March 26, 2001
The Ellettsville, Indiana,
Town Council met in regular session at 7:30 PM, Monday, March 26, 2001. Members
present were Jerry Pittsford, President; David Sorokoty, Vice President;
Michael Cornman, David Drake, and Geraldine McIntyre. Jerry Pittsford called
the meeting to order and gave the prayer. Mike Cornman led the Pledge of
Allegiance.
Mike Cornman made a motion
to move the Monroe County Youth Bureau-40 Developmental Assets of young people
to the first item on the agenda.
Geraldine McIntyre seconded.
Motion carries.
Monroe County Youth Bureau/40 Developmental Assets
of Young People:
Christopher Koscica
Christopher introduced
himself as the Program Specialist at the Monroe Youth Services Bureau. His job is to educate the Monroe County
community on the 40 developmental assets if young people. He explained The Search Institute developed
20 external assets and 20 internal assets by giving examples of each. The more assets a child has access to the
better chance of positive youth development for that particular child. Neighborhood, communities, churches, and
schools play a huge role in this. What
is being seen now in growing communities such as Ellettsville, Bloomington, and
Stinesville the juvenile crime rate is going up. It is becoming an epidemic and we want to put a reverse cycle to
that. I am here to introduce our
program and services. If your community
would like to enrich the life of young people we are here to help you. This is paid for by your tax dollars and we
are here to be of service to you at no additional charge. He left handouts with the developmental
assets information. He also added he is
working with the Richland Bean Blossom School System to create some after school
programs the next school year.
OLD BUSINESS
CFC property at Deer Park and Hwy 46 zoning
recommendation:
Jerry Pittsford read the
recommendation: At the March 1, 2001 meeting of the Ellettsville Plan
Commission meeting the Plan Commission voted to assign a zoning designation of
R-1 for the 2.0 acres on the northwest corner of State Road 46 and Deer Park
Drive in the Springs Valley Subdivision.
Please consider this recommendation when making your decision at the
Town Council meeting.
David Sorokoty moved to
accept the Planning and Zoning’s recommendation for R-1 zoning. Geraldine McIntyre seconded.
Mike Spencer explained he
had provided an Ordinance for the zoning, which should be included in the
motion.
David Sorokoty resented his
original motion to accept the Planning and Zoning recommendation for R-1
zoning. Geraldine resented her
seconded.
David Sorokoty moved to
accept Ordinance 01-6 an ordinance to amend the zone maps in accordance with
the recommendation for R-1 zoning.
Geraldine McIntyre seconded.
Kevin Farris, President Ellettsville Plan Commission
Kevin addressed the Council
saying the R-1 zoning was an inefficient zoning for this piece of property, but
it was the best starting point. This
will allow the developer to come back with alternative plans and ask for a
rezone. It lets us look and decide is
there is a way to work with the developer and PUD the property.
Mike Spencer informed the
Council the ordinance had been written for R-3. He instructed Jerry to correct it to read R-1 adding his initials
and the date by the change. Jerry
complied with Mr. Spencer’s instructions.
Mike Cornman stated he
prefers the R-1 zoning. Geraldine
McIntyre questioned if the developer would be able to still request a
rezone? Kevin replied yes.
Jerry Pittsford stated the
immediate concern was to assign a zone to the piece of property and without
regard to further development, which is not relevant at this time. We have corrected a 30-year omission.
Ann Stephens, 4250 Deer Park Drive
Ann stated the community
supports R-1 zoning. Any project that
goes into the property is restricted to using Deer Park as the access
route. This creates a problem for the
neighborhood. Deer Park Drive is just
that a drive not a street not a road.
We do not have sidewalks or lines it is just a simple paved road. It creates a problem for cars to come off of
46 onto a residential drive then trying to make a turn into a commercial
project. We have problem getting out
now. It will only get worse. There is no light planned for this
intersection. The state has told her
they will not allow any more accesses onto 46.
She discussed the expense of living in the subdivision due to taxes and
water – sewer cost. She expressed
concern for the property that will be extremely close to Deer Trail Drive,
which will be the access for the commercial development. There is water run off problems and lots of
green space now. The problems with
water will only get worse with development and less green space. The community likes the lifestyle they have
and do not want commercial development.
They want responsible growth.
