The Ellettsville, Indiana, Town Council met in regular session at 7:30 PM, Monday, February 25, 2002 at the Town Hall. David Sorokoty called the meeting to order and Jerry Pittsford led in prayer. David Drake led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll Call
David Sorokoty asked for roll call of the Council Members. Members present were David Sorokoty, David Drake, Jerry Pittsford and Geraldine McIntyre. Also present were Sandra Hash, Clerk-Treasurer and Mike Spencer, Town Attorney. Michael Cornman was absent due to sickness.
Supervisors
Present
Jim Davis, Jim Ragle, Ron McGlocklin, Mike Farmer and Jeff Farmer. Rick Coppock was also present.
Approval of Minutes of
the regular meeting and Executive session on February 11, 2002
David asked for a motion to approve the minutes. Jerry Pittsford moved to accept the minutes
of the regular meeting and the executive session of February 11, 2002. David Drake seconded. Motion carried.
David Sorokoty introduced a guest from Bloomington City Council, David
Sabbaugh.
Award bid for an
Electrical Contractor for the underground utilities reconnect services along
Highway 46.
Rick Coppock explained that he had reviewed the bid and that it has all
of the appropriate paperwork and was within 10% of original estimate therefore,
he suggested the Council should award the bid to Cassady. David Drake made a motion to award the bid
to Cassady Electric. Jerry Pittsford
seconded. Motion carried.
Ordinances on First
Reading
Ordinance 02-04 to amend
Ordinance 01-30 Fixing of Salaries for Budget Year 2002 (to add Administrative
Assistant)
David Drake read by title.
Sandy Hash explained that she could not issue Deborah Hudson the new
Administrative Assistant a paycheck until she is listed on the salary
ordinance. Carla Kennard-Frownfelter
from the Journal asked how long this position was hired for and if there was a
three months trial probationary time.
David Sorokoty explained that the position was hired for a year serving
with no probationary period. Jerry
Pittsford explained that her position is similar to that of a supervisor in
that she serves at the will and pleasure of the Council. Ed Bitner asked where her salary would come
from. David Sorokoty explained that
they had already budgeted for it last year.
Resolutions
See Resolution 03-02 during Bill Land’s presentation of the
Comprehensive Plan
Ordinances on Second
Reading
Ordinance 02-03 to establish
a fund for Fire Truck (2001 Pierce fire truck) payments from the Richland
Township Trustee
David Sorokoty commended Don Lewis, Richland Township Trustee for his
cooperation with the Town. Jerry
Pittsford read by title and moved to approve Ordinance 02-03. David Drake seconded. Motion carried.
Old Business None
New Business
Ellettsville Police Reserves
request to appoint a new Reserve Officer, Dana Harper
Mike Hendricks, Deputy Commander and Chaplin of the Reserves introduced
Dana Harper and explained that she has met all state required training and
certification requirements. Dana is
originally from Indianapolis but now resides in Ellettsville. She has a brown belt in Hapkido and is
currently employed by Bloomington Hospital.
Dana stated she has been in the field of EMS for 2 years and is
interested in being a reserve officer as another form of helping and now living
in Ellettsville it personally affects her.
David Drake made a motion to accept Dana as a new reserve officer. Jerry Pittsford seconded. Motion carried. Mike Hendricks stated they now have fourteen members on the Reserves
including Dana.
Annexation petition for Well
Site Property Phase Two
Rick Coppock explained that this is the northwest section of the
property. David Sorokoty mentioned it
would not cost the Town extra to annex this property. He also stated that two school classes, one from the Elementary
and one from the Jr. High have already volunteered to help with this park
project. David Drake moved to approve
the annexation petition for the Well Site Property. Jerry Pittsford seconded.
Motion carried.
Right of Entry request by
Indiana Department of Transportation, lot 14 of the original Town plat
Rick Coppock explained that Jerry Barnes with the Indiana Department of
Transportation has requested permission to go on the property to take the stage
down used during the Fall Festival. It
would be disassembled during the construction process of the Highway project on
Main Street. David Sorokoty suggested
that someone needs to coordinate the removal of the stage with the Fall
Festival Committee organization so that the stone from the stage can be
preserved and used to reconstruct the stage in its new location. Jerry Pittsford mentioned that it was not
the Town’s intention to seek removal of the stage when the Hwy. 46 project
began but that, in fact, INDOT came to the Council and requested the removal of
the stage because of the site distance according to INDOT’s engineers presented
a possible hazard when the road was complete and the Town would probably be
held accountable if accidents were to occur because of reduced site
distance. David Drake moved to grant
INDOT the right of entry to remove the Fall Festival stage. Jerry Pittsford seconded. Motion carried.
