May 8, 2000
The Ellettsville, Indiana,
Town Council met in regular session at 7:30 p.m., Monday, May 8, 2000. Members present were Geraldine McIntyre,
President; Gina Hawkins, Vice President; John Dailey, Jerry Pittsford, and David
Sorokoty. Mrs. McIntyre called the meeting to order. Geraldine requested a moment of silent in recognition of the
passing of Don Ashley a former council member.
Jerry Pittsford gave the prayer.
John Dailey led the Pledge of
Allegiance.
PRESENTATION
OF BUILD INDIANA FUNDS FOR THE ELLETTSVILLE GOVERNMENT CENTER AND FOR
ELLETTSVILLE DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION:
Vi Simpson, State Senator
Vi explained for the past 8 or so years the state has been
the recipients of revenue from the sale of lottery tickets and riverboats taxes. It is used to make regular payments to the
teachers retirement fund and auto excise relief. What is left over from the expenditures of the state goes into
the Build Indiana Fund. This money has
been used for many different things over the years. We like to make appropriations out of this fund to help local
units of government do some of the extra things they would not normally get to
do. We work with Town Boards and County
Councils as well as not for profit originations to come up with suggestions for
how the money could be appropriated and spent.
In the 1997 budget the state appropriated $150,000 to the Town of
Ellettsville for downtown improvements.
In the 1999 budget the money was appropriated in the
amount of $300,000 for the Ellettsville Government center. Tonight I am presenting both checks to the
Town. There will be some paper work to
report back to the state on how the money was spent. The only stipulation is the $300,000 must be spent on the
Government Center on property or capital appropriation. The $150,000 is even more vague than that
which gives you more flexibility. In
1997 it was a joint effort of the State Representatives Bales, Tincher, and
Kruzan and again in 1999 with the new Representative Peggy Welch to enable us
to provide these funds.
MINUTES AND CLAIMS:
David Sorokoty
made the motion to accept the minutes and claims. Jerry Pittsford seconded.
Motion passed.
OLD BUSINESS:
ELLETTSVILLE SKATEBOARD PARK:
Leasa has met with the
Ellettsville Skateboard Group, talked with the Town Attorney, and Jewel
Echelbarger of Area 10. The status of
the Skate Park situation is Area 10 would like to step out of the insurance
agreement. They are the first organization
listed on the insurance policy. This
means there are some insurance considerations that must be taken in hand. After speaking with Jewel Echelbarger it is
Leasa's understanding since the Skate Park have voted Area 10 out they desire
the Skate Park be under the umbrella of another not for profit organization or
the Ellettsville Park and Recreation.
Area 10 wants to cancel their insurance policy and get a rebate on
it. The Town of Ellettsville and the
School are listed on the insurance policy and apparently we have some risk that
we are assuming by the park being where it is.
We do need some involvement, how formal we have yet to work that
out. After consulting with the other
members of the Park Board we are not going to actively take control of the
Skate Park group or any group for that matter.
We want to be able to work out a partnership that both parties can agree
to. Should
that take place we would
want to spell out the obligations with one another and what our understanding
is with one another. That is yet to
take place. Leasa will continue to
attend their meetings and invite them to the Park Board meetings. At this time we do not have a solid
agreement between the two parties.
Leasa would like for the Council to hear from Jewel with her concerns on
the Skate Park.
Kathleen Cerajeski, Co-Treasurer Adult, for the Ellettsville Family
Skate Park
Kathleen stated dialogue has
been started with the Parks and Rec. group.
She feels this is constructive and moving in a good direction. Part of our concern still revolves around
what ramifications Area 10 departure from the insurance has in detail to the
Skate Park in terms of insurance dollars and who will step up now and be the
organizations listed on the insurance.
Does that have any bearing on having the park open so we don't have to
have volunteers on staff like we are struggling to do right now. Those kinds of questions still have to be
worked out with the insurance and the Town and or the Ellettsville Park and
Rec. She has achieved having some open
dialogue with the insurance company, which she did not have prior to Leasa's
request with the insurance company to do so.
