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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-07-08 MINUTES OF COUNCIL JULY 8,2014 The Batesville City Council met in regular session on July 8, at 5:30 PM at the Municipal building. Mayor Rick Elumbaugh presided over the meeting. Cemetery/Landscape Supervisor Jonathan Abbott gave the invocation. Upon roll call,the following councilmembers answered present: Chris Beller,Tommy Bryant, 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 Bryant moved to approve the minutes from the previous meeting. Councilmember Henley seconded and all voted for. Councilmember Beller moved to approve the prepared agenda and councilmember Bryant seconded. All voted for. CITIZENS COMMENTS None UNFINISHED BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS A) MONTHLY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT REPORT Chief Deputy Qualls addressed the council and disbursed the May, 2014 Sheriff's Department Activity and Status Report. B) HEAR A REQUEST FROM THE MAIN STREET BATESVILLE STREETSCAPE ADVISORY PANEL TO CONTINUE WITH PHASE THREE AND FOUR Mr. Bob Carius addressed the council on behalf of the Main Street Batesville Streetscape Advisory Panel. Mr. Carius said the panel distributed surveys regarding the proposed streetscape plans for downtown Batesville. The panel received 90 surveys back with a 69% approval for the streetscape. He said most of the complaints were the "back-in" parking. Other issues like handicap parking and delivery truck parking were also addressed. The panel voted to take out all "back-in" parking and make them "front-in" parking. After a brief discussion, Councilmember Shetron moved for Main Street to proceed with Phases three and four. Councilmember Poole seconded and all voted for. C) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO APPLY FOR A GIF GRANT ON BEHALF OF WHITE RIVER MEDICAL CENTER Ms. Amanda Roberts addressed the council regarding the proposed resolution. Ms. Roberts said if approved the grant funds in the amount of$92,785.00 will be used to purchase a Responder 5 Call Light System to be installed in the Intensive Care Unit at White River Medical Center. The new system will eliminate the existing manual hardware-based system and upgrade the ICU to a software based state-of-the art communication system. Councilmember Bryant introduced the resolution. Councilmember Shetron moved to read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Henley seconded and the roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. Mr. Castleberry read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Shetron moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember Bryant seconded. The roll call count was 6 for and 2 (Matthews and Poole) abstained. The resolution was given#2014-07-01-R. D) CONSIDER A RESOLUTIN TO PROVIDE OVERSIGHT OF UTILITY RATES Councilmember Bryant introduced a resolution to provide oversight of utility rates by the City Council. Mr. Castleberry read the resolution in full. Councilmember Shetron said he would like section 2 of the resolution to include verbiage that the utility rate study be performed by an outside firm. Mr. Bryant said he would prepare an amending resolution for the next meeting to add Mr. Shetron's request. Councilmember Poole moved to adopt the resolution. Councilmember Henley seconded and the roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. The resolution was given#2014-07-02-R E) THIRD AND FINAL READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO MODIFY THE FEES AND RATES CHARGED BY BATESVILLE WATER AND SEWER UTILITIES Councilmember Shetron moved to read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Henley seconded and the roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. Mr. Castleberry read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Shetron moved to adopt the ordinance and Councilmember Bryant seconded. The roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. The ordinance was given#2014-07-01. F) REVIEW PAID BILLS REPORT The council was given a copy of the June, 2014 paid bills report for review. G) ENGINEER'S REPORT City Engineer Damon Johnson addressed the council with his Engineer's Report. Mr.Johnson said that the Chaney Drive bridge was open for the July 4th traffic at Riverside Park. He said there is still some channel work to be completed as well as asphalt work. Mr.Johnson gave a brief update on different projects going on around the City. MAYOR COMMENTS Mayor Elumbaugh said he has a conflict with the next scheduled Council meeting. He asked the council to consider changing the next meeting to July 29th. Councilmember Matthews so moved and Councilmember Bryant seconded. All voted for. Cemetery/Landscaping Supervisor Jonathan Abbott addressed the council regarding the replacing of the current florescent light bulbs in the Municipal Building to all LED lights. Previously the council asked Mr. Abbott to check on any grant funds for the project. Mr. Abbott said he did not find any help from grant sources but there is a $4,500. rebate from Entergy for updating the system. The total cost of the project will be between $22,000 to$23,000 after the rebate. He said the savings in utility costs should pay for the improvements within 3 to 4 years. Because the expected cost is over$20,000., the project will have to go out for bids. Councilmember Matthews moved to advertise for bids and Councilmember Beller seconded. All voted for. Mayor Elumbaugh asked for out of state travel approval for 4 firefighters to go inspect and pick up the new fire truck. The Rosenbauer Manufacture Company is paying for lodging and meals so the only expense will be fuel. Councilmember Bryant moved to approve the out of state travel. Councilmember Beller seconded and all voted for. LIAISON REPORT None COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Beller offered a debt of gratitude for the city workers that worked long hours in extreme heat conditions to have the Chaney Drive Bridge opened for the holiday. He also mentioned the amount of money our city crews saved our citizens by doing the work rather than contracting it out. Councilmember Matthews said the Friends of the Airport and the Batesville Fire Department had a demo of the crash truck at the airport. Dr. Matthews said it was very impressive. The council talked about the number of calls regarding limb pick-up throughout the City. The Mayor asked the public to be patient because of the amount of recent storms there is an overabundance of tree limbs around the City. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Councilmember Bryant moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilmember Henley seconded and all voted for. RICK ELUMBAUGH, MAYOR DENISE M.JOHNSTON,CITY CLERK