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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-06-13 MINUTES OF COUNCIL JUNE 13, 2022 The Batesville City Council met in regular session on June 13, at 5:30 pm at the Municipal Building. Mayor Rick Elumbaugh presided over the meeting. Councilmember Krug gave the invocation. Upon roll call, the following Councilmembers answered present; Tommy Bryant, Julie Hinkle, Fred Krug, Doug Matthews and Chris Poole. Also present were the City Clerk Denise Johnston and City Attorney Tim Meitzen. Councilmembers Brittany Bennett, Scott Fredricks and Paige Hubbard were absent. Councilmember Bryant moved to approve the minutes from the previous meeting. Councilmember Hinkle seconded and all voted for. Councilmember Matthews moved to approve the prepared agenda as amended. Councilmember Bryant seconded and all voted for. CITIZENS COMMENTS Ms. Theodora Hightower who resides at 1041 E. College Street addressed the council during citizens comments. Ms. Hightower asked the council to condemn a house located at 1065 Boswell Street. She said the “Purple House” has been vacant for three years and is not being maintained. She also asked the council to repair several sidewalks in the downtown area. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS A) POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT Police Chief Alan Cockrill addressed the council with his monthly department report. The Chief gave the council his May, 2022 department report as well as a report showing the same data for March through May of 2020 for comparison. Chief Cockrill also reported on the Public Safety Committee Meeting that was held prior to tonight’s meeting. The committee discussed the recent complaints of excessive speeding in downtown Batesville. They decided to purchase 5 range-tracking radar signs that show a digital display of your speed and 1 traffic data collector that will gather data such as median, maximum and average vehicle speeds and total number of vehicles during specific times. All of the machines are movable so they can be moved from one area to another. The Chief said the committee is requesting to pay for the devices with the alcohol funds. Councilmember Poole moved to take the recommendation of the safety committee and purchase the devices from the alcohol funds. Councilmember Bryant seconded and all voted for. The total purchase will be approximately $16,000.00. Councilmember Krug asked about the city’s law regarding golf carts on city streets. Chief Cockrill said currently the city’s ordinance regulating ATV on city streets also includes golf carts. He said the city needs to amend the ordinance to allow golf carts in certain situations. Mayor Elumbaugh said he has requested ordinances from several cities from across the State and he hopes to have a draft for the council to consider soon. B) ENGINEER’S REPORT City Engineer Damon Johnson addressed the council with his monthly report. Mr. Johnson said the plants were working as expected as were all the departments. The Contract Section III is moving forward, albeit very slowly. Mr. Johnson said he had a citizen who lives in Quail Valley and said he has a paved strip across his property that is being used as a street but is not platted as such. He said the paved area is being used as a cut-through between Quail Valley Drive and Whippoorwill Drive. The land owner doesn’t know why the strip is there and wants to have it removed. Councilmember Bryant said the paved strip probably happened when the area was located in the County. Quail Valley was annexed into the city in May of 1977. Mr. Johnson said he didn’t have any problem with removing the asphalt from the property and placing a pipe under a driveway to help with drainage control. Councilmember Bryant so moved and Councilmember Poole seconded. All voted for. C) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, HERITAGE AND TOURISM TO SEEK IMPROVEMENT FUNDS Councilmember Bryant introduced a resolution to apply for improvements funds from the Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. The funds will be used to add a playground at the new West Batesville Splash Pad. Mr. Meitzen read the resolution in full. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the resolution. Councilmember Poole seconded and the roll call count was 5 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2022-06-01-R. D) EXECUTIVE SESSION Councilmember Bryant moved to go into executive session to consider the hiring, firing, promotion or demotion to one or more city employees. Councilmember Poole seconded and all voted for. Upon returning from executive session, Councilmember Matthews moved to re- appoint Ms. Janice Benton to the Batesville Housing Authority. Councilmember Bryant seconded and all voted for. Ms. Benton term will expire May 27, 2027. E) PAID BILLS REPORT The council was given a copy of the May, 2022 Paid Bills Report for review. MAYOR COMMENTS Mayor Elumbaugh said he would like to schedule the next council meeting for June st 21. Councilmember Bryant so moved and Councilmember Poole seconded. All voted for. LIAISON REPORTS None COUNCIL COMMENTS None ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Councilmember Matthews moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilmember Bryant seconded and all voted for. The meeting adjourned at 6:06pm. RICK ELUMBAUGH, MAYOR DENISE M. JOHNSTON, CITY CLERK