Kathy would like to ask a Park and Rec., a Council, a Skate Park and an
insurance representative sit down all at the same time and see what this all
means. Could we open the park with a
skate at your own risk sign? Right now
we cannot open without having adults volunteering every hour that we are
open. We just do not have enough
critical mass from adults in this community coming forward. I have gone to Churches, we made a
presentation to the Chamber of Commerce, I have been in the paper a number of
times, thanks to the H-T and the Journal, we are just not creating the momentum
form the volunteers of this community.
People want to support this project in spirit but we need people coming
out to the park helping. What I am
hearing from the youth of the community is "We just want to go out there
and skate when we want to", how do we get to that point as a group, as a
Town Council, as Park and Rec., and as Ellettsville Skate Park. How do we get to that point where they can
go to the gate and skate just like going to a pick up game of basketball at the
basketball court, there doesn't have to be an adult, they don't have to ask
permission they just go play. How do we
get there? That would open the park up
for general public usage and make it much easier for this group to function.
Geraldine McIntyre
Geraldine commented with
Area 10 out of the insurance that leaves the town and the school responsible
for the insurance. The town is second
and the school is third on the insurance.
She feels a council member and a school board member should get together
with the park board president and Kathy and work things out so the park could
be opened. Leasa agreed and Mike
Spencer affirmed it would be open for negations. Geraldine replied she did not want the park opened until the
insurance issue is settled. Both the
town and the school are insured with the same group, so Geraldine encouraged
that a representative from the insurance be there also. Jerry Pittsford, Council member, agreed to
continue working with the Skate Park and Park Board, and he apologized for
missing the last meeting. Geraldine
will contact Mr. Kain, Richland Bean Blossom School Corporation Superintendent
and ask for a School Board representative.
Geraldine hopes for a resolution to this problem.
ORDINANCE 00-9 AN ORDINANCE CONCERNING WORK PERIOD
FOR POLICE OFFICERS OF THE TOWN OF ELLETTSVILLE: second reading
Jerry Pittsford made a
motion to table Ordinance 00-9 an Ordinance concerning Work Period for Police
Officers of the Town of Ellettsville.
David Sorokoty seconded.
Jerry Pittsford went on to say in light of ongoing review of our personnel policy it
is his hope that all policies regarding overtime compensation are dealt with in
a well-established and equitable manner.
He believes this can be accomplished best through personnel policy that
is directed by council member and department supervisors of the Town of
Ellettsville.
David Sorokoty said he and John Dailey are working on a personnel policy. They will be in communication with all
department heads. The existing policy
is like a dinosaur; it is over weighted with several attachments. If it were to be passed out to 35 different
people you would get 35 different responses to it. He would like to have it slimmed down. In fact if we could find a document to attach it to as far
something that is already written and simplified we may do that. Now does this mean it is going to be a take
situation only, no we already have two people, Kenny Williams and Gary
Kuhlenschmidt looking at new retirement plans more aggressive if you wish or
you can still stay with guaranteed money.
In the last couple of year the stock market has been like a rocket and
if we haven't had the chance to prosper over it then we need to be doing
that. We are also looking at some
matching funds also. We are looking at
both ends of it, trying to make a better document to help the workers of this
community out more than what they are now.
It may come up to a department head that there is something they do not
like. We want to come to a point that
we feel is fair to everyone. We are
looking at a time frame of about 2 months.
All department head will be evolved.
Jerry Pittsford added it should also be noted that previous concern regarding the
payment of overtime was handled with Fair Labor Standards Acts guidelines yet
the current policy is basing the hours in a work period on a 27 day work period
yet our pay period is a 28 day period.
Which causes a problem with continuity.
He can't figure out why we would set a 28 day work period then establish
a time frame for that which complies with a 27 day work period. Perhaps when that was done originally it
should have been set to have the number of days and the number of hours in
compliance with that Fair Labor Standard Act if they intended to use that as a
guideline. We have tried to conform to
the standards set out in the Fair Labors Standard Act in a way that is
equitable to all employees and is also in compliance with the law.
