIDER A REVISION OF RESOLUTION 2021-05-03-R CONCERNING THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONTRACT WITH BATESVILLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Councilmember Bryant introduced a resolution to fix inconsistencies in Resolution #2021-05-03-R regarding the agreement between the City and the Chamber of Commerce for Economic Development. Councilmember Bennett moved to read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Bryant seconded and all voted for. Mr. Meitzen read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Bennett moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember Bryant seconded. The roll call vote was 7 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2021-12- 01-R. D) EXECUTIVE SESSION Councilmember Hubbard moved to go into executive session to discuss appointments to the Historic District. Councilmember Bryant seconded and all voted for. Upon returning from executive session, Councilmember Matthews made the following re-appointment recommendations to the Historic District; David Thompson, Ron Autry and Mayfan Thomas. Councilmember Bryant seconded an all voted for. All appointments will expire January 8, 2025. E) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE TO ADOPT THE 2022 BUDGET Councilmember Fredricks introduced an ordinance to adopt the 2022 budget for the City and Utility funds. Councilmember Bennett moved to suspend the rules 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 and the roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the ordinance. Councilmember Bennett seconded and the roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. The ordinance was given #2021-12-01. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the emergency clause. Councilmember Bennett seconded and all voted for. F) PAID BILLS REPORT The council was given a copy of the November paid bills report for review. MAYOR COMMENTS The Mayor informed the council and media of the sanitation schedules for the upcoming holidays and said the information will be posted on the City’s Facebook page. nd He also said the city hall building will be closed Wednesday, December 22 to allow Entergy to replace a bad transformer. All the tenants have been made aware of the closing. The Mayor asked the council if they had a chance to look at a proposed street light on an existing pole between 61 and 105 Thunderbird Lane. Councilmember Fredricks said he drove the area and said it was dark and a street light should be installed. Mr. Fredricks put his remarks in the form of a motion and Councilmember Bryant seconded. All voted for. LIAISON REPORTS Councilmember Bryant said the Airport is proceeding with the construction of a new T-hanger and road overlays with grant funds they recently received. COUNCIL COMMENTS With the exception of a few Merry Christmases, there were no council comments. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Councilmember Bennett moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and all voted for. The meeting was adjourned at 6:42 pm.