April 8, 2002
The Ellettsville, Indiana, Town Council met in regular session at 7:30 PM, Monday, April 8, 2002 at the Town Hall. David Sorokoty called the meeting to order. Jerry Pittsford led in prayer. Boy Scout Troop 119 attended the meeting. The Troop is working on the Citizenship and Community merit badge. Two of the Boy Scouts, Trever Ryan and Jeremiah Brassard led the Pled of Allegiance.
Roll Call
David Sorokoty asked for roll call of the Council Members. Members present were David Sorokoty, David Drake, Mike Cornman, Jerry Pittsford and Geraldine McIntyre. Also present was Sandra Hash, Clerk-Treasurer and Mike Spencer, Town Attorney.
Supervisors present were Jim Davis, Jim Ragle, Ron McGlocklin, and Mike Farmer. Rick Coppock, Deborah Hudson, and Amber Ragle, Deputy Clerk-Treasurer were also present.
Approval of Minutes of the
regular meeting on March 25, 2002 and the Executive Session on April 4, 2002
Jerry Pittsford moved to approve the minutes of March 25th
and April 4th 2002. Mike
Cornman seconded. Motion carried.
Bids for asphalt and
aggregate
Mike Spencer opened the bids and verified they were in proper
form. Rogers Group Incorporated was the
only bidder for both asphalt and aggregate.
Each bid contained a 10% bid bond.
Jim Ragle stated the bids where comparable to the asphalt and aggregate
bids in the past couple years and recommended the Council accept the bids. Geraldine McIntyre moved to accept the
asphalt bid. Mike Cornman
seconded. Motion carried. Geraldine moved to accept the bid for
bituminous Materials. Mike Cornman
seconded. Motion carried.
There were no Resolutions or
Ordinances
New Business
Cassady Electric
presentation on information for customers concerning the electrical service
relocation in conjunction with the INDOT State Road 46 project
Matt Lawrence spoke for Cassady Electric. He explained how the meter boxes would be
placed on homes and commercial properties with the new underground electrical
connections. Cinergy will have to
install either a 200-amp disconnect or meter base on each house for the
underground connection. The
installation will depend on the type of panel currently in the home. If the panel is a 100-amp and it is back to
back to the meter there will be a junction box beside the meter. If the panel and meter are not back-to-back
a disconnect must be installed beside the meter. The other scenario would be if the existing panel were 200-amp
and back-to-back with the meter there would be no change. If the meter and panel are not back-to-back
then a 200-amp disconnect will be required beside the meter. The residence will be without power for
about 2 hours during the change over.
Each commercial connection will have to be reviewed to confirm the
amount of time for installation, but it should not require more than one
day. There are 65 homes and 3
businesses to be converted. Questions
should be directed to 876-1389. If a homeowner
wants to upgrade from a 100-amp to a 200-amp service the homeowner would be
responsible for the expense and should notify Cassady for further
information. Mae Cassady requested a
list of names and phone numbers of the homeowners who will need the change
over.
Ellettsville Sewer Rate
Study Agreement with H.J. Umbaugh
Rick Coppock addressed the Council concerning the need
for a new rate study to analyze the current sewer rates of The Ellettsville,
Eastern Richland and Northern
Richland Sewer Corporations.
The agreement with Eastern Richland and Northern Richland stipulates the
rate be investigated to see if they are still in reason after the
plant has been in operation a couple of years. H. J. Umbaugh did the original rate study
during construction of the Wastewater Treatment Plant in 1995 or 1996. Now that we have a few years of historical
data from the plant a review is needed to ensure all parties contributing to
the use of the plant are paying equally.
Jerry Pittsford moved to approve the agreement with H.J. Umbaugh for
accounting services for a rate study of the current rates for Ellettsville
Utilities. David Drake seconded, motion
carried.
Privilege of the Floor
Otto Carder, who resides at 1108 West Main Street,
shared his concern with snow removal on the proposed sidewalk across the front
of his property after completion of the Main Street road improvement. The walk will be about 150 feet long and he
is unable to remove the snow. A member
of the audience advised Area 10 has a snow buddies program for senior citizens. Mr. Carder was instructed to call Jewel
Echelbarger for more information. Darlyne
Sowder stated INDOT has said the sidewalk will be the responsibility of the
property owner.
Peter Marshall, an attending Boy Scout, asked how the
Governor’s decision to use Build Indiana money to fund state debt going to
affect the Town’s plans? David Sorokoty
thanked him for his question and said it would be discussed later in the
meeting.