Jerry then called for the
question. There were no comments. Motion passed.
FINAL PLAT APPROVAL FOR EDGEWOOD HEIGHTS:
Covenants and Restriction amended to read age 50
Sandra Hash, Clerk-Treasurer informed the Council there
was no one present to speak on the covenants and restrictions instead they have
been provided a printed copy of such for review. John Dailey and Jerry Pittsford affirmed the age of 50 was stated
in the document. Jerry said it is his
understanding that age 50 is acceptable to Jewel and all those at area 10 who
are concerned with this.
Jerry made a motion for
final approval for the plat of Edgewood Heights covenants and restriction amended
to read age 50. John Dailey
seconded. Motion passed.
BILL LAND
TOWN PLANNER REQUEST FOR AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS:
David Sorokoty
stated Mr.
Land requested he check with Kendal Reeves of Spectrum Studios it is
approximately $300 for ariel photographs of the East Ellettsville Area for
annexation. Geraldine suggested since
Bill is not in attendance to comment this should be tabled until they hear from
him.
STATE BOARD OF TAX COMMISSIONERS ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION A PPROVAL:
Sandra Hash announced the State Board of Tax Commissioners had given approval of
the requested additional appropriations. Jim Davis made a request for
additional appropriation for radio equipment in the Cumulative Building and
Equipment line in the amount of $6,727.91.
Jim Ragle requested to appropriate into the Motor Vehicle Highway money
received from the Utilities for equipment rental in the amount of $2,846. .
NEW BUSINESS
COMMONWEALTH BIOMONITORING PRESENTATION OF JACKS
DEFEAT CREEK STUDY:
Gregg Bright
Gregg addressed the council,
informing them this would be the final presentation made on the water quality
project sponsored by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. There is no action required on the town's
part. You can review the study and decide
if you want to pursue anything. A
little history to this in 1996 Monroe County sponsored a study of all the
streams in the County. They wanted to
get a snap shot of the water quality.
One of them was Jack's Defeat Creek.
This study recognized that Jack's Defeat Creek probable had some water
quality problems. Mike Cornman was
interested in that and proceeded another grant opportunity, which the Town got
into. That is where we got involved
trying to find out if there was a water quality problem where is it coming from
and how much would it cost to fix it.
We did the study based primarily on a biological study. With the help of Garret Towel, Jim Ragle,
Danny Stalcup along with the rest of the street department we collected
data. What is boils down to is Jack's
Defeat Creek is a landmark for the town and it is not the best stream coming
into town but the quality does down even farther as it flows through town. Then it gradually increases until you get to
Stinesville it is an excellent small mouth and rock bass stream. It has excellent habitat. It is a good natural resource for the
town. One of the sources of the problem
is the traffic and paved surfaces. What
happens when you get a lot of traffic and paved surface is a build up of
pollutants on the payment and when it rains all that washes into the storm
drains like the one you see right out side the Town Hall. The vast storm water system that runs under
the town eventually carries all those pollutants through pipes out into the
creek. So it is a wet weather related
problem. We identified several places
where we were able to put in these storm filters inside the grates that trap
the pollutants before it got out into the creek. During the course of this we estimated that we could probably by
incorporating this though out the town we could keep about 5 tons of pollutants
out of the creek at an annual cost of about $20,000. There are a couple of other problems. One of them the town probably won't be able to deal with
directly, in the summer the water get very hot because of upstream areas
because of lack of trees and shading.
One thing the town could do even if it not on town property if there is
a grant program that would ask for a sponsor the town could sponsor a grant to
help buy and plant trees that would be shading for this creek to keep the water
temperature down so it is better for the fish.
Another problem particular to Turtleback Creek as it flows through the
park and Jack's Defeat as it flows through town there are some seriously eroding
stream banks in different places where you can just drive by and see great big
chunks of land falling into the creek.