Comprehensive Plan for the
Town of Ellettsville, Bill Land
Mike Spencer asked if the Council intended on adopting the
Comprehensive Plan at tonight’s meeting and if so then a resolution to adopt
the plan was needed. Mike Spencer wrote
the resolution while Bill Land explained the plan to the Council. Bill explained the major themes and primary
focus of the plan. He stated that every
two years the plan needed to be reviewed and have a formal meeting to see if
amendments needed to be made. Tonight’s
document of 58 pages along with the 45 page east area plan document combine to
be the complete comprehensive plan for the Town and the east area plan has
already been unanimously adopted by the Plan Commission and the Town
Council.
Bill explained there are three considerations for good land use
planning including compatibility, value and image. He explained that these three things are the tools
that the Town needs to use when reviewing the Town’s land usage. He further explained these tools saying that
the Town should question whether every lot in or near the Town has an
utilization compatible with its neighbor and if not is there sufficient
buffering or fencing to screen that land use difference. Secondly he said it should be asked is each
land use the highest and best use possible given the present market economics
and in what way can the Town upgrade the value of it’s surrounding
properties. Finally he stated what kind
of visual image does the Town present at first impression.
He said the next twenty years should be a quality growth period and
that land use recommendations are critical as one of the guiding forces of this
plan. Bill explained one recommendation
about realigning Vine Street and said that all of the recommendations listed
had to be looked at with a twenty-year point of view.
Bill explained that the existing zoning codes and map would need to be
revised keeping the codes that are useful but revising the areas of the code
that are weak after the plan is officially adopted. He also said that after the zoning codes and maps are complete then
the Town could to begin to improve land usage and the give the Town a community
focused identity.
The Council members all commented that they liked the plan and
appreciated all of Bill Land’s effort on the Comprehensive Plan.
David Drake made a motion to adopt Resolution 03-02 concerning the adoption of the
Comprehensive Plan. Geraldine McIntyre
seconded. Motion carried. Bill suggested having a time line of 6
months to work on zoning ordinances now that the plan has been officially
adopted.
Privilege of the Floor None
Action to pay Accounts
Payable Vouchers
Jerry Pittsford made a motion to approve the accounts payable
vouchers. David Drake seconded. Motion carried.
Supervisor’s comments
Jim Davis – Presented and explained the annual report
for the Fire and Building Departments for the year 2001.
David Sorokoty – Thanked the Fire Department for the
training programs they offer the fire fighters. David was impressed by the extra effort that went into the Burn
Chamber training especially.
David also congratulated the Police Department for their efforts in the
robbery of the Big Foot store because within twenty-three hours an arrest was
made.
Sandy Hash – Explained that there is a Clerks academy
at Ball State University on March the 10th through the 15th
and she would like to attend. She also
informed the Council if they approve her attending that Amber would be sitting
in on the Council Meeting. Jerry
Pittsford moved to approve Sandy’s request for travel to attend the Clerks
Academy. Geraldine McIntyre
seconded. Motion carried.
Jerry Pittsford – Explained that Joe Hall with INDOT at
the Seymour district requested the Town’s Street Department to continue the
snow removal of Main Street at least until April 1st.
Jerry also thanked Mike Spencer for his on site writing of Resolution
03-02 concerning adopting the Comprehensive Plan.
Jerry mentioned that Saturday the wrestling team students from the
Edgewood Jr. High School went to a Wrestling competition at Crawfordsville and
he congratulated the four champion wrestlers.
David Drake – Thanked the Police Department as well for
their work on the Big Foot robbery case.
He especially mentioned Steve Bartlett, Brian Mobley, Ron McGlocklin and
A. J. Bohall.
David Sorokoty – Mentioned that he had attended the IACT
legislative conference in Indy and that taxes was the main issue. He encouraged everyone to e-mail Vi Simpson
and Peggy Welch to share opinions on the issues.
David explained that he had also attended the Main Street meeting in
Mitchell last week and that he had made a valuable connection with the
Department of Commerce.
David congratulated the Mini Warehouse choir from the Edgewood Jr. High
School on winning their competition in Mooresville.
Lastly he thanked Mike Farmer and Jeff Farmer for their supervision of the
Town of Ellettsville’s sewer system.
Adjournment
Jerry Pittsford moved
for adjourned. Geraldine McIntyre
seconded. Meeting was adjourned at 8:47
p. m.
_____________________________ __________________________
David Sorokoty, President David Drake, Vice President
_____________________________ __________________________
Mike Cornman Jerry Pittsford
_____________________________ __________________________
Geraldine McIntyre Sandra C. Hash
Clerk-Treasurer