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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-05-13 MINUTES OF COUNCIL MAY 13, 2014 The Batesville City Council met in regular session on May 13, at 5:30 PM at the Municipal Building. Mayor Elumbaugh called the meeting to order. Cemetery Supervisor Johnathan Abbott gave the invocation. Upon roll call, the following council answered present; Chris Beller, Tommy Bryant, Margarett Henley, Paige Hubbard, Douglas Matthews, Chris Poole, and David Shetron. Also present were the City Clerk and the City Attorney. Councilmember Fred Krug was absent. Councilmember Bryant moved to approve the minutes from the previous meeting. Councilmember Shetron seconded and all voted for. Councilmember Bryant moved to approve the prepared agenda. Councilmember Henley seconded and all voted for. CITIZENS COMMENTS None UNFINISHED BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS A) SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT MONTHLY REPORT Sheriff Steve Jeffery addressed the council and introduced his new Chief Deputy, Jeremy Qualls. Sheriff Jeffery said Independence County has been chosen to receive a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MWRAP) Vehicle. The vehicle will be used for high water rescues and in high risk drug traffic situations and areas. The vehicles are retired from the military and cost approximately $700,000.00 new. The county is purchasing the vehicle for$5,000.00 out of fines received from drug arrests. Councilmember Bryant asked the Sheriff if the reimbursement from the State for inmates has changed. The Sheriff said it has changed for the worse. He said currently they have 54 inmates waiting to be transferred to a state prison and 30 waiting for Circuit Court. The County Jail has 119 beds and is currently housing 135 inmates and has recently had as many as 150 to 155 inmates. He said each cell has two beds and they put mattresses on the floor for additional inmates. The Sheriff said the food costs are low but it is the medical and dental cost that is high. He said the State reimburses $29.00 per day for inmate costs and the state average is $50.00 per day. Mayor Elumbaugh said an Interlocal meeting needs to be scheduled this month. After discussing a date, the Mayor set May 22nd at 4:00 PM for the meeting. B) MS. CRYSTAL JOHNSON, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CEO, WITH A PRESENTATION AND INTRODUCTION OF THE 2014 LEADERSHIP BATESVILLE CLASS Ms. Crystal Johnson, Batesville Chamber CEO, addressed the council. Ms. Johnson had the Leadership Batesville Class of 2014 introduce themselves and she gave a brief explanation of what the class will participate in during the next few weeks. C) MR. JOHNATHAN ABBOTT TO DISCUSS THE LIGHTING AUDIT FOR CITY HALL Mr. Johnathan Abbott, Cemetery / Landscape Supervisor, addressed the council. Mr. Abbott also oversees the maintenance of the City Hall building. Mr. Abbott said City Hall was built in 1980 and the City is slowly trying to update the facility. He said during the past couple of years, when an overhead light ballast goes bad, City crews have been replacing them with LED lights. The LED lights are more economical than the florescent lights that are currently used throughout the building. Mr. Abbott said a company, MHSC Energy Management, who is contracted through Entergy performed an energy audit and gave the City a proposal of$21,648, after a rebate, to retrofit all the lights in the City Hall building to LED. After a discussion, the council did not act on the issue. D) CONSIDER A TAX BACK RESOLUTION FOR EURARK, LLC Councilmember Beller introduced a resolution to allow EurArk, LLC to participate in the Tax Back Program for the refund on sales and use tax paid on a building addition on their facility located at 50 Industrial Drive in Batesville. Mr. Castleberry read the resolution in full. Councilmember Beller moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember Bryant seconded. The roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2014-05-01-R. E) MR. JEFF OWENS, PARKS DIRECTOR, WITH A PROPOSAL FROM THE YOUTH SOFTBALL CITIZENS GROUP Parks Director Jeff Owens addressed the council and informed the council that a group of concerned parents have attended a Parks Commission Meeting with their concerns regarding softball fields at the North Complex. The group said the softball program was left out of the recreation tax and are still playing softball on the same fields. The Parks Commission formed an ad-hoc committee to come up with several proposals to present to the city council for consideration. Mr. John Hayes addressed the council on behalf of