The
Ellettsville, Indiana, Town Council met in special session on Monday, October
27th, 2003 at the Town Hall prior to the regular Council
Meeting. David Sorokoty called the
meeting to order at
Present: David Sorokoty, David Drake and Geraldine
McIntyre. Also present was Sandra Hash,
Clerk-Treasurer.
Topic:
Zoning Administrator job description draft version
(Note: Ray Freetage used a job description document he requested from Town Planner Bill Land and only made a few minor changes to it for the Zoning Administrator job description.)
David Sorokoty reviewed the draft job description asking the Council’s interpretation and clarification on various points. Some points he brought up for discussion were:
1. Is the position full-time or part-time?
2. Will the person work out of the Town Hall offices.
3. Is this person separate from health control issues?
4. Is this person separate from the Building Inspector duties?
5. Who does this person report to?
6. Does the Planning and Zoning Board need to see this description.
He opened the floor for discussion and asked for their opinions.
David Drake said it was fine to him for now and if it needed to be fine tuned later that could be done then.
Sandra Hash said we only have $11,000.00 to work with if Bill Land is not appointed as the Zoning Administrator. She feels the person should work in the office to be the most functional and accessible to the public for complaint issues. She thinks the zoning person could check into the health issues just as easy since they would already be out in the Town.
Geraldine McIntyre said this person should be separate from the Health Officer adding the Zoning Administrator will have his hands full by just dealing with zoning issues. She pointed out and asked who will be enforcing the Zoning Administrator’s decisions on issues. She added on the parking issue, since they have not acted on it then according to State Law that issue has to go back before the Plan Commission Board and have that ordinance re-worked. Always in the past, if someone was appointed to fill a position they reported to just one person on the Council, usually the President then that person consults with the rest of the Council, then it would be determined whether any issue needed to be discussed in a public meeting. The Plan Commission doesn’t need to approve this description.
David Drake said the Zoning Administrator will enforce the provisions of the zoning ordinances by writing tickets on violations if needed. The Building Inspector’s duties would be separate from the Zoning Administrator’s duties. The person should report to the one person on the Council then that person could bring any issue that called for a decision before the rest of the Council. The President of the Council is a likely choice. He agreed the Plan Commission doesn’t need to approve the description.
The Council agreed the job description was okay to approve.
David Sorokoty requested the Council review the document again and write down any revisions they may like to consider next time. It will be put on the Agenda for further discussion at the next Council Meeting and voted on at that time. He closed the meeting.
The meeting adjourned at
The
Ellettsville, Indiana, Town Council met in regular session at
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 were Sandra Hash, Clerk-Treasurer; Mike Spencer, Attorney and Rick Coppock, Engineer. Ray Freetage and Lisa Combs-Creech were absent.
Supervisors Present: Jim
Davis, Jim Ragle, Ron McGlocklin, Mike Farmer and Jeff Farmer.
David Sorokoty thanked
David Drake for filling in at the last Council Meeting while he attended his
son’s track meet at Sectionals.
Approval of the meeting
minutes for October 14th, 2003
Geraldine McIntyre moved to approve the 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.
Ordinances on Second
Ordinance 03-20 to establish a fee for copies and facsimile
transmissions
David Sorokoty read by title and asked
Old Business
Rick Coppock explained their request saying the sidewalk has been
completed and everything is in place except for the items listed in the letter
of credit. David Drake made a motion to
approve the Final Plat for Springs Valley Subdivision, section 3. Geraldine McIntyre seconded. Motion carried.
Union Valley Farms, section 3 Final Plat Approval
Rick Coppock explained this request saying everything is complete
except for the items they have bonded for.
Geraldine McIntyre made a motion to approve Union Valley Farms, section 3
Final Plat. David Drake seconded. Motion carried.
New Business
Rule 13 Notice of Intent – Rick Coppock
Rule 13 concerns improving storm water quality in urbanized areas by
keeping the roads, parking lots, driveways, lawns and ditches clean instead of
letting rainfall rinse them clean. Rule
13 comes from the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System program,
which is the same thing as phase II of the Federal Clean Water Act. The term MS4, which is used in the Federal
Clean Water Act, is by definition a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System. In
Rick Coppock explained since the Town of
Checklist” which provides additional contact information, a schedule of
activities for compliance and a preliminary budget proposal should also be
submitted with the NOI.
