September 10, 2001

 

 

 

The Ellettsville, Indiana, Town Council met at 7:10 PM to adopt the 2002 budget.  Members present were Jerry Pittsford, President; David Drake and Geraldine McIntyre.  Jerry Pittsford called the meeting to order.

 

David Drake moved to approve the 2002 budget.  Geraldine McIntyre Seconded.  Motion carried.

 

David Drake moved to adjourn the budget meeting seconded by Geraldine McIntyre.  Motion carried.  Meeting adjourned.

 

The Ellettsville, Indiana, Town Council met in regular session at 7:30 PM, Monday, September 10, 2001.  Jerry Pittsford called the meeting to order.  Jerry also led the prayer.  David Sorokoty led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Jerry asked for roll call of Council Members.  Members present were Jerry Pittsford, President; David Sorokoty, Vice President; Michael Cornman, David Drake, and Geraldine McIntyre.  Also present were Sandra Hash, Clerk-Treasurer and Mike Spencer, Town Attorney.

 

Approval of the Minutes of the regular meeting on August 27, 2001:

 

A motion was made by Geraldine McIntyre and seconded by Mike Cornman to approve the minutes as amended by changing James David to James Davis.  Motion carried.

 

Charles Alvey, Bernardin, Lochmueller & Associates, Inc.:

 

Mike Cornman made a motion that Mr. Charles Alvey from Bernardin, Lochmueller & Associates, Inc. be added to the agenda under new business reference local transportation enhancement project.  David Drake seconded.  Motion carried.

 

Mr. Alvey introduced himself and the engineering company he works for and wanted to inform us of INDOT information they have received.  Mr. Alvey stated that INDOT offers application packages and that the Town of Ellettsville according to population size is in a category called STP category 3.  He said within this category, applications for street projects; transportation; road improvement and hazardous elimination and safety had a possibility of receiving funding.  Transportation enhancement, such as trail projects, historic train stations, bridges and sidewalks, is the main reason Mr. Alvey wanted to address the Council.  Transportation enhancement funds emanate from the Federal government through the T21 Congressional Highway Authorization Bill, which allows 10% of a certain category of STP funds to go for transportation enhancement and INDOT stresses these funds are not for basic infrastructure.  These funding applications are now available and the Town must request the application package, by receiving the packet it does not obligate the Town to take any action, the deadline for requesting an application packet is September 21st.   Jerry and Mike have discussed this in more depth and they feel we need two packets, one for the Town of Ellettsville and one for Main Street USA Committee for a possible rails to trails project.  The actual deadline for returning the application is in December. 

 

Ordinances on First Reading:

 

Ordinance 01-22

 

Jerry introduced ordinance by title to amend 813-10 and 813-35 of the Town Code concerning off street parking making three minor changes which are as follows: section b deletes word “front”, added a sentence “parking on any portion of a lawn shall be prohibited” and 813-35 inserted the word “driveways”.

 

 

 

 

Comments: 

 

Kathy Wagner, Vice-President of Kelli Heights Neighborhood Assoc., lives on Robin Drive approximately two years ago she and others started questioning parking cars in lawns and on sparely graveled areas and seemingly abandoned vehicles that are not towed because they still meet the Ordinance about moving so many feet back and forth.  She does not want anyone to have gravel driveways anymore and she now is trying to acquire grants to pave driveways.

 

Ordinance 01-24

 

Jerry read by title ordinance to amend 890-20 section d of Town Code concerning fees allowing us to charge a building permit fee for institutional buildings under the heading of all other structures with a minimum of $100 charge or 10 cents per square foot. 

 

Resolutions:

 

Resolution 11-01 Transfer of Funds

 

Mike read entire resolution.  Sandy said she would change the MVH Property and Liability line number to 343 in this resolution to make it consistent with the others.

Geraldine moved to accept Resolution 11-01, David Drake seconded.  Motion carried. 

 

Resolution 12-01 Interim Rules for Operating the Town during the Fall Festival

 

David Sorokoty read entire resolution.  Geraldine moved to accept Resolution 12-01, David Drake seconded, carried with Mike abstaining.

 

Ordinances on Second Reading:

 

Ordinance 01-15 the annexation of Campbell’s Park

 

Geraldine read by title this ordinance.  Mike moved to adopt this ordinance.  David Drake seconded.  Motion carried.

 

Ordinance 01-16 the annexation of the Well Site Phase One

 

Geraldine read by title this ordinance.  Mike moved to adopt this ordinance.  David Drake seconded.  Motion carried.

 

Ordinance 01-17 the annexation of Mary and Michael George’s property

 

Geraldine read by title this ordinance, also this property is zoned C3.  David Sorokoty moved to accept this ordinance.  Mike seconded.  Motion carried.

 

Old Business:

 

Building Permits for Edgewood Villages – No representatives were present at the meeting, so no action was taken. 

