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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-09-09 MINUTES OF COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 The Batesville City Council met in regular session on September 9t" at 5:30 P.M. at the Municipal Building. Mayor Rick Elumbaugh called the meeting to order. Utility Billing Manager Nick Baxter gave the invocation. Upon roll call, the following councilmembers answered present: Chris Beller, Tommy Bryant, 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 Krug was absent. Councilmember Henley moved to approve the minutes from the previous meeting. Councilmember Bryant seconded and all voted for. Councilmember Matthews moved to approve the prepared agenda. Councilmember Bryant seconded and all voted for. CITIZENS COMMENTS Ms. Twyla Wright addressed the council to thank the City for the continued support to the Old Independence Regional Museum. Ms. Wright said the museum has been in operation for 17 years and was recently recognized by the State as one of the best medium size museums. She said the museum has won several awards including a "Best in the State" for their Civil War Uniform exhibit. Ms. Wright introduced Ms. Amelia Bowman as their new part time director. Ms. Amelia Bowman said the museum has approximately 1,300 students from 12 counties visit every year as well as over 6,000 visitors from across the country. Ms. Bowman also thanked the City for their financial support. OLD BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS A) MONTHLY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT REPORT Chief Deputy Jeremy Qualls addressed the council with the monthly Sheriff's Department report. Chief Qualls said the department is gearing up for this weekend's White River Water Carnival. He said they will have the mounted police on the sandbar and will have extra security throughout Riverside Park. B) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO CONTRACT WITH CENTENNIAL BANK FOR THE SPONSORSHIP OF A BALL FIELD AT THE NORTH COMPLEX Councilmember Beller introduced a resolution to contract with Centennial Bank for the sponsorship of a ball field at the North Complex. City Attorney Castleberry read the resolution in full. Councilmember Beller moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember Henley seconded. The roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2014-09-01. C) EXECUTIVE SESSION Councilmember Matthews moved to go into executive session and Councilmember Bryant seconded. All voted for. Upon returning from executive session, Councilmember Matthews moved to reappoint Mr. James Boothby and Mr. Zach Mobley to the Batesville Appeals Commission. Councilmember Bryant seconded and all voted for. Mr. Boothby's and Mr. Mobley's terms will expire September 8, 2019. Councilmember Shetron moved to reappoint Ms. Gail Harley and Mr. Kenny Smothers to the City Tree Board. Councilmember Bryant seconded and all voted for. Ms. Harley's and Mr. Smothers terms will expire 09/08/2016. Councilmember Poole moved to appoint Mr. Robb Roberts to the Public Facilities Board to replace Dr. Chris Beller who resigned his position. Councilmember Bryant seconded and all voted for. Mr. Robert's term will expire 11/10/2018. D) ENGINEER'S REPORT City Engineer Damon Johnson addressed the council with his engineer's report. He said the State Aid paving program is underway in Batesville. The Utility Construction Department has been working hard to replace lines on the streets that are scheduled for overlay. The Street Department is finishing up on the repairs from the March and April floods. He said they have a long list of drainage repairs they will be starting on soon. Also he hopes to get a street crew to start on the first block of the new streetscape project on Main Street. He said an anonymous donor has funded the improvements for the first block and as Main Street Batesville raises more funds, the additional blocks will be completed. No tax money is being used for the project. The Water Treatment Plant is preparing for water tank inspections and the Wastewater Treatment Plant construction is progressing well. E) PAID BILLS REPORT The council was given a copy of the August, 2015 Paid Bills Report for review. MAYOR COMMENTS Mayor Elumbaugh said an Interlocal Meeting needs to be set this month. A tentative date of September 23rd was set contingent upon the Sheriff and County Judge's schedule. The Mayor said he received a letter from Councilmember Krug stating his resignation from the council. Mr. Krug and his wife have retired and moved from their Ward. The Mayor asked for those who were interested in the position to submit a resume to City Hall by 5:00 PM, September 16, 2014. Fire Chief Brent Gleghorn addressed the council regarding the repairs of a 1996 pumper truck. At the last meeting the council asked the Chief to get a second bid for the repairs. Diamond International of Little Rock gave a bid of$19,551.78. Emergency Repairs of Arkansas bid was $16,274.68. The Chief said the bids for the parts were comparable but the Diamond International's labor was $50.00 more per hour. Councilmember Beller moved to approve the repairs with the low bid by ERA and Councilmember Matthews seconded. All voted for. LIAISON REPORTS None COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Poole said he read in the Batesville Guard that the County Judge has told the group of Southside residents who are trying to incorporate their community that the County will continue to provide the area with the services that they are currently receiving. Mr. Poole asked if we, the City of Batesville, should request the same consideration as well as Moorefield and other communities in the County. Councilmember Beller agreed and suggested that the Mayor visit with the Judge. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Councilmember Matthews moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilmember Bryant seconded and all voted for. RICK ELUMBAUGH, MAYOR DENISE M. JOHNSTON, CITY CLERK