He explained the collection points for all the rain water run off must
be mapped out and charted checking for pollutants. In addition, the Town will have to start
tracking all of the salt, sand and fertilizer that is put on the ground. All construction plans should be monitored
prior to construction as well as during construction and long term. The expense incurred by
complying with Rule 13 can become costly.
He added
David Drake made a motion to authorize Rick Coppock to send the letter
to IDEM. Geraldine McIntyre seconded. Motion carried.
(For more details see Council Minutes
2002 IPEP Safety Award
David Drake read the Downey Insurance Safety Award. It reads:
Dear IPEP Member – Congratulations!
You have earned a safety award once again. This accomplishment is due to the proactive
focus you have taken towards safety in your workplace. The award is achieved by having less than 50%
loss ratio plus an acceptable claim incident rate as compared to municipalities
statewide. The award is for the calendar
year 2002. David Sorokoty thanked Downey
Insurance for the Award and recognition.
Privilege of the Floor
Judy Litten
requested an update on if the age requirement of 50 years old or older was part
of the P. U. D. for
Mike Spencer
explained the minutes of the Council Meetings leading up to the question of the
50 year old age restrictions came up and he insisted that it be included in the
subdivision restrictions, they were not going to do that originally but he
insisted it be in the subdivision restrictions and that is where it is
stated. At that time that satisfied the
Council, therefore, it a civil matter and the Council can not enforce any
further action.
Judy Litten so you
can’t help us any, we’re on our own?
Mike Spencer stated
you’re on your own.
Judy Litten thanked
him for checking into the situation.
Supervisor’s Comments
Jim Davis reminded
the Council a few months ago he started the hiring process to replace part-time
positions that have left vacant due to 2 part-timers having found other
employment and 2 others having to cut back on their hours. Therefore, after holding interviews last
week, he is now requesting the Council approve hiring four part-time employees
to help cover the hours that have been hard to fill. Among those were Tony Floyd, Arron Wever, Kip
Day and Kyle Koons. He also requested
three applicants including Cheryl Summitt, Scott Shultz and Michael Barnes be
placed on a hire waiting list.
David Drake
commented the topic of a waiting list has both pros and cons but he feels in
this case that is okay to have a waiting list.
He added this is just a pool of part-time employees who are going to be
available during certain hours; these are people who may work a few hours a
week. He thinks they need the ability to
have some extra people they can stick in that pool if they need to if for
example one of the four people could only work four hours a week now instead of
twelve this gives them the ability to quickly get somebody else to fill in
where needed.
David Drake made a motion that Kip Day, Tony Floyd, Kyle Koons and Arron
Wever be approved for part-time employment with the Ellettsville Fire
Department. Geraldine McIntyre
seconded. Motion carried.
David Drake made a motion that Cheryl Summitt, Scott Shultz and Michael
Barnes be placed on a waiting list not to exceed one year for appointments as
needed to the part-time positions with the Fire Department. Geraldine McIntyre seconded. Motion carried.
Ron McGlocklin
stated one of his officers was injured from pushing a stalled vehicle while on
duty and he will be off for 4-6 weeks.
He is scheduled for hernia surgery on Friday, October 31st.
He explained that some money could be saved on the building site for
the Police Station by contacting some logging companies to cut the trees on the
building site and sell them as pulp wood.
The trees aren’t large enough for anything except pulp wood. He has already spoken to a couple of
companies. He asked if it was okay to
cut and sell the trees to lessen the cost on site preparation. This would just leave stumps that would be
easier to clear by bulldozers later.
David Sorokoty agreed
that it was a good idea and suggested Ron get estimates. He added that both the Fire and Police
Departments have benefited by working with Crider, saving the Town a lot of
money. The soil Crider has taken off of
the highway has been taken over to the Police Station site to fill in the land leveling
it off. Crider has taken soil from the Fire Station
site to put on the road. Everything has
worked out well for all parties.
Ron McGlocklin
thanked Gary Farmer, foreman for Crider & Crider for his help. He has helped the Police Department
tremendously by providing them with a machine operator and some equipment.