 

New Business:

 

Proposed street closings for Fall Festival 

 

 

 

 

 

Jerry read the entire list of closings.  Mike suggested this street closings document be formatted to be Resolution 13-01.  David Drake moved to approve Resolution 13-01.  Geraldine seconded.  Motion carried.   

 

Monon Rail Preservation Corporation and the Indiana Rail Road Company intent to abandon 1500 feet of the north end of a rail line in Monroe County

 

Jerry discussed that INDOT is soliciting the Town to see if the Town is interested in owning this land, which is located down by Wickes Lumber Company and goes 1500 feet to the south.  The tracks on Hwy. 46 will be removed during the Hwy. 46 project.  Wickes and Indiana Railway the current users are both okay with the track removal.  Jerry asked if the Town wants the property or not.  David Drake suggested we acquire the property if it doesn’t cost anything because it may be of use in the future.  Mike said since the Indiana Railroad and Monon petitioned the State to abandon the tracks and if they feel the track should be abandoned and it is of no use to them, that the land should revert back to the original landowners when abandoned.  Jerry said that the land does revert back to the landowners if it is abandoned and that if we took it over we would be responsible for the upkeep and liability of the land.  Jeana Kapczynski who is in charge of the trail project said that they do not need this land at this time and she and Jerry both feel if the land would be needed later that the Town could consult with the land owners then.  No motion was needed on this topic at this point; Jerry just wanted to inform the Council of the situation.

 

Build Indiana Grant for Fall Festival

 

Mike made a motion that the Town becomes the signature for the grant for $50,000.  David Drake seconded.  Jerry told Mike Spencer had looked over the contract and explained the hi-lights of his comments.  Motion carried.   

 

Action to pay Accounts Payable Vouchers

 

Geraldine made the motion to pay the accounts payable vouchers (bills / claims).  David Drake seconded.  Motion carried.

 

Supervisor’s comments

 

Mike Farmer – Discussed that the job of Billing Clerk had been posted when the current Billing Clerk Amber Ragle expressed her resignation, she and Deputy Clerk Lynn Weiss, however, discussed a possible wish to switch job positions.  This is a new situation for the Town and Mike Farmer asked the Council to allow Lynn to be hired as the Billing Clerk and Amber be hired as the Deputy Clerk to Sandy.  Mike expressed that both were already employees of the Town and that both are efficient workers.  He explained that by allowing this switch it would benefit everyone to have cross-trained employees.  The position has officially been posted and we will accept applications until September 19th. 

 

Mike also informed the Council that they have started the relocation of Cinergy cables.  Smithville Telephone has also started on their part of the work.  Vine Street is now closed in small areas at a time for this project and will be closed in various areas as work continues. 

 

Ron McGlocklin received a SHOWCAP grant through the probation department for computer, printer, phone line and software of $2350, which will be dedicated to access information from the main office about juvenile offenders so we can keep track of these kids.  

 

Friday, September 21st is Kid’s Day at the Fall Festival for the grade school kids and Ron asked permission to close the alley between Association and Temperance

 

 

by the old Thrasher’s Market building and Bell property to park the school buses in the parking lot and the alley from 9 a. m. to 3:15 p. m.  Mike made the motioned to close the alley.  David Sorokoty seconded.  Motion carried.

 

David Sorokoty – met at I. U. earlier today with Steven A. Walter and four graduate students of Epply Institute for Parks and Public Lands will be working with us on the 20 acres of the Well property.  They will be planning and making a working model of the property and talking with the community about the future of the property.  This planning will be free to the Town because it is a project and learning experience for the students. 

 

Dave referred to Carla’s article in The Journal about Senior Citizens and crossing the road.  Dave said we should petition the State to have a cross walk with a light that is button operated for seniors and all pedestrians to push when wishing to cross the road. 

 

Dave also thanked Sandy Hash and Dorothy Wampler and their helpers for feeding the Festival workers, he also mentioned needing more workers next Saturday. 

 

Mike Cornman – commented now was the greatest time in the year to be in Ellettsville.  Commended the Street Department for the wonderful efforts on beautifying the Town.

 

Privilege of the Floor

 

Bob Sowder, 114 W. Temperance, asked if signing the grant for the Fall Festival Committee would deter from any grants the Town would apply for?  Jerry said no.

 

Ed Bitner, 430 Main Street, was concerned about the lawns being fixed for the Fall Festival and Mike Farmer addressed this issue earlier.  He also wanted to commend Mike Farmer and his crew for the work they have done on moving the utility lines.

 

 

Adjournment:

 

Geraldine made the motion to adjourn the meeting.  Mike seconded.  Motion carried.  Meeting closed at 9:02 p. m.

 

 

 

 

_____________________________              __________________________

Jerry Pittsford, President                                     David Sorokoty, Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

_____________________________              __________________________

Mike Cornman                                             David Drake

 

 

 

 

 

_____________________________              __________________________

Geraldine McIntyre                                             Sandra C. Hash

                                                                                 Clerk-Treasurer