April 23, 2001
The Ellettsville, Indiana, Town Council met in regular session at 7:30 PM, Monday, April 23, 2001. Members present were Jerry Pittsford, President; David Sorokoty, Vice President; Geraldine McIntyre, and David Drake. Jerry Pittsford called the meeting to order. Geraldine McIntyre led the Pledge of Allegiance. Jerry Pittsford gave the prayer.
Government Center
Jeana Kapczynski stated about a year ago a
committee was appointed by the Town Council to find the best location for a new
Government facility for the town of Ellettsville. The town has received $300,000.00 of Build Indiana Funds for this
purpose. The committee members were
David Sorokoty, Chairman, Geraldine McIntyre, John Davis, Dan Rarey, Frank
Turkhorn, Kenny Williams and myself.
The meetings were open to the public and suggestions were welcome. The committee studied and restudied at least
twenty-five locations, inside the town limits and just outside the town
limits. Last summer half of the
$300,000.00 was used to purchase a three-acre site on Highway 46 East of
Ellettsville across from Jack Defeat Creek Mall. This was acquired for a future fire station. The location is approximately in the center
of population for Ellettsville and Richland Township and offers good access in
all directions for quick responses by the fire department. With the remaining funds approximately
$150,000.00 the Government Center Committee would like to propose to the Town
Council for its consideration. Town
Hall #1 could be kept by the town or sold to help pay for a new building. Just
West of Town Hall is a parking area owned by Kenny Mobley. Next going west on Main Street are two
houses #2 and #3, the committee unanimously recommends that the town purchase. The owners were contacted and the price for
each would be about $60,000.00.
Appraisals should be done, and the purchase of each house should be
contingent upon the purchase of both houses.
Next the town should request from the State of Indiana that the
two-story house, known as the Shook house #4, be deeded to the town for a
nominal price after the highway construction is finished. With any remaining funds the town should
purchase the garage building #5, on the back half of the lot west of the Shook
house. Another area adjacent to
Matthews Street #6, should also, be requested from the State. This will give the Town of Ellettsville
almost an entire block for future use for offices for Clerk-Treasurer,
Utilities office, a larger meeting room as well as other offices that may be
added in the future. We believe there
would possibly be space to build a covered stage for the use for the Fall
Festival community activities. The town
already owns the parking lot #7 adjacent to the two houses and the log cabin
museum #8. The Police Department would
have the option of moving to the new offices or staying in the current location
using the entire building when the Fire Department moves to a new location. Last September, the State Director of
Indiana Main Street visited Ellettsville, she strongly urged us to keep the
center of government in the downtown area if at all possible. From that stand point this proposal would
keep the downtown area alive by keeping folks coming to the downtown. We want to preserve the Historic buildings
on Sale Street, and beautify and rejuvenate this area, we believe this proposal
will do much to anchor the current business in the downtown and help to attract
new investment in the area. Our
committee believes this is the best long-term site for Ellettsville’s
government offices and we urge the Town Council to proceed with the process of
acquiring the these properties.
Jerry Pittsford on behalf of the council
thanked Mrs. Kapczynski and all of the members of the committee, for their
diligence and your study, the time you committed to it and the fact that you
approached it with open minds, as you had many considerations during the course
of the past year or so you have been working on this. We thank you on behalf of the Council and the Town of
Ellettsville.
Map of proposal area
Public Comments:
Ed Bitner received a disconnect notice in the mail
Saturday and called the town today concerning the disconnect fee on my water
bill. I write down every piece of
mail I receive at the house.
From you guys this month I received a special use meter card and a
letter describing the new rules of the special use meter. I did not get a bill
therefore I did not write a check. I
called town today to see if there is a penalty and there is. Utililities said they had mailed the bill
first class. I called the Post Office
and they said if you had mailed the bill it would have been in my mailbox. Some one is lying!!! Regarding the new rules for special use
meters. Do the car washes go into the
storm sewers? Mike Farmer stated they
would not be allowed to go into the storm sewers they drain into the sanitary
sewers.
Bob Breeden, President of Richland Bean Blossom Youth
Sports in Ellettsville,
reported I have come tonight to ask permission to close off the Park and Ritter
Street areas around the ball parks, this Saturday the 28th for our
opening day, Jamboree Day. The hours
will be from 6:00a.m. To 6:00p.m. I would like to invite everyone down to the
festivities; it’s a lot of fun.
Dave Sorokoty
made a motion to close Park Street where it turns there in between the major
field and the field across the street, to be closed Saturday the 28th
between 6:00a.m. And
6:00p.m. David Drake seconded the
motion. Motion passed.
OLD BUSINESS
Amended Ordinance 01-5 an ordinance to amend the Ellettsville Town Code
by amending Chapter 355-Unsafe Building Law
David Drake read the ordinance by title.
NEW
BUSINESS:
Resolution
5-01
David Sorokoty read Resolution 5-01 by title, authorizing the execution and delivery of master equipment lease/purchase agreement, and related instruments, and determining other matters in connection therewith. David Drake made a motion to approve by title on agenda. Geraldine McIntyre seconded. Motion carried. The equipment should be in next week.
