February 26, 2001

 

 

 

 

The Ellettsville, Indiana, Town Council met in regular session at 7:30 PM, Monday, February 26, 2001. Members present were Jerry Pittsford, President; David Sorokoty, Vice President; Michael Cornman, and David Drake. Geraldine McIntyre was absent. Jerry Pittsford called the meeting to order and gave the prayer. David Drake led the Pledge of Allegiance.  

 

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

 

Cathy Cerajeski gave the council an update on the skateboard groups desire to continue to raise funds by the sale of signs. David Sorokoty suggested they contact Vi Simpson and Peggy Welch to maybe get a legislative solution to the release of the funds the state is holding because of the insurance situation.

 

Ed Bitner discussed an incident regarding the utility department. Ed said he had discussed the situation with Mike Cornman and he now wanted to contact the CEO of Bynum Fanyo. It was stated that the requested information would be provided to him.

 

David Sorokoty discussed the 20 acres the town owns, known as the Wells property, to be set-aside as a park. He suggested the area be connected to Flatwoods Park and possibly used for study purposes by the schools. Jerry Pittsford said he met with the school’s assistant superintendent and they are applying for a grant to fund an after- school program that would include park-centered and other activities. Jerry said the property would be conducive for such a program. Mike Cornman said the previous park’s commission recommended the property be annexed into town. Mike said he believes our water company is the owner of the property currently and we will soon have a contiguous boundary with it with the school annexation.

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

Ordinance 01-03     

 

Michael Cornman read Ordinance 01-03. David Sorokoty made a motion to approve Ordinance 01-03 an ordinance to terminate dormant funds. David Drake seconded the motion. Motion passed.

 

Ordinance 00-19

 

David Sorokoty read Ordinance 00-19 by title only an ordinance concerning the annexation of adjacent and contiguous territory of the Ellettsville Town Code.  David moved to accept Ordinance 00-19 assigning the High School and Junior High School property to ward 2.  Mike Cornman seconded.  Jerry Pittsford called the question. The ordinance passed.

 

Ordinance 00-20

 

David Drake read Ordinance 00-20 by title only an ordinance concerning the annexation of adjacent and contiguous territory of the Ellettsville Town Code.  David Drake moved to accept ordinance 00-20 assigning the Elementary School Site to ward 4.  David Sorokoty seconded. Jerry Pittsford called the question. The ordinance passed. 

 

 

 

 

 

Ordinance 00-21

 

David Drake read Ordinance 00-21 by title only an ordinance concerning the annexation of adjacent and contiguous territory of the Ellettsville Town Code. David Drake made a motion to adopt Ordinance 00-21 assigning the Park site to ward 5. Michael Cornman seconded the motion. Motion passed.

 

RBBSC - determination of capacity user fee and plan commission fee

 

Jane Fleig spoke on behalf of Bill Riggert. Jane respectfully requested waivers of the fees on behalf of the school corporation. Jerry Pittsford discussed the filing fee waiver and that it is a direct town cost and the school can bear the cost as well as the school. David Drake said he understands the situation and we all pay the taxes that fund these types of things. Michael Cornman made a motion to reject the planning fee waiver request. David Drake seconded the motion. Motion passed.

 

Rick Coppock discussed the capacity user fee and its intended purpose. Rick outlined the formula to compute the fee, which was determined to be $ 43,500.00. There was some discussion regarding the fees charged by Eastern Richland and Northern, uses of the moneys collected, and hook-ons distributed among the three-sewer companies.

 

Michael Cornman suggested that if the fee is collected, we would remain “ahead of the game”. There was further discussion regarding the people of Ellettsville bearing the burden for the township school. Jane Fleig said it is not uncommon for these type of requests to be made. There was further discussion.

 

Michael Cornman made a motion to set the school’s capacity user fee at $ 43,500.00. David Drake seconded the motion. Motion passed.

