September 25, 2006

The Ellettsville, Indiana, Town Council met in regular session on Monday, September 25, 2006, at the Fire Department Training and Conference Room. Patrick Stoffers called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Sandra Hash led in prayer and William Evans led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll Call: Members present were Patrick Stoffers, President; William Evans, Vice President; Phillip Rogers and Dennis Williamson. Sandra Hash, Clerk Treasurer and Mike Spencer, Attorney were also present. Lisa Creech was absent.

Supervisors Present: Jim Davis, Jim Ragle, Ron McGlocklin and Frank Nierzwicki were present. Jay Humphrey and Eric Chaudion were also present.

Approval of the minutes

William Evans made a motion to approve the minutes for the Regular Meeting of September 11, 2006. Dennis Williamson seconded. Motion carried.

Action to Pay Accounts Payable Vouchers

William Evans made a motion to pay Accounts Payable Vouchers. Phillip Rogers seconded. Motion carried.

Supervisor Comments

Frank Nierzwicki, Director of Planning Services requested permission to attend the Indiana Planning Association Annual Conference October 4 – 6 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Kentucky and Ohio Planning Associations will also be attending.

William Evans made a motion that we send Frank to the Indiana Planning Association Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio. Phillip Rogers seconded. Motion carried.

Frank announced the Planning and Redevelopment Department has an intern for this academic year. He introduced Ashley Porta who is a School Public Environmental Affairs graduate student and will be working with him through May. Ashley said hello, thanked everyone for this opportunity and looks forward to working here.

Ron McGlocklin presented the contract for the K-9 written up by Mr. Spencer. The contract has been faxed to the seller of the dog in Little Rock, Arkansas. The seller signed and faxed the contract back. While Patrick Stoffers reviewed the contract, Ron went on to thank the Utilities Department for their help on Sunday with the parade. He commended Danny Edwards, Joe Bowman and Kevin Fluke on an excellent job. Patrick Stoffers thanked Ron and his department for their commendable job with the Fall Festival.

Mike Spencer presented the Council with a revised copy of the contract. Patrick would like to take it under advisement and bring it up at the next meeting. Ron announced “if we wait another week, the dog will be sold”. Patrick would not ask anyone to vote on a contract they have not reviewed. Mike Spencer went over the important things the Council should be aware of. The venue is Arkansas and if any litigation should arise it would be in Arkansas using Arkansas laws. There is a provision that allows for, if there is litigation, the prevailing party to be awarded attorney fees. It does not address the issue of costs of traveling for litigations. The contract is similar to the one Ron has presented. The seller will provide a lot of services; two weeks worth of training in Arkansas and will retrain a new officer if needed. Ron would like the Council to proceed with this tonight. William Evans and Phillip Rogers would like some time to look over the contract.

William Evans made a motion that we table the contract for the K-9 dog until the next meeting. Phillip Rogers seconded. Motion carried.

Sandra Hash thanked all the volunteers who helped out with the Fall Festival. It took a lot of patience with the weather. In spite of the weather, she feels the Fall Festival was successful. Three entertainment acts were cancelled and everything else was rearranged under the covered shelter. This Fall Festival could not have happened without the copperation of the Ellettsville Town Council and employees. Thank you to all!

Dennis Williamson announced October 14 is the “bulky item day” with the Solid Waste District. September 30th the local Methodist Church on Temperance is having a fish fry from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Phillip Rogers thanked Mike and Jeff Farmer and their utility crew for the outstanding work on the gateways with planting the flowers, washing and repainting the limestone. It looks really sharp. He thanked Jim Ragle and his street crew for the fine work on the Fall Festival. It was above and beyond the call of duty.

William Evans thanked all the Town employees for what they have done this week for the Fall Festival. It was greatly appreciated. He thanked Jim Ragle for removing some tree limbs.

Patrick Stoffers thanked the Fall Festival Association and the Town employees on the very good job they did this year. He could not be more pleased with their performance. Patrick also announced a food collection bin for canned goods will be placed at Town Hall on behalf of the Hoosier Hills Food Bank all of next week. Ellettsville has always been a generous community so please stop by and drop off a canned good or two.

Public Comments

Laura Entrekin commented on the K-9 unit the Police Department wants to purchase. She asked if the Town had a K-9 unit before that was purchased out of state. It was answered yes, one from Michigan. It was clarified there was no coverage for attorney fees for the dog purchased out of state. She also brought up the handler having to travel to Arkansas to be trained with the dog; was this also done with the last dog purchased from Michigan. Mike Spencer does not recall having a contract with the Michigan Company and if we did it was very brief and did not have many provisions. Laura asked why all these questions have come up since in the past Ellettsville has gone through this same thing with purchasing a dog from Michigan. She has a child in Jr. High School and would love to see Ellettsville have a K-9 unit back to go to the schools if needed. She feels it would benefit the community.

Karen Sherfick asked about updates on the speed bumps in the Meadowlands Subdivision. Frank said we are looking at the work that has been promised in the Meadowlands. It was stated before; the work would be looked at following the Fall Festival. The Street Department has been busy the last few weeks. It is on the agenda in the next couple of weeks.

Jim Ragle, Ellettsville Street Department reiterated the Fall Festival kept them busy, there are guys on vacation so he can not promise the speed bumps in October since leaf season is starting.

Adjournment

William Evans made a motion we adjourn this meeting. Phillip Rogers seconded. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 7:49 p.m.