Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-11-19MINUTES OF COUNCIL NOVEMBER 19, 2024 The Batesville City Council met in regular session on November 19th, 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, Scott Fredricks, Julie Hinkle, Paige Hubbard, Fred Krug, Chris Poole, Landon Reeves and Robb Roberts. Also present were the City Clerk Denise Johnston and City Attorney Tim Meitzen. Councilmember Hinkle moved to approve the minutes from the previous meeting. Councilmember Hubbard seconded and all voted for. Councilmember Fredricks moved to approve the prepared agenda as amended. Councilmember Poole seconded and all voted for. CITIZENS COMMENTS None UNFINISHED BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS A) POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT Police Chief John Scarbrough addressed the council for his monthly report. When asked about how the new computers were doing in the vehicles, Chief Scarbrough said they are working out issues with the tickets posting properly with District Court. Mayor Elumbaugh asked if all officers had reflective safety vests. The Chief said the new safety vests include reflective material on them to add to the officer’s safety. B) ENGINEER’S REPORT City Engineer Damon Johnson addressed the council with his monthly report. Mr. Johnson started with the new Riverside Park project stating that the final design plan should be ready for review soon. The new Streetscape on Main Street is almost complete as they are going over the punch lists. The area at 6 th Street where the island juts out considerably into the street will have visible signage and possibly some shrubs to help make it more visible. The new Water Treatment Plant work is progressing. He said they are mindful to not disturb the Christmas Lights. Mr. Johnson said they are interviewing for a new Utility Office Manager as Mr. Nick Baxter is retiring at the end of the year. C) PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER CONDEMNATION ON SEVERAL PROPERTIES Mayor Elumbaugh opened the Public Hearing at 5:51 p.m. for several properties being considered for condemnation. Code Enforcement Officer Chad McClure explained the conditions that must be present in order to condemn a structure. He also said that once a property is condemned by the council, the owner has at a minimum of 30 days to make improvements before the city will take any action. The first three properties are located at 467 River Street, 441 River Street and 577 Bayou Street, all owned by Ms. Sharon Sanders. Mr. Bill Sanders, Ms. Sanders son, addressed the council regarding the properties. Mr. Sanders said he is currently moving the properties from his mother’s name into a trust that he will be responsible for. He said he just recently learned of the conditions of the properties and has received bids to tear down the structures at 467 and 441 River Street. The property at 577 Bayou is being renovated. The next property is 715 N. Central Avenue owned by Osneldi Figueroa . Mr. Figueroa, accompanied by his daughter for translation, addressed the council. This property, according to Mr. McClure, is much more concerning because it has had squatters inside. Mr. Figueroa said he purchased the property in August and has been trying to make improvements. He said he would need about 5 months to make the repairs. The next property is located at 1065 E. Boswell Street, owned by Shonia King. Ms. King addressed the council and said she has cleaned up outside and she visited with a realtor to list the property for sale. The next property is located at 250 Hawkins Street, owned by Mark Caldwell. Mr. Caldwell addressed the council and said he and his son would like some time to make improvements to the house. The next property is located at 2230 Neeley Street, owned by Bobbie Hall. Ms. Hall said she is working on cleaning up the yard and is having the car that is in the yard removed. The house is in probate. The next property is located at 1465 Edith Street, owned by Magdaleno Rodriguez. The property owners did not show up for the meeting but Mr. McClure said they are asking for additional time to clean up the property. The last property is located at 431 River Street, owned by Diana Beca Islas. Ms. Islas said her dad works on the house in his spare time. She said he will need 3 or 4 months to get the windows and doors installed. Mayor Elumbaugh closed the public hearing at 6:32 p.m. D) CONSIDER RESOLUTIONS TO CONDEMN THE STRUCTURES LOCATED AT 467 RIVER STREET, 441 RIVER STREET, 577 BAYOU STREET, 715 N. CENTRAL AVENUE, 1065 E. BOSWELL STREET, 250 HAWKINS STREET, 2230 NEELEY STREET, 1465 EDITH STREET AND 431 RIVER STREET. Starting with the property at 467 River Street, Mr. Roberts introduced the resolution. Councilmember Hinkle 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 Poole moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember Hinkle seconded. The electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2024-11 -01-R. Councilmember Roberts introduced a resolution to condemn the structure located at 441 River Street. Councilmember Hinkle