Tom Wedemeyer, 4260 Deer Trail Court Unit #9
Tom is a property owner on
Deer Trail. The road is 18 feet from
the front door. He is concerned for the
safety of his child. The audience
raised their hands in support for the R-1 zoning. (100% were in favor of R-1) Tom said at the Planning and Zoning
meeting he was told that the traffic and water runoff problems were only going
to get worst. He would hope his tax
dollars are going to improve these problems not make them worse. CFC has always taken good care of this
property and we do not have any complaints against them. But at the same time his feels he has put a
lot of money and effort into fixing up his property and this will decrease the
property value and I can’t absorb the loss like they could. He doesn’t see them taking a loss on the
property. He was also told that his
home was out of compliance and he would not be able to build a duplex there, so
if he is out of compliance and can’t build a duplex there then how could they
build duplexes there? He also forwarded
copies of the petition from the neighborhood against the commercial
development.
Joe Sanders, 4355 Deer Park Drive
Joe’s concern is
drainage. If concrete and blacktop are
added there are only two places the water can go, onto Highway 46 or through
his yard. All the water in the addition
funnels down to his property. Two areas
of his yard are constantly wet even in the driest part of summer. Any development should do something to
prevent water run off. It is a nice neighborhood and he hates to
see additional traffic brought into the area by commercial development.
Don Calvert, Springwood Court
Don said his family had
grown up in Ellettsville, as did his Mother and Grandfather. His Great Grandfather was a custodian at
the old Ellettsville High School. His
roots go way back. Don talked about an
old stone fence and shelter that used to be along Highway 46 and the pretty
pastoral setting he remembered of Ellettsville. He wants the community to remain a small pastoral community. He doesn’t want to see Ellettsville become
another Greenwood. He talked about the
shell of buildings on the corner of 46 and Smith that looks like a European
town from World War II. That is setting
on a desert where beautiful woods used to be.
They have rearranged the area several times because of run off. He can’t understand why someone would want
to open a strip mall across from an existing area that they can’t get renters
in. That is still sitting there
empty. We are losing our identity as a
community. We are going to look like a
strip mall all the way to Ellettsville and he resents that. He discussed the fact that school buses were
not required to enter the addition to pick up the children, instead they could
require the children to walk to the front of the addition. We need to minimize traffic on that corner
as much as we can. We were promised a
road going out the back of our addition.
We did not get that. We were
promised a three lane road on Deer Park and it is only two. The stop light on Smith Road and Union
Valley are not coordinated making it extremely hard to exit onto the
highway. A friend coming out of
Lakeview onto 46 waited 23 minutes. I
don’t want to wait 23 minutes to get out on 46. He asked please do not destroy
our neighborhood. Do not turn our green
fields brown.
Jennifer Gunderman, 4260 Deer Trail Court Unit 10
Jennifer’s concern is with
the success of the development. If it
not successful and the building sets empty, she feels it would be opening up
the area for criminal activity. She
expressed her desire to remain residential forever.
Dennis Jones, 4380 N. Castlewood Ct.
Dennis read from the
Ellettsville Town Code the definition of C-1 zoning as a neighborhood-shopping
district. The neighborhood doesn’t want
it. Therefore you are removing
neighborhood from the shopping district and you are just going to get a
commercial dwelling. The neighborhood
will hold resentment to the area and we will not shop there.
David Drake
This location has to many
potential problems to open it to commercial zoning. We need a Planned Development or PUD plan that allows some
flexibility and allows us to address some issues that can’t be addressed by
simple zoning. A lot of planning is
through compromise and maybe be can work something out. He agrees with the R-1 zoning.
Mike Cornman
Mike said the planning
meeting the Council had with the City of Bloomington and Monroe County Officials
over the past five years all three entities intent to make sure we have
identifiable space between Ellettsville and Bloomington. This is a very pretty area that could
experience growth. We need to maintain
some green space between here and Bloomington.
With the new 46 coming he could only trust the city and county officials
with the influence from the state that they maintain that as well to the east
of that location. Mike feels this
should be R-1 and remain
that way. It was the intent many years ago that the
commercial district of Ellettsville was roughly from Lakeview Drive to the
entrance to the High School. He feels
we need to maintain that as best as we can.
Jerry Pittsford
Jerry said at this point and
at all points in the future concerning this piece of property the Town and the
Planning and Zoning Board will be considering this property in relationship to
the comprehensive plan for Ellettsville and the State Road 46 East
Corridor. Which is currently in the
hands of the steering committee and Town Planner Bill Land. The issues addressed directly effect what is
currently being done in the development of Ellettsville Plan. This is a current issue the Town of
Ellettsville is dealing with. All these
things are funneling right into a group that is working on this
information. We are guided by defining
the most desirable use for a piece of land.
