February 12, 2001
The Ellettsville, Indiana, Town Council met in regular session at 7:30 PM, Monday, February 12, 2001. Members present were Jerry Pittsford, President; David Sorokoty, Vice President; Geraldine McIntyre, David Drake, and Mike Cornman. Jerry Pittsford called the meeting to order. Dave Sorokoty led the Pledge of Allegiance. Jerry Pittsford gave the prayer.
Public Comments
Reserve Police Deputy
Commander Michael Hendricks asked the council to approve Michael Olsson as a
new reserve officer. There was some discussion regarding the current number of
reserve officers and the expectation of losing some officers in the next few
months. Michael Cornman made a motion to approve Michael Olsson as a new Reserve
Deputy Marshal. David Sorokoty seconded the motion. Geraldine McIntyre said
everyone knows that we don’t vote on somebody unless we have his or her
application and look it over. Michael Cornman said he did not know we had an
application process for reserves other than what is prescribed under state law.
Motion passed 4 –1 with Geraldine McIntyre voting nay. Michael Hendricks said
he would have the information to the council by Friday.
Michael Hendricks presented
the monthly report to the council. Officers put in 250.3 hours during the month
of January with 14-½ hours of training. Included in the hour’s total is school
bus coverage, ball games at the school, and street patrol.
OLD BUSINESS
Ordinance 01-01: Public Health Nuisances:
David Drake read Ordinance
01-01 by title and discussed the changes this ordinance makes to Section B by
bringing it up to date. There was some further discussion regarding the
enforcement of the ordinance and the definition of “vault”. David Sorokoty made
a motion to accept Ordinance 01-01. Geraldine McIntyre seconded the motion.
Motion passed.
NEW BUSINESS
R-BB Schools request for determination of capacity
user fee and Plan Commission fee for the new school:
Bill Riggert discussed the
project progress thus far, asked that the capacity user fee be determined, and
requested the Plan Commission filing fee be waived. Kevin Farris indicated he
had no problem with the $ 885.00 plan fee being waived. Mike Spencer said he
needed to look into that issue. Sandra Hash said the town collects those
structured fees and they are what we pay Bynum Fanyo Associates for plan
review. If the fees are not collected then the town will be paying for those
services.
Mike Farmer said they would
take the capacity user fee issue under review. The money collected is used to
make improvements to the system and some is set back for future expansion of
the system and sewer plant. The utility is not collecting a lot of that money
due to the majority of new hook-ons being outside the town limits. The last
comparable fee collected was the apartment across from the Endwright Center.
The fee was based on a formula that he could not give the council at the
moment. He was not sure there would be any fees on the water side and they will
have to look at it. They will have to determine a normal and usual fee on the
sewer –
side. There was some further
discussion and they would have something for the next meeting.
CFC request for zoning clarification: Deer Park and
State Road 46:
Jim Murphy discussed the
history of the property at Deer Park Drive and State Road 46. The property was
zoned business by the county. Another country map shows it is a business
corridor on both sides of State Road 46. Kevin Farris said in a letter to the
council the property in question has no zoning and upon recommendation by the
Plan Commission the property should be designated a C-1 commercial zone. There
was further discussion on the zoning designation and potential uses. David
Sorokoty made a motion to designate the property C-1. David Drake seconded the
motion.
Mike Spencer said there is
no ordinance assigning zoning to the property and it seems to him that the
property is without a zone. The proper way to zone the property is to follow
the process and adopt an ordinance to assign the zoning. It is a problem and
does not comply with our code if people are just picking out zones. This would
be a problem for future owners because the property would be subject to attack
as to what the proper zone is. David Sorokoty withdrew the motion.
There was some discussion
regarding the procedures to be followed insofar as filing fees, publication,
and adjacent property owner notifications.
The matter was referred to the Plan Commission.
Ellettsville Family Skateboard Park Insurance:
Jake Everage spoke about the
group’s future plans for the Skate Park. They do not have enough adult
volunteers but have sign space to sell to raise funds. Cathy Cerajeski said the
group has $ 22,000 left with the state to build the remainder of the park. The
group may have some of the insurance money in their account and their plan was
to sell enough signs to pay for the insurance. Cathy discussed what Columbus,
Indiana has done with their skate park and what the youth have done with
Ellettsville’s park. She said she was appealing to the leaders of the town and
the business community.
Jerry Pittsford discussed
the Skate Park and the meetings held a year ago. The Park Board should have
oversight of the Skate Park if the town pays the insurance. The town did not
budget for the insurance payment. David Sorokoty spoke about self-sufficiency
and he did not think the town should not be in the skateboard business. There
was some discussion about 501C3 status and the history of the relationship with
Area 10. There was some discussion regarding the status of the property
ownership between the School Corporation and the Richland Township Trustee.
Andy Dodd spoke briefly about the status of the property.
There was further discussion
regarding the skateboard park regarding insurability, of the park, fees
stipulated by the insurance carrier, and the skateboard park group goals. David
Sorokoty made a motion to table the funding of the skateboard park insurance.