There are a few places where the town probably tried to solve that. You can throw rock on it and that helps a
little bit but is not very attractive.
One of the new techniques that are available is called bioengineering,
where you bring in aquatic plants. The
root system of the plants helps to tie those sediments into place and holds the
banks in place. It is a lot more
attractive than the cement, rocks, and asphalt technique and it
isn't all that
expensive. There are also grants
available for that type of thing. I
have copies of the summary of the project, that I have taken right off the web
site. The web sight is available all
over the world. If you every want to
know anything about the storm water run off in Ellettsville it is available at
this web sight. (www.biomonitor.com/E-ville.htm) If you decide this is something you want to
pursue pick a representative on the board to contact me and I can try to direct
you on where to go from here. There are programs that the town board could get
involved in to make this natural resource an asset for the town. Smithville Telephone did bioengineering on a
small scale. They were losing land to
the little creek that flows right by there.
They were afraid their building would be effected so the did this bioengineering
technique. You can still see remnants
of that in there but you can see the plants that have grow up right next to
it. It will give you an idea of what is
involved in that type of project. There
is also a public education aspect of the project. One part is the web site and the other part is a 15-minute video
that shows with sound and sight the various different things. The school or the library could use it. I
will make sure any one interested gets a copy.
Copies were requested for town hall, each schools in the corporation,
and the library. Jerry Pittsford asked
if Gregg was of the opinion that Jack's Defeat Creek could be brought back to
the point that is a relatively clear stream for recreational wading and
fishing. Gregg replied it is possible
but it won't be just due to what the town does. Because the town is only one part of the whole water shed. It is not the perfect stream coming into
town by any means. You don't have any
control over what other people are doing upstream. The decisions that you make will make an improvement.
David Sorokoty said he had heard horror
stories about the creek that runs through the ball park and how polluted it is,
it there any fact to that? Gregg
answered that is Turtleback Creek and they did not do specific water quality
measurements but they did do a biological study of it. Biologically it is not in that bad a
condition, which mean the water quality is probably not terrible. What is most evident at Turtleback is the
stream bank is caving in all over the place and it is just not very ascetically
pleasing.
John Dailey asked what is a biological
study. Gregg explained there are two
parts; one has to do with aquatic insects that live on the rocks. You can tell by looking at the different
types of those organisms whether a stream is healthy or not. People have a hard time relating to that so
Garret and I went out and did a fish collection down stream of town, up stream
of town, and in town. We wanted to see
how many fish were there, what kind of fish were there, and what did that tells
us about the health of the stream. We
used electro fishing, which requires a license to do. There are small mouth and rock bass present both upstream and
downstream of town. However up stream
the number goes way down and is mainly dominated by creek chubs which are real
tolerant of general water quality conditions.
The pollutants upstream are mainly agricultural, which is livestock and
farm run off.
ORDINANCE 00-11 TO CREAT A SEPARATE FUND FOR THE TOWN OF ELLETTSVILLE FOR THE ELLETTSVILLE GOVERNMENT CENTER:
Gina read the Ordinance 00-11
as follows:
WHEREAS, the Town of
Ellettsville will receive funds for the Ellettsville Government Center.
BE IT ORDAINED AND ADOPTED
by the Ellettsville Town Council of Ellettsville, Monroe County, Indian, the
Clerk-Treasurer is hereby ordered to create a separate fund to receive monies
from the Build Indiana Fund, grant, and contributions for the purpose of
developing the Ellettsville Government Center.
The Ellettsville Town
Council shall use monies placed in this fund to assist in the development of an
Ellettsville Government Center.
This is a perpetual
ordinance and is non-reverting at the end of the year. The fund shall be terminated by such an
ordinance. If there remains a balance
in the fund at the time the fund is terminated the balance shall revert to the
General Fund.
This Ordinance takes effect
upon passage.
David Sorokoty made the
motion to approve Ordinance 00-11 to create a separate fund for the town of
Ellettsville Government Center. Gina
Hawkins seconded. Motion passed.