Ellettsville Park and
Recreation Request for Survey
Darlyne Sowder, Park Board
President, requested a survey of
the Well Site property. L D Axsom, Park
Board Member and former realtor, stepped off the property and cannot identify
4.9 acres of the 20 acres site. Ms.
Sowder presented two proposals for the survey to the Council. Bynum, Fanyo and Associates submitted a
proposal for $1,800.00 and Trico Surveying’s proposal was for $720.00 plus or
minus 25%. She asked the Town to pay
for the survey from the General Fund.
The Council discussed and reviewed the proposals. There were questions on the different
language in the proposals. The
Attorney, Mike Spencer, advised the Council to make a standarized request for a
survey with specifications for a stake survey to allow a clearer
comparison. Darlyne will present the
request again at the April 22 Council meeting to select the surveyor. The Council however did proceed to give
permission to have the survey paid by the Town. Mike Cornman moved to pay for a survey of the Well Site
Property. Jerry Pittsford seconded,
motion carried.
Action to pay Accounts Payable Vouchers
Jerry Pittsford moved for approval of paying of the vouchers. Geraldine McIntyre seconded, motion carried.
Supervisor’s comments
Ron McGlocklin and the other Ellettsville Officers
assisted, by request, The Bloomington Police Department on Monday night March
27th after the NCAA final
game from 10:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.
There were four Reserve Officers covering in Ellettsville during this
time.
Mike Farmer announced Ellettsville Utilities are
finished on Main Street and Crider moved into the area to start their road
construction. Mike Farmer also advised
the Park Board to call and have the utilities located on the Well Site before
they do any digging. David Sorokoty
asked the Utilities Department for assistance in capping off or filling in an
old well on the property. There will be
children working on the property starting April 22nd. Mike answered David Sorokoty’s question
concerning water valves on the property.
Sandra Hash said Gregg Zody of Monroe County Planning
would not be using Town Hall on April 23, and 24th as
requested. They have rescheduled for
May 28th through 30th at the Monroe County Library.
David Drake requested permission to attend a meeting on
annexation presented by The Indiana Association of Cities and Towns in
Valparaiso, Indiana. Jerry Pittsford
moved to approve David Drake attending the Indiana Association of Cities and
Town workshop in Valparaiso. Geraldine
McIntyre seconded, motion carried.
David Sorokoty suggested Ellettsville request an amendment
to the Downtown and Government Center Build Indiana Grants to allow the
purchase of streetlights for the one-way pair, the widening of Matthews drive
and the purchase of street trees. David
has discussed the amendment with Vi Simpson, who also informed David the
appropriation would remain for the $265,000.00 awarded to Ellettsville from
Build Indiana if the funding would become available in the future. David would prefer to complete one project
rather than have two incomplete ones.
The two projects pending are the purchase of land for a Government
Center and the streetlights for the one-way pair.
Mike Cornman feels we should proceed with the property
purchase. Jerry Pittsford has approached the property owners of the
proposed site for the Government Center and they both refused the offer. The Town by law can only offer an average of
the two appraisals on the properties, which was $47,000.00. Jerry asked Mike Spencer how to
proceed. He advised contacting the
Appraisal Companies to ask if they took into consideration the effect the new
road would have on the properties. Jerry wanted to table the decision until
specifications were drawn up on all the requirements for the street lighting
and bids for the project were secured.
Matt Lawrence advised there would be additional costs involved for the
lighting in regards to the electrical feeds and conduit size each light would
require. David Sorokoty added the bases
for the lights would be needed as the sidewalks are constructed. There was more discussion on the time fame
by when the lights and bases would be needed.
Jerry encouraged everyone to contact their legislator and let them know
they have gone back on their word about not using lottery monies for the
general fund. David Sorokoty said the
indecision among the state legislative body to find a solution to the states
current budget crisis punishes local municipalities, who are not able to
accomplish capital projects within their budget restrictions.
Adjournment
Jerry Pittsford moved
to adjourn. Geraldine McIntyre
seconded. Meeting was adjourned at 8:35
p.m.
_____________________________ __________________________
David Sorokoty, President David Drake, Vice President
_____________________________ __________________________
Mike Cornman Jerry Pittsford
_____________________________ __________________________
Geraldine McIntyre Sandra C. Hash
Clerk-Treasurer