The highest and best use is the standard used by planners across the
country. We also want to look at the
property values that are directly affected not just in the neighborhood but
also in all areas surrounding the property.
Obviously the residences contiguous to that piece of property and
immediately adjacent have the greatest or feel the greatest impact of the
development of this property. There are
other pieces of property in that area Cedar Bluff Gardens, banking, a car
dealership, and another residential district across the street and all these
things have to be taken into consideration.
We should all be working together.
One way to do this is by working with the program Vision 2020, and the
steering committee for the Plan Commission.
Jerry called for the
question, all in favor of approving the motion to accept Ordinance 01-06 an
ordinance to amend the zone maps specifically dealing with the property at
Highway 46 and Deer Park Drive signify by saying aye. Motion carried.
David Drake asked if the
other side of Deer Park was every zoned?
Rick Coppock, Bynum and Fanyo Associates replied there is a seven-acre
piece on the other side to the east that has never been zoned. The town
initiated the action to assign the zoning west of Deer Park so they could also
do the east area or they could wait until the time when we redo the zoning map
for the whole town. Bynum and Fanyo can
start the process by notifying the adjacent property owners and giving a zoning
designation to the other remaining vacant parcel.
Jerry Pittsford then
directed Kevin Farris as Plan Commission President at the Plan Commission
meeting in May to make a recommendation for zoning on the piece of property to
the east of this property.
Mike Spencer requested a
legal description of the property so he can prepare a proposed ordinance in
advance for the people to consider and assign a zone to. Rick Coppock agreed to provide the
information and mail the notifications.
Ann Stephens asked if the developer is still interested in
developing this particular piece of property, the 2 acres that we have been
talking about can he present his development as a PUD at the next Planning
meeting on April the 5th?
Jerry answered no. Rick said you
have to have 10 days notification prior to the meeting to the adjacent property
owners. Rick said if they would do that
it would have to be at the May meeting unless the there were a special meeting
or something like that.
David Drake added that to
get a PUD it would have to go to the Plan Commission first then come before the
Council. Ann asked if the Plan
Commission went along with the PUD then the Council would still have the final
say. David Drake replied, correct.
Jerry Pittsford then asked
Mike Spencer, the Plan Commission makes recommendations to the Council but the
Council approves Zoning Ordinances?
Mike Spencer replied yes. Jerry
said the Plan Commission recommendation does not necessarily reflect what the
zoning ordinance will be they do not have legislative authority.
Someone asked how many times
would they have to go through this? Is
this going to happen every time until this property is actually zoned? Is there a time frame where it will be R-1
and we never have to worry about it again.
Jerry responded you would never be able to say that you never have to
worry about it again until there is something on that property that is the way
it will be.
Resolution 4-01 concerning Diana Evans accrued
vacation time:
Mike Cornman moved to
approve the Resolution. Geraldine
McIntyre seconded. Motion carried
Resolution is approved.
Ordinance 01-4 an ordinance to amend section 725-30
of the Ellettsville Town Code concerning sewer rates:
Mike Cornman read Ordinance
01-4.
Section 725-30 the charge
for connection of sewage works shall be amended by adding paragraph c to read
as follows:
(c) In calculating the sewer availability fee for all other
proposed users referred to in paragraph b above, the estimated flow in gallons
per day shall first be determined. This
amount shall then be divided by 310 gallons per day to ascertain the number of
units. Each unit will then be assigned
a value of $1,000. The resulting
hook-on fee will equal the number of units times $1,000.
Geraldine McIntyre moved to
approve Ordinance 01-4 an ordinance to amend the sewer rate on the first
reading. Jerry stated a motion to
approve Ordinance 01-4 an ordinance to amend section 725-30 of the Ellettsville
Town Code concerning sewer rates has been made do we have a seconded. David Sorokoty seconded.
Rick Coppock
Rick explained that this is
how they have figured connection fees in the past. It is based on the state guideline for residential uses. When applying for a construction permit to
extend a sewer line the flow is calculated out by 310 gallons per day per unit
that is usually for a 3-bedroom house.
One or two bedroom apartments would reflect an equal share of the plant
based on 310 gallons per day. The 310
gallons is the excepted number used by the Indiana Department of
Environment.
Mike Cornman, and David
Sorokoty agree it would be good to have this on the books for a uniform way to
establish the fees.