John Dailey moved that
Ordinance 00-11 be adopted on the same day on which it was introduced. Gina Hawkins seconded. Motion passed.
John Dailey move the
Ordinance 00-11 be adopted. Gina
Hawkins seconded. Motion passed.
ORDINANCE
00-12 TO CREATE A SEPARATE FUND FOR THE TOWN OF ELLETTSVILLE FOR DOWNTOWN
REVITALIZATION:
John Dailey read the
Ordinance as follows:
WHEREAS, the Town of
Ellettsville will receive funds for downtown revitalization.
BE IT ORDAINED AND ADOPTED
by the Ellettsville Town Council of Ellettsville, Monroe County, Indiana, the
Clerk-Treasurer is hereby ordered to create a separate fund to receive monies
from the Build Indiana Fund, grants, and contributions for the purpose of
downtown revitalization. The
Ellettsville Town Council shall us monies placed in this fund to assist in
downtown revitalization.
This is a perpetual
ordinance and is non-reverting at the end of the year. The fund shall be terminated by such an
ordinance. If there remains a balance
in the fund at the time the fund is terminated the balance shall revert to the
General Fund.
This Ordinance takes effect
upon passage.
Gina Hawkins moved that
Ordinance 00-12 be submitted for the first reading. Jerry Pittsford seconded.
Motion passed.
Gina Hawkins moved that
Ordinance 00-12 be adopted on the same day at which it was introduced. John Dailey seconded. Motion passed.
Gina Hawkins moved that
Ordinance 00-12 be adopted. John Dailey
seconded. Motion passed.
DON LEWIS
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE REQUEST CONSIDERATION ON WATER AND SEWER FEES:
Don explained to the council
that he was having a problem. He said
he pays his bills by vouchers out of the poor relief office. He pays by voucher on time but the check
doesn't come from the Court House for a couple of weeks. So each month I have been picking up about a
$2 a month late fee. He explained that
he shouldn't
pay late bills because he
had pay by voucher and that is the same as cash. He still received a disconnect notice. He paid the late fee.
Last year he had requested to be exempt from paying a water and sewer
bill. For whatever reason he was turned
down so he is going to ask again. He
feels sense he pays the town approximately $300,000 per year it could be
written as a special exception that no one else could try to duplicate. He is pleased with the fire service he gets
from the fire contract with the town.
He said we have an excellent fir department. I all give to the Christmas decorations and I ask to please be
exempt from paying my water and sewer bill.
He has been incurring water bills for about the last nine months since
he bought his own building. He use to
rent from the Journal and they paid the water and sewer bill. When using poor relief I must use a voucher to
pay everything. I bring it down to be
signed, we take them into Bloomington twice a month and they issue the
checks. State Board of Accounts does
not like for me to pay late fees and I bring the voucher down on time. Jerry Pittsford asked if the water and sewer
bill was exclusively for the Township Trustee's office? Don answered yes. He also added that the VFW meet there once a month for a few
hours. We are open 7 1/2 hours per day,
5 days per week. Our bill is always for
the minimum. Jerry said it is
impossible for you not to incur the late fee.
Don agreed. Dave Sorokoty said he had been a recipient of Mr. Lewis's
donations when he was president of the youth league he donated $600. We really appreciate that and all the work
you do through out the community. Mike
Farmer commented it would be possible to for go the late fee. Jerry Pittsford questioned if it could be
paid annually since it was the minimum bill.
Mike was unsure of the annual payment.
Mike did not realize it was the late fee that was the problem, he is
sure they can get around the late fee.
Don replied it was not just the late fee. It was the late fee that set him off again. He said he is a government function and
works off the tax base.
David Sorokoty said he thinks they should
just make a motion to do away with the water bill. Being a government entity and the work he has done for the town,
the pain he has gone through it is only fair.
