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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-05-17 MINUTES OF COUNCIL MAY 17, 2022 The Batesville City Council met in regular session on May 17, 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, 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 Scott Fredricks was absent. Councilmember Hinkle moved to approve the minutes from the previous meeting. Councilmember Bennett seconded and all voted for. Councilmember Hinkle moved to approve the agenda as amended. Councilmember Bennett seconded and all voted for. CITIZENS COMMENTS Mr. Rex Brightwell and Mr. Williams Wells addressed the council regarding employee stimulus funds paid out November 18, 2021. The men retired in October, 2021 and said together they put in over 50 years with the city and feel like they were cheated by not receiving the stimulus funds. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS A) RECOGNITION FOR FIREFIGHTER MICHAEL RING Mayor Elumbaugh recognized and gave a certificate to Firefighter Michael Ring for his successful effort in rendering aid to a choking child and comforting his non-English speaking parents while dining with family on his off-duty time. B) ENGINEER’S REPORT City Engineer, Damon Johnson, addressed the council with his monthly report. Mr. Johnson reported that Contract Section III is progressing, slowly, but progressing. Where the sewer lines have been completed, they are repairing asphalt and seeding grass. The tunnels under Southerland Drive and Highway 106 are still under construction. The Wastewater Treatment Plant is running good. The design work for the improvements for the Water Treatment Plant are progressing. The Utility Construction department is continuing the water line replacement on Broad Street and also chasing water leaks throughout the town. Both chipper trucks are running so we hope to get caught up on the brush and limb pickup requests. C) POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT Chief Cockrill gave the council his monthly department report. The report showed 51 Incidents, 21 Arrests and 45 Accidents. Chief Cockrill said even though the accidents are down 7 from last month, they are still up from last year, primarily due to careless driving. D) DISCUSSION REGARDING PUBLIC SAFETY Ms. Amanda Bruce, who resides at 659 E. Boswell Street, addressed the council regarding speeding in Batesville. Ms. Bruce said the speeding, primarily on Main, College and Boswell Streets is out of control. Ms. Bruce said she sits on her porch and watches cars speed up and down Boswell Street. She said she is worried about the safety of the children in the area. Ms. Bruce said it is not only the citizens who are speeding but also school bus drivers and postal employees. Mr. Bill Olsen, who resides at 1063 E. College said he has also noticed the increase of speeders in the area. They both asked the council to come up with a plan to slow down the downtown traffic. Councilmember Krug said he did not want Batesville to become a “speed trap” but, if you are speeding, you need to be ticketed. Placing speed posting signs and radar signs were discussed. Councilmember Hubbard asked if Ms. Bruce had notified the school district about the speeding school busses and she said she had not. Ms. Bruce did acknowledge that a lot of the speeders are teenagers. Ms. Hubbard said we are a small town and if you know the speeder, contact their parents. Chief Alan said he is not for having his officer set and watch for speeders and to write tickets. He did say if a citizen sees a speeder and can get the license number, they can fill out an affidavit and file it with the City Attorney. At that point, the City Attorney can file a warrant for the arrest and prosecute the speeder. Ms. Bruce said she did not fill like it is her responsibility to have to do the police departments job. Councilmember Poole said all the information received tonight was a good start but it takes time to make any kind of change. Mayor Elumbaugh said he wants our community to be safe and all of the recommendations made tonight would be considered. E) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO UTILIZE FEDERAL-AID TRANSPIRATION ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM FUNDS Councilmember Bryant introduced a resolution to apply for Federal-aid Transportation Alternatives Program Funds for the development of additional Main Street Batesville Streetscape Project. The grant is an 80/20 match. Councilmember Bryant moved to suspend the rules and read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Bennett seconded and the electronic roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the resolution. Councilmember Bennett seconded and the electronic roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2022-05-01-R. F) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO UTILIZE FEDERAL-AID RECREATIONAL TRAILS PROGRAM FUNDS Councilmember Bryant introduced a resolution to apply for a 80/20 Federal-Aid Recreational Trails Program Funds grant for the development of an Aberdeen Drive Greenway. Councilmember Bennett moved to suspend the rules and read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Bryant seconded and the electronic roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember Poole seconded. The electronic roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2022-05-02-R. G) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE FOR THE APPROVAL OF AN APPLICATION FOR A PRIVATE CLUB PERMIT FOR “BIG’S EASY” Councilmember Bryant introduced an ordinance for the approval of an application for a private club permit for “Big’s Easy”. Councilmember Bryant 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. 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 electronic roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the ordinance and Councilmember Bennett seconded. The electronic roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. The ordinance was given #2022-05-01. Mr. Meitzen read the emergency clause. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the emergency clause and Councilmember Bennett seconded. The electronic roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. H) CONSIDER A REVISION TO AN ORDINANCE FOR THE APPROVAL OF AN APPLICATION FOR A PRIVATE CLUB PERMIT FOR CLUB LAS CATRINAS OF BATESVILLE Councilmember Bryant moved to introduce an ordinance that will change the owner name for the private club permit for “Club Las Catrinas of Batesville”. Councilmember Bryant moved to suspend the rules and read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Poole seconded and the electronic 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 electronic roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the ordinance and Councilmember Bennett seconded. The electronic roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. The ordinance was given #2022-05-02. Mr. Meitzen read the emergency clause. Councilmember Bennett moved to adopt the emergency clause and Councilmember Hubbard seconded. The electronic roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. I) EXECUTIVE SESSION Councilmember Poole moved to go into executive session. Councilmember Hubbard seconded and all voted for. Upon returning from executive session, Councilmember Matthews moved to re-appoint Mr. Landon Downing to the Planning Commission. Councilmember Hinkle seconded and all voted for. Mr. Downing’s term will expire June 10, 2027. J) PAID BILLS REPORT The council was given a copy of the April, 2022 paid bills report for review. MAYOR COMMENTS Mayor Elumbaugh asked the council to approve the animal control assistant, Christina Brogdon, to drive a city vehicle home. Councilmember Bryant moved to approve the request. Councilmember Bennett seconded and all voted for. Mayor Elumbaugh said he has a conflict with the next scheduled council meeting th and asked to change the date to Monday June, 13. Councilmember Poole so moved and Councilmember Bennett seconded. All voted in favor. The Mayor told the council of a new app for our citizens called Text My Gov. With the app, citizens can text our city departments with the request such as limb and leaf pick-ups, pot holes, dead animals, etc. The Mayor also said the grand opening of the splash pad in West Batesville was very successful and has been packed every day since its opening. He also reminded everyone that school is almost out so please be mindful of children playing out doors. LIAISON REPORTS None COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Bennett also wanted to comment on the new splash pad in West Batesville. She said it is a great addition and the kids are loving it. ADJOURNMENT There be no further business, Councilmember Bryant moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilmember Bennett seconded and all voted for. The meeting was adjourned at 6:43pm. RICK ELUMBAUGH, MAYOR DENISE M. JOHNSTON, CITY CLERK