Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-12-13 MINUTES OF COUNCIL DECEMBER 13, 2022 The Batesville City Council met in regular session on December 13, 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, Paige Hubbard, Fred Krug, Doug Matthews, and Chris Poole. Also present were the City Clerk Denise Johnston and City Attorney Tim Meitzen. Councilmember Hubbard moved to approve the minutes from the previous meeting. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and all voted for. Councilmember Hinkle moved to approve the prepared agenda. Councilmember Hubbard seconded and all voted for. CITIZENS COMMENTS None UNFINISHED BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS A) POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT Lieutenant John Scarbrough addressed the council on behalf of Police Chief Cockrill for their monthly report. Lieutenant Scarbrough gave the council a written report for activities for November, 2022. Lieutenant Scarbrough also reported that 3 of the 4 police trucks that were ordered in 2021 were in and are th currently getting the police package installed and the 4 truck should follow soon. Lieutenant Scarbrough also said he and the Mayor had visited with a different company regarding radar signs and should have a couple of demos next month. B) ENGINEERS REPORT City Engineer Damon Johnson addressed the council with his monthly report. He said he didn’t have much to report, that both plants were working smoothly and tunnel work for Project Section III is slowly continuing. C) MR. BOB CARIUS TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL REGARDING HIS RETIREMENT FROM MAIN STREET BATESVILLE Mr. Bob Carius addressed the council to thank several City employees who he has worked closely with over the past several years. He mentioned several projects including the purchase of the Barnett Building which now houses the Independence County Library, the Main Street “Streetscape”, and Maxfield Park to name a few. Mr. Carius said without the partnership between Main Street Batesville and the City of Batesville, none of the projects would have happened. Mr. Carius said he is retiring but plans to stay active in our community. Mayor Elumbaugh then presented Mr. Carius with a Key to the City for his years of dedication to the City of Batesville. D) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION CERTIFYING LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENDORSEMENT OF EURARK, LLC TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TAX BACK PROGRAM Councilmember Bryant introduced a resolution certifying the endorsement of Eurark, LLC to participate in the Tax Back Program as authorized by Arkansas ode Annotated 15-4-2706(d). Councilmember Bryant moved to read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Poole seconded and the electronic roll call count was 8 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 8 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2022-12-01-R. E) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO AN ADMINISTRATIVE AGREEMENT WITH WHITE RIVER PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT Councilmember Fredricks introduced a resolution authorizing the Mayor of Batesville to enter into an administrative agreement with White River Planning and Development District, Inc. to administer a grant for the purchase of equipment to benefit Eurark LLC, DBA Lifeplus International. Councilmember Bryant moved to read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Hinkle seconded and the electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember Poole seconded. The roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2022-12-02-R. F) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CHIEF ELECTED OFFICIAL TO SIGN AN APPLICATION FOR CDBG FUNDS Councilmember Bryant introduced a resolution to authorize chief elected official to sign an application for CDBG funds to benefit Eurark LLC DBA Lifeplus International. Bryant moved to read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Bennett seconded and the electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember Poole seconded. The roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2022-12-03-R. G) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO WAIVE COMPETITIVE BIDDING FOR THE REMODEL OF THE NEW BATESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT Councilmember Bryant introduced a resolution to waive competitive bidding for the remodel of the new Batesville Police Department. Mayor Elumbaugh explained that the City received a bid from a local company, M & A Jones Construction and because the job needs to be completed as soon as possible to keep the City from having to pay rent for the location of the current Police Department, he, the Police Chief and City Engineer agreed the City needed to proceed with M & A Jones Construction. Bryant moved to read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Hubbard seconded and the electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember Hinkle seconded. The roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2022-12-04-R. H) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION SETTING FEES FOR THE INTERNMENTS AND DIS-INTERNMENTS FOR THE OAKLAWN CEMETERY, GRAY’S ADDITION TO OAKLAWN CEMETERY AND THE MAUSOLEUM Councilmember Bryant introduced a resolution to increase the fees for internments and dis-internments for Oaklawn Cemetery, Gray’s Addition to Oaklawn Cemetery and the Mausoleum located within Oaklawn Cemetery. Mayor Elumbaugh noted that it had been many years since these fees have been increased. Councilmember Bryant moved to read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and the electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Bennett moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember Bryant seconded. The roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2022-12- 05-R. I) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION LEVYING FEES FOR TRASH AND GARBAGE PICKUP SERVICE Councilmember Bryant introduced a resolution to increase the rates for the pickup and disposal of household garbage inside the city limits of Batesville. Councilmember Bennett moved to read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Bryant seconded and the electronic roll call count was 8 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 8 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2022-12-06-R. J) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH AND AMEND FEES FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF THE CITY OWNED PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES Councilmember Bryant introduced an ordinance to amend the fee schedules for the operation and maintenance of the city owned Parks and Recreation facilities. Councilmember Bryant moved to suspend the rules and read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Bennett seconded and the electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Poole moved to further suspend the rules and waive the second and third readings. Councilmember Hinkle seconded and the electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. Councilmember Poole moved to adopt the ordinance and Councilmember Bryant seconded. The electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. The ordinance was given #2022-12-01. Mr. Meitzen read the emergency clause. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the emergency clause. Councilmember Poole seconded and the electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. K) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE ADOPTING OF THE 2023 BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF BATESVILLE AND BATESVILLE WATER UTILITIES Councilmember Poole introduced an ordinance for the adoption of the 2023 budget for the City of Batesville and Batesville Water Utilities. Councilmember Bryant moved to suspend the rules and read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Poole seconded and the electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Bennett moved to further suspend the rules and waive the second and third readings. Councilmember Poole seconded and the electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the ordinance and Councilmember Bennett seconded. The electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. The ordinance was given #2022-12-02. Mr. Meitzen read the emergency clause. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the emergency clause. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and the electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. L) EXECUTIVE SESSION Councilmember Fredricks moved to go into executive session for the purpose of reappointments to the Historic District Commission. Councilmember Bryant seconded and all voted for. Upon returning from executive session, Councilmember Bryant moved to re- appoint the following to the Historic District Commission ; Ms. Shannon Haney, Dr. Terrell Tebbetts, and Mr. Nelson Barnett. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and all voted for. All terms will expire January 8, 2026. M) MONTHLY FINANCIAL The council was given a copy of the November, 2022 financial statement for review. MAYOR COMMENTS Mayor Elumbaugh said he hoped everyone got to attend the Christmas Parade and commented on the large number of floats and thanked Ms. Renee Martin for helping put on a wonderful parade. The Mayor said the next meeting will be January 10, 2023 and he plans to reimplement the twice a month meetings for 2023. LIAISON REPORTS Councilmember Bryant said he attended the last Advertising and Promotion meeting and said the hotel stays were up over 5,000 stays from 2021 and the A&P is in real good shape. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Bennett said our hotels were also full the past weekend due to an all-weekend Volleyball Tournament. Ms. Bennett said she received several comments on how great out facilities were and helpful our employees are. Councilmember Fredricks commented on the Christmas lights and thanked our employees who work endless hours installing and maintaining the lights through the Christmas season. Councilmember Krug commented that the latest Pickleball Tournament increased in participants from 72 to 104 and he also got great comments regarding our facilities and employees. 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 6:31 pm. RICK ELUMBAUGH, MAYOR DENISE M. JOHNSTON, CITY CLERK