Geraldine said for new board members
who were not here when this came up before we are setting precedence. If we
give Mr. Lewis free water then the school could come in, anyone who is a
government entity could come in and ask for free whatever. It is regretful that the board turned him
down the first time but the rest of the utilities in the town pay their
bills. Is that correct Mike? Mike Farmer said the utilities pay their
bill. Jim Davis said the Fire
Department does not pay a bill. The
Police do not pay a bill either.
Geraldine went on to say that when it comes to buying a new fire truck
Mr. Lewis has always been grateful and gracious to supply the money.
Sandra Hash added in 1996 audit it was
remarked that the Ellettsville Town Code said all the town departments were to
pay water and sewer bills. This was not
being done. Therefore the utility
started billing the different departments.
Some of the bills were very large.
It had not been budgeted to pay these bills so the appropriations were
not available. The auditors again
brought this up in 1999. They were
going to write us up again. To avoid
this the auditor suggested a solution to the problem was to rewrite the code
and make the town exempt from paying the bills. An ordinance for the change was passed in 1999. The utility is still paying their bill
because they want to use that as a tracking device. Mike Farmer added whether you are paying your bill or not we are
billing to keep track of the water.
Sandy offered to show the council the ordinances. Gina reaffirmed it was for the town
departments only.
Jim Davis verbalized his support of
Mr. Lewis being exempt from paying the bill.
The biggest reason I supported is granted the town has a contract with
the township, granted we provide a service for the township and he pays for that
service. Jim feels
that is all business like
and above board and all that. He feels
a key issue is the town cannot afford to buy a fire truck on its own. You can't go into debt long enough to pay
for a fire truck, $276,000 for a fire truck and we get $22,000 a year in the
fire cumulative fund. Five years times
$22,000 does not pay for a $276,000 fire truck. Don has help for several fire truck over the past 15 plus
years. The town is going to pay
approximately $35,000 toward the new fire truck we just bought. Richland Township is going to pay $250,000
to $260,000 on this fire truck. Don and
I negotiate a contract then you the council approve it and his board approves
it. He does not have to do that. He has no obligation to do that. It is not in his fire protection contract to
do that, no way shape or form what so ever.
But he does it. It is legal, you
guys sign it, and his people sign it.
My point is he does not have to pay for fire truck, but he does. He paid $160,000 to $170,000 toward the last
fire truck we bought. Jim said if we
have to put it into the fire protection contract to make it legal, what ever we
have to do to make it legal, to make the State Board of Accounts like it then
He feels we should do it. Vi Simpson
just gave us a $300,000 grant and said there are no strings attached. Don is giving us a $260,000 grant. If we have to pay $500 or $600 a year for
sewer and water and we are going to get $260,000 in return it is a bargain. Jim feels we should do this. If we have to attach it to the fire contract
saying that if someone wants to donate $250,000 to $260,000 over a five-year
period for a new fire truck they can have free water and sewer.
David Sorokoty agreed 100 percent. It is common sense; if you can pick up that
kind on money it is a minor concession to give them the minimum water and sewer
usage.
Jim Davis went on to say Don also did
an appeal to increase the fire contract by about $70,000 a few years ago so we
could run the medical services. The
Township paid for a $70,000 increase, the town didn’t have to pay for it.
John Dailey asked Mike Spencer is there
were any legalities or precedents like Geraldine brought up.
Mike Spencer he could not answer that at
this time.
Jerry Pittsford asked Mike Farmer how he
felt. He answered based on the service
they provide for the community we can find a way to give them free water and
sewer. It is just fine with him as long
as we can satisfy State Board of Accounts or anybody who might complain. Even if they give us an audit point on it
who cares the state doesn’t run local business they just help us on it. Jerry said maybe we could write it into the
fire contract.
Mike Farmer said he could
have Don go out and paint a fire hydrant or something and he will pay him back
the money if he has to.
David Sorokoty said he feels it is the
right thing to do and he feels it should be expedited.
Geraldine asked Mike Spencer is there
was some way since he donates to the town that we could give him free service
and not have to give it to the schools and other places? Mike Spencer replied he would have to
research it. Jerry asked if it would be
possible to write it into the fire contract.