Sandra Hash reminded
the Council that she and Amber will be out of the office on Tuesday, October 28th
and part of the day on Wednesday, October 29th due to the conference
in
Jeana Kapczynski of the Chamber of Commerce called the clerk’s office
requesting information on selling the decorative snowflake Christmas
decorations. Jeana had spoken with Jim Ragle and the snowflakes will be too big
for the new street lights. She asked if
they need to be declared surplus property before they are advertised for sale. The snowflakes were purchased by private
donations and the sale proceeds will be used to purchase decorations that will
work with the new lights.
Mike Spencer said
you can’t just sell them; you have to declare them surplus property and a cost
must be referenced.
Jim Ragle said there
are between 30 and 40 snowflakes and new ones cost around $300 a piece.
David Drake made a motion to declare the snowflakes surplus
property. Geraldine McIntyre
seconded. Motion carried.
Sandra added the office will be closed on
Geraldine McIntyre
encouraged everyone to get out and vote.
David Sorokoty also
encouraged voters to visit the polls. He
announced the Trick or Treat hours for the Town are Friday, October 31st
from
Dear Mr. Sorokoty: On Monday,
September 8, we needed to transport an oversized 16’ wide fiberglass pool
through your town. We called Ron
McGlocklin with the Ellettsville Police Department to ask for assistance in
moving the pool safely through the construction zone in Ellettsville. We were very impressed by the professionalism
demonstrated by Mr. McGlocklin and his staff in protecting us and the
public. I would like for this letter to
be read before
the Town Council so that everyone knows how much we appreciated the
efforts of Mr. McGlocklin and the Ellettsville Police. Sincerely, Tom Parker, President of Parker
Pools Spa & Bath Shop
David also read a thank you card sent to the Fire Department. It reads:
Ellettsville Emergency Services – Two months ago (
David agreed and thanked them for his care as well during his
episode.
He thanked all the departments and the Town citizens for making the
Hilly Hundred a success. The School made
approximately $20,000.00 from the event.
The Town made .50 to $1 per bicyclist and the businesses also
benefited. Also there weren’t any
emergency calls from this event.
He reminded the public to Shop Ellettsville.
Lastly he read a letter to everyone concerning utility rates. It reads:
Recent articles and political advertisements in the local media have
indicated that the Ellettsville Utilities Department will be increasing the
water and sewer rates. This has prompted
several inquiries by our rate payers concerning this matter. The Utilities Department serves the Town
Council and the customers of the Ellettsville community. There has been no discussion to raise either
the water or sewer rates in Ellettsville or the surrounding community. Furthermore, the financial health of the
Utilities Department is such that no rate increase is needed. Current account balances and revenues will
allow the Utilities to operate not only their day to day operations, but will
manage to support upgrading and expanding the water and sewer system for the
next several years.
Only two increases in water rates have occurred since 1998. These small increases were initiated by the
City of
The existing rates were established and implemented before the current
team of public employees and private contract management began their
efforts. We share the concerns of our customers
relating to the water and sewer rates and in this day and age when most
utilities routinely raise their rates, we our proud of our stand against
imposing any new rate increases on our customers.
We are proud of the aggressive approach that we have taken towards
updating and maintaining our utilities in the last several years while still
managing to hold the line on rate increases.
We appreciate and have the same concerns of our customers relating to
water and sewer rates. With these
concerns in mind, we will continue to protect the environment and serve this
growing community in the most efficient manner.
We would welcome the opportunity to answer any questions or concerns
relating to the operation of the utilities.
He thanked the Council that was on the Board at the time when Bynum
Fanyo was hired to manage the Utilities Department for the first ten year
contract. They were: Gina Hawkins, Mike Cornman, Pat Stoffers,
Geraldine McIntyre and Don Ashley.
Adjournment
He asked for a motion to adjourn.
Geraldine McIntyre moved for adjournment. David Drake seconded. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at
_____________________________ __________________________
David Sorokoty,
President David
Drake, Vice President
_____________________________ __________________________
Lisa Combs-Creech Ray
Freetage
____________________________ __________________________
Geraldine McIntyre Sandra
C. Hash, Clerk-Treasurer