The Ellettsville, Indiana, Town Council met in regular session at 7:30 PM, Tuesday, October 15, 2002 at the Town Hall. David Sorokoty called the meeting to order and 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,
President; David Drake, Vice-President; and Geraldine McIntyre. Also present was Sandra Hash,
Clerk-Treasurer, Deborah Hudson, Administrative Assistant to the Council and
Mike Spencer, Town Attorney. Mike
Cornman and Raymond Freetage were absent.
Supervisors Present
Ron McGlocklin, Mike Farmer and Jeff Farmer.
Approval
of Minutes of the meeting on September 30, 2002
Geraldine McIntyre moved to approve the September
30, 2002 minutes. David Drake
seconded. Motion carried.
Action
to pay Accounts Payable Vouchers
Geraldine McIntyre moved to approve the accounts
payable vouchers. David Drake
seconded. Motion carried.
Resolutions
Resolution
16-02 Transfer of Funds
David Drake read the Resolution by title and moved
to approve Resolution 16-02. Geraldine
McIntyre seconded. Motion carried.
Ordinances on First Reading
Ordinance
02-23 creating a donation fund for Disaster Relief
Geraldine McIntyre read the Ordinance by
title. David Sorokoty explained the
ordinance established a legal fund to accept donations.
Ordinances on Second Reading
Ordinance
02-20 amending section 255-46 of the Ellettsville Town Code concerning
reimbursement of expenses
David Drake read the Ordinance by title. David Sorokoty requested this ordinance be
tabled due to the fact that Deborah Hudson is in the process of redoing the
Personnel Policy, in which this amendment is referenced, making it a
duplication of work. David Drake moved
to table Ordinance 02-20. Geraldine
McIntyre seconded, motion carried
Ordinance
02-21 adopting Chapter 220 to establish a Rainy Day Fund as permitted by
Indiana Public Law 251-2001
Sandra Hash explained up to 10 percent of the unexpended
appropriations in the General Fund could be transferred into the Rainy Day Fund
to be reserved for an emergency.
Geraldine McIntyre read the Ordinance by title and moved to adopt
Ordinance 02-21. David Drake seconded,
motion carried.
Ordinance
02-22 adopting Chapter 340 prohibiting the posting of advertising matter or
samples in the Town of Ellettsville
David Drake read the Ordinance by title. David Sorokoty said this Ordinance is to
safe guard the new decorative light poles, but it has been brought to his
attention that it is in contradiction to the garage sale sign allowance,
therefore he requested this ordinance be tabled for correction. David Drake move to table Ordinance 02-22. Geraldine McIntyre seconded, motion
carried.
Old Business None
New Business
2003
Hilly Hundred discussion of Richland Bean Blossom Community School Corporation
hosting the event
Skip Higgins, Executive Director of the Hilly
Hundred addressed the council on the merits of Richland Bean Blossom Community
School Corporation hosting the Hilly Hundred in 2003. The Hilly Hundred is a bicycle event attended by several thousand
riders. Next year will be the 36th
year for the event. Bloomington High
School North has hosted it for the last several years. Without active marketing the event has gown
because of its own quality and the fact that it gives families a chance to ride
their bicycles in the beautiful hills of Southern Indiana. They have outgrown Bloomington North High
School. The lack of parking and camping
area has created the need to move to a larger facility. The facilities at the Edgewood High School,
Junior High School, and Elementary Schools all under the jurisdiction of the
Richland Bean Blossom School Corporation give this event room to grow. He has been working with the school
administration since last December. The
school has given their approval subject to the Town of Ellettsville welcoming
the event.
Geraldine McIntyre expressed concerns for the Town
residents who have endured two years of road construction that is not yet
completed. To add the bicycle traffic
would create additional traffic problems.
She suggested we wait until the highway project was complete before we
host the event. Mr. Higgins replied the
riders drive to the school and park their cars for the day. They will ride their bikes north on the
first day going through Town between 7:00 and 10:30 AM. The next day they would ride south away from
Town. He felt there would be a minimal
impact in Town.