Purchase of sewer easement from MMR, Inc.
Michael Farmer, Ellettsville Utilities This is a request for permission to acquire a sewer easement across Main Street Storage Units; this is in conjunction with the 46 Project. We are going to be installing a 30” sewer main, actually connecting right here in this intersection of Main and Sale Streets and going down through the Main Street Storage Units; connecting up with the easement purchased from Roger New. This will connect with the new interceptor at the old sewer plant site. We need to make the purchase, the concerned parties have signed the easement papers and we need you to approve making the purchase. Geraldine McIntyre made a motion to purchase the easement from Mae, Mike and Randy Cassady. David Drake seconded the motion, motion carried.
MINUTES AND ACCOUNTS PAYABLE VOUCHERS
Geraldine
McIntyre made a motion to approve
the minutes and the accounts payable vouchers.
David Sorokoty seconded the motion.
Motion carried.
SUPERVISORS
Jim Davis The
Federal Government has a grant for 100 million dollars; we are applying for a
rescue truck and breathing apparatus.
We would be responsible for 10 % of the grant, which we are applying for
$450,000.00. The grants will be awarded
by September. The grants will be issued by need, across
the United States. Council told Jim to
proceed.
Mike Cornman contacted John Sever a couple of weeks ago
and a meeting has been set up for Wednesday April 25,2001 to discuss funding
for construction of a new fire station.
It’s an information meeting.
Jim Ragle I need to buy a new lawn mower to cut down mowing
time; the cost should be around $7,600.00.
David Sorokoty made a motion that Jim Ragle purchases a
new mower for $7,600.00. Geraldine
McIntyre seconded the motion. Jerry
Pittsford states there is a motion to purchase a 0 turn radius mower for
$7650.00. Motion carried.
I also, need to buy an air compressor for the back of my truck for
posts and signposts. They run about
$2,000.00.
David Sorokoty made a motion that Jim Ragle be able to
purchase a portable air compressor.
David Drake seconded. Motion
carried.
Jerry Pittsford inquired if the Street Department could help out Mr. Sparks at the Jr. High, by, if possible putting a sign at the intersection of Sale and Highway 46 directing people to the Jr. High School. Perhaps the school could partner with the Endwright Center on a sign. Mr. Pittsford will discuss this further with Mr. Sparks at the school.
Michael Farmer We started on the one-way pair moving water lines, for anyone that did
not see the notices, we are on Highway 46 along People’s State Bank and the
apartments. We are off the highway so
it should not cause problems with traffic or the roadwork. Next week we will be starting along Main
Street between Kelli and Chandler. He also asked if there is any question
regarding the invitation for the Council to have a meeting at the Sewer
Plant. The Council agreed to hold the
meeting of May 29, 2001 at the Sewer Plant.
Mike Spencer The
agreement between Holt Equipment has been revised for the buy out to be the
25th month.
Geraldine McIntyre made a motion that we go with the new revised document on the agreement with Holt Equipment Company. David Drake seconded. Motion carried.
David Sorokoty Drop off of large and bulky items at Matthews Drive will be this week.
He also would like to thank Ms. Stalcup and
Perry’s first grade class for coming to Town Hall. He had a call from two more teachers so on May 11th at 1:30 p.m.
we will be bring two more classes down here, we spent about an hour with them
teaching them about Town Hall, we had a mock agenda with the decision on should
coke machines be allowed in the new Elementary?
Jerry
Pittsford The
Park Board has its first meeting last Friday, Thanks and Good Luck.
He also mentioned to those concerned about
Sale Street and Reeve’s road. We met
today with the County Highway Department, Crider, Council, Police Department
and Street Department. The damage on
the road will probably persist for another week or two as they continue to run
fill. We are not requesting that they
do any road patches at this time; the road repair will be done by fall before
winter weather. Any one who has any
problems with the traffic pattern or speed of the trucks please contact Town
Hall or myself on road complaints.
Don’t call the School Corporation.
The skate park still is not open yet. I have just received the details on the insurance. I hope it will be open by the town
meeting. The Park Board will meet again
on May 7th.
Mike Spencer informed the Council, the litigation on the dog is this
Friday. I have spoken with one of the
attorney’s handling the case and she expressed there has been an offer
made. The offer was to pay $3,000.00 to
the town. Ron and Mike feel we have a
good case and they owe us $6,000.00, by individual council vote it is unanimous
to precede with litigation.
PUBLIC
COMMENTS;
Geraldine
received a letter from
Crane and they are going to change the Guard, She invited the other members to
go. I believe it is the first Saturday
of May in the morning.
David
Sorokoty made a motion to adjourn, Geraldine seconded. Motion carried. The
meeting adjourned at 8:49 p.m.
_____________________________ __________________________
Jerry Pittsford, President David Sorokoty, Vice President
_____________________________ __________________________
Mike Cornman David Drake
_____________________________ __________________________
Geraldine McIntyre Sandra C. Hash
Clerk-Treasurer