 

Bloomington Community Access Television Contract

 

Michael White discussed the proposed $ 4000.00 contract with BCAT to begin broadcasting council meetings in July. The meetings would be broadcast the next day after a meeting and would be available on the web at www.catstv.net. The meetings will be broadcast live when the Insight upgrade is complete. David Sorokoty discussed that this brings democracy into homes of people who cannot attend meetings. There was further discussion regarding the current franchise agreement with Insight and the contract coverage period. Mike Spencer said he reviewed the franchise agreement and it’s relationship with this contract. Jerry Pittsford said be believed the funding will be there to support this contract. David Sorokoty made a motion to accept the BCAT contract. David Drake seconded the motion. Ed Bitner asked about the annual cost of this contract. It was explained that BCAT requests 50% of the franchise paid by Insight to fund this. Ellettsville received close to $16,000 last year. There is an expectation to raise Ellettsville’s portion of Insight’s revenues to 5%, like Bloomington and Monroe County. Jerry Pittsford said the current agreement is 20 years old. Michael Cornman said the franchise money in the past has gone directly to the general fund to keep the tax rate down.  Motion passed.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

David Sorokoty made a motion to amend the agenda to include Cooper Court Lift Station. Michael Cornman seconded the motion. Motion passed.

 

Jeff Farmer discussed the 20-year-old lift station and the failures they have experienced. Jeff received quotes for both repair and replacement by BBC. The

 

 

station currently serves 30 to 40 homes and he recommends parts replacement instead replacing the whole station. The cost will be around $11,000.00. There was

further discussion of the functions of lift stations. David Drake made a motion to approve the update of the lift station on Cooper Court. Michael Cornman seconded the motion. Motion passed.

 

Ellettsville Comprehensive Plan Update

 

Bill Land gave the council an update on the comprehensive plan and the upcoming meetings on 3/21/01 with the plan committee at 7:00 PM at Town Hall and the

community update meeting on 3/27/01 at 6:30 PM at the Endwright Center. Bill described the planning work as technical in nature at this stage and he expected adoption of the plan in the early fall. Bill said he expects reconsideration of our planning ordinance and zoning maps in conjunction with this plan to be completed by next January.  Bill discussed his recent meetings with Bloomington and Monroe County planning officials and the need to satisfy previous agreements made with Bloomington. He expected to be able to report to the Bloomington City Council regarding the project progress early next year. There was further discussion regarding plan progress and priorities, citizen survey participation results, and the general timetable.    

 

Minutes and Accounts payable vouchers

 

David Sorokoty made a motion to pass the minutes and accounts payable vouchers. David Drake seconded the motion.  Motion carried.

 

Supervisors

 

Mike Farmer

 

Mike Farmer requested council approval for training and expense reimbursement for two utility employees in Wabash, Indiana. David Sorokoty made a motion to approve the training and reimbursement. David Drake seconded the motion. Motion passed with Michael Cornman abstaining.

 

Mike Farmer requested training in Indianapolis at US Filter for 3 or 4 employees on March 6th for one half day. David Sorokoty made a motion to approve the training in Indianapolis. David Drake seconded the motion. Motion passed.

 

Mike farmer requested permission to hire a full-time temporary laborer to work during State Road 46 construction. David Drake made a motion to approve the hiring of a temporary full-time laborer. David Sorokoty seconded the motion. Motion passed. 

 

Jeff Farmer

 

Jeff Farmer thanked the Fire and Police Departments for their escorts of the Edgewood girl’s basketball team after they won the sectional. Jerry Pittsford thanked Jeff for his service to the basketball program.

 

Michael Cornman

 

Michael announced two internal vacancies for Captain and Lieutenant at the Fire Department and thanked Bill land for his efforts towards the comprehensive plan

 

Sandra Hash

 

Sandra told the council she is going on vacation during the next council meeting.

 

 

David Sorokoty

 

David Sorokoty announced the next neighborhood association meeting with be February 27th at the library.

 

Jerry Pittsford

 

Jerry thanked the steering committee for their work and the effort they are making. Jerry Pittsford discussed his attendance at Mayor Fernandez’s local government summit. Read Across America is 3/02/01 which is also the birthday of Dr, Seuss. Chamber of Commerce annual meeting is on 2/27/01. Bill Land added that there is a meeting in Room 315 at the Monroe County Courthouse at 6:30 PM on planning coordination being given by the Dean of Planning at Ball State University.  

 

 

Jerry Pittsford made a motion to adjourn. David Sorokoty seconded the motion. Motion passed.  Meeting adjourned at 9:20 PM.           

 

 

 

 

_____________________________              __________________________

Jerry Pittsford, President                                             David Sorokoty, Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

_____________________________              __________________________

Mike Cornman                                             David Drake

 

 

 

 

 

_____________________________              __________________________

Geraldine McIntyre                                             Sandra C. Hash

                                                                     Clerk-Treasurer