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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-11-24 MINUTES OF COUNCIL NOVEMBER 24, 2015 The Batesville City Council met in regular session on November 24, at 5:30 P.M. in the Municipal Building. Mayor Rick Elumbaugh called the meeting to order. Water Utility Billing Supervisor Nick Baxter 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 Tim Meitzen and Administrative Assistant Jennifer Corter. City Clerk Denise Johnston was absent. Mayor Elumbaugh explained that due to Ms. Johnston being sick the minutes from the previous meeting were not ready for tonight's meeting and would be approved at the next meeting. Councilmember Bryant moved to approve the prepared agenda and Councilmember Henley seconded. All voted for. CITIZENS COMMENTS Mr. Robert Francis from Word of Life Church addressed the Council about a sink hole in the church parking lot. He passed out pictures of the hole and asked for someone to take a look at the issue. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS A) RECOGNIZE 3 POLICE OFFICERS WHO RECENTLY GRADUATED FROM BRTC LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING ACADEMY Mayor Elumbaugh asked Chief Alan Cockrill to come forward and recognize Officers Jason Bryant, Michael Dickinson and Larry Ring for their completion of the BRTC Law Enforcement Training Academy, and presented each with a certificate of recognition. Chief Cockrill said that all 3 officers excelled in their training and are the first Batesville Police Officers to complete this training in 31 years. B) RECOGNIZE INDIVIDUALS FOR THE COMPLETION OF RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING Chief Cockrill also recognized 8 individuals who have recently completed Reserve Officer Training locally, including: Josh Bennett, Monte Bramblett, Amber Branscum, Ryan Pierce, Jeremy Richardson, Trevor Stevenson, Bart Wilkerson and Jamie Varnell. He stressed how vital the reserve officers are to the department. These individuals sacrifice their time to serve and are a great asset to the city. C) HEAR AN UPDATE FROM JOEL WILLIAMS AND MAIN STREET BATESVILLE Mr. Joel Williams, Executive Director of Main Street Batesville addressed the Council to request continued funding for 2016. His request was for$10,000.00 for operation expenses and an additional $10,000.00 for 3 special projects. These projects would include: Matching grants for building owners for sidewalk repair. Purchase of 20 US flags and poles for merchants to install on the sidewalk. Purchase of material to replace railings along the north side of the Barnett Building along with steps from the street up to the sidewalk in front of the Barnett Building. Mayor Elumbaugh said the budget is in the works and the request would be considered. D) HEAR AN UPDATE FROM ETC ENGINEERS ON THE COMMUNITY CENTER PROJECT Mr. Mizan Rahman from ETC Engineers addressed the Council with an update on the community center project. He said that from the street, it looks like there is no work being done. Currently the majority of the work is being done on the inside. The pool is about 85% complete and the overall project is about 65% complete. He said that they are still looking at early to mid summer E) HEAR COMMENTS FROM REPRESENTATIVE JAMES STURCH State Representative James Sturch addressed the Council with a legislative update. The said that there are still several different task force meetings going on. Some of those being the highway task force. They are looking for new ways to help fund state highways. He said that it's not always about the bills that you get passed but sometimes more important the ones you help keep from passing. Legislators are trying hard to work to find common ground and common sense solutions. F) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO APPLY FOR A GIF FIRE PROTECTION GRANT Councilmember Beller introduced a resolution authorizing the Batesville Fire Department to apply for a GIF Fire Protection Grant. Mr. Meitzen read the resolution in full. Councilmember Beller moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember Shetron seconded. The roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2015-11-04-R G) EXECUTIVE SESSION Councilmember Bryant moved to go into executive session. Councilmember Henley seconded and all voted for. Upon returning from executive session, Councilmember Beller moved to appoint Mr. Kyle McMullin to the Batesville Planning Commission to replace Dr. Scott Roulier who recently resigned. Councilmember Henley seconded and all voted for. Mr. McMullin's term will expire on June 10, 2018. MAYOR COMMENTS Mayor Elumbaugh said work on the 2016 budget is in process now. He said that 2 new police cars are in the 2016 budget but need to be ordered now so that we can have them earlier in the year. The two Dodge Chargers would be fully equipped and ready for the streets and will cost approximately $32,000.00. Councilmember Matthews asked if there was enough to purchase one car out of this year's budget and one out of next year's budget. Mayor Elumbaugh said he would check in to that. Councilmember Beller made a motion to go ahead and purchase the cars and Councilmember Bryant seconded. All voted for. LIAISON REPORTS Councilmember Poole said the law enforcement committee has sent a proposal to the county and two proposals from different county law enforcement committee members have been received. At this point the committee is waiting for a meeting to be set to discuss the proposals. Councilmember Bryant added that every resident of the county has an equal responsibility to provide for dispatch and the 911 service, per capita is the only fair way to divide the cost of dispatch. Dispatch and 911 are vital and everyone should do their part in making sure it is available. COUNCIL COMMENTS None ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Councilmember Bryant moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilmember Matthews seconded and all voted for. RICK ELUMBAUGH, MAYOR JENNIFER CORTER, ADMIN. ASSISTANT