David Sorokoty stated the local Fall Festival was
not held this year because of the road construction. Mr. Higgins said the Festival was right downtown. Their event would be on the edge of Town away
from the construction. David added he
visited North High School during the event this year. There was a lot of campers, dumpsters and trash on Saturday, but
when he returned on Sunday it was all cleaned up. Mr. Higgins said they provide their own security and clean up.
They had 30 officers this year. They
also make donations to the local police and fire groups.
David Sorokoty went door to door in Ridge
Springs. He asked the residents if they
would be in favor of the School hosting the event. He did not talk to anyone who favored the event moving to
Ellettsville.
Steve Kain, RBBCSC Superintendent, said the reason
they were interested in the event was the incredible opportunity it created for
fund raising to the different school groups.
Economic Development is another reason to sponsor the event. It would give Ellettsville some recognition.
Barbara Anderson, Sheila Lynn and Vickie McCadden,
all spoke in favor of the Hilly Hundred coming to Ellettsville. Sheila is a teacher and also rides in the
event. She uses it as an activity in
her classroom encouraging exercise and the kids love it. She also said if the event would move to
Spencer the riders would still use our streets and roads but the revenue would
go to Spencer instead of Ellettsville.
Why not let Ellettsville benefit from the event. Vickie McCadden is a massage therapist. She works at the event and they are a fine
group of people and she fully supports and encourages Ellettsville hosting the
Hilly Hundred. It also provides an
activity to those who feel there is nothing to do in this community and
encourage new business opportunities in the area.
Mr. Higgins said they have looked at Indiana
University but the high school arrangement best suits their needs. They have cafeterias, parking, inside
sleeping area and outside camping areas.
South High School is too small.
Ed Bitner expressed concerns with the bicyclist
not obeying the traffic rules. Mr.
Higgins answered they cover rules of the roads with the cyclist and encourage
them to obey the rules. Mr. Higgins
pledged to work with the Town of Ellettsville to address any concerns they
might have.
Andy Dodds, School Board President, stated he
shared a lot of the same concerns expressed here tonight when he was first
approached with the idea. The biggest
concern is the impact on the school grounds.
He was told if it was a negative impact on North High School why would
they be invited back year after year.
It would showcase Ellettsville much as the Fall Festival does. Ellettsville has a unique feel to it much as
it did years ago. If we don’t want anything
to ever occur here we might as well put a fence around the Town and tell
everybody to stay out. We have a
four-lane highway being built through the Town that is sure to have an impact. This is a one-year agreement not a long-term
commitment. The School Board felt it
would have an impact on Ellettsville, and that is why they wanted the blessing
of the Town Council. The Fall Festival
impacts the school ground facilities, transportation, parking and traffic. They have worked with the Town for the Fall
Festival. He feels if they pass up the
opportunity of hosting the Hilly Hundred it may not be open to them again. We will never know the impact unless we try
it once to see what it is like. One of
these bicyclists could own a small business and decide to move to Ellettsville
after seeing what we have to offer. It
is a big commitment on the schools part; our children deserve to make 8 to 10
thousand dollars on a weekend so the parents don’t have to kill themselves with
multiple other fundraisers. He is
willing to share the roads with the bicyclists for a weekend for the positive
impact it will have on fund raising.
The School Board will listen to Town Council’s position.
David Drake stated he would like to hear from the
people of Ellettsville
When asked if the School Board had made their
final decision on the event. Andy Dodds
replied it depends on the decision the Town makes and a school policy that
states the school facilities can’t be used before noon on Sundays. Sunday morning is the time set aside by the
administration for the community to worship.
The Hilly Hundred has a worship service on site to compensate for this
rule.
David Drake, David Sorokoty, and Geraldine
McIntyre expressed their concerns with the additional traffic, the camping, the
road construction and suspending the Fall Festival due to the
construction.