Geraldine McIntyre seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Permission
to Advertise for Purchase or Lease of Excavating Equipment:
Mike Farmer requested permission to rent, lease or purchase the
equipment. David drake made a motion to approve the request to advertise for
the lease or purchase of the excavating equipment. Geraldine McIntyre seconded
the motion. Motion passed.
RESOLUTION 01-01 concerning the purchase of real
property from the estate of Ester Love for a new fire station:
Mike Spencer asked that the
town issue a check for the purchase of the property. Geraldine McIntyre made a
motion to pass Resolution 01-01. David Drake seconded the motion. Motion passed
with Michael Cornman abstaining from voting.
ORDINANCE 01-02: Introduction
Jerry Pittsford said he
would like to act on it tonight because the town does not have a policy in
place and there is not currently an incidence that we need to address this to.
There was some discussion on written and electronic communication. Michael
Cornman made a motion as follows Ordinance 01-02 is submitted for first
reading. Geraldine McIntyre seconded the motion. Motion passed. Michael Cornman made a motion that Ordinance
01-02 is adopted the same day it was read. Geraldine McIntyre seconded the motion.
Motion passed. Michael Cornman made a motion to adopt Ordinance 01-02.
Geraldine McIntyre seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Ordinance 01-03: Introduction
of ordinance regarding dormant funds
David Sorokoty read Ordinance 01-03.
Sewer Easement on Roger New’s property:
Rick Coppock spoke about the
need to purchase the easement in conjunction with the other projects in the
area. The best location would be across Roger New’s field. We will eventually
abandon an 18-inch line when this is complete. By doing this we will not have
to dig up Matthews Drive. David drake made a motion to approve the purchase of
the easement on the New property. Geraldine McIntyre seconded the motion.
Motion passed.
Minutes and Claims
Geraldine McIntyre made a motion to approve the
minutes and claims. David Drake seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Supervisors
Jim Davis
Jim Davis presented the fire
department year-end report. He noted that there were no building inspection
fees paid out due to all inspections being done by himself or Bill Headley
while on duty.
Jim Davis recommended to the
council that Jeremy Luther be hired as a fire fighter for the town. David
Sorokoty made a motion to approve Jeremy Luther. David drake seconded the
motion. Motion passed with Michael Cornman abstaining from voting.
Ron McGlocklin
Ron McGlocklin told the
council that Officer Jeffrey Thomas resigned to accept a position with the
Indianapolis Police Department. The
council was presented the department’s annual report and gave an overview of it.
He noted the reserve officers put in 6013.53 hours for the year. This is
equivalent to $71,681.28 at 11.92 per hour
without any benefits. This
represents what the reserves saved the town in manpower and hours. Ron recapped
the Officer Phil program, which he previously brought to the council’s
attention in September, to the council. He said the principal’s at the local
elementary schools were very pleased with the program and they would like to
see it done again.
Michael Cornman said he has
met with Ron, Jay, and Bill Benningfield and he will continue to do so to
improve the relationship between the council and the department.
Geraldine McIntyre
Geraldine McIntyre said
there was an EADC meeting with Crane on the 16th and it was decided
that she would attend.
Michael Cornman
Michael Cornman suggested the council establish a fee for commercial sewer hook-ons. This will help guide our economic future and quality of life if we have this in place.
David Sorokoty
David Sorokoty thanked everyone for the cards he received as a result of his father passing away.
Mike Spencer
Mike Spencer said a date has been set for trial in Michigan regarding the drug dog on April 27th and it will require officers to testify and maybe a council member. We may want to hire an expert to testify. Litigation may cost more than the dog.
Jerry Pittsford
Jerry Pittsford said that Mayor Fernandez of Bloomington is hosting a local government summit and he is attending it. He received a letter from the Indiana Rural Development Council. He believes the IRDC mission is what we are looking for. Jerry is going to process the application for their services. Michael Cornman said Bill Land, Kevin Farris, and Cullen McCarthy should receive a copy of it.
Public Comments
There was some discussion on the next step in the process of building the new fire station. Jerry Pittsford said we want to secure the property first before taking any further steps.
L.D. Axsom spoke about people leaving the area. He pastored in the community for 34 years and has been retired for 4 years. He suggested a park be developed in the flood way or beautifying the city in some way. Jerry Pittsford said he has forwarded to the council members the information he has from Mr. Axsom. Mr. Axsom indicated he has talked to the Ellettsville Main Street group and they have his information.
Geraldine
McIntyre made a motion to adjourn. David Drake seconded the motion. Motion
passed. Meeting adjourned at 10:00
PM.
_____________________________ __________________________
Jerry Pittsford, President David
Sorokoty, Vice President
_____________________________ __________________________
Mike Cornman David Drake
_____________________________ __________________________
Geraldine McIntyre Sandra C. Hash
Clerk-Treasurer