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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-12-09 MINUTES OF COUNCIL DECEMBER 9, 2014 The Batesville City Council met in regular session on December 9, at 5:30 P.M. at the Municipal Building. Mayor Rick Elumbaugh called the meeting to order. Cemetery/Landscape Supervisor Jonathan Abbott gave the invocation. Upon roll call, the following councilmembers answered present: Chris Beller, Tommy Bryant, Sonya Crafton, Margarett Henley, Paige Hubbard, Doug Matthews, Chris Poole and David Shetron. Also present were the City Attorney Lindsey Castleberry and City Clerk Denise Johnston. Councilmember Shetron moved to approve the minutes from the previous meeting. Councilmember Bryant seconded and all voted for. Councilmember Bryant moved to approve the prepared agenda as amended. Councilmember Beller seconded and all voted for. CITIZENS COMMENTS None OLD BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS A) SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT MONTHLY REPORT The council had in their packets the October 2014 Sheriff Department's monthly activity report. No one from the Sheriff's Department was in attendance. B) FIRE CHIEF BRENT GLEGHORN REGARDING LED LIGHTING FOR FIRE STATIONS Fire Chief Brent Gleghorn addressed the council with a request to purchase LED lighting for all three fire stations. The Chief said the total costs is $20,495.15 before rebates. He said they will also save the installation expenses by doing the installation themselves. With the deductions of the rebates and installation fees the cost is reduced to $9,278.50. Councilmember Poole moved to approve the LED lighting with the expenses being paid from the alcohol tax monies. Councilmember Matthews seconded and all voted for. C) RECOGNIZE INDIVIDUALS FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING WORK ON OUR CHRISTMAS LIGHTS FOR 2014 Mayor Elumbaugh recognized Cemetery/Landscaping Supervisor Mr. Jonathan Abbott and his crew for the outstanding Christmas lights erected throughout Batesville. The Mayor said Mr. Abbott and his crew starting putting up the lights the first of October. They have spent hundreds of hours and the effort has positively paid off. The Mayor gave each employee a certificate of appreciation. Mr. Abbott spoke briefly and thanked his crew as well as other departments within the City for their help. D) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO REVISE THE BATESVILLE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Code Enforcement Officer Chad McClure addressed the council regarding a revision to the Batesville Comprehensive Plan. The property is in the vicinity of Mill Heights, Dry Kiln, and Harrison Streets and is currently residential. Mr. McClure said a public hearing was conducted with no opposition to change the recommended use to commercial and high density residential. Councilmember Bryant introduced a resolution to change the comprehensive plan as recommended. Mr. Castleberry read the resolution in full. Councilmember Beller moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember Matthews seconded. The roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2014-12-01-R. E) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE BATESVILLE ZONING DISTRICTS MAP Councilmember Bryant introduced an ordinance to rezone certain properties from R-1 to R-2 and R-1 to C-1 located in the vicinity of Mill Heights, Dry Kiln and Harrison Streets. Councilmember Matthews moved to suspend the rules and read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Bryant seconded and the roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. Mr. Castleberry read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Matthews moved to further suspend the rules and suspend the second and third readings. Councilmember Henley seconded and the roll call vote was 8 for and 0 against. Councilmember Bryant then moved to adopt the ordinance and Councilmember Matthews seconded. The roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. The ordinance was given #2014-12-01. F) EXECUTIVE SESSION Councilmember Bryant moved to go into executive session. Councilmember Henley seconded and all voted for. Upon returning from executive session, Councilmember Shetron moved to re- appoint Mr. Terry King, Mr. Ron Lewallen and Ms. Barbara Fitzpatrick to the Historic District Commission. Councilmember Beller seconded and all voted for. Their terms will expire January 8, 2018. G) ENGINEER'S REPORT City Engineer Damon Johnson addressed the council with his engineer's report. Mr. Johnson updated the council on several projects currently going on around the city and said all departments are running smoothly. H) PAID BILLS REPORT The council was given a copy of the November, 2014 paid bills report for review. MAYOR COMMENTS Mayor Elumbaugh said the next council meeting needs to be rescheduled do to the upcoming holidays. After discussing several dates, the council decided on December 17th at Fire Station 3 on White Drive. The meeting will open with discussing the proposed budget then go into a council meeting. LIAISON REPORTS None COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Bryant said he wanted to discuss the possibility of employee pay incentives. Mr. Bryant said he would rather call them "Job well done" pay. He reminded the council that city employees did not get a raise in 2014 and only a 1% in 2013 while the cost of living has increased at a much higher rate. He also praised the hard work and dedication of our employees and said the city should acknowledge their deeds. Mr. Bryant recommended a $500.00 "Job well done" pay for full time employees and $250.00 for permanent part-time employees. Councilmember Crafton seconded and all voted for. Councilmember Poole said he would like to discuss the Interlocal Agreement on Law Enforcement. Mr. Poole reminded the council that according to the study by Davis Business Planning, the City could have better police protection with a city police department and under our current agreement with the county. He said currently we have approximately 2.6 officers on the streets of Batesville 24/7. The study said for the same amount we could have 4.5 officers on the streets 24/7. Mr. Poole said dissolving the interlocal agreement has been tossed around for at least 4 or 5 years and he believes this is the time to do it. He also said he understands the county's concerns, however, he was elected by the citizens of Batesville and is sworn to look out for their best interest. City Attorney Lindsey Castleberry said he looked this afternoon and discovered the interlocal agreement was adopted by ordinance, therefore it would have to be dissolved by ordinance. Mr. Poole moved to have the City Attorney begin the process to dissolve the agreement by having an ordinance ready to adopt at the next council meeting. Councilmember Shetron seconded and the roll call voted was 8 for and 0 against. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Councilmember Henley moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilmember Beller seconded and all voted for. RICK ELUMBAUGH, MAYOR DENISE M. JOHNSTON, CITY CLERK