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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-08-12 MINUTES OF COUNCIL AUGUST 12, 201 The Batesville City Council met in regular session on August 12, 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, Margarett Henley, Paige Hubbard, Fred Krug, Doug Matthews, Chris Poole and David Shetron. Also present were the City Attorney Lindsey Castleberry and City Clerk Denise Johnston. Councilmember Tommy Bryant was absent. Councilmember Beller moved to approve the minutes from the previous two meetings. Councilmember Henley seconded and all voted for. Councilmember Matthews moved to approve the prepared agenda. Councilmember Beller seconded and all voted for. CITIZENS COMMENTS None OLD BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS A) MONTHLY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT REPORT Sheriff Steve Jeffery and Chief Deputy Jeremy Qualls address the council with the Sheriff Department's Monthly Report for June, 2014. The Sheriff said as requested by the Mayor, his department has been patrolling the sandbar and have issued several warnings. The new fingerprint machines have been installed in the jail which has sped up the fingerprint process significantly. Councilmember Shetron asked the status on the jail regarding the overcrowding of inmates. He asked if the Arkansas Department of Corrections proposed 1,000 bed prison for our area would help with the problem. The Sheriff said as of today, they had 144 inmates in a 92 bed facility. He said the new facility would help in the future, approximately two years from now, but as for right now they still need help. B) PUBLIC HEARING FOR ISSUANCE OF BONDS FOR WOOD-LAWN, INC. Mayor Elumbaugh opened the public meeting at 5:40 PM for the purpose of issuing bonds for Wood-Lawn, Inc. The Mayor asked if there was anyone in the audience that would like to address the council regarding the issue. There being none, the Mayor closed the public hearing at 5:41 PM. C) CONSIDER A RESOSLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF REVENUE BONDS BY THE CITY OF BATESVILLE ON BEHALF OF WOOD-LAWN, INC. Mr. Taylor Marshall with Friday, Eldridge and Clark Law Firm addressed the council to answer any questions regarding the resolution. Councilmember Shetron introduced the resolution. Mr. Marshall read the resolution in full. After a brief discussion, Councilmember Matthews moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember seconded. The roll count was 6 for and 0 against and one abstained (Beller). The resolution was given #2014-08-01-R. D) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE TO ANNEX AND FORMA NEW WARD SOUTH OF THE RIVER Mayor Elumbaugh said he would like to make a few comments about the proposed annexation ordinance. The Mayor said the purpose of the annexation south is to make a positive and progressive move for our community. The City of Batesville is currently stuck around 10,000 citizens and the only way to increase our population is to annex. He said he wants Batesville to be a place where our kids and grandkids can return from college and raise their families. He said he and several others from the community met today with the Arkansas Economic Development Commission to discuss a long term plan to bring economic development to our community. He said one of the main concerns that he wanted to address is regarding school districts. City limit boundaries and school boundaries are completely different issues. He assured the public that the Southside School District will remain and those in that school district will continue to pay millage to that district. Another issue is water and sewer which will also stay the same. The City of Batesville will offer fire protection and animal control. Because of the number of persons included in the proposed annexation area, the City will form an additional ward, Ward 5, which will have two alderman on the city council from south of the river to represent the citizens of Southside. The Mayor then asked if there was anyone in the audience that would like to address the council regarding the proposed annexation. There being none, the Mayor said when questions arise to call city hall or come to his office and we would try to answer their questions. Councilmember Shetron introduced the ordinance. Councilmember Shetron moved to read the ordinance in full with the exception of the land legal description. Councilmember Beller seconded and the roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. City Attorney Castleberry read the ordinance in full with the exception of the land legal description which is included in the ordinance. Mayor Elumbaugh said the ordinance will be placed on the next meeting's agenda for the second reading. E) PAID BILLS REVIEW The council was given a copy of the July, 2014 paid bills report for review. MAYOR COMMENTS Mayor Elumbaugh said the Street Department is working hard to get all the brush picked up from the previous storms that blew through Batesville. He said the progress is steady but slow. The Mayor announced that Mr. Bill Hicks has been hired as the Dispatch Supervisor. Mr. Hicks has 11 years' experience in the county Office of Emergency Services and will be an asset to the department. Mr. Hicks will start August 25tH Mayor Elumbaugh said Water Treatment Plant Supervisor Larry Reeves is asking to allow his employee, Ben Hunter, to drive a City vehicle home. Mr. Reeves is retiring in the near future and is training Mr. Hunter to handle emergency situations that happen frequently, especially during electrical storms. Councilmember Matthews moved to allow Mr. Hunter to take a City vehicle home. Councilmember Beller seconded and all voted for. The Mayor said the health insurance committee needs to have a meeting as soon as possible. After a discussion, the Mayor set August 20th at 4:30 at City Hall for the meeting. LIAISON REPORTS None COUNCIL COMMENTS None ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Councilmember Matthews moved that the meeting be adjourned and Councilmember Henley seconded. All voted for. RICK ELUMBAUGH, MAYOR DENISE M.JOHNSTON, CITY CLERK