There was some discussion of
the surrounding areas rates. There was
also a clarification that this would be for a commercial hook-on.
Jerry Pittsford stated there
is a motion and a second to approve on first reading Ordinance 01-4 an
ordinance to amend section 725-30 of the Ellettsville Town Code concerning
sewer rates calling for the vote.
Motion carried on the first reading.
This motion was to accept on the ordinance on the first reading.
David
Sorokoty moved to accept Ordinance 01-4.
David Drake seconded. Motion
carried.
Ordinance 01-5 an ordinance to amend the
Ellettsville Town Code by amending Chapter 355-Unsafe Building Law:
David
Drake read the above ordinance by title.
He followed with a description of the changes. This expands the current Unsafe Building Law, it doesn’t really
make any new law it explains it more.
It described specifically what a unsafe building is in great detail and
incorporated the Indiana Code concerning unsafe buildings into our code by
giving definitions. Mike Spencer has
reviewed the information.
Mike
Spencer provided a revised document at that time. Therefore the revised ordinance will be submitted as an amended
Ordinance 01-5 at the next meeting.
Proclamation for observe April as Child Abuse
prevention month in Ellettsville:
WHEREAS, child abuse is a serious and growing problem affecting more
than 3.2 million of our nation’s children annually; and
WHEREAS, this societal malignancy called child abuse respects no racial,
religious, class, or
geographic boundaries, and in fact, has been
Declared a national emergency; and
WHEREAS, The Exchange Club of Ellettsville, through its support of
parent aide programs,
parenting classes, educational programs, and
community service activities, is making significant
progress in
stopping this crime against families and children; and
NOW, THEREFORE, as President of the Ellettsville Town Council, I
hereby proclaim that the
entire month of April shall be observed as
CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH in
Ellettsville, and I urge
citizens to use this time to
better understand, recognize, and respond
to this grievous problem;
AND, FURTHER, I congratulate The Exchange Club of Ellettsville for its
continued success in helping
families break free from the cycle of
child abuse.
David Sorokoty moved to
approve the Proclamation to observe April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in
Ellettsville. Geraldine McIntyre seconded.
Darlene Sowder, Secretary of
the Ellettsville Exchange Club, explained this is an annual event across the
nation Town and City Councils pass proclamations to draw attention to the
problem of child abuse. One of the
things we do is to distribute blue ribbon pins to create questions and an
opportunity to share with others the concerns over child abuse.
Jerry called for the
vote. Motion carried.
Request for roadblock:
Darlene Sowder requested
permission to approach cars on Sale Street as they stop for the light and offer
the blue ribbon pins in exchange for a donation. The donation help fund the Parent Aide program in Monroe
County. They are requesting April 27th
from 2 through 6 PM with a rain date of May the 4th. Both days are Fridays. She also invited the Police and Fire
Departments as well as the Town Council to participate in the roadblock.
Darlene also said the Parent
Aide is a group whom by request have been asked to help a family with a child
abuse problem. The group is in Monroe
County and will help anyone regardless of income.
David
Sorokoty made a motion to accept the request for the roadblock by the Exchange
Club on
April 27th and a rain date of May 4th. Geraldine McIntyre seconded. Motion
carried.
Minutes and Claims
Geraldine McIntyre made a
motion to approve the minutes and claims. David Drake seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Supervisors
Rick Coppock spoke for Jeff
Farmer
Jeff
Farmer and the wastewater plant employees have been working on implementing a
computerized maintenance management program at the plant. They are entering the required data. This will then inform them when required
maintenance is due to be done. It will
provide history on the equipment to identify problems to help with the
replacement requirements, which will help with budgeting. The name of the software is Jobs cal. It will integrate with the operating system.
Ron McGlocklin
Ron
reported a job opening was posted on March 7th through March 22nd. We have received 20 to 30 applicants. We are in the process of reviewing the
applications and plan to meet with our liaison Mike Cornman to set up the
interviews.
David Sorokoty
David
followed up with grant information from the previous meeting concerning a
request made by the Ellettsville Police Reserves. At 8:30 a.m. Tuesday following the meeting David instructed Lynn
Weiss, Clerk-assistance, to call Senator Vi Simpson’s office to find the
deadline for grant request. By 9:15
a.m. Lynn found the deadline was March
5th. She also found the
request made by the Reserves was a duplicate request. The Police Department had
also submitted a grant request for a training facility, as did the
Reserves. Senator Simpson’s office
requested all grants go through the Town Council for submission to avoid
duplication.