Mike replied you could write many things into an agreement. Mike Spencer said he would have an answer by
the next meeting.
David Sorokoty made a motion to table the
issue until we get an Ordinance written up on it. Hopefully it will be at the next meeting. John Dailey seconded. Motion passed.
STREET LIGHTING AGREEMENT WITH CINERGY:
Jim Ragle, Street Commissioner
Jim told the council when the lights were put in on
Lakeview Drive and the Meadowlands there are quiet a few dark spots and there
have been a couple of accidents up there.
So we requested four more lights.
They will cost $6.99 each per month.
Jerry Pittsford moved for approval of the street light
agreement with Cinergy for the purchase of four additional streetlights in
Meadowlands. David Sorokoty
seconded. Motion passed.
DEER RUN SUBDIVISION SECTION 4 FINAL PLAT APPROVAL:
Rick Coppock,
Town Engineer, Bynum Fanyo Associates
Rick explained this was the piece at the lower end at the
far south end of the Deer Run subdivision.
It is the part where Greenbriar and Deer Run subdivisions connect. It is the last piece to actually bring that
roadway section into the town so you can actually drive from Greenbriar,
Greenbriar Knolls down through Deer Run and come out on Tecumseh. The road is completed. The flat was approved a couple of months ago
by the plan commission. They are asking
for final plat approval for this. There
will be other sections come on in the future.
The last two sections were the one we really wanted to get done because
they do connect those two subdivisions and gives you a loop through Greenbriar
and Deer Run all the way back around. Jerry Pittsford questioned if the road
was acceptable? Both Rick and Jim Ragle
confirmed the road was acceptable.
Jerry Pittsford moved for approval of the final plat of
the Deer Run Subdivision Section four.
John Dailey seconded. Motion
passed.
INDOT REQUEST FOR USE OF JUDY AND BARBARA STREETS:
Rick Coppock
Bill Williams and a guy from INDOT called last week and as
part of the construction of Phase IV on the west end of town the will have to
close down Maple Grove Road during the project. They are going to put barricades up on Maple Grove Road but there
will be off sets so local traffic can get through coming from the Matthews or
Mt Tabor area. So even through the
barricades will be up and it will say road closed they anticipate some of the
traffic will find it’s way through and use Barbara and Judy Streets to get back
through to 46. It is not going to be
marked as a detour but they do anticipate that people will try to go through
that way. They are requesting the
town’s permission to pave and strip Judy and Barbara Streets.
David Sorokoty made a motion to allow them to use Judy and
Barbara Streets per their request. John
Dailey seconded. Motion passed.
SUPERVISORS:
Jim Ragle, Street Commissioner
Jim told the council due to an employee quitting he has an
opening in the Street Department. He
would like Kevin Fluke to fill the position.
Kevin is currently working part-time for the street department and has
worked a couple of summers for the Utilities.
Jim recommends Kevin for the full-time position and would
like the council’s blessing. He will
still need another person for the part-time position. John Dailey asked why the other person left. Jim replied he quit for personal
reasons.
Jerry Pittsford moved to approve moving Kevin Fluke from
part-time to full time. David Sorokoty
seconded. At the request of both Jim
and the clerk-treasurer it was agreed by the council to make this retroactive
back to the beginning of the pay period, May 5th, 2000. Motion passed.
Jim also commented on the Skate Park. Last year when they put the Skate Park in we
agreed to mow it when we mowed the rest of the area. This year when we went to take care of it they had changed the
lock and we can’t get in to take care of it and it is grown up. I need you guidance on what we should
do. Do you want me to take care of it
or let it grow? It looks pretty bad
right now. David Sorokoty said get the
key and take care of it. Contact Lease
Farkas or Kathy Cerajeski for the key.
Gina said if you can’t get the key then put a new lock on it.