moved to read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Hubbard seconded and the electronic roll call count was 7 for and 1 (Reeves) against. Mr. Meitzen read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Poole moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember Hubbard seconded. The electronic roll call count was 7 for and 1 (Reeves) against. The resolution was given #2024-11 -02-R. Councilmember Roberts introduced a resolution to condemn the structure located at 441 River Street. Councilmember Hinkle moved to read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Hubbard seconded and the electronic roll call count was 7 for and 1 (Reeves) against. Mr. Meitzen read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Poole moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember Hubbard seconded. The electronic roll call count was 7 for and 1 (Reeves) against. The resolution was given #2024-11 -03-R. Councilmember Krug introduced a resolution to condemn the structure located at 715 N. Central Avenue. Councilmember Hinkle 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 Fredricks moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember Poole seconded. The electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2024-11 -04-R. Councilmember Reeves introduced a resolution to condemn the structure located at 1065 E. Boswell Street. Councilmember Hinkle moved to read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Roberts seconded and the electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Hubbard moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember Roberts seconded. The electronic roll call count was 7 for and 1 (Reeves) against. The resolution was given #2024-11 -05-R. Councilmember Hinkle introduced a resolution to condemn the structure located at 250 Hawkins Street. Councilmember Hinkle 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 Hubbard moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember Roberts seconded. The electronic roll call count was 7 for and 1 (Fredricks) against. The resolution was given #2024-11 -06-R. Councilmember Hinkle introduced a resolution to condemn the structure located at 2230 Neeley Street. Councilmember Reeves 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 Roberts moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember Poole seconded. The electronic roll call count was 5 for and 3 (Fredricks, Hinkle and Reeves) against. The resolution was given #2024-11 -07-R. Councilmember Poole introduced a resolution to condemn the structure located at 1465 Edith Street. Councilmember Fredricks moved to read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Reeves seconded and the electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Hinkle moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember Poole seconded. The electronic roll call count was 6 for and 2 (Bennett and Reeves) against. The resolution was given #2024-11 -08-R. Councilmember Roberts introduced a resolution to condemn the structure located at 431 River Street. Councilmember Poole 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 Reeves moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember Roberts seconded. The electronic roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2024-11 -09-R. E) EXECUTIVE SESSION Councilmember Fredricks moved to go into executive session to consider the hiring, firing, promotion or demotion of one or more city employees. Councilmember Hinkle seconded and all voted for. Upon returning from executive session Councilmember Roberts moved to reappoint Cord Davidson to the Public Facility Board. Councilmember Poole seconded and all voted for. Mr. Davidson’s term will expire 11/10/2029. Councilmember Reeves moved to reappoint Mr. Grant Goodwin to the Airport Commission. Councilmember Fredricks seconded and all voted for. Mr. Goodwin’s term will expire 11/9/2029. F) FINANCE REPORT The council was given a copy of the October, 2024 Financials for review. MAYOR COMMENTS Mayor Elumbaugh asked the council to consider a budget meeting for December 10th and only one council meeting on December 17th. Councilmember Reeves so moved and Councilmember Hinkle seconded. All voted for. Mayor Elumbaugh told the council he would like them to consider giving our employees incentive pay for their work for the City and Utilities in 2024. Councilmember Krug moved to give the City and Utility employees a pay incentive according to the presented pay amounts and conditions for 2024. Councilmember Bennett seconded and all voted for. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Poole said he had been contacted by concerned business owners on lower Main Street regarding the misuse of Handicap Parking areas. He asked the Police Department to patrol the area and enforce the Handicap areas. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Councilmember Fredricks moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilmember Bennett seconded and all voted for. The meeting was adjourned at 7:09 p.m. RICK ELUMBAUGH, MAYOR DENISE M. JOHNSTON, CITY CLERK