Karla Frownfelter questioned the reason the Fall
Festival was not held this year; she was under the impression it was due to
lack of volunteers rather than the construction. David Sorokoty responded it was lack of volunteers and road
construction.
Mike Farmer spoke as a community member. Promotion of the Town is important to the
Town’s future. He has heard through the
year how good things are in Ellettsville, the personalities, how good it is to
live in a small town like this, how good the school corporation is and how
beautiful it is. We may never again get
a chance like this to promote Ellettsville through an event like the Hilly
Hundred. This would give us two crown
jewels to promote the Town. The Fall
Festival and the Hilly Hundred would both bring recognition to the Town. The Hilly Hundred would be in a confined
space, it is a family event and when they ride they leave Town. We search for opportunities to promote the
Town. They do not come around
everyday. We have discussed tourism
promotions and positive events in Bloomington.
This is a tool that will promote Ellettsville. If we turn them down this year they will find a place. They will get established there and not come
back to Ellettsville in a few years. As
a community resident he will gain pride in the community by hosting this
event. It is a small inconvenience to
drive through the bike riders on this weekend for the benefit of showcasing our
community. He wants Ellettsville to be
the best Town it can be and this event will promote the Town.
David Drake does not want to tell the School Board
what they can do with their property.
They are an elected board just as the Council is. We have a good relationship with them and if
they feel like they can do this we owe them the
courtesy of going along with their wishes. We won’t know unless we try it. He doesn’t want them to miss a fund raising
event.
Ron McGlocklin said he has worked with the Hilly
Hundred security and he feels we can handle a two-day event.
Darlyne Sowder encouraged the Council to try it
for a year and see how it affects the Town.
Joe Anderson answered a question presented earlier
on Ellettsville not being a bike community by stating, as treasurer of the bike
community, there are bike riders in Ellettsville. They ride on Maple Grove Road, Red Hill Road, Reeves Road and
they stop at Big Foot and eat at the Nut Meg House.
Brad Tucker, Edgewood High School Principal,
visited participants at the Hilly Hundred this year. He met with good quality people who were very health conscious.
They expressed excitement at the prospect of moving the event to Ellettsville. He had received several phone calls from
people excited about the possible fund raising. He feels we should give it a chance for a year. He added the school has always been willing
to help with the Fall Festival by use of their facility and allowing students
to leave school on Friday to perform and participate.
It was decided to have a public input meeting on
November 13, 2002 at 7:00 PM, in the High School Auditorium.
Privilege of the Floor
Andy Dodds invited everyone from the community to
the dedication ceremony at the new elementary schools on Sunday, October 27,
2002 at 2:00 PM
Supervisor’s Comments
Mike
Farmer asked permission to fill the 2 vacant positions for temporary full time
employees. They have been posted and
advertised. He asked this position
remain open for the next 6-8 months until the highway projects are
completed. They are not competitive
jobs for current employees. They will
be eliminated at completion of the project.
Geraldine McIntyre moved to approve the two workers for Mike. David Drake seconded, motion carried.
Mike
Farmer also requested the building be inspected by a structural engineer to
determine if the large crack upstairs is a problem. The Council agreed.
David
Sorokoty announced the Eagles Lounge in Ellettsville would host a Las Vegas
party to raise money for Ellettsville Disaster Relief Fund.
Geraldine
McIntyre presented cards made by the Ellettsville Elementary School’s children
made for the tornado victims to be hung up in the Town Hall.
Adjournment
Geraldine McIntyre move to
adjourn. David Drake seconded, motion
carried. The meeting adjourned at 9:04
p.m.
_____________________________ __________________________
David Sorokoty, President David Drake, Vice President
_____________________________ __________________________
Mike Cornman Raymond
Freetage
_____________________________ __________________________
Geraldine McIntyre Sandra
C. Hash, Clerk-Treasurer