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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-05-10 MINUTES OF COUNCIL MAY 10, 2016 The Batesville City Council met in regular session on May 10, at 5:30 P.M. in the Municipal Building. Mayor Rick Elumbaugh called the meeting to order. Utility Billing Supervisor Nick Baxter gave the invocation. Upon roll call, the following councilmembers answered present; Chris Beller, Tommy Bryant, Sonya Crafton, Margarett Henley, Doug Matthews, Chris Poole and David Shetron. Also present were the City Attorney Tim Meitzen and City Clerk Denise Johnston. Councilmember Paige Hubbard 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 as amended and Councilmember Beller seconded. All voted for. CITIZENS COMMENTS None OLD BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS A) MONTHLY POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT Police Chief Alan Cockrill addressed the council with his monthly report. Chief Cockrill told the council that he did not have a report for them this month but next month will be the one year anniversary for the department and he will have a report for the entire years of activity. The Chief showed the council one of the new Daniel Defense AR 15 Patrol Rifles. He said half of the officers have completed the training of the rifles and the other half are in training now and mentioned that the training is very thorough and intense. Chief Cockrill recognized two of his officers for going above and beyond the call of duty. Officers Kody Headley and Monte Bramblett were given certificates of recognition for helping a lady with some heavy bags. The officers were patrolling in the neighborhood when they saw the lady struggling with the bags. The lady's family, as well as the lady, contacted the police department and the Mayor to express their appreciation. The lady said she has lived in the area over 30 years and has never felt as safe as she does now. B) ENGINEER'S REPORT City Engineer Damon Johnson addressed the council with his monthly report. Mr. Johnson said everything was pretty much business as usual. He said both of the treatment plant were running well. He is expecting to set the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Wastewater Treatment Plant sometime in early June. Mr. Johnson said the Water Treatment Plant will be working on their master plan and may apply for an ANRC low interest loan. C) RECOGNIZE STUDENTS FROM THE BATESVILLE JR. HIGH EAST PROGRAM Mayor Elumbaugh asked Mr. Robbie Cox, Sponsor for the EAST (Environmental and Spatial Technology) Program at Batesville Jr. High School, and Parks Director Jeff Owens to address the council regarding a recent project. Mr. Cox asked his students to come forward to explain the project. The students, Noah Barker, Rhett Crafton, Karson Douglas, Zach Shields and Gaven Smart took turns telling how the project began and displayed the finished product. Mr. Cox asked the kids to come up with a project and after a couple of days they decided on mapping out the ballfields, concession stands and parking lots at the Terry Sims Diamond Sports Complex. The group used a computer aided design program and won first place in Hot Springs at the ARCHICAD Map competition. Over 250 schools participated in the competition. The EAST group gave Mr. Ownes a large map of the facility as well as a digital copy. Mr. Owens thanked the group and said he made pamphlets for baseball tournament held at the facility last weekend. The Mayor also thanked the group and gave each member a Certificate of Recognition. D) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ENDORSING EURARK, LLC TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TAX BACK PROGRAM Councilmember Shetron introduced a resolution to endorse Eurark, LLC to participate in the Tax Back Program. Eurark plans on building a 25,000 sq.ft. warehouse. The project will create 3 to 5 new jobs. Councilmember Beller moved to suspend the rules and read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Bryant seconded and the electronic roll count was 7 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember Shetron seconded. The electronic roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2016-5-1-R. E) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO UTILIZE FEDERAL-AID TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM FUNDS Councilmember Beller introduced a resolution to authorize the City to apply for a Federal-aid Transportation Alternatives Program grant for Phase IV of the Greenway Trail. The phase will go from the Baha to the Eagle Mountain Magnet School. The trail will run behind the Golf Addition following the sewer line up to the school. Councilmember Bryant moved to suspend the rules and read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Henley seconded and the electronic roll call was 7 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the resolution and Councilmember Beller seconded. The electronic roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. The resolution was given #2016-5-2-R. F) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE BATESVILLE SIGN ORDINANCE Councilmember Bryant introduced an ordinance that will amend the Batesville Sign regulations within the Batesville Zoning Code. The ordinance does some minor clean up