David announced the next neighborhood
Association meeting would be April 5, 2001.
Peggy Welch is the planned speaker.
Michael Cornman
Mike
spoke of the importance of the Vision 2020 meeting on February 27th
at the Endwright. He encouraged the
public to attend and get input on the plan that will sculpt the future of
Ellettsville.
Mike
also said there had been a couple of high profile accidents in the past couple
of weeks in which had involved the Police Department and he wanted to say the
Police Department and Reserves have done a fantastic job. It was rewarding for him to have the
opportunity of working with them.
Jerry Pittsford
Jerry
said he is one member away from reconstructing the Park Board. He has commitments from three people and he
has requested a member from the School Board.
It is essential that we make these appointments at the next
meeting. The Skateboard Park have
request to be officially recognized as part of the Park and
Recreation
Department. This is necessary for them
to receive the remaining $22,000 of their grant money and to receive
insurance. This will allow them to
complete the development of the Skate Park.
Mike
Spencer instructed it would be the position of the Park Board to make the
recommendation of assuming the responsibly of the Skate Park.
This
was a discussion on the status of the Park Board, filling the positions, and
the School’s appointment.
Jerry
also indorsed the Vision 2020 meeting.
Mike Spencer
Mike
Spencer stated, “Mike Farmer and I have
been talking about the purchase of the new piece of equipment. He has submitted to me the documents. I have reviewed them and made some
changes.” Mike Farmer interjected
“lease”. Spencer “yes, thank you,
lease. I would like the board to
essentially approve the lease which I have reviewed with the subject to the
changes that I have suggested.” Jerry
asked if that would be put to them later.
Mike answered, “ no I have looked at it, we have the lease and I have
looked at it. The lease requires that
this board approve. Jerry said you want
us to take action. Mike Spencer said, “
I want you to take action tonight so we can get this done.
Jerry
asked to entertain a motion on the lease of this piece of equipment.
Geraldine
made the motion we approve the lease with the attorneys suggestions of the
changes that were made from the last lease agreement that we voted on at the
last meeting. Mike Spencer suggested a
phrasing for it. “ Approve the lease
subject to the changes that he has given to Mr. Farmer in writing.” Geraldine
said “that is my motion”. Mike said
“for the council information there were only two changes. It is his opinion there should be a
provision for attorneys fees if either party breaches the lease the winning
party should get attorneys fees. As it is
now written only they get attorneys fees.
There was an issue of the schedule of payments, the way I saw the
schedule of payments it looks like we are obligated to make a $90,000 payment
at the end of the lease. I want to make
sure that is not our obligation. This board approved a 24-month lease
period. We have the option to purchase
for $90,000 and I wanted to make sure that was disclosed. Those are the two changes.”
David
Drake seconded.
The
question was asked if this was the excavator.
David Sorokoty answered I think so.
Motion
carried.
Sandra Hash
Sandra
requested permission to attend the annual conference of the Indiana League of
Municipal Clerks and Treasurers in South Bend, Indiana. The conference is from April the 22-26,
2001. Sandra will attend the conference
April 24-26. Geraldine McIntyre made a motion to approve Sandy going to
school. David Drake seconded. Motion carried. Sandy added Lynn would keep the Clerk’s office open.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Darlene
Sowder asked for a clarification on the Police Reserves grant request being a
duplicate of one already sent in. David
Sorokoty replied Ron McGlocklin sent in a request for $150,000 for a training
center. The Reserves grant was for
$100,000 for a training center, which was a duplicate request for the same
facility even though it was a different entity.
Darlene
thought the Police grant request had been thrown out.
Mike
Cornman added and grants that were submitted prior to the Town’s streetlight
grant request were still on record. The
Police had submitted their request before the streetlight request.
David
Sorokoty said according to the Herald-Times the Town of Ellettsville has been
awarded $190,000 there is so specification on what it is for at this time.
Bob
Sowder publicly thanked Vi Simpson and Peggy Welch for helping Ellettsville
secure a portion of the grant money.
Geraldine McIntyre made a motion to adjourn. David
Drake seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Meeting adjourned at 9:15 PM.
_____________________________ __________________________
Jerry Pittsford, President David Sorokoty, Vice President
_____________________________ __________________________
Mike Cornman David Drake
_____________________________ __________________________
Geraldine McIntyre Sandra C. Hash
Clerk-Treasurer