Jim also said when they put the fence up around the Skate
Park they put several posts through the drainage tile we installed just a few
years ago. It is all stopped up and we
will have to repair it. It is going to
cost us to repair it. They should have
verified with us before they put up the fence.
Sorokoty commented they didn’t call before the dug. Jerry Pittsford said this points out why we
need the Skate Park to work in cooperation with other public agencies. Jim said we were not involved whatsoever
when they did it and now it is really going to cause us some problems. Geraldine said she would leave it up to Jim
Ragle and Jerry Pittsford to take care of this matter. When the committee, Jerry and the insurance
company get together it should be discussed that a lot of skate parks do not
have fences around them. Jim said if he
was skating he would rather hit the ground than the fence.
Ron McGlocklin, Town Marshal
Ron notified the council that his department had applied
for a federal grant to purchase bulletproof vests for the department. The grant
is a 50-50 grant and they will need an additional appropriation for the local
match. The costs of the vests are $500.00 with the federal government paying
$250.00 toward each vest purchased. They intend to purchase nine vests for the
department and offer it to the reserves, which will be responsible for paying
the local portion themselves.
Ron said that he had another meeting with Steve Sharpe,
Monroe County Sheriff, Chief Hostettler of the City of Bloomington, and Amy
Brummett with B&L Communications regarding the repeater. Shane from B&L
advised that the repeater should be up in two weeks on the state police tower
and in two months Ellettsville will have their own frequency, which is formerly
Bloomington Police Department’s F1 frequency. We will be required to place a
new antenna on BPD’s tower and they are currently looking at the cost. Shane
estimated the cost at $55.00.
Jim Davis, Fire Chief
Jim Davis asked the council for permission to sell a
trailer that they had previously purchased as federal surplus property at a
cost of $50.00. All other town departments indicated that they had no use for
the trailer and a fireman would like to purchase it. David Sorokoty made a motion
to sell the trailer to the fireman for $50.00. John Dailey seconded the motion.
Motion passed.
David Sorokoty mentioned a letter of thanks from
the City of Bloomington regarding a recent mutual–aid run during an apartment
fire after a storm had come through.
Jim Davis said that the Fire Department had received a
$25,000 grant for the purchase of rescue and medical equipment and they were
notified that the state representative would deliver the check.
Rick Coppock
Rick told
the council he had drawn three alternatives for downtown improvements that he
will be bringing them to the council.
David
Sorokoty
The
government center meeting will be on May 18th at 7:00 PM at Town
Hall. The department heads are invited to the meeting. David informed the
council that he had spent two hours looking at complaints regarding mowing. He
had eleven complaints total. He wants
to remind every one to keep their yards mowed.
If it gets over 9 inches they are in violation of Town Code.
Geraldine
McIntyre
There will
be a meeting at 10:00 am on May the 16th at Town Hall with Gary
Shilling from Cinergy, Scott Templeton, Matthew Tomas from the State Highway
and Smithville Telephone Company.
Geraldine and Dave will be on the committee. The meeting will be in regards to burring the lines. Peggy Welch said they had a meeting in
Indianapolis and it was not turned down completely. The estimated cost is 1.1 million dollars.
Last week
Geraldine, Mike Farmer, Jeff Farmer, and Rick Coppock met with Curt Hayes on
East Richland and Ellettsville sewer.
Curt would like to have a meeting with his board, the Town Council, Mike
and Jeff Farmer and Rick Coppock the third week of June. This would be after their annual meeting on
June 2nd.
Geraldine
announced this would be Clarinda Krick’s last meeting as our Herald-Times
reporter. She will be moving to
California. Jerry Pittsford thanked her
for her good work.
ADJOURNMENT:
Gina made the motion to
adjourn. David Sorokoty seconded. Motion passed.
The meeting ended at 8:56
PM.
_____________________________
__________________________
D. Geraldine McIntyre Gina
Hawkins
President Vice
President
_____________________________ __________________________
John Dailey Jerry Pittsford
_____________________________ __________________________
David Sorokoty Sandra C. Hash
Clerk-Treasurer