in the regulations as well as removes the political signs and treats them as temporary signs. Ms. Henley asked if public input was needed before the council acts on the ordinance. Councilmember Poole explained that the ordinance is necessary to comply with the recent Supreme Court decision regarding political signs. Councilmember Matthews moved to suspend the rules and read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Bryant seconded and the electronic roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Bryant further moved that the rules be further suspended and to waive the second and third readings. Councilmember Matthew seconded and the electronic roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the ordinance and councilmember Matthews seconded. The electronic roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. The ordinance was given #2016-5-1. Councilmember Bryant moved to adopt the emergency clause. Councilmember Poole seconded and the electronic roll call count was 7 for and 0 against. G) EXECUTIVE SESSION Councilmember Bryant moved to go into executive session. Councilmember Beller seconded and all voted for. Upon returning from executive session, Councilmember Bryant moved to re- appoint Dr. Chris Beller to the Parks and Recreation Commission. Councilmember Shetron seconded and all voted for except Dr. Beller who abstained. Dr. Beller's term will expire May 10, 2021. H) PAID BILLS REPORT The council was given a copy of the April, 2016 paid bills report for review. MAYOR COMMENTS The Mayor commented on the recent success with hosting the International Performers last week. He said everything went extremely well he has already had requests that we host the group again next year. He thanked his organization committee, host families and sponsors for making the event such a success. Mayor Elumbaugh said the Teen Driving Rodeo was a huge success and thanked all who helped put the event on. The Mayor said the Movies in the Park start next week-end and so far this year, the Terry Sims Diamond Sports Complex has hosted 3 successful ball tournaments. He also invited the public to the Barnett Building Thursday night at 6:00 PM for their input on a proposed bicycle and pedestrian master plan. The City's goal is to create a bicycle and pedestrian network, providing safe and accessible facilities that connects to key amenities in Batesville. The Mayor asked for the council's approval for him to negotiate with the Independence County Library Board and Attorney Bill Walmsley regarding the possibility of leasing the first and second floors of the Barnett Building to the library. Councilmember Poole moved to give the Mayor the authority to act on the City's behalf. Councilmember Shetron seconded and all voted for. LIAISON REPORTS None COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Beller wished to complement the parks employees who worked at the ball tournament this past weekend. Mr. Beller said the City hosted 65 ball teams from across the state. He said in visiting with one visitor, was told they had been to facilities in 10 different states and have never seen such a hard working crew as we have at our facility. He said we don't need to forget those employees who make those tournaments such a great success. The economic impact the tournaments make is also great for our community. Dr. Beller also said he has been noticing canoer's on the Bayou lately. Councilmember Bryant commented on the International Performers last week. He hosted several in the group and also said he hopes they come back next year. Councilmember Crafton said she was thrilled to have hosted the International Performers at West Magnet School. The students really enjoyed the performance and they would like to host again next year. She also said she wanted to thank Jonathan Abbott and his crew for cleaning up the lot at Pine and Hill Streets. Councilmember Henley also commented on the International Performers. She hosted several in her home and said she has made lifelong friends from the experience. Ms. Henley also said nothing has been done about the house of Lyon Street with all the junk outside. Mayor Elumbaugh said the family has received an eviction notice but sometimes those take time to inforce. He insured Ms. Henley that the home owner is working on the problem. Lastly, Ms. Henley thanked Mr. Bob Carius with Main Street Batesville for the new street entrance on Main Street. Mr. Carius, who was in the audience, thanked Ms. Henley and said the project should be complete soon. Councilmember Matthews asked about the progression of the new Maxfield Park. Mr. Carius said the new park should be open by the end of the year. Dr. Matthews also asked Police Chief Alan Cockrell if his officers should start patrolling the Bayou because of all the new cannoning and kayaking on the river. Chief Cockrill said that would be a good idea and would begin the process. Councilmember Poole wanted to complement those who were responsible for putting on the Team Driving Redo event. He said it was very informative and well attended. He also said he wanted to recognize the Hubbard and Olson families who spoke at the event and he is continually amazed at the grace, strength and love the two families show in memory of their sons. 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