the ad-hoc committee. Mr. Hayes said the city removed 3 baseball fields from Fitzhugh Park and replaced them with 7 baseball fields at the North Complex. The "multi-purpose" fields have grass infields and are not ideal for softball. Mr. Hayes gave the council the recommendations from the ad-hoc committee which were discussed briefly by the council. Mayor Elumbaugh formed a committee of councilmembers to meet with the ad-hoc committee to discuss possible remedies. Councilmembers Chris Poole, David Shetron, Paige Hubbard and Tommy Bryant were appointed to the committee as well as Parks Director Jeff Owens. The group is to meet at 5:00 PM on Tuesday May 20th at the North Complex. F) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO CONTRACT WITH INTIMIDATOR/BAD DAWG ACCESSORIES FOR A 5 YEAR SPONSORSHIP OF A BALL FIELD AT THE NORTH COMPLEX Councilmember Shetron introduced a resolution to contract with Intimidator/Bad Dawg Accessories for the sponsorship of one ball field at the North Complex for the sum of$7,500.00 for a period of 5 years. Mr. Castleberry read the resolution in full. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember Beller seconded. The roll call vote was 7 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2014-05-02-R. G) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO CONTRACT WITH WILLIAMS EQUIPMENT FOR THE SPONSORSHIP OF SEVEN SCOREBOARDS AT THE NORTH COMPLEX Councilmember Shetron introduced a resolution to contract with Williams Equipment for the sponsorship of seven scoreboards for a period of six years. Mr. Castleberry read the resolution in full. Councilmember Beller moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember Bryant seconded. The roll call vote was 7 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2014-05-03-R. H) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO CONTRACT WITH FIRST COMMUNITY BANK FOR THE SPONSORSHIP OF SEVEN SCOREBOARDS AT THE NORTH COMPLEX Councilmember Beller introduced a resolution to contract with First Community Bank for the sponsorship of seven scoreboards for a period of six years. Mr. Castleberry read the resolution in full. Councilmember Beller moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember Bryant seconded. The roll call vote was 7 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2014-05-04-R. 1) ENGINEER'S REPORT City Engineer Damon Johnson addressed the council with his Engineer's Report. Mr. Johnson said the City opened bids for a new 2014 Chipper. Two bids were submitted. Henard Utility Products was the low bid at $46,340.00. Mr. Johnson said the bids had been reviewed and he was recommending the City accept the low bid. Ms. Johnston said the City has been approved for the chipper in the amount of$50,000.00 so the City will be able to purchase a couple of extra blades for the chipper. Councilmember Matthews moved to accept the low bid and Councilmember Bryant seconded. All voted for. Mr. Johnson said City crews are still working to make repairs sustained from the recent flash floods. Major repairs are being done on the bridge at Riverside Park which had resulted in having to close a portion of Chaney Drive. J) EXECUTIVE SESSION Councilmember Matthews moved to go into executive session. Councilmember Henley seconded and all voted for. Upon returning from executive session, Councilmember Shetron moved to appoint Ms. Kristy Jenkins to the Parks Commission. Councilmember Poole seconded and all voted for except Councilmember Beller who abstained. Ms. Jenkins' term will expire 01/10/2019. K) PAID BILLS REPORT The council was given a copy of the April 2014 paid bills report for review. L) FINANCIAL REPORT FOR MARCH 2014 The council was given a copy of the March 2014 financials for review. MAYOR COMMENTS Mayor Elumbaugh commended the City employees for the hard work and long hours worked during the recent flooding the City received. To thank the City employees, there will be a catfish dinner at Josie's at the Lockhouse on Thursday from 11 AM to 12:30 PM. Sponsors for the event are Citizens Bank, First Community Bank, Woodlawn Nursing Home and the Batesville Chamber of Commerce. The council was informed of a fixed asset disposal. The Street Department traded in a 2007 John Deere Tractor with loader, Unit#715 for a new 2014 Utility Tractor. Mayor Elumbaugh read a Proclamation to recognize May 17, 2014 as National Kids to Parks Day. LIAISON REPORTS None COUNCIL COMMENTS None ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Councilmember Bryant moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilmember Beller seconded and all voted for. RICK ELUMBAUGH, MAYOR DENISE M. JOHNSTON, CITY CLERK